USMMA By-Laws

BYLAWS OF U.S. Mangalarga Marchador Association (USMMA).

Original 2004, revised 2009, 2012, 2021 and 2025.

PART I – GENERAL PROVISIONS

Bylaw 101 – Name and Seal

Section 1. Name: The name of this corporation shall be the U. S. Mangalarga Marchador Association (hereinafter referred to as “USMMA”).

Section 2. Seal: The Seal of USMMA shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the name USMMA and the year of its incorporation and the words “Corporate Seal”.

Bylaw 102 – Objectives

Section 1. Vision Statement: The vision of USMMA is to provide leadership for establishing and promoting the Mangalarga Marchador horse breed in North America, encouraging the pursuit of excellence in bloodlines, and the welfare of its human and equine participants.

Section 2. Mission Statement

  • To inspire and encourage interest in the Mangalarga Marchador breed.
  • To provide a registration body to insure the purity of the breed.
  • To maintain a breed standard consistent with the Brazilian standard of the ABCCMM.
  • To encourage participation and cooperation among breeders, owners, trainers, and other equine professionals in support of the Mangalarga Marchador and the USMMA goals.
  • To affiliate and coordinate with other organizations and associations in support of the vision and mission of the USMMA.
  • To maintain a USMMA organization that works together with civility and respect and maintains high ethical standards.

Bylaw 103 – Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 1. Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of the USMMA shall be as established by the Board of Directors and is documented in the Operating Rules.

Section 2. Designated Contributions: The USMMA may accept any contribution, gift, grant, bequest, or device that is designated, restricted, or conditioned by the donor, provided that the designation, restriction, or condition is consistent with the USMMA’s general tax-exempt purposes. The USMMA shall reserve all right, title, interest in, and control over such contributions and shall have authority to determine the ultimate expenditure or distribution thereof in connection with any such special fund, purpose, or use.

Section 3. Robert’s Rules of Order: The Annual Meeting and other meetings will follow the latest authorized edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

PART II— Memberships and Affiliations

Bylaw 201 – Eligibility

Membership in USMMA is open to any individual who is a breeder, owner, rider, driver, handler, coach, trainer, manager, administrator, official active in equestrian sport, or any other individual having an interest in the Mangalarga Marchador horse breed.

Bylaw 202 – Voting Constituency

Voting Members consist of all USMMA Members in good standing at the time of elections. Members shall elect the Board of Directors (hereinafter “BoD”) by a simple majority of votes. Family Membership entitles the two named family Members to two votes for the BoD. Individual Membership entitles the individual to one vote.

Bylaw 203 – Dues and Fees

Annual membership shall be for one year. Payment is due upon submission of membership application. Membership will begin on the first day of the month that the application is received. Each Member shall pay to the USMMA annual fees and/or dues in the amount determined by the BoD. The BoD shall establish deadlines for the payment of fees. Should these fees not be paid on time, a second notice shall be sent to the Member. Fees and deadlines are published in the Operating Rules.

Bylaw 204 – Refusal to Grant Membership, Suspensions, and Terminations

The BoD may refuse or rescind membership to any person whose actions can be judged to be incongruent with the USMMA goals. Such actions include, but are not limited to: fraud, forgery, other criminal activity, or mistreatment of animals, or other actions demonstrating cruelty, neglect, or moral turpitude. A reason for rescission of any Member becomes public domain.

(NOTE: Bylaws 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, and 210 were rescinded previously.)

Bylaw 211 – Member Designation

Members consist of those persons who have joined USMMA in one or more of the Membership categories.

Bylaw 212 – Membership Categories

Section 1. Lifetime Family and Lifetime Individual Members: Those persons who who have made a lifetime payment of dues.  Family members must live in the same household.  Life Members over 18 can vote for the BoD.

Section 2. Annual Family and Annual Individual Members: Those persons who have paid the requisite annual dues for a family or individual. Family members must live in the same household.   Annual Members over 18 can vote for the BoD.

PART III – GOVERNANCE

Bylaw 301 – General Authority and Responsibilities

The USMMA shall have a BoD. The BoD shall have all governance, supervising, and administrative authority of the USMMA. The authority and responsibilities of the BoD shall include:

  1. The general management of the affairs of the USMMA and may make contracts in its name and behalf or authorize such contracts to be made by the Officers of the USMMA.
  2. Making and enforcing the rules governing membership and registration.
  3. Shall keep a record of its proceedings and shall report at the annual meeting of the USMMA or at any special meeting of the BoD.
  4. Alter or amend the due’s structure, including all fees, at any time as it deems warranted.
  5. Upon a majority vote of those Members present at a duly called meeting of the BoD, may alter the number of Directors on the BoD as it considers appropriate.
  6. Amend the USMMA bylaws as called out in Bylaw 304, Section 5.
  7. Amend the USMMA operating rules.

