Forming a chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Minnesota
The Back Country Horsemen of Minnesota (BCH-MN) is comprised of all local Chapters within the State of Minnesota. A local or regional chapter may be organized by any group interested in supporting the philosophy and purpose of the Back Country Horsemen of America. The chapter must become part of BCH-MN.
Forming a BCH organization is not difficult; however, there are a number of requirements. First, those interested in creating an organization must subscribe to the Objectives and Purposes of the Back Country Horsemen of America as outlined in the Organizational Handbook. Those purposes do not preclude other interests, but a saddle club that may take an occasional trail ride is not a BCHA organization.
Forming a BCH organization is not difficult; however, there are a number of requirements. First, those interested in creating an organization must subscribe to the Objectives and Purposes of the Back Country Horsemen of America as outlined in the Organizational Handbook. Those purposes do not preclude other interests, but a saddle club that may take an occasional trail ride is not a BCHA organization.
The by-laws of the Back Country Horsemen of Minnesota (BCH-MN) allow for the formation of "local or regional" chapters within the state organization. The purpose of these chapters is to encourage riders who live and/or ride in various parts of the state to organize and volunteer to develop, preserve, and maintain equine trails throughout Minnesota.
The guidelines for the formation of local or regional chapters from the Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) require that a chapter of a state organization may be formed when 15 or more horsemen/women from a geographic area within a state apply to the state board to become a chapter. A new chapter must establish a set of by-laws consistent with the state's by-laws, provide a statement of affiliation with BCH-MN, establish a membership list and elect officers. A chapter will provide representation to BCH-MN Board of Directors.
The portions of the BCH-MN by-laws that speak specifically to chapters include:
ARTICLE VII-OFFICERS -
On December 27, 2016 the BCH-MN Board of Directors established several policies to work with local or regional chapters with regard to finances and record keeping/reporting:
The guidelines for the formation of local or regional chapters from the Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) require that a chapter of a state organization may be formed when 15 or more horsemen/women from a geographic area within a state apply to the state board to become a chapter. A new chapter must establish a set of by-laws consistent with the state's by-laws, provide a statement of affiliation with BCH-MN, establish a membership list and elect officers. A chapter will provide representation to BCH-MN Board of Directors.
The portions of the BCH-MN by-laws that speak specifically to chapters include:
ARTICLE VII-OFFICERS -
- Section 1. The Board of Directors of the Organization shall consist of a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, a Secretary/Treasurer, and Regional Directors. Officers shall serve a one year term and Directors shall serve two year terms.
- Section 4. Each Region, when established, shall elect a Regional Director and Alternate from their membership at the annual meeting to serve as a regional representative to the State Board of Directors. These regional directors shall serve two year terms.
- Section 6. The Regional Directors shall be responsible for communicating information from the Board of Directors to the general membership of their regions.
On December 27, 2016 the BCH-MN Board of Directors established several policies to work with local or regional chapters with regard to finances and record keeping/reporting:
- Finances -
- Each chapter should have their own bank account.
- The chapter would collect the membership information and dues (currently $25 single and $30 family) and submit the portion of the dues for the state (currently $2 single and family) and the national (currently $15 single and $18 family) to the state. The state would then accumulate the information and dues and forward the portion due to the national.
Division of Membership Dues |
Single Membership |
Family Membership |
Local Chapter |
$8 |
$10 |
BCHA National |
$15 |
$18 |
BCH-MN State organization |
$2 |
$2 |
Total |
$25 |
$30 |
- In order for donations to be able to be deductable on a donor's income taxes, the donation must be made to a 501 c3 designated organization. If a donor wants a donation to go to a specific chapter, they would need to make the donation to the state organization with those instructions (unless a chapter goes through the 501 c3 designation process itself) and the BCH-MN board would forward the entire donation amount on to the designated chapter. Donations made to the BCH-MN state organization would stay in the state treasury for use at the State Board's discretion. If a donation is made directly to a chapter not qualified as a 501 c3 organization, the donation would not be tax deductable to the donor. Whoever receives the donation (local or state) would be responsible for sending a thank you letter/receipt to donors. Recommend setting a $ amount to trigger a letter/receipt - maybe $100 or more.
- Each chapter would be responsible to provide BCH-MN with an annual report in a timely manner. The report would include information on membership, summary of finances, volunteer hours, and any other information as requested by the state by mid January.
- Record keeping/Reporting -
- Chapters would provide membership information (names, addresses, emails, etc.) to the state as memberships are received so that members would receive the BCHA newsletter in a timely manner.
- Chapters would track and report volunteer hours and other information as needed to complete the volunteer reports to MN agencies and the BCHA.
- The state BCH-MN would be responsible to accumulate all state data and communicate with and report to the national organization.