Annual Convention

Convention Resolutions

The Resolution Process at Convention

All approved resolutions are reviewed by the appropriate committees/commissions/boards in resolution meetings during convention. At these meetings voting delegates and convention attendees can voice their opinions. After this debate, members have three options. They can:

1. approve the resolution as is
2. approve it as amended
3. disapprove it.

If the resolution is approved as is or with an amendment, it is then sent to the convention floor where it is voted upon by the convention delegates. The delegates have five options. They can:

1. approve it as is
2. approve it with an amendment
3. refer it to committee for study
4. withdraw it or
5. disapprove it.

Anatomy of a Resolution Chart

How to Submit a Resolution?

Submitting a Resolution
Resolutions can be submitted by the regional board of delegates, clubs, committees, the AHA Board of Directors and the AHA president. Individual members can not submit resolutions, but in some cases an individual member or group of members have succeeded in getting a resolution submitted by convincing a club, regional board or committee of the merit of their resolution.

Once a resolution has been approved by one of the aforementioned bodies, it must be sent to the AHA office for review by the Agenda & Resolutions Committee, which reviews all resolutions during a two-day session in September. All resolutions, except extraordinary ones, must be postmarked no later that 90 days prior to convention. (See the 2005 AHA Handbook, Article 901, pages 32-33 for more details on submitting resolutions). The contact person for the proponent has the authority to amend the resolution, withdraw it or combine it with another resolution.

Wording it Correctly
What does the committee look for in its review? "We make sure all resolutions are understandable and have the wording correct," says Eleanor Dunn, committee chair. "We verify AHA/USA Equestrian article numbers and make sure it has a financial impact statement if it needs one and that the whereas portion covers the same subject as the resolve."

"Sometimes if it's a matter of a minor change--the deletion or addition of a resolve or correcting sentence structure--and it can be reconciled in a couple of faxes or phone calls to the contact person, we will do that," Dunn continues. "But if it's poorly written, ambiguous or vague, we have to reject it. It is not our job to rewrite resolutions. Nor is it our job to review content. And no one, not the board, the Executive Committee or president, ever interferes in our review process."

Dunn strongly suggests that any group needing help with a resolution contact Janet Holloway, AHA Competitions Department Sr Director, as early as possible. "First write down the basic subject and a brief outline of what your group wants," says Dunn. "Janet will not write it, but she will help you get things stated correctly so it wouldn't get rejected."

If Agenda & Resolutions Committee accepts the resolution, it is then mailed to club presidents, the AHA Board of Directors, committee chairs, registered delegates, alternate delegates and guests 45 days before convention.

Resolution Submission Form

Resolution submission form

AHA Rule change procedures

AHA Handbook Chapter 9 (.pdf format)