Our Non-Profit Governance Architecture
At ASS EQUESTRE DU RELAIS DU CHAUSSE, leadership is not an instrument of personal authority or corporate profit extraction; it is a shared civic responsibility undertaken in service of the community. As an association recognized for public-benefit sporting recreation (Association loi 1901), our organizational integrity relies upon transparent decision-making, open General Assemblies, and clear accountability to our members, municipal partners, and the Prefecture of the Eure.
Every active participant, family member, and registered volunteer holds equal voting power during our statutory assemblies under the bedrock democratic principle of "one member, one vote." Our volunteer Board of Directors is elected triennially by the General Assembly to oversee organizational strategy, monitor equine healthcare standards, safeguard public safety protocols, and ensure fiscal responsibility.
Statutory Non-Profit Mandate
"All membership fees and dues are fully reinvested in the association's public interest missions."
In strict compliance with our filed constitution, no director, officer, or board member receives any monetary compensation, dividends, or executive perks for their institutional service. All board mandates are performed strictly in an honorary, benevolent volunteer capacity.
Board of Directors & Executive Leadership Directory
Our governing body brings together experienced horse professionals, rural educators, local civil servants, and parent advocates who donate their time, professional expertise, and moral vigilance to guide our daily operations.
Jean-Marc Delaunay
Lifelong Normandy equestrian educator and retired rural school principal with over 35 years of civic leadership. Jean-Marc chairs the General Assembly, supervises statutory compliance with the Prefecture, and spearheads our partnerships with local schools and departmental youth initiatives. He ensures that ethical pedagogy and accessibility remain the guiding stars of every association program.
Hélène Mercier-Lemoine
Certified equine behaviorist and community liaison specialist. Hélène manages administrative documentation, oversees member registrations, and maintains detailed records of all board proceedings and General Assembly votes. She acts as the primary contact point for regional healthcare centers, coordinating specialized scheduling for adapted therapeutic riding sessions.
Philippe Vauquelin
Former agricultural cooperative auditor and local accounting specialist. Philippe maintains our double-entry non-profit bookkeeping, prepares our comprehensive annual financial disclosures, and monitors grant allocation from departmental authorities. His meticulous oversight guarantees that every single euro directly advances animal care and accessible public sporting infrastructure.
Claire Beaumont
BPJEPS-certified master equestrian coach and adapted physical recreation instructor. Claire oversees daily equine healthcare schedules, veterinarian visits, farrier rotations, and field safety protocols across our 18 hectares of pastures and facilities. She leads our volunteer onboarding clinics, instilling high standards of animal welfare and empathetic coaching.
Transparent Fiscal Allocation & Annual Budget Table
Transparency is the cornerstone of public trust. We publish our annual operating receipts and expenditures openly for examination by members, institutional granting authorities, and the general public. Below is the certified budget allocation breakdown from our most recent statutory fiscal year (2025):
| Operational Allocation Category | Annual Expenditure | Share of Budget | Public Interest Justification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equine Healthcare & Veterinary Care | €24,650 | 35.2% | Veterinary visits, dental rasping, routine farrier shoeing, vaccinations, and specialized equine geriatrics care for retired mounts. |
| Forage, Nutrition & Paddock Straw | €18,900 | 27.0% | Certified Normandy meadow hay, organic mineral supplements, oat rations, and dust-free bedding straw ensuring optimal pulmonary health. |
| Public Safety Equipment & Adaptive Gear | €8,750 | 12.5% | Purchase and inspection of CE-certified riding helmets, back protector vests, mounting ramps, and magnetic safety stirrups for disabled riders. |
| Facility Upkeep & Trail Stewardship | €9,800 | 14.0% | Arena sand maintenance, perimeter wooden fencing repair, rainwater tank maintenance, and trail-clearing equipment fuel and blades. |
| Insurance, Certifications & Administration | €5,200 | 7.4% | Comprehensive civil liability insurance for all riders, statutory filing fees, annual audit certifications, and public reporting materials. |
| Subsidized Family Solidarity Fund | €2,700 | 3.9% | Direct financial subsidies allocated to reduce enrollment costs for children from economically vulnerable rural households. |
Statutory Auditing Protocols and Ethical Commitments
To prevent any conflict of interest or financial irregularity, the association enforces strict internal governance protocols:
1. Dual-Signature Disbursement Rule
No financial transaction exceeding €250 may be executed by a single individual. All disbursements, vendor payments, and grant reallocations require the co-signature of both the President and the Treasurer after verification of physical invoices and receipts.
2. Independent Internal Censors
Each year during the Annual General Assembly, two association members who are not members of the Board of Directors are elected as independent internal auditors. These volunteers are granted unrestricted access to bank statements, ledger entries, and vendor contracts, presenting an independent report to the assembly prior to any vote approving the annual accounts.
3. Public Grants Accountability
Every public grant received from the Department of Eure, municipal councils, or national sports agencies is tracked within a separate ledger code. A dedicated "Compte Rendu Financier de Subvention" (Financial Grant Execution Report) is submitted to the granting body within six months of the fiscal year close, documenting every euro spent against its contractual objective.
4. Prevention of Commercial Exploitation
Our statutes explicitly forbid the association from entering into speculative contracts, commercial sponsorship agreements that compromise animal welfare, or leasing out communal infrastructure for private commercial gain. The facility is preserved solely as a communal sanctuary for non-profit education, therapy, and amateur equestrian recreation.
5. Independent Animal Ethics & Veterinary Committee
To ensure that equine welfare is never compromised by administrative or financial considerations, our governance includes an Animal Ethics Advisory Committee composed of our attending veterinary surgeon, a master farrier, and an elected volunteer rider representative. This committee meets quarterly to inspect each horse's body condition score (BCS), review working hour logs, and verify dental and hoof health. The committee holds statutory veto power over any operational decision that could adversely impact horse wellbeing.
6. Conflict of Interest Charter & Public Disclosures
All members of the Board of Directors are required to complete an annual declaration of interests disclosing any personal, professional, or commercial ties to local agricultural suppliers, equestrian tack merchants, or contracting companies. If a matter concerning a vendor with whom a director has any familial or financial connection arises, that director is statutorily required to recuse themselves from both the discussion and the vote.
Democratic Assembly Procedures and Member Voting Rights
The supreme decision-making body of ASS EQUESTRE DU RELAIS DU CHAUSSE is the Annual Ordinary General Assembly, convened each spring in the commune of Saint-Victor-d'Épine. Every member who has maintained active membership for at least three months possesses statutory voting rights.
The agenda of the General Assembly is distributed to all members at least twenty-one days in advance, accompanied by the annual moral report presented by the President, the financial ledger presented by the Treasurer, and the independent auditor's certification. Decisions regarding annual dues schedules, major capital purchases, and amendments to internal safety regulations require a democratic majority vote. Any group representing at least 15% of registered members holds the legal right to mandate the convening of an Extraordinary General Assembly to address urgent community matters.
Participate in Our Democratic Process
Our governance is completely open to local citizens, participants, and volunteers. Join our association, attend our public assemblies, review our records, and help shape the future of community equestrian recreation in Normandy.