Preamble
In as much as the sport of horseshoe pitching affords the opportunity to promote a concentrated and direct effort from which all participants can obtain a healthier environment leading to a competitive sport suitable to all persons, we the horseshoe pitchers of Pennsylvania (the “State”), in order to promote and foster this sport, and to assist and help conduct events of a state wide interest, do hereby establish the following Constitution and By-laws for the Western Pennsylvania Horseshoe Pitchers’ Association Inc.
Constitution
Article I – Name
The name of the Association shall be the “Western Pennsylvania Horseshoe Pitchers’ Association Inc.” hereinafter referred to as “The Association”.
Article II – Purpose
The purpose of the Association shall be to promote and foster the sport of horseshoe pitching throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
Article III – Membership
The requirements of membership shall be set out in the By-laws.
Article IV – Affiliation
Section 1
The Association operates under a charter by the National Horseshoe Pitchers’ Association referred to as the NHPA.
Section 2
The rules of the NHPA will govern all matters not specified in the Constitution and By Laws of this Association.
Section 3
The method of nomination, election of the Officers of the Association and related details shall be set out in the By-laws.
Article V – Officers
Section 1
The officers of the Association shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer and State Statistician.
Section 2
The officers are to be elected bi-annually by a majority vote of all eligible voting members of good standing that attend the annual meeting and shall hold office until and through the conclusion of the annual meeting of the association held on odd numbered years.
Section 3
Any member in good standing that wishes to have their name placed on the ballot for any Association office, must submitted their name to the Secretary-Treasurer prior to the start of the annual meeting in which the election is to be held. This shall include all incumbent officers. Offices include President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer and State Statistician.
Section 4
If any officer of the Association (not including the President) is unable to fulfill their responsibilities due to death, resignation, suspension or movement to an out of state residence, the President of the Association will appoint their replacement.
Article VI – Duties of the Officers
President – The duties of the President shall be to preside over all meetings and to administer the business of the Association, to pass on any obligations and to handle other duties that may come to his/her attention in promoting the best interest of the Association. Specific duties of the President of the Association are set out in the By-laws.
Vice-President – The Vice-President shall have the same duties as the President, but shall assume them only in the absence of the President. Specific duties of the Vice President are set out in the By-laws.
Secretary-Treasurer – The duties of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be to keep accurate minutes, act as custodian of all funds of the Association, sign all warrants of the Association expenditures, keep financial records of the Association funds, attend to correspondences and any other duties which may come to his/her attention as necessary to promote the best interest of the Association. Specific duties of the Secretary-Treasurer are set out in the By-laws.
State Statistician – The duties of the State Statistician shall be to maintain records of each tournament held by the Association’s member clubs and to report the statistics of each tournament participant to the NHPA. Specific duties of the State Statistician are set out in the By-laws.
Article VII – Executive Council
The Executive Council shall serve and assist the officers of the Association in such matters as to promote the best interest of the Association. The Executive Council will be made up of the Association Officers, one representative from each member club of the Association and one “At Large” member.
Article VIII – Representatives
Section 1
Representatives shall be elected from the membership of the individual clubs to serve on the Executive Council.
Section 2
Member clubs will appoint one representative. The At Large representative will be nominated and voted by the members in good standing that attend the annual meeting.
Section 3
Representatives shall hold office until the conclusion of the next annual meeting of the Association or until another person is voted in by their club.
Article IX – Committees
The President shall appoint committees as deemed necessary.
Article X – By-laws
Section 1
The Association may amend or adopt By-laws when approved by a majority of the members in good standing present at the annual meeting.
Section 2
The requirements to amend the By-laws will be set in the By-laws.
Article XI – Meetings
Section 1
The annual meeting of the Association members shall be held at the site of the State Tournament when held in the West. The President will notify members of the time and place of the annual meeting when the State Tournament is held in the East. Meetings will not be held during pitching times. The President of the Association, State Tournament Committee and Director should choose the time for meetings to be held. The meeting will last until all Association business is concluded.
