Constitution and By-Laws of The World Farriers Association

CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

The hoofed animal is one of God's grandest creations. As beasts of burden, objects of art and interest, sports participants and athletes, companions and friends, these animals fulfill a fancy and meet a basic need of humans. The dumb animal enjoys no choice of its life of servitude but is left to the chance of nature or the choice of humankind. Except in the most remote of natural settings, these hoofed animals are inextricably bound or influenced by human beings.

With a higher order of intelligence and society, humans have a basic obligation to care for the animals they use, exploit, and enjoy. The horse as it is known today is foremost in value and importance to almost all societies and civilizations around the world. Asses, mules, donkeys, ponies, and all other species and hybrids of single-hoofed creatures deserve and require competent and periodic care. Cloven-footed animals fill some of the same roles as the single-hoofed animals, and deserve the same attention and skilled care. Whether wild, domiciled in zoo's or parks, or domesticated, these animals in service to humans are the focus of the World Farriers Association. To their well-being is this association dedicated. When this charge has been abdicated, civilization's debt to these creatures of service and beauty will become due. The World Farriers Association will work unceasingly to provide the highest standards of care to each and every one.

ARTICLE I

NAME, OFFICES, AND LANGUAGE

The name of this organization shall be the World Farriers Association, also known as the W.F.A. An office shall be maintained in a location determined by the Board of Directors. The Association shall have one general headquarters with appropriate offices in strategic world locations. English shall be the official language of the World Farriers Association. All documents shall be translated into French, German, Spanish, and Japanese. Other translations may be made as needed for particular projects or situations.

ARTICLE I I

PURPOSE

To provide a forum for exchange of information pertinent to the profession with regard to the theory and practice of farriery, tools, and related products used in farriery; provide expert advice and counsel about farriery to the horse industry; to foster and promote liaison between the farrier and veterinary professions; assist and participate in farriery-related research; promote professional educational efforts within and attendant to the farrier profession; develop and/or refine educational standards for students/teachers/schools; assist interested parties, in founding and operation of associations of farriers; foster exchange of practitioners and apprentices; develop and implement standard terminology, processes, procedures, and titling for contests and other similar activities; encourage international farrier competitions for all skill levels; encourage international trade of materials used by and available to farriers.

ARTICLE I I I

MEMBERSHIP AND VOTE

Membership shall consist of five categories:

1. Organizational: Bona fide national, country, or continental farrier associations, unions, or other similarly constituted organizations whose credentials are approved by the Board of Directors.
2. Individual; persons where no formally organized association exists, or where an organization exists but that does not belong to the World Farriers Association. Credentials must be approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may limit the maximum number of individual members from any country where no organization exists or is affiliated.
3. Commercial: Businesses engaged in international commerce of farrier-related goods and services whose credentials are approved by the Board of Directors.
4. Associate: Individuals and firms interested in but not directly associated with the farrier profession.
5. Supporting: Associate members who want to contribute sums of money in excess of that required of an Associate member. Except for Associate members, all members in good standing shall be entitled to vote in the conduct of association business at regular or special meetings, by proxy, or in absentia.

ARTICLE IV

CREDENTIALS

All representations, assertions, certifications, and other material supportive of membership categories 1-2-3 shall be subject to review and sanction by the Board of Directors. Full copies of all member's credentials (Articles of Incorporation, Certifications, Constitutions and By-Laws, Charter, etc.) shall be filed with general headquarters in support of membership applications. Such documents must be kept current. Failure to file corrections, deletions, additions, or other changes shall serve to jeopardize membership status. The Board of Directors shall work through the appropriate Vice-President to assist in development of acceptable credentials or to resolve problems in existing credentials.

ARTICLE V

FINANCES

Dues shall he paid in amounts to be fixed by the By-Laws to the headquarters office annually by July 1.

1. Delinquent payment (after 90 days) shall result in loss of good standing membership. Donations, gifts, or other bequests may he accepted by the association for furtherance of the provisions of ARTICLE II.
2. The Fiscal Year shall be July 1 - June 30.

The Board of Directors shall be responsible for maintaining all levels of fiscal responsibility.

ARTICLE VI

OFFICERS

Officers shall consist of a President, four Vice-Presidents, and Secretary-Treasurer. A Vice-President shall be responsible for Europe and Africa; for North Central, and South America; Asia; and Oceana (Australia and New Zealand). The President may serve concurrently as a Vice-President for a respective area.

