Institutional Governance & Volunteer Leadership
Operating under the French Law of July 1, 1901, Société des Courses Hippiques maintains an exemplary framework of transparent, democratic, and disinterested administration. Our association is governed wholly by uncompensated volunteers dedicated to public interest stewardship in Verneuil d'Avre et d'Iton.
Disinterested Volunteer Leadership & Legal Framework
In accordance with Article 261-7-1° of the French General Tax Code and the statutory principles of public utility non-profit administration, all executive positions within Société des Courses Hippiques are strictly non-remunerated. The members of our Board of Directors exercise their fiduciary responsibilities on an entirely voluntary basis, receiving neither direct compensation, attendance vouchers, performance bonuses, nor material fringe benefits.
Our association is legally registered under the provisions of the Law of July 1, 1901, with the Prefecture of Eure under registration identifier RNA W273000521 and SIREN 387600521. This legal status mandates strict democratic equality among members: each member in good standing possesses a single vote, and operational decisions must reflect the collective civic interest rather than individual financial interests.
Statutory Reinvestment Guarantee
"All membership fees and dues are fully reinvested in the association's public interest missions."
No operational surplus, reserve fund, or asset appreciation may ever be distributed as dividends or capital gains to members or third parties. All financial resources must remain within the civic patrimony of the association.
Board of Directors Directory
Elected by secret ballot at the Annual General Assembly for renewable three-year terms, the Board of Directors oversees the strategic roadmap, public safety commitments, environmental compliance, and municipal partnerships of our association. Below is the active roster of our volunteer executive bureau and operational committee heads:
Jean-Pierre Morel
President of the Association (Volunteer)
A resident of Verneuil for over 35 years and former regional agricultural engineer, Jean-Pierre oversees municipal liaison with the town council, statutory filings with the Prefecture of Eure, and institutional representation before the French National Federation of Horse Racing.
Catherine Vasseur
Vice-President (Volunteer)
Retired rural educator and community volunteer coordinator, Catherine supervises our youth educational clinics, school partnership outreach, accessibility arrangements for visitors with disabilities, and volunteer welcoming committees.
Martine Gauthier
Secretary General (Volunteer)
Former administrative director in regional public services, Martine coordinates statutory correspondence, official assembly minutes, membership registers, public archives, and compliance with statutory transparency directives.
Alain Dupont
Treasurer (Volunteer)
Chartered public sector auditor with over 28 years of non-profit accounting experience, Alain supervises double-entry ledger bookkeeping, public grant justification dossiers, and liaison with independent statutory verifiers.
Henri de Launay
Director of Grounds & Track Operations (Volunteer)
Master equestrian technician and former stud farm manager, Henri coordinates volunteer groundskeeping squads, mechanical safety equipment maintenance, grass track rolling and aeration, and track perimeter rail inspections.
Dr. Éléonore Mercier
Chief Veterinary Liaison Officer (Volunteer)
Licensed equine veterinary surgeon practicing in the Eure department, Dr. Mercier establishes sanitary protocols, stall disinfection standards, on-course emergency veterinary response units, and horse welfare regulations.
Transparent Budget Allocation Tables
In keeping with our commitment to absolute civic transparency, our association makes its annual audited operating accounts publicly accessible. Below is the certified budgetary allocation for the most recent fiscal year, illustrating how public subsidies, membership dues, and operational contributions are fully directed toward public welfare:
| Operational Expenditure Domain | Annual Allocation (€) | Percentage of Total | Public Benefit Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track Safety, Barriers & Rail Modernization | €48,500 | 34.2% | Upgrading impact-absorbing running rails, ambulance access corridors, and safety padding |
| Turf Ecology & Rainwater Irrigation Systems | €32,800 | 23.1% | Zero-chemical soil aeration, organic seed varieties, rainwater harvesting cistern maintenance |
| Equine Welfare, Stalls & Veterinary Controls | €24,600 | 17.3% | Quarantine stalls, mandatory on-site veterinary inspection clinics, clean water distribution |
| Public & Family Welcome Amenities | €18,200 | 12.8% | PMR wheelchair ramps, clean sanitary facilities, shaded seating, public information kiosks |
| Free Educational Youth & Heritage Clinics | €11,400 | 8.0% | Free bus transport for elementary classes, educational activity booklets, artisan workshops |
| Statutory Insurance, Administration & Audits | €6,500 | 4.6% | Comprehensive public liability insurance, external certified accounting audit fees |
| Total Certified Operating Expenditure | €142,000 | 100.0% | 100% Reinvested in Public Interest Mission |
Rigorous Auditing & Oversight Procedures
Société des Courses Hippiques subjects its financial accounts, asset registries, and procedural records to a triple tier of institutional oversight:
- Internal Supervisory Commission: At each Annual General Assembly, two independent association members who are not members of the Board of Directors are elected as Statutory Verifiers. They are granted unrestricted access to bank statements, invoices, and expense vouchers to produce an unvarnished audit report for the assembly.
- External Certified Accounting: All balance sheets and income statements are consolidated annually by an independent accounting firm registered with the Regional Order of Chartered Accountants in Normandy.
- Prefectural & Municipal Verification: As a recipient of municipal green space management authorizations and public subsidies, our association submits its certified financial dossiers annually to the Municipal Council of Verneuil d'Avre et d'Iton and the Prefecture of Eure.
Ethical Charter & Conflict of Interest Policy
To preserve our reputation and civic trust, every member of our Board of Directors is required upon election to sign our Charter of Non-Profit Probity and Disinterested Action. This charter strictly mandates:
- Mandatory Disclosure: Immediate formal disclosure of any personal, familial, or professional interest in vendors, contractors, or suppliers submitting bids for grounds maintenance or services.
- Recusal from Deliberation: Any board member with a declared conflict of interest is automatically barred from participating in voting or discussions regarding the contested tender.
- Prohibition of Favors: Absolute prohibition against accepting gifts, hospitality, or personal favors from commercial entities.
- Equal Public Access: Strict enforcement that our municipal venue remains equally open to all civic associations, amateur horse owners, and educational bodies without preferential treatment.
- Statutory Devolution of Assets: Absolute prohibition of personal enrichment; in the event of association termination, all net assets revert automatically to the municipality of Verneuil d'Avre et d'Iton.
Democratic General Assembly Procedures & Member Rights
The sovereign governing body of our association is the Ordinary General Assembly, convened annually in November in Verneuil d'Avre et d'Iton. All members who have paid their nominal membership dues for the current year are entitled to attend, propose resolutions, and vote on all agenda items.
The assembly agenda includes:
- The Moral and Activity Report delivered by the President, detailing the public events, school clinics, and volunteer hours completed during the sporting season.
- The Financial Report delivered by the Treasurer, presenting the detailed income statement, balance sheet, and reserve fund status.
- The Independent Auditors' Report delivered by the elected Statutory Verifiers.
- Approval of the provisional budget for the upcoming fiscal year, including scheduled grounds modernization and youth programs.
- Election or renewal of members of the Board of Directors by secret ballot.
To ensure pure grassroots democracy, voting by proxy is strictly capped at a maximum of two proxies per attending member, preventing any individual or faction from centralizing voting power. Every member is encouraged to question board members directly on operational expenses, facility management decisions, and future civic priorities.
All assembly deliberations, resolutions, and financial exhibits are transcribed into an official minute register signed by the President and Secretary General, available for public review at our registered seat in Verneuil d'Avre et d'Iton upon request.
"All membership fees and dues are fully reinvested in the association's public interest missions."
Participate in Democratic Stewardship
Interested in joining our volunteer committee or attending the upcoming Annual General Assembly? We welcome inquiries from all community members.