Section 2
The President may call other meetings by notifying all members in good standing of the time, place and purpose of the meeting at least two weeks before the meeting.
Section 3
“Roberts Rules of Order” revised and reading as follows, will govern the order of conduct of all meetings.
| 1. | Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting |
| 2. | Approval or correction of the minutes |
| 3. | Reading of the financial report |
| 4. | Report from officers, board committees and standing committees |
| 5. | Report of special committees |
| 6. | Memorandum of President |
| 7. | Unfinished business |
| 8. | New Business |
| 9. | Report of good and welfare work |
| 10. | Report results of Election and Installation of new Officers |
| 11. | Adjournment |
Article XII – Amendments
Section 1
This Constitution may be amended by a minimum of two-thirds affirmative vote by all voting members present at the annual meeting.
Section 2
Any proposed Constitutional amendment can only be considered as stated in Article X of the By-laws.
End of Constitution
Last updated January 2020
Article I – Membership
Section 1
Any reputable person, regardless of race, sex, creed, color or pitching ability that has their principal residence in Pennsylvania may become a member of the Association upon payment of NHPA and Association dues.
Section 2
Limited Membership to the Association is open to any reputable person that has their principal residence in Pennsylvania and has paid the annual Association dues. Limited members of the Association who are not NHPA members are not eligible to pitch in sanctioned tournaments but are eligible to vote at Association meetings and hold an officer position within the Association.
Section 3
The Association dues may be approved or changed at the annual meeting. If no such action is taken, the dues shall remain the same as the preceding year.
Section 4
Annual Association dues are $35.00 ($10.00 for the Association and $25.00 for NHPA) for adult players and $8.00 for Juniors and Cadets ($3.00 for the Association and $5.00 for NHPA).
Section 5
Each member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote in the affairs of the Association at any meeting of the members. Junior members may vote but are not permitted to hold office in the Association.
Section 6
A member in good standing must be accorded all rights and privileges extended by affiliated clubs and the Association.
Section 7
A member may be suspended for the following:
| a. | Non-payment of dues or fees |
| b. | Willfully violating the Constitution or By-laws of the Association |
| c. | By participating in the tournament under an assumed name, being guilty of fraud, fixing games, or conduct unbecoming of a member. |
| d. | Directly or indirectly betting on a contest or self when entered in the competition. |
| e. | For consistently violating the rules and standards established by the NHPA and the Association. |
Article II – Representatives
Section 1
The composition of Executive Council shall be made up by one representative nominated by each of the Association’s recognized clubs and one representative at large for members not belonging to a recognized club in the charter. The size of the council depends on the number of recognized clubs holding sanctioned tournaments within the association’s geographical boundaries of Western Pennsylvania. The chosen club representative must be Association members.
Section 2
Article III – Executive Council
Section 1
The Executive Council is an administrative-judicial body empowered to act on all matters not specified in the Constitution and By-laws.
Section 2
The President of the Association shall act as chairman of all meetings called by the President.
Section 3
More than half of the Council’s members must be present for quorum.
Section 4
Each member of the Council shall have one vote and the majority shall rule. Ties will be broken by the President’s vote.
Section 5
For matters that the President decides that are urgent and require immediate action, the President shall poll the Council by mail, e-mail or telephone without having a formal meeting. All Council members must be notified.
Section 6
The Executive Council shall also be the judicial body to interpret the Constitution and By-laws. Technical points shall be submitted in writing for decisions and ruling declared official.
Section 7
Should any member of the Council (not including the President) be unable to fulfill their responsibilities due to death, resignation, suspension, or movement to out of state residence, their position shall be filled by their club for the duration of the term.
Section 8
Minutes shall be kept of all Executive Council meetings by the Secretary-Treasurer and are to be made available upon demand by any member of the Association in good standing.
