In the evening of July 8Th, 1948 a small group of people gathered together at the Jensen home for the purpose of forming a riding club. Rev. Dan Jensen was elected president and Rhonda Kliever was elected secretary/treasurer.
It is to be the aim of every member of the club to influence other horse lovers to join and be enthusiastic members of our club.
We chose a title of our club " Elk River Saddle Club" and hope it meets with the approval of all who were not at our first meeting.
(Excerpts from the original minutes of the Elk River Saddle Club)
In 2008 we have 81 families and 220 members in our club.
ELK RIVER SADDLE CLUB BY-LAWS AND/OR CLUB RULES
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES: Membership may be acquired by attending a meeting and paying dues at that time or by submitting dues to the club secretary. The dues shall be $15.00 per person or $25.00 per family. The yearly membership runs from the second Friday in October to the same time the following year. Members may pay their dues at any time but in order to receive points toward high point trophies awarded to club members at the end of the show season, dues must be paid before or at the October meeting. The dues must be paid before the election of officers in order to be eligible to vote, run for, or retain an office. Special exception first time ever members can join up to April 1st to receive year-end awards. Membership in this organization may be revoked at any time by the two-thirds vote of the board of directors where it is established that a member has willfully violated the by-laws of this organization or whose actions and conduct have proven detrimental to this organization. However, no membership shall be revoked without first notifying the member in question and allowing such person to appear before the board to show cause why such action should not be taken. Charter membership will be granted to the following individuals for their dedication, loyalty and vision, no dues are required, with full privileges:
Lloyd & Pat Craig Bob & LaVon Etherington Marge Kampa Roger & Joan Schuur
Manny & Bobbie Flicek
II GOVERNMENT: The government of this organization shall be vested in the board of directors,who shall be elected at the annual meeting in October. The board of directors shall be responsible for the control and management of the organization, subject to the will of the membership. Vacancies occurring on the board shall be filled by appointment and approval of the board.
III. ELECTIONS: The annual election of officers shall be held at the general meeting held in October of each year. To be eligible to vote you must be a paid member who is at least 16 years of age. The following offices and committees will be filled each year at the annual meeting: president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, reporter, safety chair, delegates, alternates, board members, Officers shall take office on conclusion of the October meeting and shall serve in office for a period of one year. No person shall be elected or hold office unless they are a paid member in good
standing of the organization. The president shall supervise the organization's affairs and activities and shall preside at all board and regular meetings. Any member nominated for office shall be 18 years of age as of Jan 1sl) or older.
IV. COMMITEES: The formation of committees will take place at the annual October meeting. Equipment, Christmas Party, Grounds, Horse Show ribbons and high point, Royalty, Banquet and year- end awards, Trail ride, and Fund Raiser. You must be present or notify secretary prior to the October meeting of intent to be on committees, consisting of 4-5 members and chairperson must be elected by committee members at the October meeting. A board member or officer must be on each committee. Each committee must make an estimated budget reviewed and approved by membership.
V. MEETINGS: Meetings will be held the 2nd Friday of each month unless members are otherwise notified. There will be no meeting held in the month of December.
VI. CLUB RULES: Entry fees are on horse and rider combination. A horse may be used only once in any event, that is only once in barrels, poles (etc...). After the show has started no riders will be allowed to go through an event for practice. Stallions shall be allowed at shows if handled by an adult and under control at all times. Any unruly horse or rider may be dismissed from an event at any time by the judge or the board of directors. Any contestant abusing their horse shall be asked to leave the premises and will not receive a refund of their entry fees. These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any special or regular meeting, provided written notification of the proposed action has been given to each member at their last known address at least 10 days prior to the meeting. Current Western Saddle Club Association (WSCA) rules shall govern all of our events.Dated: October 28, 2004
We are a family orientated club. We have all ages that compete in our shows. The littlest of little do tiny tot around the marker. On behalf of the Elk River Saddle Club, we would like to wish all of the riders and their families a fun filled safe show season.
President - Dan Johnson Vice President - Bridget Behrns
Secretary - Bobbie Flicek Treasurer - Michelle Murphy
Reporter - Bridget Behrns
Board members
Carol Chandler (thru 2011) Val Laptuta (thru 2011)
Becky Bistram (thru 2011) Tammy Scheffler (thru 2010)
Sue Johnson (thru 2010) Stacy Jacques (thru 2010)
Meetings are held the 2nd Friday of every month at 7:30 pm. May - September they are at the Sherburne County Fair Grounds in Elk River. October - April at the American Legion in Elk River
Rules and Procedures
- You may still compete for the Elk River Royalty Contest if you have met the application deadline date, but cannot meet the other requirements, your points will reflect the missed portions. Everyone will be judged at the same time, by the same judges in order to have consistency and fairness.
- If there is no one interested in running for our club Queen, the Royalty Committee reserves the right to “white ballot’ an individual that would be interested in representing our club as queen.
Contest Components:
Overall Total Points Attainable:………………..………………………110
Application: Worth total 60 points.
Will only be considered if received by the August 10th deadline date. You will be judged on your answers, neatness and knowledge. Each year the application questions are subject to change – by current royalty committee.
Personal Interview: Worth total 25 points
Conducted during the ERSC Year-End Awards Banquet. Gives you the opportunity to tell more about you and why you want to represent the Elk River Saddle Club. You will individually be interviewed by a panel of judges. You will be judged on Appearance, Poise and Personality; Speaking Ability, and Knowledge. (Age taken into consideration.)
Salute Ride: Worth total 25 points
The salute ride will take place at a designated ERSC show. (Date TBD each year by current royalty committee.) There will be at least two designated judges.
Points will be given on the following areas:
The ERSC Queen will be asked, but not expected to run in the WSCA Queens Contest.
Financial Assistance for Queen:
- Should the ERSC Queen desire to attend the WSCA Royalty clinic, the ERSC will pay for the registration fee for our Queen. Registering and transportation to clinic is queen’s responsibility.
- The ERSC will pay for the WSCA Royalty contest application fee. Any supplies for the application and postage are the queen’s responsibility.
- The ERSC will pay for the stalling & tack stall at the end of the year WSCA Championship Show. Registration, transportation and any other necessities for her weekend there will be her responsibility.
- If our club queen decides not to take part in the Champ Show stall decorating contest with her own original ideas or theme, our club queen may use material, purchased by the club, in our club colors; (blue and gold), to cover the stall. i.e. signs/banner.
- Current royalty committee reserves the right to decide how much new material should be purchased, and if any material being passed down from year to year is in good condition or needs replacing. The royalty committee, or designated committee member, are the ones who should purchase this material.
The ERSC will provide a Crown, Sash and Jacket to the royalty. The Queen will receive her crown at the end of her reign, if she runs for the WSCA Queens Contest. If the current royalty would like to keep their crown, they are expected to reimburse the club for their crown at replacement cost. The Queen’s crown will always be the largest of the crowns, followed in size by the Princess and then Little Miss.
ERSC Royalties Responsibilities:
The Crown is your responsibility, to keep in good presentable condition and returned in the same condition as when you received it. We understand that mishaps can happen and it will be your responsibility to inform the Royalty Committee of any issues with the crown.
