How to Organize a Block and Bridle Club
or Affiliate an Existing Ag Club with the National Block & Bridle Club
It is fairly easy to have a club already in existence at a junior college, technical school or 4-year college or university to become affiliated with the National Block & Bridle Club. A club name change to The Block & Bridle Club is not necessary; several clubs across the nation go by names such as Animal Science Club, Saddle & Sirloin Club, etc. It is recommended that when starting a new club it be called the Block & Bridle Club for closer national recognition, but this is not necessary.
To become an affiliate of the National Club requires the inclusion of three general items in a club constitution. The first two are general goals and state two overall club objectives:
- to promote Animal Agriculture (or any phase of it) and
- to promote scholarship among its members.
The third constitutional requirement is that a sentence be included requiring the club to send in a membership fee to the National Block & Bridle Club for lifetime membership dues. This should be paid when the student joins the local club. The National Club will then send an 8" x 11" National Membership certificate back to the club for each member.
The club and member benefits from National affiliation are as follows:
- Attendance at the annual national Block & Bridle Convention which includes club workshop seminars, agricultural tours, educational seminars and opportunities to attend livestock shows.
- National contests for individual scholarships as well as club awards for activities, published yearbooks, scrapbooks, and web pages.
- Newsletters about national activities and events and web page listing including links to local chapter pages.
A new or an established club that would like to affiliate with the National Club should submit a petition to the National Vice President. It should include a copy of the letters from your chapter president, chapter advisor and a university official (Dean, Director, Department Head or Chairman). This petition will be acted upon at the next national Block & Bridle Convention. Upon admission to the National Club, a charter will be issued from the National Secretary and the club will be placed on the web listing and mailing list for newsletters from the National Editor.
The petition should include a statement of intent (desire to form a new club) and a copy of the proposed constitution. The letter from the Chapter President should include a description of your club (number of members, activities that are planned, how often you meet, and any other pertinent information). The letter from your advisor should include a historical perspective (if there has been interest for a while), his/her commitment to serve as Advisor and to attend the national conventions with the club (if they plan to come), and an indication of departmental support. The letter from the administrator (Academic Dean, Director of Academic Programs, or Department Head/Chair) should indicate college support of the idea.
Please refer any questions about joining to the National Vice president or any other national officer for assistance. We encourage and welcome new members.