International Dressage Riders’ Club

Statutes 30 October 2011

1.    Company name and founding

The International Dressage Riders’ Club (“IDRC”) was founded on 23 March 1986, in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED).

2.    Aims

The IDRC was founded to:

2.1.       benefit equestrian sport

2.2.       uphold the spirit of good sportsmanship

2.3.       serve the prestige of dressage riders

2.4.       assist the governing bodies and the international organisers of dressage events in improving the image of the equestrian sport.

Namely:

2.5.       To represent the interests of active international dressage riders and prospective international dressage riders

2.6.       To promote the interest and image of the sport of dressage with respect to National Federations and Organising Committees

2.7.       To promote the sport of dressage in a more general way

2.8.       To ensure that FEI Rules are respected

2.9.       Above all, to respect the welfare of the horse

3.    Organisation

The IDRC comprises the following Bodies:

3.1.       the General Assembly

3.2.       the Executive Board

4.    The General Assembly

The General Assembly should be convened at least once per year. The place, date and time to be decided by the Executive Board.

4.1.       An Extraordinary Assembly can be convened through a written invitation to its Members with 21 days notice by:

4.1.1.    the President, or

4.1.2.    by 3 members of the Executive Board or

4.1.3.    a one fifth (1/5) majority of the Members.

4.2.       The Members present at the General Assembly will decide on the following points:

4.2.1.    To approve the President’s yearly report

4.2.2.    Election of the Executive Board

4.2.3.    Election of the President for the term of 4 years

4.2.4.    Dispensation of the Treasurer

4.2.5.    Change in the Statues

4.2.6.    Appointment of new members of the Executive Board

4.2.7.    Approval of yearly planning and evaluation of aims and projects

4.2.8.    To approve the annual accounts

4.2.9.    To set the membership fees

4.3.       The General Assembly shall be deemed to have been validly set up, whichever number of its Members is present. The Assembly is chaired by its President or, in his absence, by the association’s Vice-President or in his absence by an elected chair by majority vote of the Members present. Unless otherwise stated in the Statutes, the Assembly will base its decisions upon the simple majority of its present Members.

4.4.       Each Member is entitled to one vote. A Member may be represented by proxy. Voting will take place by raised hands, by telephone, in writing and electronically.  A secret ballot or a roll call may be requested by the majority of present Members. The members of the executive board are excluded from votes on the approval of the presidential report and of the accounts.

4.5.       The General Assembly decides by simple majority of the votes cast.

4.6.       Upon request by 1/3 (one third) of the Members present, a secret vote must be conducted.

4.7.       A change in the Statutes requires 2/3 (two thirds) majority of the Members present.

4.8.       In the case of equality of votes, the President has the casting vote.

5.    The Executive Board

5.1.       The Executive Board will consist of:

5.1.1.    The President

5.1.2.    The Vice-President

5.1.3.    The Secretary General

5.1.4.    The Treasurer

5.1.5.    Five (5) or more Members

5.2.       The members of the Executive Board are elected for a term of office of four (4) years and are eligible to be re-elected for an unlimited number of times.

5.3.       The Executive Board is responsible for the implementation of a programme of activities and for the well-being of the association; it provides discharge for its actions to the ordinary general assembly through a presidential report.

5.4.       The Executive Board represents the association before third parties.

5.5.       The association is bound by the individual signature of its President or by the joint signature of any two of its members of the Executive Board.

5.6.       Any external representative of the IDRC will be made by order of the Executive Board or by the President, the Vice-President and the Secretary General acting together.

5.7.       The Executive Board, or the President, Vice-President and Secretary General acting together, by majority vote, may decide to appoint special commissions.

5.8.       The Executive Board entrusts its administrative affairs with an appointed director or secretary who does not have to be a Member and who is responsible to the Executive Board only for his actions. The association has its seat, care of this secretary or director.

5.9.       By virtue of an explicit proxy the director may represent the association without binding it.

5.10.    The Executive Board is convened by the President or, upon request, by at least three of its executive members.

5.11.    The Executive Board may validly deliberate if at least four of its members are present in person or by telephone.

5.12.    Voting by mail, electronically and telephone is permitted.

5.13.    The Executive Board decides by simple majority of the members present in person and by telephone.

5.14.    In the case of equality of votes, the President has the casting vote.

5.15.    The Executive Board has the right to all confidential information held

6.    Membership

6.1.       All riders who have participated in a CDI are eligible to join the IDRC as a member (“Member”).

6.1.1.     A rider can only become a Member upon payment of the membership fee as determined from time to time by the Executive Board

6.1.2.     A Member may be excluded from membership:

6.1.2.1.         by the General Assembly, which may be after a hearing before the Executive Board or by the General Assembly’s own motion;

6.1.2.2.         by the Executive Board.  Any exclusion imposed by the Executive Board must be ratified by the General Assembly but shall take effect in the meantime.  Any Member so excluded may appeal against the decision on written notice to the Executive Board and the Executive Board may reinstate the Member’s membership at any time prior to ratification by the General Assembly.

6.1.3.     A Member may be excluded from membership as a result of non-payment of the membership fee for two consecutive years.

6.1.4.     A Member may resign from membership by notice in writing.

6.2.       Young riders, pony riders, national riders, owners and supporters of dressage are eligible to join the IDRC:

6.2.1.     Young riders and pony riders are eligible to join the IDRC as “Young Members”.

6.2.2.     National riders, owners and supporters of dressage are eligible to join the IDRC as “Associate Members”.

6.2.3.     Young Members and Associate Members have the right to attend the IDRC General Assembly with full voting rights except adoption of the IDRC Statutes.

6.3.  By order of the Executive Board, a Young Member or Associate Member may be elected as a Member.

7.    Use of Membership Fees

The membership fee serves for the promotion of the interests of the IDRC and to cover administration costs.

8.    Dissolution

The dissolution of the IDRC can only take place by vote of 2/3^rd (two thirds) majority of an Extraordinary Assembly convened expressly for that purpose alone.  In this case, the Extraordinary Assembly may deliberate if at least half of its members are present.  The decision to dissolve the association will be valid if taken by the two-third majority of the present members.

If the quorum has not been reached, a further assembly will be convened in the ninety days that follow, with an identical agenda. In this case, decisions will be valid with however many members present and with the relative majority.

In the case of dissolution, the allocation of the association’s assets will be decided by the assembly through simple majority.

9.    Review of the IDRC Statutes

The Executive Board, or 1/5 of the Members (excluding Young Members and Associate Members), can propose a review of the IDRC Statutes.

Amendments of the IDRC Statutes must be approved by a 2/3 majority of the votes of the present Members (excluding Young Members and Associate Members) during the Assembly. The date on which these amendments are to come into effect must be recorded in the minutes.

10.         Board of arbitrators

Any disputes arising between Members, or between single bodies of the association and its members, concerning statutes or internal rules shall be settled by an arbitration body made up of three members. Two of them must be chosen among those Members who are not involved, and who are proposed by each of the parties, whilst the third, not necessarily a Member, will act as president and be chosen by the other two.

11.         Miscellaneous

11.1.    The present Statutes, drawn up in English, may be translated in other languages. In case of litigious interpretation, the English version will be regarded as correct.

11.2.    These Statutes were adopted on 30 October 2011.

11.3.    All other texts and Statutes issued prior to this date are superseded.