Article IV – Sanctioned Tournaments
Section 1 – General Rules
| a. | Requests for Association and NHPA sanctioned tournaments shall be made through the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association. The requirements shall be that all members of sanctioned classes belong to the Association and NHPA Associations and that the event adheres to the requirements set up by the Association and NHPA. |
| b. | NHPA rules will govern all events that are sanctioned by the Association, except for those stated in the Constitution and By-laws of the Association. |
| c. | For all tournaments conducted in the State, the tournament director shall collect a tax payable to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association with the purpose of providing support for State Tournaments and promoting the Association. This tax shall be $2.00 per person per tournament and shall remain in effect until changed at the annual meeting. The tax does not apply to Junior or Cadet members entering at a reduced entry fee. |
| d. | All contestants in any sanctioned event must be in good standing with the Association or another state Association. |
| e. | Pitchers must wear a shirt with their name and hometown neatly displayed on the back of their shirt. And, pitchers must have their first name (nick name is acceptable – must be in good taste) on the front of their shirt for easy identification by other members. |
| f. | Contestant entry ringer percentage will be determined by using the 3 highest ringer percentages in the last 10 tournaments or the last 12 months, whichever comes first. |
| g. | First place will be determined by a ladder type single game play-off. All other positions shall be determined by ringer position. |
| h. | Alternately an NHPA sanctioned club or league average may be used if 400 or more shoes were pitched. |
| i. | A minimum $10.00 entry fee for adult players (no minimum for Juniors or Cadets) and a $1.00 scorekeeping fee from each contestant per game is required. |
| j. | As a courtesy, all members will be allowed to drop-out of one sanctioned tournament per year without penalty because of health problems and still receive credit for the tournament if half of the scheduled games have been completed. A legitimate reason must be provided to the tournament director and the final decision to give credit for the tournament will be made by the tournament director of that event. No other credits for incomplete tournaments will be awarded once a member has used up this one-time annual allowance. |
| k. | Any rule changes must be approved at the Association’s annual meeting. |
| l. | All tournament cut off dates will be 7 days prior to the tournament date. Any entries received after the 7-day deadline shall be at the sole discretion of the tournament director. |
| m. | All sanctioned leagues in Western Pennsylvania that use a NHPA sanction number are subject to a $2.00 fee for each member of their league, payable to the Association secretary within two weeks of the ending of that league’s season. |
| n. | For any State Tournament, any pitching class with less than 6 pitchers will hold a least 1 round robin. |
| o. | Tournament Directors must report tournament results and send the $2.00 per pitcher tax to the Association’s Statistician within 2 weeks from the date of the tournament. |
Section 2 – State Singles Championship Tournament
| a. | The site of the State Singles Championship Tournament (the “State Tournament”) will be on a rotating basis from year to year from a schedule that is set up by the officers of the Association. | ||||
| b. | There will be no bid money involved for the location of the State Championship Tournament. | ||||
| c. | To host the State Tournament, a club must meet the following requirements:
| ||||
| d. | The President of the Association will have the responsibility of placing the tournament from the rotation list. | ||||
| e. | Adult contestants must reside in Pennsylvania and have pitched a minimum of 2 outdoor NHPA Sanctioned Tournaments in the preceding 12 months prior to 10 days prior to the State Tournament up to the day after the State Tournament. Junior contestants must reside in Pennsylvania and have pitched in a minimum of 1 NHPA Sanctioned tournament in the preceding 12 months prior to the entry deadline for the State Singles Horseshoe Tournament. A NHPA sanctioned league shall be considered as one of the tournaments required provided that 400 or more shoes have been pitched in that league prior to the entry deadline for the State Tournament. | ||||
| f. | The class size for all other division championship classes will be determined by the tournament director and will be based on the number of entries per division with the objective of making those divisions as fair as possible for all participants. Championships will be crowned per NHPA rules in the following categories: Men, Elder, Women and Juniors. Players in the lower divisions shall be seeded by their previously established ringer percentage. Other than the Championship class, Elders and Women may be combined at the discretion of the tournament director. The tournament will be conducted in a round robin fashion, with each contestant required to compete with every other contestant in their class. | ||||