A Liaison Officer may be appointed by the President to liaise with the veterinary medical profession, educational institutions, and other international organizations and bodies whose interests and activities are pertinent to the WPA.

All officers shall serve until successors are elected by the membership or appointed by the Board of Directors. Duties shall be prescribed by the By-Laws. Administrative personnel may he employed as needed by an officer.

ARTICLE VII

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board shall consist of the President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary-Treasurer, and three elected at-large members. If the President serves also as a Vice-President the individual shall vote as a Vice-President in matters requiring a vote. The President shall vote as President only to break a tic vote. The Board shall manage all affairs of the association subject to the provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws. It shall control all matters not other-wise provided for. The Board shall meet at the call of the President. A simple majority of the Board members present or represented shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VIII

MEETINGS

Regular meetings shall be held bi-annually for the purposes of election of officers, presentations of reports, committee work, and conduct of all business inherent in the organization. Meetings shall be held in locations specified by the Board of Directors. Special meetings may he called as specified in the By-Laws. All general and membership meetings are open to everyone. The Board of Directors may meet in executive session which may he closed to general attendance.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

This constitution may be amended by the following actions:

1. The amendment shall be proposed and discussed at a regular or special meeting. No vote shall be taken.
2. The Secretary shall present the proposed amendment in a special notification to the membership; within 60 days of the meeting. A ballot must be returned to the Secretary no later then the date specified. This date shall be no longer than 90 days after the meeting.
3. A two-thirds majority of members voting is required to carry an amendment.

The By-Laws may be amended by concurrence of two-thirds of the Board of Directors. All votes for amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws must be by written ballot.

WORLD FARRIERS ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

SECTION I

Application for membership must be made to general headquarters, through continental or other offices located elsewhere in the world.

1. Organizational: A representative may hold office, cast one vote, and pay dues as stipulated. In addition to the one vote per organizational entity, the following schedule shall provide for additional votes per quantity of members. The number of active members shall be declared annually with payment of dues.

2. Individual: May hold office, cast one vote, and pay dues as stipulated. Must provide acceptable bon a fides to Board of Directors.

3. Commercial: May hold office, cast one vote, and pay dues as stipulated. Acceptable bonafides, to include nature and extent of farrier-related business(es), must be provided to the Board of Directors.

4. Associate: May not hold office, may not vote, and pay dues as stipulated. May participate in all activities of association.

5. Supporting: Members who wish to contribute an annual sum of money in excess of that paid by an Associate member.

Members are subject to the STANDARDS FOR CONDUCT, SECTION X. Detrimental conduct prejudicial to the WFA or other national international organization may result in loss of membership. The Board of Directors shall hear all complaints and a simple majority of Board member votes is required to formalize a decision.

SECTION II

CREDENTIALS

The Board of Directors shall review all credentials submitted with membership application. The Board shall have final authority in accepting or rejecting such credentials. Membership applications may be submitted for acceptance at anytime.

SECTION I I I

DUES

1. At chartering, annual dues shall be established by the Board of Directors. The dues for organizational membership shall be:
   • $200.00 (U.S.) Origination or initiation fee; plus
   • $100.00 (U.S.) Annual dues; plus
   • $1.00 (U.S.) Annual per-member fee for each member of organization.
2. At chartering, the annual dues for Individual and Associate members shall be:
   • $50.00 (U S.) Origination or initiation fee; plus
   • $25.00 (U.S.) annual dues
3. At chartering, the annual dues for Commercial members shall be:
   • $200.00 (U.S.) Origination or initiation fee; plus
   • $100.00 (U.S.) Annual dues
4. At chartering, the annual dues for Supporting members shall be:
   • $1,000.00 (U.S) Origination or initiation fee; plus
   • $1,000.00 (U.S.) Annual dues

Dues shall be paid in advance for any year beginning July 1, and will apply to the entire year. New members shall pay dues for the entire calendar year, unless joining after June 1. In that case, dues will apply to subsequent year.

Membership shall cease if dues become more than 90 days delinquent. If delinquent dues are submitted, a 50% of regular annual dues late fee must be added. Dues are non-refundable. This does not apply to Supporting members.

SECTION IV

FINANCES

1. The Board of Directors must maintain a balanced budget.
2. The Secretary/Treasurer shall manage all monetary resources. Check signing authority may be delegated by the Treasurer.
3. The Board of Directors shall review the Treasurer's proposed budget at regular or special meetings.
4. Audits of fiscal transactions shall take place when directed by the Board.

