Article I – Name
The Organization shall be known as the Sumter County Mounted Reserve Unit.  The Organization members may be referred to as Posse.
Article II – Objectives
The primary objectives of this organization shall be to provide assistance to Law Enforcement, charitable organizations and community agencies and to educate the public about horses.
Article III – Membership
Section 1 – Charter Membership 
1. Charter Membership shall be extended to those persons who actively join and participate within the 2013 calendar year.
2. Founding Father Membership shall be extended to those persons who actively join and participate within the first quarter of 2013.   Founding Fathers do not require Mentors.
Section 2 – New Membership 
1. The Board of Directors shall be the sole determiners of qualifications for membership in accordance with these Articles of Organization and in the  Standard Operating Procedures.
2. Membership of Sumter County Mounted Reserve Unit shall be limited to persons eighteen (18) years of age or older.   Applicants must be sponsored by an existing member in good standing (Mentor) and complete a membership application. All applicants for membership are subject to background check at the discretion of the board of directors.  
3. Annual Dues shall be paid to the Posse Treasurer on or before January 31st of each year. Any member whose dues have not been received by March 31st following the due date shall no longer be considered a member.  Amount of Dues shall be set by SOPs.
4.  Membership ratio of mounted to non-mounted members may be one to one but non-mounted membership shall at no time exceed mounted membership.  Should this ratio change due to loss of mounted members than non-mounted membership shall be frozen until the ratio is met.

5. Mounted members shall arrange for their own transportation and transportation of their horses for all Posse activities in which they participate.
6. Junior Posse members must be between fourteen (14) and seventeen (17) years old. Junior Posse members must maintain at least a ‘C’ average / 2.0 grade point average to be verified upon request. At least one authorized adult shall accompany the Junior Posse member to all events. All Junior Posse members must abide by all Posse member guidelines. Junior Posse may at no time hold office.  Junior Posse members in good standing may apply to become a general member after their 18th birthday.

Section 3 – Disciplinary Action 
1. Any member of the Posse who fails to adhere to the Articles of Organization and/or other regulations set for the Posse membership may, upon two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the Board of Directors, be dropped from membership or placed on probation for a period not to exceed one (1) year. Any violation of the Articles of Organization and / or other regulations during the probationary period will result in immediate dismissal.  The Board of Directors is empowered to waive a first time violation upon written request from the member.  It is mandatory that two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors be present for a disciplinary action votes.
2. Any member of the Posse who is brought before the Board for disciplinary measures has the right to have a member of the Posse and their mentor present throughout.

Section 4 – Voting
1. All members meeting requirements of membership of the Posse shall be entitled to one vote at all Posse membership meetings.
2. Absentee ballots will not be accepted. Members must be present to vote.
Article IV – Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Posse shall begin on January 1st and run until December 31st of the same year.  Prior to the beginning of the fiscal year, the Board of Directors will establish annual dues and financial expectations for the upcoming fiscal year.

Article V – Officers and Board of Directors
Section 1- Officers
Nomination of Officers shall be made by election committee with nominations being submitted by the general membership in September and / or occur from the floor at the October meeting. Individuals may accept multiple nominations but may only hold one (1) office that meets Board of Director definition at any one time.  Elections will be held at the Annual Meeting.
The officers of the Sumter County Mounted Reserve Unit, Inc., shall consist of the following:

 

