- ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP
- Section 1. Eligibility
- There shall be one type of membership open to all persons 18 years of age and older who subscribe to the purposes of this club. Membership may be granted to an individual under the age of 18 with written consent and permission from a custodial parent or legal guardian and must remain under the guidance and supervision of an active current club member over the age of 18.
- Section 2. Dues
- Membership dues shall be no more than $50 per year, payable on or before the first day of January of each year. No member may vote or participate in training sessions if their dues are not paid for the current year. The amount of dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
- During the month of November, the Treasurer shall notify each member that their dues are payable for the ensuing year.
- Section 3. Membership
- Any person who has shown an interest in the training, showing or competing of dogs may apply to become a member of the Club. Applicants must obtain the necessary forms from the Secretary, complete the forms, and submit them to the Secretary, along with dues payment for the current year.
- At the next Club meeting, the membership will vote on accepting or rejecting an applicant’s membership. 51 percent of the current membership in attendance must vote in favor of the applicant in order to accept the membership. If the applicant is rejected, their dues payment will be returned in a timely fashion.
- Section 4. Termination of Membership
- Membership may be terminated:
- (a) By resignation. Any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Secretary, but no one may resign when in debt to the Club. Membership dues are considered a debt to the Club, and they become an obligation on the first day of each fiscal year.
- (b) By lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid 60 days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional 30 days of grace to 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 the Bylaws.
- ARTICLE II: MEETINGS AND VOTING
- Section 1. Club Meetings
- Meetings of the Club shall be held in the South Florida area, on a quarterly schedule, at such a date, hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Alternatively, meetings may be held in an internet environment.
- The Secretary shall provide notification of such meeting at least 7 days before the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 15 percent of the members in good standing.
- Section 2. Special Club Meetings
- Special Club meetings may be called by the President or by a majority of the Board of Directors who are present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the Board, and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by 15 percent of the members of the Club in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held in the South Florida area or a designated internet environment, at a place and time determined by the persons who have called the meeting. The Secretary shall notify the members at least 5 days before the meeting date. The notice shall state the purpose of the special meeting, and other items on the agenda. The quorum for a special meeting shall be 15 percent of the members in good standing.
- Section 3. Board Meetings
- Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be conducted in the South Florida area or a designated internet environment at least four times in the Club’s fiscal year, at such time and place as designated by the Board. The Secretary shall provide notification of each member of the Board of the time and place for the meeting at least 5 days prior to the meeting. The Secretary may either mail (postal or electronic) or telephone such notices. The quorum for a Board meeting is a majority of the Board.
- Section 4. Special Meetings of the Board
- Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President, or by the Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by the majority of the Board. Such special meeting shall be held in the South Florida area or a designated internet environment, at a time and place determined by the persons calling the meeting. The Secretary shall notify each member of the Board of the time and place for the meeting at least 5 days prior to the meeting. The Secretary may mail – postal or electronic – or telephone notice of the meeting. The notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and any other items on the agenda. A majority of the Board will constitute a quorum.
- Section 5. 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/she is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any Club meeting or election. Absentee ballots may be obtained from the Club Secretary no later than 7 days prior to the election and must be returned to the Club Secretary before the election of officers.
ARTICLE III: DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
- Section 1. Board of Directors
- The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Board Member at Large, all of whom shall be elected for 1 year terms at the Club’s annual meeting as provided in Article IV and shall serve until their successors are elected. 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, Secretary, Treasurer and Board Member at Large, shall serve in their respective capacities, both with regard to the Club and its meetings and the Board and its meetings.
- (a) The President shall preside over all meetings of the Club and the Board and shall have the duties and powers normally assigned to the President in addition to any other duties specified in these Bylaws.
- (b) The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in the event of the President’s absence, incapacity or death.
- (c) The Secretary shall keep record of all meetings of the Club and the Board, and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club. He/She shall have charge of all the correspondence, be responsible for notifying members of meetings, keep a roll of members of the Club and their addresses and carry out other duties as described in these Bylaws
- (d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club. He/She shall deposit the money in an institution as directed by the Board, in the name of the Club. His/Her books shall be open at all times for inspection by the Board and he/she will report the Club’s financial condition at every meeting of the Board. At the annual meeting of the general membership, the Treasurer shall render an account of all monies received and expended during the year.
- (e) The Board Member at Large shall fill in for any Board member in the event of their absence, and to represent the general membership at Board meetings.
- Section 3. Vacancies
- Any vacancy occurring on the Board or among the officers during the year shall be filled by executive appointment until the next annual election by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board at the next regular meeting after the vacancy occurs, or at a special meeting called for that purpose. The office of the President shall be filled automatically by the Vice President and the Board may appoint a member of the club to fill the vacant position.
