MENOMONEE FALLS SADDLE CLUB, INC
BYLAWS
APPROVED (06/03/2025)
ARTICLE I
The Legal name of the organization is the Menomonee Falls Saddle Club, Inc. (DBA Menomonee Falls Saddle Club, AKA MFSC).  
ARTICLE II
(Purpose)

SECTION 1: To develop, encourage and promote good sportsmanship and fellowship in equestrian sports among equine lovers (horses/donkeys/mules) together with the knowledge and interest in their care, training, and breeding.
SECTION 2: Through the activities of this club, to increase interest and educate the public in the recreational possibilities and benefits of the use and ownership of equines.
SECTION 3: To promote and cultivate friendly relationships with similar clubs throughout the State of Wisconsin and elsewhere.
SECTION 4: For the uses and purposes for which this organization is formed: to lease, purchase and hold properties for the use and enjoyment of the organization. As of 4/16/2025 MFSC currently owns one property located at N75W25500 Hwy 164, Sussex, WI 53089 (Known as “Club Grounds”).
ARTICLE III
(Members)

SECTION 1: A member who is in good standing is one who has paid the Club’s annual dues. Members also need to attend three (3) or more monthly meetings, OR work one of the Club’s events, OR contribute some type of service for the club. (changed 11/2022)
SECTION 2: Membership in this organization shall be granted to all persons who upon application have been approved by a majority of the Board of Directors and confirmed upon payment of the initial dues.
SECTION 3: A Family Membership is defined as a maximum of two (2) senior members and dependents under eighteen (18) residing in the same household. After reaching the age of eighteen (18) as of January 1, the member is no longer included under the family membership and may apply for a Student or Individual Membership.
SECTION 3a: A dependent over eighteen (18), who is a fulltime student shall be considered part of a Family membership as long as they are in school, with school identification, and sharing the same address until age twenty-four (24).
SECTION 4: An Individual Membership is for a single person eighteen (18) years or more and not a student.
SECTION 5: A Student Membership is for a single person eighteen (18) to twenty-four (24) with school ID.
SECTION 6: Participation in the activities of the organization and use of the Club Grounds shall be restricted to members only except when events are open to the public and covered by Club Insurance.

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV
(Dues)

SECTION 1: The dollar amount of the Membership Dues for Family, Individual, and Student (up to age 24), shall be reviewed and voted upon by the members annually.
SECTION 2: No person shall participate in the annual meeting in November until membership dues have been paid.
SECTION 3: The fiscal year shall run from January 1st through December 31st.
SECTION 4: Dues are payable by January 1st of each year with a grace period up to March 15th for members of the previous year. After March 15th membership is discontinued and correspondence will no longer be sent. 
SECTION 5: If new membership is granted and the initial membership dues are paid to the Treasurer on or after October 1st, it shall be considered as payment of dues for the following fiscal year.
ARTICLE V
(Meetings)

SECTION 1: The organization shall meet monthly.
SECTION 2: The annual meeting shall be held during the month of November each year.
SECTION 3: Special meetings may be called by a majority of the Board of Directors or by the Secretary upon request of any five (5) members of good standing in the organization.
SECTION 4: A quorum shall consist of the President (or Vice President) and Secretary (or acting Secretary) with a total of at least eight (8) voting members of the organization in good standing.
SECTION 5: A Family Membership shall be entitled to two adult votes and an Individual or Student Membership shall be entitled to one vote at any and all elections and meetings of the organization. Members must be present to vote, except in the case of absentee ballots for elections of officers.
SECTION 6: Robert’s “Rules of Order” shall govern this organization in all its proceedings and actions of its Officers and Directors.
SECTION 7: Every year, at the December meeting, the club will do a financial review to establish the club’s yearly minimum financial obligations of taxes and insurance are met.  If financial obligations would not be met, the indefinitely tabled vote to sell the club grounds would be brought forth. (added 02/2024)
ARTICLE VI
(Officers)

SECTION 1: The elective officers of the organization shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
SECTION 2: There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of seven (7) members: being the President, Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and three other members elected from the organization’s members. The Secretary of the organization shall act as the Secretary of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3: All Officers and Directors of the organization shall be elected at the annual meeting in November and shall take office at the Annual Banquet serving for one year until their successors are duly elected and qualified. No Officers or Director shall hold office more than two (2) consecutive years in their current position. In the case that there are no other candidates for any of the positions the membership may choose to re-elect a current Officer or Board of Director to a new term in their same position.
(Article VI continued)

SECTION 4: A member shall belong to the club for one year and be in good standing to be nominated for the positions of: President, Vice president, Secretary, and Treasurer. A member with less than one year of membership, who is in good standing according to the bylaws, shall be eligible for nomination of a board of Directors position. 

