Cowboy Poets of Utah was organized in 2003 as a nonprofit corporation to perpetuate the cultural traditions of poetry, storytelling, music, and other folk arts of the American West and the cowboy life.  

While it will not seek to limit or restrict the personal activities of individual members in publishing, performing, or recording, Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. seeks to establish a collective voice for the enhancement of traditional Western arts and culture; provide forums for their presentation, performance, and publication; and afford opportunities for members, youth, and other interested parties for education and improvement.  

We are particularly interested in preserving our western heritage through the voices of our youth, and do seek to encourage young poets and performers to develop their talents and to perpetuate the values of our traditional western culture. 

Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. 

The address of Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. shall be the address of the current Treasurer. 

Open to any person, upon payment of annual dues, who is willing to uphold the purposes and ethics of the organization. 

Active Membership will be granted upon payment of annual dues in the amount of $20.00.  

Youth Membership will be granted to any person under age 18 upon payment of annual dues of $5.00. Youth Membership affords all benefits and privileges of membership in Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. except voting rights. Persons under 18 can be Active Members upon payment of $20.00 annual dues. 

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Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. will be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, and three at-large Board members. All Board Members must hold and maintain Active Membership in Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. throughout their terms of office. Any Active Member of Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. is eligible for service on the Board of Directors upon nomination and election and/or ratification by the Active Membership. 

Selection of Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be by nomination and election of the Active Membership.  

The Chairman and Vice Chairman will select three at-large Board Members from among the Active Membership. The selection of Board Members is subject to ratification by the General Membership. If a candidate selected by the Chairman and Vice Chairman fails to win ratification, Active Members will nominate candidates and fill the seat by election.  

The Chairman of the Board will serve a term of two years, and cannot succeed himself or herself in office. 

The Vice Chairman of the Board will serve a two-year term and cannot succeed himself or herself in office. 

The terms of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall overlap, with terms expiring in alternating years.  The initial term of the Chairman will expire in advance of the initial term of the Vice-Chairman. 

At-Large Board Members will serve two-year terms. The terms will coincide with the term of the Chairman of the Board.  Board Members can succeed themselves in office a maximum of three consecutive terms subject to nomination by the Chairman and Vice Chairman and ratification by the Active Membership, or upon nomination and election by the Active Membership to fill an open seat. 

Only the Board of Directors can present changes in the Constitution or Bylaws of Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. for a vote by the Active Membership.  Active Members may petition or approach the Board of Directors for change, but may not offer motions to enact changes to the Constitution or Bylaws from the floor during any meeting of the Active Membership. 

Past and present members of the Board of Directors may serve in other offices or capacities in Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. 
 
 

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Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. will be operated by Executive Officers, subject to supervision by the Board of Directors. Any Active Member is eligible for Executive Office.  
 

Executive Offices consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Executive Officers must hold and maintain Active Membership in Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. throughout their terms of office.  

Executive Officers will be nominated and elected from among and by Active Members. 

Term of office for Executive Officers shall be one year for both the President and the Vice President.  Other officers shall serve by appointment of the President, upon ratification by the Active Members.  Executive Officers may succeed themselves in office a maximum of three consecutive terms, subject to nomination and election by the Active Membership. 

Each Active Member in Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. is entitled to one vote. Any Active Member may nominate any other Active Member for the elective offices of President and Vice President.  The current office holder, if eligible, will automatically be placed on the ballot.  Other nominations from among the active membership will be placed on the ballot, after the initial nomination has received a second by another active member. 

Candidates receiving a majority of ballots cast will be declared winners. In cases where no candidate receives a majority of ballots cast, voting will continue, with the candidate receiving the fewest votes eliminated in each succeeding round of balloting, until one candidate wins a majority of the ballots cast.  

Ballots may be cast in general meetings of the Active Membership by voice vote, show of hands, or secret ballot. The means of casting votes is at the discretion of the Board Member or Executive Officer conducting the meeting, subject to approval of Active Members in attendance. 

Balloting may also be conducted by mail, subject to security precautions such as numbered ballots, to assure that only official ballots are marked and returned by Active Members. 

The result of all elections and balloting by the Active Membership will be final. 

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Regularly scheduled meetings are those meetings advertised in the association's newsletter, Time, place and agenda items of that meeting will be announced at least two weeks prior to the scheduled meeting.  To the extent possible, the time and place of the next meeting will be determined at each regularly scheduled meeting. 

Any proposition, proposal, award, honor, or recognition to be enacted upon by Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. will be presented to the membership in attendance at a regularly scheduled meeting, and determined by a majority of active members present at that meeting.  

Active and Youth Members of Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. are expected to maintain high standards in authorship, performance, and publication.  

Care should be taken that all work presented in public performance is appropriate for the audience, with the general understanding that audiences for the folk and cultural arts of the West are most likely comprised of families and people of all ages, representing a range of ethnic and cultural diversity. Good taste should govern. 

Work presented, performed, or published by any Member should be the work of that Member unless indicated otherwise. Copying, borrowing, or plagiarizing the work of others should be avoided. When quoting or performing the work of others, credit should be given to the author or composer. 

Members found in violation of the Ethics of Membership are subject to loss of membership in Cowboy Poets of Utah, Inc. at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  
 
 
 
  

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