Bylaw 302 – Composition

Section 1. Board of Directors: BoD consists of the following personnel: Members of the USMMA association: The Officers of the Association – President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer; the Regional Directors of the Association; the Association Registrar; and the Emeritus Director(s).

Section 2. Regional Director(s). There will be 3-7 Regional Directors representing different sections of the U.S. and Canada. The Regions are Pacific, Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and Canada.

Section 3. Registrar. The Registrar is appointed by the BoD and serves on both the BoD and the Technical Board.

Section 4. Emeritus Director(s). The immediate past President shall be an Emeritus Member of the BoD. They shall have all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a Director except that they do not have the right to vote. If the immediate past President is unable or unwilling to accept this position, then it may be filled by the immediate past Vice-President. If neither chooses to serve, the position will be left vacant. This position provides knowledge of past USMMA transactions, proceedings and continuity of activities in the transition to a new BoD.

Section 5. Qualifications of the Officer and/or Director: To be considered for any Officer or Director position, the individual must be: a Member in good standing for at least 120 days before the election, and be a USMMA-registered Marchador owner at the time of the election. Each BoD Member must remain a member in good standing of the USMMA for the duration of their term. Each BoD Member, except for the Emeritus Director, has one vote in BoD meetings.

Section 6. Term: The Term of an individual elected to fill a position referred to in Section 1, 2, or 4 of these bylaws is set in Sec. 7, below. It begins immediately upon their election or appointment. If the person is elected or appointed to fill a vacancy, their Term is the remaining time on the vacancy they are filling. The Term begins immediately following the adjournment of the meeting in which they are elected or appointed.

Section 7. Duration of Term: A Term will be four years. There are no term limits. Persons may serve if they are willing and qualified to serve. Each BoD Member and Officer must submit their name to the Election Committee to be placed on the ballot and be elected by the Members every four years.

Section 8: Succession: The Vice-President shall succeed the President should the President resign or be removed during the Term. Should any other office become vacant for any reason, the BoD shall select a new BoD Member from among the eligible Members in good standing for the remainder of the Term.

Section 9. USMMA Technical Board: Beginning in 2009, the USMMA BoD is assisted by a USMMA Technical Board, hereinafter referred to as the T/Board. The T/Board will consist of the Registrar, the Web Site Master, and the ABCCMM Liaison with other positions as added by the BoD. The T/Board will harness on an on-going basis the knowledge and expertise of experts to advise the BoD on technical matters. T/Board Members will be appointed by the President with the approval of the BoD and will not be subject to term limits. The T/Board will serve at the pleasure of a President who could remove a T/Board member only if there is just cause for removal or the purpose of their appointment has been fulfilled. With a change in President, T/Board reappointment is automatic unless there was a cause for removal.  The T/Board votes.

Bylaw 303 – Duties of Officers and Regional Directors

Section 1. Responsibilities of Officer Positions:

President:  Responsible for setting goals for the USMMA, performing administrative duties such as representing the USMMA, and presiding over all meetings. The President must also remain impartial during meetings and follow parliamentary procedures using Robert’s Rules of Order.

Past President:  Provide guidance and training to new BoD members, ensuring a smooth transition of the BoD’s operations and business.

Vice-President:  Serve in the absence of the President and to automatically succeed to the Office of President in case of that officer’s death or resignation. 

Secretary:

  • Take minutes at all meetings and submit them for approval to the Membership at the following meeting.
  • Serve as custodian of USMMA records (except records specifically assigned to other Officers), including minutes; reports of Officers, BoD boards, and committees; and official correspondence.
  • Make sure the official bylaws, special rules of order, standing rules, and current minutes book are available for reference at all meetings.
  • Make the USMMA records available to Members, in accordance with your rules.
  • Keep the official Membership roll.
  • Ensure that Officers, Directors and committee members are notified when elected or appointed, and are given credentials and any necessary papers.
  • Issue the notice (or call) of meetings and serve as a correspondence secretary unless a separate position is established for that function.
  • Prepare the order of business for the presiding Officer, showing everything known to be up for consideration at the meeting.
  • Preside over the election of a temporary chairman for a meeting if the President and Vice-President are absent.

