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Constitution
& By-Laws of
the Dog
Obedience Club of Greenville, Inc. [this version was replaced
by a revised version 8-16-2008] Constitution Article 1Name and Objects Section
1. The name of the Club shall be the
Dog Obedience Club of Greenville, Inc. Section
2. The objects of the Club shall be: ·
To
promote the training of pure-bred dogs; ·
Dissemination
of knowledge regarding the obedience training; to conduct classes for the
training of dogs and their handlers; ·
To
encourage the training of judges; ·
To
encourage and co-operate with individuals and other groups with similar
purposes; ·
To hold
and support obedience trails, tracking tests, exhibitions and matches under the
rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club; ·
To
promote co-operation and good sportsmanship among its members in the training
and exhibition of dogs; ·
To strive
for better care and control of all dogs. Section
3. The Club shall not be conducted
or operated for profit and no part of any profits or remainder or residue from
dues and donations to the Club shall inure to the benefit of any member or
individual. Section
4. Members of the Club will be
allowed to adopt and from time to time revise the By-Laws in order to carry out
the said objects. By-Laws
Article
I Membership Section
1. Eligibility. There shall
be one type membership open to all persons eighteen years of age and older who
are in good standing with The American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the
purpose of this Club. The Club does also recognize a “Junior Membership”
open to persons 10 –17. These “Junior” memberships cannot vote or hold any
office in the Club; they also may pay a reduced rate of dues. Upon reaching
their 18th birthday, a junior membership automatically reverts to
regular membership.
While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club’s
primary purpose is to be a representative of the breeders, trainer’s and
exhibitors in its immediate area. Section
2. Dues. Membership dues
shall be in such amount as shall be from time to time fixed by resolutions of
the Board of Directors and approved by the membership. Dues shall be payable on
or before the first day of January of each year. A grace period will run through
the 31st of January. Anyone failing to submit dues by January 31st
will have to re-apply, paying initial fee and membership dues with the
application. These new members will not have to be endorsed in order to join.
Also, each person shall pay an initiation fee of $10.00 at the time application
is made to the Dog Obedience Club of Greenville, Inc. (This fee shall be paid
only once.) No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year.
(Each individual member is entitled to one vote if dues are paid for current
year.) During the month of November, the treasurer shall send to each member a
statement of his or her dues for the ensuing year. Section
3. Election to Membership.
Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of
Directors and which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by these
constitution and By-Laws and the rules of the American Kennel Club. The
application shall state the name, address, and occupation of the applicant and
it shall carry the endorsement of two members in good standing. Accompanying the
application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current
year.
All applications are to be filed with the Corresponding Secretary and
each application is to be read at the first meeting of the Club following its
receipt. At the next club meeting, the application will be voted upon and an
affirmative vote of ¾ of the members present and voting at the meeting shall be
required to elect the applicant. New
members voted in shall receive written notice of acceptance.
Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not
reapply within six months after such rejection. Section
4. Termination of Membership.
Memberships may be terminated: a.
By resignation. Any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written
notice to the Corresponding Secretary; but no member may resign when in debt to
the Club. Dues obligations are considered a debt to the Club and they become
incurred on the first day of each fiscal year. b.
By lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapses and automatically terminated
if such members’ dues remain unpaid 30 days after the first day of the fiscal
year; however, the Board may grant an addition 45 days of grace to such
delinquent members in meritorious cases. In no case may a person be entitled to
vote at any club meeting whose dues are unpaid as of the date of that meeting. c.
By expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in ARTICLE VI
of these By-Laws. Article
II Meeting and Voting
Section
1. Club Meetings shall be
held in the Greater Greenville area, South Carolina, on the fourth Thursday of
each month at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors
unless date is changed by vote of the Club for such things as holidays, etc.
Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed by the Corresponding Secretary
at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings
shall be 20% of the members in good standing. Section
2. Special Club Meetings may
be called by the President, or by a majority vote of the members of the Board of
Directors who are present and voting at any regular club meeting of the Board,
and shall be called by the Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of the petition
signed by five members of the Club who are in good standing. Such special
meetings shall be held in the Greater Greenville area, South Carolina, at such
place, date and hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized
herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed by
the Corresponding Secretary at least 5 days in advance and not more than 15 days
prior to the date of the meeting, and said notice shall state the purpose of the
meeting, and no other Club business may be transacted thereat. The quorum for
such meeting shall be 20% of the members in good standing. Section
3. Board Meetings. Meetings
of the Board of Directors shall be held in the Greater Greenville area, South
Carolina, at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the Board.
Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Corresponding Secretary at
least 5 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings
shall be a majority of the Board. Section
4. Special Board Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President, and shall be
called by the Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed
by at least 3 members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held in the
Greater Greenville area, South Carolina, at such place, date and hour as may be
designated by the person of persons authorized herein to call such meetings.
Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed by the Corresponding Secretary
at least 5 days in advance and not more than 10 days prior to the date of the
meeting. Any such notice shall state the purpose of the meeting, and no other
business shall be transacted thereat. The quorum for such meetings shall be a
majority of the Board. Section5. Voting. Each member in good
standing whose dues are paid for the current year shall be entitled to one vote
at any meeting of the Club at which he or she is present. Proxy voting will not
be permitted by any club meeting or election. Article
III Directors
and officers
Section
1. Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors shall be comprised of the President, Vice President,
Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Obedience Trial Chairman, Training Director,
and the Equipment Keeper, all of whom shall be members in good standing and all
of whom shall be elected for one-year terms at the Club’s annual meeting with
the exceptions specified in Section 3 and shall serve until their successors are
elected. (Except the Obedience Chairman who shall be, named as provided in
Article V of these Constitution and By-Laws). General management of the Club’s
affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors. Section
2. Officers. The Club’s
officers, consisting of the President, Vice-President, Corresponding Secretary,
Recording Secretary, and Treasurer shall serve in their respective capacities
both with regard to the Club and its meetings and the Board and its meetings. ·
The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and of the Board and shall
have the duties and powers normally appurtenant to the Office of President in
addition to those particularly specified in these Constitution and By-Laws. ·
The Vice-President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case
of the President’s death, absence or incapacity. ·
The Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence, notify
members of meetings, notify new members of their election to membership, notify
officers and Directors of their election to office, keep roll of the members of
the Club with their addresses and carry out such other duties as are prescribed
in these By-Laws. ·
The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club and
of the Board and of all matters of which, a record shall be ordered by the Club. ·
The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the Club. He
or she shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the Board, in the name of
the Club. He or she shall disburse such funds as are necessary to meet the
Club’s obligations. His or her books shall at all times be open to inspection
of the Board and he or she shall report to them at every meeting the condition
of the Club’s finances and every item of receipt or payment not before
reported; and at the annual meeting, he or she shall render an account of all
moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year. The treasurer
shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine. Section
3. Persons with Special
Positions. In addition to the position listed above, there shall be an
Equipment Keeper and a Training Director, both of whom shall be in good standing
and shall be elected for one-year terms at the Club’s Annual meeting with the
exception specified in Section 3 of this Article and shall serve until their
successors are elected. ·
The Equipment Keeper shall be bonded by the Club and is accountable for
all inventories. He or she shall be responsible for issuing equipment and
ordering supplies and equipment. The Equipment Keeper shall be a voting member
of the Board. ·
The Training Director shall be in direct charge of and responsible for all
phases of the Club’s Obedience Training activities, however, to the final
authority of the Board of Directors. 1.
The Training Director shall be a voting member of the Board of Directors. 2.
Should a Training Director be chosen from among the elected officers,
then the vacancy thus created on the Board of Directors shall be filled by
adding an additional Board Member At Large to be elected by the Board Members. 3.
Training Director may appoint such assistant trainers as they deem
desirable and necessary, such assistant trainers being responsible only to the
appointing Training Director. Section
4. Vacancies. Any vacancies
occurring on the Board or among the officers during the year shall be filled for
the un-expired term of office by a majority vote of all the then members of the
Board at its first regular meeting following the creation of such vacancy, or at
a Special Board Meeting called for that purpose; except that a vacancy in the
office of President shall be filled automatically by the Vice-President and the
resulting vacancy in the office of Vice-President may be filled by the Board. Article
IV The club year, annual meeting, election Section
1. The Club Year. The
Club’s fiscal year shall begin on the 1st day of January and end on
the 31st day of December. Section2. Annual Meeting. The
annual meeting shall be held in the month of November at which Officers for the
ensuing year shall be elected by secret ballot from among those nominated in
accordance with Section 4 of this Article. Installation of officers will be held
at the December meeting. They shall take office January 1st and each
retiring officer shall turn over to his or her successor in office all
properties and records relating to that office within 30 days after the
election. Section
3. Elections. The nominated
candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be
declared elected. However, if there be more than two nominees for a single
position and the leading candidate fails to receive a majority of all votes
cast, a second ballot shall be taken immediately, limiting the nominees to the
two candidates who received the most votes. Section
4. Nominations. No person may
be a candidate in the Club election who has not been nominated. During the month
of August, the Board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of three
members and two alternates, not more than one of who may be a member of the
Board. The Corresponding Secretary shall immediately notify the committeemen and
alternates of their selection. The Board shall name a Chairman for the Committee
and it shall be his or her duty to call a committee meeting, which shall be held
on or before September 1st. a.
The committee may nominate one candidate from the membership for each
office and after securing the consent of each person so nominated shall
immediately report his or her nominations to the Corresponding Secretary in
writing. b.
Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee’s report, the Corresponding
Secretary shall at least two week before the October meeting notify each member
in writing of the candidates so nominated. c.
Addition nominations may be made at the October meeting by any member in
attendance provided that the person so nominated does accept when his or her
name is proposed, and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in
attendance at this meeting his or her proposer shall present to the
Corresponding Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate
signifying his or her willingness to be a candidate. No person may be a
candidate for more than one position, other than special positions, and the
additional nominations, which are provided for herein may be made only from
among those members who have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating
Committee. An officer may succeed himself for an addition year. If elected. d.
Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting in any manner other than
provided in this Section. Article
V Committees Section
1. The Board may each year appoint standing committees
to advance the work of the Club in such matters as shows, obedience trials,
(field trials), trophies, annual prizes, membership and other fields which may
be well served by committees. Such committees may always be subject to the final
authority of the Board. Special Committees may also be appointed by the Board to
aid on particular projects
Section
2. At its first or second meeting following the annual
election, the President shall nominate, subject to the approval of the Board of
Directors, a Trial Committee consisting of three members which will be in direct
charge of and responsible for all phases of the Club’s dog show, subject,
however, to the final authority of the Board of Directors. At the time of this
nomination, the President shall designate one member as Chairman and may
designate one member as Obedience Chairman. Section
3. Any committee appointment may be
terminated by a majority vote of the full membership of the Board upon written
notice to the appointee; and the Board may appoint successors to those persons
whose services have been terminated. Article
VI Discipline Section
1. American Kennel Club
Suspension. Any member who is suspended from the privileges of the American
Kennel Club automatically shall be suspended from the privileges of this Club
for a like period. Section
2. Charges. Any member may prefer charges against a
member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Club or
the dogs. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with
the Corresponding Secretary together with a deposit of $10.00, which shall be
forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board following a hearing.
The Corresponding Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each
member of the Board or present them at a Board meeting, and the Board shall
first consider whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might
constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Club. If the Board
considers that the charges do not allege conduct, which would be prejudicial to
the best interest of the Club, it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the
Board entertained jurisdiction of the charges, it shall fix a date of a hearing
by the Board not less than 3 weeks nor more than 6 weeks thereafter. The
Corresponding Secretary shall promptly send one copy to the charges to the
accused member by registered mail together with a notice of the hearing and an
assurance that the defendant may personally appear in his or her own defense and
bring witnesses if he or she wishes. Section
3. Board Hearing. The Board
shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing,
but both complainant and defendant shall be treated uniformly in that regard.
Should the charges be sustained, after hearing all the evidence and testimony
presented by complainant and defendant, the Board may by a majority vote of
those present suspend the defendant from all privileges of the Club for not more
than 6 months from the date of the hearing. And, if deems that punishment
insufficient; it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty be
expulsion. In such case, the suspension shall not restrict the defendant’s
right to appear before his or her fellow members at the ensuring Club meeting
which considers the Board’s recommendation. Immediately after the Board has
reached a decision, its findings shall be put in written form and filed with the
Recording Secretary. The Corresponding Secretary, in turn, shall notify each of
the parties of the Board’s decisions and penalty, if any. Section
4. Expulsion.
Expulsion of a member from the Club may be accomplished only at a meeting of the
Club following a Board Hearing and upon the Board’s recommendation as provided
in Section 3 of this Article. Such proceedings may occur at a regular or special
meeting of the Club to be held within 60 days but not earlier than 30 days after
the date of the Board’s recommendation. The defendant shall have the privilege
of appearing in his or her own behalf though no evidence shall be taken at this
meeting. The President shall read the charges and the Board’s findings and
recommendations, and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his or
her own behalf if he or she wishes. The members shall then vote by secret vote
of those present. Voting at the meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. If
expulsion is not so voted, the Board’s suspension shall stand. Article
VII Amendments Section
1. Amendments to the Constitution
and By-Laws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition
addressed to the Corresponding Secretary signed by 20% of the membership in good
standing. Amendments proposed by such petition shall be promptly considered by
the Board of Directors and must be submitted to the members with recommendations
of the Board by the Corresponding Secretary for a vote within 3 months of the
date when the petitions was received by the Corresponding Secretary. Section
2. The Constitution and By-Laws may
be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting at any regular or
special meeting called for the purpose, provided the proposed amendments have
been included in the notice of the meeting and mailed to each member at least 2
weeks prior to the date of the mailing. Article
VIII Dissolution
of the Club Section
1. Dissolution. The Club may be
dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than 2/3 of the
members. In the event of the dissolution of the Club, other than for the purpose
of reorganization whether voluntary or involuntary or by operations of law, none
of the property of the Club nor any members of the Club but after payment of the
debts of the Club, it’s property and assets shall be given to a charitable
organization for the benefit of dogs selected by the Board of Directors. Article
IX Order
of business Section 1. At meetings of the Club, the order of business, so far as the character and nature of the meeting may permit, shall be as follows: Roll
Call Minutes
of last meeting Report
of President Report
of Corresponding Secretary Report
of Recording Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of Committees
Election of Officers and Board (at annual meeting)
Election of new members
Unfinished business
New business
Adjournment Section
2. At meetings of the Board, the
order of business, unless otherwise directed by majority of those present, shall
be as follows: Reading
of minutes of last meeting Report
of Corresponding Secretary Report
of Treasurer Report
of Committees Unfinished
business New
business Adjournment Article
X Parliamentary
authority Section
1. The
rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order newly
Revised shall govern the Club in all cases to which they are not consistent with
the By-Laws and any special rules of order the Club may adopt.
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