BCHI Governing Documents Introduction 9-5
BCHI_Book_1_Bylaws (1)
BCHI_Book_2_Rules_of_Order (1)
FORMAL REQUEST FOR ADOPTION
From: BCHI Governance Review Committee
Subject: Request to Present Book 1 and Book 2 for Adoption at the March 2027 Convention
Dear BCHI Officers:
The BCHI Governance Review Committee respectfully requests that the officers establish and oversee a schedule for completing the review and finalization of Book 1 — Bylaws and Book 2 — Rules of Order in time for consideration at the BCHI Annual Convention in March 2027.
We further request that the officers present the final proposed documents to the BCHI Board of Directors at its meeting in March 2027, the day before the Convention, and ask the Board to recommend their adoption by the convention delegates.
Book 1 is intended to replace the existing BCHI Bylaws. Book 2 establishes the rules governing conventions, delegate proceedings, meetings, elections, voting, electronic participation, and other parliamentary matters authorized by Book 1. Book 2 is subordinate to Book 1, and Book 1 controls if a conflict exists.
note: there is a Book 3,4,5 and a How-To handbook. these are also governance manuals but only require the approval of the Board of Directors, not the Delegates. These can be voted on at a BOD meeting.
Final authority to adopt Book 1 and Book 2 rests with the duly certified convention delegates. The Board’s March review would allow the Board to confirm that the documents are ready for delegate consideration and decide whether to recommend their adoption.
Requested Actions
We respectfully request that the officers:
- Distribute the current drafts of Book 1 and Book 2 to BCHI directors, chapters, and other authorized reviewers.2. Establish firm deadlines for submitting comments and proposed corrections.3. Send all comments to the Governance Review Committee for review and resolution.4. Arrange for legal or other professional review if the officers determine that such review is necessary.
5. Ensure that clean final proposed versions of Book 1 and Book 2 are completed before the convention-notice deadline.
6. Direct the Secretary to provide proper notice and complete copies of the proposed documents to the chapters and delegates.
- Place Book 1 and Book 2 on the agenda for the March 2027 Annual Convention as separate adoption items.
- Present the final proposed documents to the Board in March 2027, with a request that the Board recommend their adoption.
- Prepare the motions, ballots, delegate records, and certification forms necessary for the Convention vote.Proposed Review and Adoption Schedule
This suggested schedule provides for document review and finalization without requiring intermediate Board meetings. The only proposed Board review meeting is the meeting in March, 2027.
September 30, 2026
Officers distribute the current drafts of Book 1 and Book 2 to directors, chapters, officers, committee members, and other authorized reviewers.
October 1–November 15, 2026
Directors, chapters, and reviewers examine both books and submit comments, questions, corrections, and proposed revisions in writing.
November 15, 2026
Formal review and comment period closes.
November 16–December 15, 2026
Governance Review Committee evaluates the comments, resolves inconsistencies, and prepares revised drafts.
December 16, 2026
Revised drafts are distributed to the officers, directors, and chapters for a final written review.
January 5, 2027
Final written comments and corrections are due. Comments after this date should be limited to material legal issues, internal conflicts, or clear errors.
January 6–15, 2027
Governance Review Committee completes the final proposed versions of Book 1 and Book 2 and prepares a summary of the principal changes.
January 15, 2027
Final proposed Book 1, Book 2, and supporting change summary are delivered to the officers and Secretary.
No later than January 20, 2027 Secretary distributes formal notice, the Convention agenda, Book 1, Book 2, and the change summary to all chapters and known delegates. This date must be moved earlier if the existing Bylaws require a longer notice period.
February 15, 2027
Officers and Secretary confirm that notice was properly provided and that the documents distributed are the final proposed versions.
March 1, 2027 .
Secretary confirms the delegate-certification process, voting procedures, proposed motions, and vote-recording forms
March 14, 2027
Board reviews the final proposed Book 1 and Book 2 and votes on whether to recommend their adoption by the convention delegates.
March 15, 2027
Convention delegates consider and vote separately on Book 1 and Book 2.
Immediately after adoption
Secretary records the vote, inserts the adoption and effective dates, certifies and publishes clean official copies, and archives the previous Bylaws and superseded rules as “SUPERSEDED — NOT CURRENT.”
The Secretary should immediately confirm the amendment-notice requirements in the existing Bylaws. If those requirements call for notice earlier than January 20, 2027, the schedule must be adjusted so that proper notice is provided.
Proposed Motion for the March 14, 2027 Board Meeting
I move that the BCHI Board of Directors approve presenting Book 1 — Bylaws and Book 2 — Rules of Order to the duly certified delegates at the March 15, 2027 Annual Convention and recommend their adoption, subject to the notice, quorum, and voting requirements of the existing BCHI Bylaws.
Proposed Convention Actions
Book 1 and Book 2 should be reviewed as a coordinated governance package but presented to the delegates as separate adoption questions.
Book 1 Motion
I move that the duly certified delegates of Back Country Horsemen of Idaho adopt Book 1 — Bylaws as the complete replacement for the existing BCHI Bylaws, effective ____________________.
Book 2 Motion
I move that the duly certified delegates of Back Country Horsemen of Idaho adopt Book 2 — Rules of Order as BCHI’s official Rules of Order, subordinate to Book 1 — Bylaws and effective upon the adoption and effective date of Book 1.
Book 1 must be adopted before Book 2 becomes effective.
Meeting the proposed deadlines will allow BCHI directors, chapters, and delegates adequate time to review the documents before the Convention. It will also allow the Board to make its recommendation on March 14 without requiring additional intermediate Board meetings.
We respectfully request that the officers begin this review process and ensure that Book 1 and Book 2 are properly noticed and placed before the delegates in March 2027.
Sincerely,
Carl Gates
Chairman, BCHI Governance Review Committee
9/7/2026
Upon your request, I will forward drafts of Book 3,4,5 and the How To manual (see Introduction to BCHI Governing Documents below).