| g. | Games won and lost shall determine the position of the player. The winner of each division shall be crowned as class champion. The Championship divisions will be State Champions with the men’s class listed as the “Pennsylvania Men’s Horseshoe Pitching Champion”, the women’s class will be listed as the “Pennsylvania Women’s Horseshoe Pitching Champion” and the Elder’s Class will be listed as the “Pennsylvania Elder’s Horseshoe Pitching Champion”. The Association shall recognize no other player as said Champion. |
Section 3 – Financial Support for Club Tournaments
| a. | The WPHPA will distribute funds to a member club on a rotating basis to enhance one of their tournaments in the following year provided there is more than $1,000.00 in the treasury at the end of the fiscal year (September 30). If the balance in the Treasury is $1,000.00 or less, no distribution will be made. |
| b. | The amount to be distributed will be the excess over $1,000.00 but no more than $1,000.00. |
| c. | The funds should be used to increase prize money but at the discretion of the Tournament Director, the funds can also be used to buy promotional items as handouts such as towels, key chains, hats, etc. |
| d. | The club receiving financial support from the Association must hold at least 2 tournaments within the year and they cannot be on two (2) consecutive days. |
| e. | Clubs will be awarded funding in the following sequence: HOPE in year 1, New Castle in year 2, Warren in year 3, and Erie in year 4. Year 1 is 2026. This rotation will continue in the same order in subsequent years. |
| f. | If the designated club for funding does not receive funding due to the balance of funds in the Treasury, that club will be consider for funding in the following year. |
| g. | If the designated club does not meet the requirements for funding in their appointed year, the next club in order will receive the funding. The designated club that does not meet the requirements for funding will be consider again in the following year. |
Article V – Specific Duties of the President
Section 1
The duties of the President shall be to preside over all meetings and to administer the business of the Association, to pass on any obligations and to handle other duties that may come to his/her attention in promoting the best interest of the Association.
Article VI - Specific Duties of the Vice President
Section 1
The Vice-President shall have the same duties as the President but shall assume them only in the absence of the President.
Article VII – Specific Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer
Section 1
The duties of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be to keep accurate minutes, act as custodian of all funds of the Association, sign all warrants of the Association expenditures, keep financial records of the Association funds, attend to correspondences and any other duties which may come to his/her attention as necessary to promote the best interest of the Association.
Section 2
Publicize events through the Association’s newsletter and notify the NHPA of such events. The Pitcher Pulse will be the official newsletter of the Association. There will be a minimum of two issues of The Pitcher Pulse annually to be printed in approximately early April and early September prior to the start of the next season. Each club is to submit an article about their club for print in The Pitcher Pulse.
Section 3
The Secretary-Treasurer shall handle or direct all state-wide newspaper publicity for the Association.
Section 4
The Secretary-Treasurer shall prepare a written financial report of the fiscal year (October 1 through September 30) and have it available to all Association clubs and Executive council members.
Section 5
The Secretary-Treasurer may appoint agents to ensure these duties are properly fulfilled.
Article VIII – Specific Duties of the State Statistician
Section 1
The duties of the State Statistician shall be to maintain records of each tournament held by the Association’s member clubs and to report the statistics of each tournament participant to the NHPA.
Article IX– Annual Stipends
Section 1
The President shall receive $75.00, the Vice President shall receive $75.00, the Secretary-Treasurer/State Statistician shall be considered one position and shall receive $2.00 per Association member.
Section 2
The stipends can only be changed by a vote of the members at the annual meeting.
Article X – Amendment Procedure
Section 1
| a. | Any member in good standing may propose additions or changes to the Constitution or By-laws in writing or at the annual meeting. |
| b. | Proposed changes must be seconded and passed by a majority of all voting members at the annual meeting. |
| c. | Amendments may be made to a proposed change when approved by the membership prior to the vote on the original proposed change. |
End of By Laws
Last updated September 14, 2025.