Treasurer:

  • Serve as custodian of the funds of the USMMA, keeping careful records of all receipts and making no disbursements outside of the authority granted in the Operating Rules. 
  • Prepare financial statements and report to the BoD and Members.
  • File annual corporate reports with the state.
  • Take responsibility for all reports required by taxing authorities

Registrar:

  • Manages all registrations and transfers of North American Mangalarga Marchador horses and owners that participate in the USMMA registration service.
  • Provides guidance to the BoD on registration eligibility, naming conventions, and other registration issues.
  • Communicates and shares information with the Brazilian ABCCMM Registrar office.
  • Maintains all registration records and database.
  • Manages DNA collection testing and analysis by UCDavis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory used in the parental verification and bloodline purity of the hoses registered in the USMMA.
  • Generates registration reports.
  • Guides the BoD on bylaw changes and impacts of registration upon USMMA business.

Section 2. Schedule: Year beginning January 2005, the Term is one year for the BoD. Beginning in January 2006 and every fourth year thereafter, the BoD seats will be up for election. BoD Members shall serve four years or until a successor is elected. The Regional Directors’ elections are staggered by two years from the Executive Officers’ BoD’s election.

Section 3. Vacancies: Except for the President, vacancies which occur by reason of resignation, death, incapacity, or removal before expiration of the Term, may be filled by the BoD for the remainder of the unexpired Term by appointment.

Section 3. Election Committee: An Election Committee of three Members will be appointed by the President during the election year to fill the slate of candidates for the election, to set the calendar for elections, to establish and oversee the election process, and to announce its results. At least one USMMA past President shall be on the Election Committee. Every effort should be made to find new Members to run and to have more than one choice for every Office on the ballot. Every position except for T/Board will be up for re-election every four years. Officer elections are staggered 2 years from Regional Director Elections.

Bylaw 304 – Meetings

Section 1. Meetings: The USMMA BoD shall meet or report quarterly. Any BoD Member who misses two meetings within a year may be asked to resign from their position. Viable excuses for missing the meetings will be reviewed by the BoD. The President shall have the power to call a meeting of the BoD at any time and must call a meeting when requested in writing to do so by one-third or more of the Members of the BoD. At least one meeting per year will be designated an Annual Meeting for all USMMA Members to participate and ask questions.

Section 2. Quorum: At all meetings of the BoD, fifty percent of Members shall constitute a quorum. In the event a quorum shall not be achieved, such BoD meeting shall be adjourned by the Chair to a future date.

Section 3. Participation in Meetings via Conference Call: The BoD may participate in all BoD meetings by means of a conference telephone or similar digital communications equipment which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum to transact and to vote on any business.

Section 4. Notice of Meetings: Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be made to the USMMA Membership at least 45 days prior to the meeting via postal mail or email to each Member.

Section 5. Amendment to the Bylaws: The Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of BoD at any meeting.  Substantial bylaw changes by the BoD as exampled, but not limited to impacts to breed standards, registry, and membership require two BoD meetings for approval and that such proposed bylaw changes be communicated to the entire USMMA Membership a minimum of 30 days before the second BoD approval meeting.

PART IV – Committees

Bylaw 401 Committees may be formed at the request of the BoD for special projects or events.

PART V – Administration

Bylaw 501 – Records of the USMMA

Section 1. Registration Records: The USMMA shall keep and maintain as permanent records the genealogy records of all Mangalarga Marchador horses registered by its Members.

Section 2. Accounting Records: The USMMA shall maintain appropriate accounting records.

Section 3. Membership List: The USMMA shall maintain a record of the Members in a form that permits preparation of a list of the names and addresses of the Members in alphabetical order. 

Section 4. Records in Written Form: The USMMA shall maintain its records in written form or in another form capable of conversion into written form within a reasonable time.

Section 5. Records Maintained: The USMMA shall keep a copy of each of the following records at its principal office:

  • The Certificate of Incorporation.
  • The Bylaws.
  • The Operating Rules.
  • The minutes of all meetings of the Members.
  • A list of the names and contact info of the current BoD.
  • The USMMA’s application for recognition of exemption and the tax-exemption determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service; and
  • All other documents or records required to be maintained by the USMMA at its principal office under applicable law or regulation.

PART VI REGISTRY RULES