ARTICLE VII
(Duties of the Directors and Officers)

SECTION 1: The general supervision and direction of the affairs of the organization shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall meet at least two (2) times a year. They shall fill any and all vacancies which may occur among the officers between annual meetings. They may carry on all business and other activities of the organization.
SECTION 2: The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership and all meetings of the Board of Directors. The President shall perform all the duties incident to this office. The President shall have the power to appoint such committees as may be deemed necessary from time to time. The Vice President shall act for the President in his/her absence.
SECTION 3: The duty of the Secretary shall be to take minutes, keep a permanent record of all meetings of this organization and create and distribute election ballots to the membership. The Secretary shall report to the organization on the proceedings of the Board of Directors and upon the activities of the organization, at monthly meetings of the Club. The Secretary shall maintain the current membership list. The Secretary shall deliver all minutes and records to his/her successor by the end of January.
SECTION 4: The duty of the Treasurer shall be to keep records and have charge and custody of all funds and pay out same. The Treasurer shall make a report at each meeting upon the financial affairs of the organization and upon all funds coming into the Club’s possession. The Treasurer shall deliver all funds and records to his/her successor by the end of January.  At the end of the fiscal year the Treasurer shall have the books audited by an independent accountant including a written report from said accountant. Said services shall be paid for by the Club.
SECTION 5: All monies of the organization, including checks, cash and mobile payment services (such as Venmo, Square) shall be handled by the Treasurer and deposited in a bank account designated by the Board of Directors. All payments for Club events must go through the Club’s mobile payment services or be paid by cash or check made out to MFSC or Menomonee Falls Saddle Club. The Club checking account shall at all times have two authorized signers, one of which shall be the Treasurer and one other Officer or Board Member.
SECTION 6: The Board of Directors shall be limited to expenditures in the amount not to exceed $150 (one hundred and fifty dollars) at any one time unless authorized at a meeting of the organization to exceed that amount.
ARTICLE VIII
(Elections)

SECTION 1: At each annual meeting in November, all Officers and Directors shall be elected.
SECTION 2: Nominations for Officer and Director positions shall be accepted no later than the end of the October meeting. The names of such nominees will be placed on the ballot and all members shall be notified of the names of the nominees prior to the November meeting. The ballot shall be used for in-person and absentee voting at the November annual meeting and ballots will also include a write-in option for each position.
SECTION 3: All voting for officers of the organization shall be by secret ballot and a plurality shall be required to elect. The Board of Directors shall count the votes. In the case of a tie vote, the members present shall cast a new vote by secret ballot.
SECTION 4: Only members in good standing whose dues are paid in accordance with these Bylaws, shall be eligible to vote at any election and each membership is entitled to vote according to the membership paid.
ARTICLE IX
(Amendments)

SECTION 1: These Bylaws may be altered and amended at any meeting of the organization, providing a quorum is present, by a majority vote of the members present at such meeting (provided that the proposed amendment has been presented in writing and read by the Secretary at a previous meeting).
ARTICLE X
(Club Grounds)

SECTION 1: No Club property is to be taken from the grounds unless removal has been approved and recorded by the Chairperson of the Grounds Committee and the President or Vice-President.
SECTION 2: Keys to storage areas and other buildings on the grounds will be maintained by the Chairperson of the Grounds Committee which may include using lockbox(es) to access keys at the Club Grounds. The Chairperson must keep a written record of members who have access to the keys.
SECTION 3: No improvements or additions shall be made on the grounds without the approval of the Board of Directors or via Club vote.
SECTION 4: The Grounds Committee shall be responsible for keeping up with all pertinent rules and ordinances of the Municipality of Lisbon. All improvements shall be made with zoning ordinances and the Club’s master plan in mind.
SECTION 5: Rental of the grounds and rental fees shall be set by the Board of Directors or by Club vote. All rental contracts shall be submitted along with payment prior to the event; payable to the Club as previously stated at Article VII, Section 5. The Grounds Committee shall be furnished with a calendar of events scheduled for the grounds from the Show Committee.
SECTION 6: The Chairperson of the Grounds Committee shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. The appointed Grounds Chairperson shall have been a member of the Club for at least one (1) year. The Grounds Chairperson shall be invited to attend the Board of Directors meetings as an advisor.
ARTICLE XI
(Dissolution)

SECTION 1: In the event that it was determined the club is not able to meet its financial obligations, the board of directors may call for a vote of dissolution which shall be determined by majority vote of the membership.

SECTION 2: All assets of the club will be liquidated, and the funds will be distributed to up to 3 equine related non-profit/educational organizations located in the state of Wisconsin to be voted on by the membership.

SECTION 3: The Treasurer and President will be responsible for filing any legal paperwork for dissolution with the State of Wisconsin and/or the Internal Revenue Service.