1. Director – The Director shall preside at all meetings of the Posse and shall have general direction of the affairs of the Posse. He / She shall annually appoint the members of each committee. (Committees and Chairs shall be governed by the SOPs). The Director shall be the ex-officio member of all committees except the election committee. In an emergency situation the Director can request a check be cut by the Treasurer up to a certain dollar amount as set forth by the Board of Directors. (Amount to be set annually and listed in the SOPs)  The Director shall have no vote except as a tie breaker.
2. Secretary – The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Posse and its membership, training, etc and carry on correspondence for the Posse and other duties as requested by the Director.   In the absence of the Secretary a temporary secretary may be appointed by the Director.
3. Treasurer – The Treasurer shall receive and collect all funds owing or coming to the Posse, keep an accurate itemized account of all receipts and disbursements, pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors.  All funds shall be deposited in a bank approved by the Board of Directors to the credit of the Posse, and withdrawals made from there by check shall be signed by at least two persons.  At least one signature must be either the Director or Treasurer.  The second signer may be either another officer or member of the Board of Directors. An itemized account of receipts and disbursements shall be presented at each monthly meeting or upon request. An annual independent audit is to be conducted in September (to be presented in October) or upon request for the preceding year.  The Treasurer shall perform any other duties as requested by the Director.
4. Training Coordinator – The Training Coordinator shall work in conjunction with the Director to organize the monthly trainings, special trainings as requested by the Director or Board, and certification trainings. Training requirements for each Division  will be listed in the SOPs.
5. Additional Officers which are recommended as membership allows are (not required to attend Board of Director meetings except by special request):
a. Sergeant at Arms – The Sergeant at Arms shall maintain order at all SCMRU meetings and insure the Posse By Laws are followed.   MUST BE SOMEONE WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER AND THE BYLAWS
b. Public Relations Director – whose primary focus is the positive image of the Posse, will act as the public face of the Posse, head of the fund raising committee, works with news organizations and focuses on the overall good of the organization.
c. Chaplain – spiritual leader of the Posse, leads in opening prayers, special care of the membership as requested by the Director or in the SOPs.
The officers of this organization shall be elected by a majority of the general membership present.  Officers shall be elected at the November meeting so that December might serve for the transition meeting.  Officers shall serve a one (1) year term.
Section 2 – Board of Directors
1. The Board of Directors shall consist of elected officers, with Division Chiefs and Committee Chairs attending when agenda affects their division or committee.  Members of this Board  shall respect confidentiality, and remain discrete, respectful and considerate in all dealings. 
2. A quorum will be 51% of the Board of Directors in attendance for Board of Directors meetings.  Quorum for Disciplinary meetings will be 2/3  of the board.
3. Meetings of the Board of Directors will be determined by need and / or Standard Operating Procedures and called by the Director.
4. In emergency circumstances a Special Board of Director meeting may be called by the Director with 24 hours notice to the Board and without prior notice to general membership. 
Section 3 – Impeachment of Board of Directors/Officers
Any officer or member of the Board of Directors may be removed from office for cause by three fourths (3/4) vote of the general membership in attendance.  Written/email notice of the impending vote must be given to all members 28 days prior to this vote.

Article VI – Meetings
Section 1 – Meetings and Attendance
1. Regular administrative meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm unless otherwise directed by the Director.  Regular training meetings will be held on the 4th Saturday of the month unless otherwise directed by the Training Coordinator.
2. Special Meetings of the Posse may be called by the Director or the majority of the Board of Directors, provided that notice was given to all members not less than five (5) days prior to said meeting starting with  when, where and purpose of said meeting listed.
3. Special trainings may be called by the Director and/or Training Coordinator, provided that notice was given to all members not less than than fifteen  (15) days prior to said meeting starting with  when, where and purpose of said meeting listed. It is understood that special trainings may be designed for specific divisions of the posse and members not participating in that division will not be expected to attend.
4. Attendance – Persons missing three (3) consecutive meetings and three (3) consecutive trainings will be requested to show cause in writing or appear before the next Board of Directors meetings. Refusal to appear or otherwise show just cause will constitute termination of membership. Causes presented to the Board will be discretely, considerately and respectfully evaluated and acceptance or rejection will be determined by a two-thirds (2/3) vote.  Board of Directors may grant Leave of Absence for just cause.
5. The Annual Meeting will be held as the regular general meeting in November with elections and presentation of the annual audit.  The Board meeting for the Transition team will be scheduled at this meeting to occur prior to the December general meeting.   The December meeting will be the Holiday / End of Year celebration with allowance for the incoming Director to lay out their goals for the year.

Article VII – Parliamentary Authority
Section 1 – Rules of Order
1. The rules contained in the Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Articles of Organization or SOPs of this organization.
2. Professionalism and proper business etiquette shall be followed by all members at all times when relating to Posse business.
3. Posse shall observe the following agenda at all general meetings of the Posse.
a. Secretary shall keep a record of all members present and record all minutes
b. Pledge of Allegiance and opening prayer
c. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting
d. Correspondence
e. Treasurer’s report
f. Reports of Officers, Division heads and Committee Chairs
g. Unfinished Business
h. New Business
i. Adjournment
4. Training shall observe the following agenda at all trainings of the Posse
a. Training Coordinator and their designee shall keep attendance records of all members attending trainings
b. Inspection (uniform, tack, overall health and appearance of rider and horse)
c. Warm up
d. Training with proper hydration
e. Cool down
f. evaluation
5. Divisions and Standing Committees will be listed thru the SOPs
6. All Ad-Hoc Committees will be approved by the Director for a specific purpose.

Amendments – These Articles of Organization can be reviewed and revised at the call of the Board of Directors, but must be presented for three (3) consecutive general meetings for approval by three-fourths (3/4) of the General Membership.  Notification of these meetings must be made at least 28 days prior to the first vote.

Approved and accepted by the General Membership on
March 13, 2013

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