ARTICLE IV: CLUB YEAR, ANNUAL MEETING, ELECTIONS
- Section 1. The Club Year
- The Club’s fiscal year shall begin on the 1st day of January and end the 31st day of December. The Club’s official year shall begin immediately at the conclusion of the election at the annual meeting and shall continue through the election at the next annual meeting.
- Section 2. Annual Meeting
- The annual meeting shall be held in the month of March, at which time officers and members of the Board of Directors for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret written ballot from among those nominated in accordance with Section 4 of this Article. They shall take office on, and each retiring officer shall turn over to his/her successor in office all Club properties and records relating to that office, within thirty days after the annual meeting.
- Section 3. Elections
- The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected.
- Section 4. Nominations
- No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated. During the month of February nominations will be accepted from any member in good standing and shall be collected by the Secretary for the purpose of electing Board members at the annual meeting. In order to run for election, a nominee must consent to candidacy and acknowledge willingness to hold that position, either verbally or through a written statement. This may occur through the month of February up through the annual meeting.
ARTICLE V: COMMITTEES
- Section 1. Committees
- The Board may appoint committees for the advancement of the work of the Club in such matters as training, membership, matches or any other areas which may be served by committees. Such committees shall always be subject to the authority of the Board. Special committees may also be appointed by the Board to aid it on special projects.
- Section 2. Terminations
- Any committee or committee appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the Board or membership, and the Board may appoint successors to those persons whose services have been terminated.
ARTICLE VI: DISCIPLINE
- Section 1. Charges
- Any member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Club or the Sport. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary or other Board member who shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each member of the Board or present them at a Board meeting. The Board shall first consider whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Club or Sport. If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges, it shall fix a date for a hearing by the Board within thirty days after submission of charges. The Secretary shall promptly send one copy of the charges to the accused member by registered mail, together with a notice of the hearing, and an assurance that the member may appear personally in his/her own defense and bring witness if he/she wishes.
- Section 2. Board Hearings
- The Board shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing, but both the complainant and the defendant shall be treated uniformly in this respect. Should the charges be sustained after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by the complainant and defendant, the Board may, by a majority vote of those present, suspend the member from all privileges of the Club for any period of time the Board feels appropriate. Immediately after the Board has reached a decision in regards to punishment, if any, the findings shall be documented in written for to be filed with the Secretary. The Secretary shall then notify each of the parties of the penalty, if any.
- Section 3. 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 recommendation of the Board, as provided in Section 2 of this Article. Such proceedings may occur at a regular or special meeting of the Club, to be held within thirty days after the date of the hearing. The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in his/her behalf, though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. Any Board member shall read the Board’s findings and recommendations and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak on his/her own behalf if he/she wishes. The meeting shall then vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion. If not expelled, the Board’s suspension shall stand.
ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS
- Section 1. Amendments
- Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition to the Board signed by 15 percent of the members in good standing. Amendments proposed shall be promptly considered by the Board and must be submitted to the members with recommendation of the Board by the Secretary for a vote at the next meeting of the Club.
- Section 2. Process
- The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the members in good standing at any Club meeting, provided that the proposed amendments have been included in the notice of the meeting mailed by post or electronically at least 5 days prior to the date of the meeting.
ARTICLE VIII: DISSOLUTION
- Section 1. Dissolution
- The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of two-thirds of the members in good standing. In the event of a dissolution of the Club, whether voluntary or involuntary or by action of law, none of the property of the Club nor any proceeds thereof nor any assets of the Club shall be distributed to any members of the Club, but after payment of the Club’s debts, its property and assets shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefit of dogs as selected by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX: ORDER OF BUSINESS
- Section 1. Meetings of the Club
- At meetings of the Club, the order of business, so far as the character of the meeting may permit, shall be:
- Call to Order
- Minutes of the Last Meeting
- Report of the Treasurer
- Reports of Committees
- Elections (at the annual Meeting)
- Executive Appointments (if any)
- Old Business
- New Business
- Adjournment
- Section 2. Meetings of the Board
- At meetings of the Board, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by a majority of those present, shall be:
- Call to Order
- Minutes of the Last Meeting
- Report of the Treasurer
- Reports of Committees
- Elections (at the annual Meeting)
- Executive Appointments (if any)
- Old Business
- New Business
- Adjournment
- Section 3. Special Meetings
- At special meetings, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by a majority of those present, shall be:
- Call to Order
- Special Meeting Business
- Any Other Meeting Business (executive appointments, old business, new business, et al)
- Adjournment
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