Preamble

We the members of the national Dude Ranchers Association, Dubios, Wyoming, on March 1991, hereby respond to the action of Wyoming members at the Annual Meeting of the Association in Tucson, Arizona, in January 1990, calling for the organization of a

Wyoming Dude and Guest Ranch Association

And hereby provisionally adopt the following

Articles of Association, By-laws and Purpose
To be guided thereby, subject to revisions, amendment and review
at the first annual meeting in the third week of May, 1993

Articles of Association, By-laws and Purpose
of
The Wyoming Dude Ranchers Association
(adopted March, 15, 1991)

Article I. Name
This association shall be called The Wyoming Dude Ranchers Association

Article II. Purpose

Section I.
The purpose of The Wyoming Dude Ranchers Association shall be:
(a) To provide for the cooperative and friendly association of dude ranchers in Wyoming.
(b) To promote the interest and well-being of the Dude Ranch industry and its members and guests in the State of Wyoming by recalling and defining its distinctive history, present character and the values of Western ranch life.
(c) To cooperate with Wyoming and Federal agencies and the national Dude Ranch Association in the promotion of Dude Ranch patronage.
(d) To provide a centralized source for communication among its members, with the legislature of the state, its agencies and the travel industry in the promotion of Dude Ranching.
(e) To preserve and protect parks, forests, public lands and the wildlife therein and support its continued uses for public recreation through Dude Ranching

Section I.
Person, partnerships, corporations or associations engaged in serving the public in the bonafide operation of Dude or Guest Ranches and subscribing to its requirements for definition as a "Dude" or "Guest" ranch shall be eligible for membership as a member ranch and shall be entitled to one vote through its selected representation.

Section II.
New members shall be elected by the membership upon recommendation of the officers of this association and subscription to the "standards" and payment of requisite dues.

Section III.
A member ranch must meet the following requirements:
A Dude Ranch shall exemplify the Western Ranch ideal of personal, homelike hospitality and atmosphere.
• A Dude Ranch shall operate primarily on the American Plan.
• A Dude Ranch must be horse-oriented:
  (a) Horses must be available to accommodate wranglers and guests who choose to ride.
  (b) Riding instruction must be available.
  (c) Stock must be well cared for and equipment in good repair.
• A Dude Ranch facility must be adequate for the comfortable accommodation of guests
  (a) Accommodations must be clean and in good repair.
• Dude Ranch promotion must represent its facilities and activities accurately and honestly.
• A Dude Ranch must keep on record with the Association office a statement of current owner and manager.
• A Dude Ranch shall be required to have met the qualification of a member ranch and have operated for a summer season before it shall be considered for active membership.
• During the summer guest season a Dude Ranch shall not:
  (a)actively solicit transient trade nor accept guests during the season for less than a three night period.
  (b) Sell individual meals in connection with the Dude Ranch operation.
  
  
A Dude Ranch shall not sell the general public alcoholic beverages of any sort.
(a) Dues and application fees shall be required annually for each member ranch according to a formula recommended by the Directors and approved by the Association.

Section IV.
The board of Directors shall consider the membership qualifications of applicants and review the membership status of member ranches and recommend appropriate action to the membership at any regularly called meeting with due regard to:

• Failure to meet or abide by membership requirements for a Dude Ranch.
• Failure to pay appropriate membership dues.
  
  
Section V. Associate Members:

• Qualified individuals and Businesses may apply for and receive Associate member status in the Association. Applicants shall be approved by a majority vote of the three officers of the Association. Previously approved Associate members may be removed by a majority vote of the three officers of the Association.
• There shall be three categories of Associate members:
  (a) Individual
  (b) Businesses
  (c) Businesses with Association website link
• Annual dues of Associate members shall be determined by majority vote of attending "member ranch" members at an Annual meeting.
• Associate members shall have the privilege of attending Annual or Special meetings of the Association, but shall not have voting privileges within the Association.

Article IV. Officers and Directors

Section I.
The officers of this association, elected for one-year term, shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer.

Section II.
Duties of Officers - The President shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Association and its Board of Directors. He shall appoint, assign and otherwise form all regular and special committees of the Association, and shall be ex-officio member of these committees but without power to vote.

He shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed from item to time by the Board of the Association and that are consistent with these Articles and By-laws.

The Vice-president shall preside at all meetings of the Association and its Board of Directors when the President is unable to do so. In the case of the President's absence or disability, he shall perform the duties of President and shall assume all powers as may have been prescribed to him by these articles or by the board.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall record and maintain all minutes, funds and records of financial transactions of the Association, supervising and providing executive direction to such secretarial and accounting serves as may be secured by the Board to implement its resolutions and directives. He shall keep accurate records of association membership and dues paid and communicate with its officers and members, the press and related agencies regarding Association affairs and its general welfare. He shall have custody of all funds and provide regular financial reports and audits.

Section III.
A Board of Directors shall include the officers and four members, two elected, if practicable, for three year terms for each of four districts in the state, i.e. Cody/Yellowstone - Dubois/Jackson - Sheridan/Buffalo - Laramie/Saratoga - Casper. Three year terms of the officers and the four members may be extended by three-quarter vote of attending members at an Annual meeting.

Section IV.
A nominating Committee of three members will be appointed by the President prior to or at the beginning of each Annual meeting, including at least one member from each district.

Section V.
Officers and Directors shall be elected at the Annual meeting.

Section VI.
The Board of Directors shall be responsible for, and authorized to conduct, all affrays and business of the Association between properly called meetings.

Section I.
Decisions and elections shall be by majority vote of attending member ranches at Annual or Special meetings.

Section II.
A quorum shall consist of 25% of the paid membership

Section I.
The Annual meetings of the Association shall be held in the State of Wyoming during the first third of the calendar year (January - April) of each year for the election of directors, officers and nominating committee to serve in the ensuing year and conduct appropriate business of the Association. Officers will be elected at the annual meeting.

Annual meetings shall rotate in the same three districts as specified for the election of Directors.

A meeting shall also be held each year in conjunction with the annual meeting of the national Dude Ranchers Association with time and place to be determined by the directors.

Section II.
Special meetings may be called by the officers on request of any six members upon written notice to all members not less than one month before its convening. A quorum may suspend a meeting if it is deemed it be in the best interest of the Association.

Section III.
Meetings of the Association shall be governed by "Roberts Rules of Order" newly revised, insofar as these are not inconsistent with the By-laws of the Association.

Section I.
These by-laws, may be altered, amended or repealed by three-quarter vote of attending members at an Annual meeting provided written notice of such proposed changes has been given at an immediately proceeding meeting, or by written notice to the Secretary who shall send copies of the same to each member ranch not less than thirty (30) days prior to said meeting.

Section I.
Membership dues shall be proposed by the directors annually, and shall be effective upon adoption of three-quarters of voting members present.

Section II.
Member ranches belonging also to the national Dude Rancher's Association shall receive a credit of up to half of the Wyoming dues to the extent that such amount has been paid to the National Association. (Deferred. See minutes of "Enabling Motions")
Amended Date 3/25/03