SECTION V

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. The President shall attend and preside at all meetings, and efficiently conduct the affairs of the association. The President may delegate to a Board member to serve instead.
2. A Vice-President shall serve as President when necessary, and when directed to do so by the Board of Directors. Vice-President shall chair committees as directed by the President.
3. The Secretary/Treasurer shall record proceedings of all meetings, collect dues, pay or authorize payment of all fiscal obligations. provide notification to members of pending meetings, mail proposed amendments and ballots; facilitate elections.
4. Directors shall attend (or be represented by a personally appointed delegate) all meetings, represent the area and interests that elected them, and participate in all management affairs of the WFA.

TERMS OF OFFICE

All officers and directors shall serve two year terms. The President, and two directors, and two Vice-Presidents shall be elected by December 31 of each even numbered year. Two Vice-Presidents, the Secretary/Treasurer, and one director shall be elected by June 30 of each odd-numbered year. If an officer no longer is able to serve, the Board of Directors will appoint a successor until an election is held.

SECTION VI

MEETINGS

Vice-Presidents may call area meetings as deemed necessary and desirable, after consultation with the President. Full record of proceedings shall be kept and filed with headquarters. These meetings may be educational and/or entertaining as well as for the conduct of business.

Special General membership meetings may be called by the President. The Secretary will notify members no less than 60 days in advance.

The Board of Directors may be called to conference by the President by notification of members by safe mail at least 60 days in advance of the meeting date. The Secretary will manage this effort.

Meetings and conferences will be conducted by officers and directors in office during the terms preceding the meeting or conference.

SECTION VII

VOTING

All voting shall be done by show of hands by those physically present, or by written ballot furnished by the Secretary, when requested by two-thirds vote of those present. Written ballots will be furnished to all members for elections. Mailed ballots will be counted along with ballots cast at meetings, or in addition to show-of hands votes at meetings.

SECTIONS VIII

ELECTIONS

Election shall be declared by a plurality of those voting. The President shall name a Nominating Committee and Elections Committee, as needed, for the purpose of candidate selection. Nominations must be made six months prior to election date

SECTION IX

COMMITTEES

The Board shall appoint the Committee Chairman. The Chairman will submit names of commitment to the Board. The Board of Directors may override Committee appointments by a three-fourths vote against the nominee.

Standing Committees shall be:

1. Election Committee - to conduct all elections, pass information about candidate, tally votes, and certify elections. The Secretary shall distribute ballots.
2. Nominating Committee - To find and screen candidates for office. To report to Board of Directors.
3. Ways and Means and Membership - To assist in financial solvency and to promote membership.
4. Communications Committee - Shall insure that culture, custom, and tradition are observed in host countries and activities; and shall assist in gathering information, editing, and publishing a periodical newsletter.
5. Art and Craft Committee - To pursue and provide educational opportunities in and for all WFA activities; and to assist in planning and staging international competitions of all kinds. In addition, shall advise and assist other horse-related functions such as the Olympics, World Games, F.E.I., etc.

SECTION X

STANDARDS FOR CONDUCT

1. The overriding objective is to provide for a high standard of farriery practice throughout the world. All members will strive toward that end.
2. Knowledge and skill sharing will dominate all personal and professional activities.
3. Commercial interests will not be paramount in conduct or decisions made.
4. Members shall observe and respect all laws and shall uphold the honor and dignity of the farrier's profession by conducting honest, punctual, and competent business endeavors.
5. Members shall participate in activities of horse organizations to promote better care of horses.
6. Members shall avoid conflicts of interest and shall circumspectly conduct themselves in a matter that avoids appearances of conflicts of interest.
7. Members shall educate their clients as to the value of high quality farrier services.

SECTION XI

DISSOLUTION

In the event that, for any cause or reason, the World Farriers Association shall cease to exist as a formal entity, the elected officers and members of the Board of Directors shall dispose of the assets of WFA that may remain at the time. Property, if any, shall be liquidated and money combined with any funds that might remain in the Treasury and be donated to a horse-related organization or charity of the group's choosing. Copyrights and Trademarks, if any, shall be assigned or cancelled as appropriate. Such formal donation, cancellation, or assignment shall be the final act of the officers, the Board of Directors, and the World Farriers Association.

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