Alabama Horseshoe
Pitchers Association

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

ALABAMA HORSESHOE PITCHERS ASSOCIATION

Adopted 1964, Amended 2009

CONSTITUTION

Article I
Name

Sec.1    The name of this association shall be The Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers
             Association.

Article II
Purpose

Sec. 1   The purpose of The Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association shall be to
             develop, foster, and promote organized horseshoe pitching at local and state
             level. 

Article III
Membership

Sec. 1   Any person may become a member of the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers
             Association by the payment of dues fixed by the National Horseshoe Pitchers
             Association and the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association.

Sec. 2   The Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association dues are set for adult
             members at $4.00 and juniors at $2.00 per year. The National Horseshoe 
             Pitchers Association dues are set at $17.00 per year for adults and $5.00 for
             juniors.  These dues are due and payable January 1^st or upon joining the
             association.  The dues will last through December 31^st of the year of 
             payment.  The charter association is authorized to collect national dues and
             issue cards after payment of dues is made.

Sec 3    Any member of the association may be suspended for one year for any of the
             reasons listed below.

             A.        Willfully violating any official playing rule or by-law of the Alabama 
                        Horseshoe Pitchers Association and the National Horseshoe Pitchers
                        Association. 
 

Sec 4    No member shall be suspended until given a fair hearing before the Executive
             Council of the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association.  If the member is not
             satisfied with the decision of the Executive Council, the member who
             has been suspended shall have the right to appeal his/her decision to the
             Executive Council of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association.

             Suspension shall last one calendar year. Any member who has been
             suspended from the Alabama Horseshoe pitchers Association may be
             reinstated as a member of that group after one year has elapsed from the
             time of his/her suspension.  A majority vote of the Executive Council (for 
             reinstatement) will be required for reinstatement of the member who has been
             suspended.

Article IV
Legislative Body

Sec 1    The legislative body of the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association shall be
             made up of the officers of the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association.
             These officers are elected each year at the State Convention, which is
             held each year at the state tournament site. The Legislative Body shall
             consist of a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third
             Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer.  The President, First Vice-
             President, and the Third Vice-President shall be elected in odd number 
             years. The Second Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected
             in even numbered years.  The newly elected Officers shall take office on
             January 1 of the next year following their election.

Sec 2    These Officers of the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association will formulate
             the policies of the Association between conventions and will be subject to the
             call of the President. It will be the duty of the officers to work at all times for
             the benefit of the association. The President shall be Ex-officio a member of
             all committees, either elected or appointed. In the absence of the President,
             the first Vice President shall serve as President.

Article V
Local Clubs

Sec 1    It will be the duty of the local club officers to promote and arrange
             tournaments scheduled for their courts. All sanctioned tournaments must be
             played under the Rules of the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association and
             the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association.

Sec 2    To clarify any confusion about the foul rule, the tournament director or an
             officer of the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association will briefly explain the
             foul rule prior to the start of each State Tournament.

Sec 3    Contestants will respect the decision of the scorekeeper when the players
             (contestants) cannot agree on the scoring of a ringer, a single point or
             double points. If the scorekeeper is unable to make a decision he shall call 
             upon the tournament director or an officer of the Alabama Horseshoe
             Pitchers Association to render the decision. The decision of the tournament
             director or officer of the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association will be
             final. 

Article VI
State Meetings

Sec 1    The order of the meeting.

             1.            Reading of minutes of the previous meeting.
             2.            Approval of additions or corrections of minutes.
             3.            Reading of financial report.
             4.            Reports of officers and committees.
             5.            Unfinished business.
             6.            New business.
             7.            Election of officers
             8.            Adjournment.*              *According to ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER

Sec 2   All officers shall have their books, records and other property belonging to
            the association at the state meeting; or if unable to be present they must
            forward these to the President before the state meeting. All officers shall turn
            over to their successors of office all records and property to the association
            that they may have in their possession.

Sec 3   The Secretary-Treasurer of the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association 
            shall be the custodian of all funds of the association. He shall receive all 
            monies to the association for membership dues and State Tournaments. At no
            point should any bills be paid by any member of the Association other than
            the Secretary-Treasurer. 

