AMHA Announces Election Results
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
The American Morgan Horse Association, Inc., held its annual meeting of members as noticed on February 11, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. The results of the election conducted in conjunction with that meeting are as follows:
1. BYLAWS
The proposed bylaw changes presented for approval were approved. The revisions are to become effective as of March 31, 2016.
2. DIRECTORS
Karen Marlin was elected as a Director representing Region 1.
Holly Scribner was elected as a Director representing Region 1.
Kate Kirsch was elected as a Director representing Region 2.
Sherry Cole was elected as a Director representing Region 3.
Linnea Sidi was elected as a Director representing Region 9.
Ling Fu Wylie was elected to a two-year term as Director-at-Large.
3. CERTAIN ELECTION RESULTS VOIDED
Following the close of the February 11, 2016 election, it was learned (through the self-reporting of one of the candidates involved) that two candidates for election to the AMHA Board were not qualified to be elected or to hold that position because each had failed inadvertently to obtain an individual membership in AMHA. Article 4.3 of the AMHA’s bylaws provides that “All directors must be members of the corporation, holding an individual or Life type of membership…at the time of their election.”
Betsy Buchanan, who was nominated and stood for election (unopposed) as a director for Region 10, and Harlan Grunden, who was nominated and stood for election (unopposed) as a Director-at-Large for a two-year term, are each a designated representative of an AMHA household/business membership account, but as of the date of the election did not have an individual or individual Life membership. The AMHA Board of Directors has determined that Ms. Buchanan and Mr. Grunden were not eligible for election, and that the election results with respect to each of them are void. Neither Ms. Buchanan nor Mr. Grunden contests that determination.
Further, it was learned that Kris Breyer, most recently elected in 2014 as a Director representing Region 5, did not maintain an individual membership at the time of that election or since. The AMHA Board has determined that Ms. Breyer is not eligible to continue service as a director. Ms. Breyer does not contest that determination.
With the approval by the members of the proposed bylaw revisions, all Board positions are now scheduled to be voted on in February, 2017. Given the impending change in AMHA’s governance structure, and the proximity of that election, the AMHA Board does not anticipate taking any action to fill Board vacancies left by these determinations and resignation. Members of affected regions may continue to rely on directors-at-large (Jeff Gove, Ling Fu Wylie) to represent their interests and to present any concerns to the AMHA Board.
The AMHA Board and staff, and the candidates involved, deeply regret that the errors described here occurred, and are taking steps to see that such errors are not repeated.
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