Article VII
Charter State Doubles Tournament

Sec 1   The Alabama Charter must hold a State Doubles Tournament, which will be
            under the direction of the Secretary-Treasurer.  A player must be a member
            of the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association (AHPA) and the National
            Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA) and have an established Ringer
            Percentage and have played in a minimum of one state tournament

Sec 2   The tournament fee must be in the hands of the Secretary-Treasurer no later
            than the deadline for registration, which is two weeks  (14 calendar days)
            before the scheduled tournament. There will be no refunds if a player
            withdraws after the deadline of registration. 

Article VIII
Charter State SinglesTournament

Sec 1   The Alabama Charter must hold a National Horseshoe Pitchers Association
            Sanctioned Singles Championship yearly unless there is more than one
            charter in which case the state tournament will be rotated unless other wise 
            agreed upon by the involved parties.

Sec 2   The State Singles Tournament is under the direction of the Secretary-
            Treasurer (The Secretary-Treasurer is the director of the State Tournament.)

Sec 3   The State Singles Championship Tournament is open to those National
            Horseshoe Pitchers Association Members who legally reside in Alabama and
            meets the regular eligibility requirements imposed by the event, unless one
            meets the requirements of a grandfather clause set forth by the National
            Horseshoe Pitchers Association. A player must play in a minimum of (3)
            sanctioned tournaments in the State of Alabama (with no exceptions), to
            compete in the State Singles Championship Tournament. These tournaments
            must be played within the year starting at the beginning of the year with the
            new schedule and ending with the deadline for registration for the upcoming 
            State Singles Championship Tournament. Entrance fees must be in the hands
            of the Secretary-Treasurer no later than the deadline for registration specified
            which is two weeks (14 calendar days) before the scheduled tournament. 
            There will be no exceptions.  No refunds will be made to a player who 
            withdraws after the deadline for registration.

 Sec 4. The requirements to enter any sanctioned open Tournament in Alabama.

            (A)       Players must have a combined National Horseshoe Pitchers
                        Association and Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association card plus
                        entry fee which is set by the State Officers or in special tournaments
                        that are sanctioned by the local charter Example (Winter tournament)
                        Out of State Players must have their NHPA/combined State card plus
                        entry fee.

            (B)       New members who do not have an established percentage must pitch
                       100 shoes to establish a percentage.  The qualifying must be scored
                       and witnessed by two members of the National Horseshoe Pitchers
                       Association.

            (C)      The method of play shall be:

                       All games of 50 shoes or in special circumstances as directed by the
                       tournament director (Example Handicap or 40 shoes.)  The exception
                       to this rule is the State Singles Tournament, which is 40 points for the
                       Championship Classes.

                       If here is a tie at the end of the game when playing a shoe count game 
                       players will flip a coin or a shoe to determine who will pitch first. The
                       players will continue to pitch down and back until the game is
                       completed.

            (D)     Ties at the end of the tournament (with wins and losses):

                      If there are less than 3 contestants, there will be a regular playoff game,
                      which is set by the tournament director prior to the start the game.

                      If there is a tie with three or more contestants, a ladder playoff will be 
                      played between the contestants of 20 shoe games.  Determining who
                      will pitch first will be governed by the percentage calculated per game in
                      the tournament. This will be a high-to-low percentage and the highest
                      average pitcher will receive a bye in the first game. 

Sec 5   Anyone who is interested in running for an office in the Alabama Horseshoe
            Pitchers Association (President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President,
            Third Vice-President, or Secretary-Treasurer) or if your club is interested in 
            running for the State Doubles or State Singles Tournament, you must notify
            the President and News Letter Editor no later than July 1^st, so that the
            information can be published in the Mid-Year newsletter and can be placed on
            a ballot to be voted on at the State Meeting. 

Article IX
Recommended By-Law Changes

Sec 1   Proposed By-Law changes must be presented to the By-Laws committee
            Chairperson prior to January 1^st of each year and must be presented for
            publication in the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers Association February
            newsletter prior to January 15^th to be considered for adoption in the current
            year. 

            There will be review and comments made on these proposed changes at the
            annual meeting of the Officers/Executive Council. Also, review and comments
            will be made of any By-Laws interpretations that are presented by the By-
            Laws committee. 

            The Executive Council may make recommendations for passage or against
            passage before the proposed changes are published in the February
            Newsletter. 

Article X 

Sec 1   Any rules that are not mentioned in the Alabama Horseshoe Pitchers will be
            governed by the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association.