Antelope Valley Kennel Club

 

CONSTITUTION

 

ARTICLE I

NAME AND OBJECTS

 

SECTION 1

This Corporation shall be known as the ANTELOPE VALLEY KENNEL CLUB, Inc.

 

SECTION 2

The object of the Club shall be:

a. to further the advancement of all breeds of pure-bred dogs;

b. to do all in its' power to protect and advance the interest of all breeds of purebred dogs and to encourage sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, obedience and agility trials;

c. to conduct sanctioned matches, dog shows, obedience trials and agility trials under the Rules and Regulations of the American Kennel Club.

 

SECTION 3

The Club shall not be conduct or operated for profit and no part of any profits or remainder or residue from dues or donations to the Club shall inure to the benefit of any member or individual.

 

SECTION 4

The members of the Club shall adopt and may from time to time revise such by-laws as may be required to carry out these objects.

 

 

BY-LAWS

 

ARTICLE I

Membership

 

SECTION 1

ELIGIBILITY

There shall be four types of membership open to all persons who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and sho subscribe to the purpose of this Club.

 

a. Regular Membership - enjoys all the privileges of the Club including voting and holding office. While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club's primary purpose is to be representative of the breeders and exhibitors in its immediate area.

b. Life Membership is a member who has performed long-term, devoted and meritorious service to this Club. The qualifications for Life membership shall be presented in writing to the Board of Officers and Directors and duly passed upon by the Board. A member shall be elected to Life membership by a two-thirds majority vote of the member present at a regular meeting. A Life member shall be exempt from payment of annual dues and assessment. A Life member shall have full privileges of the membership, the right to make motions, vote and hold office.

c. Junior Membership - Junior memberships open to persons 10 through 17 years of age. Junior members shall not have the right to vote or hold office. They shall be able to automatically convert to regular membership upon reaching their 18th birthday.

d. An Honorary Member is a person who has instituted, performed or accomplished some outstanding service to the dog fancy at large. The qualifications for honorary membership shall be presented in writing to to the Board of Officers and Directors and duly passed upon the Board The person shall be elected to Honorary membership by a two-thirds majority vote of the voting members present at any regular meeting. An Honorary member shall be exempt from the payment of annual dues or assessments, and shall have the right to attend meetings and to speak, but not to make motions nor to vote. An Honorary member shall be able to maintain active voting status by payment of dues.

 

SECTION 2

DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

Membership dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors and shall be payable on or before the first day of March each year.

 

a. Membership dues for applicants applying after the last day of August shall pay 1/2 of current annual dues.

b. No assessment may be levied unless voted upon and passed by a two-thirds majority vote of the membership at any regular meeting. Written notice of the meetings where assessments are to be proposed shall be mailed by the Corresponding Secretary to the membership at least five days, but not more than fifteen days prior to the date of the meeting.

c. Dues for Junior Membership will be no less than $1.00 per year.

 

SECTION 3

ELECTION TO MEMBERSHIP

Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Officers and Directors. It shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by these By-Laws, the Articles of Incorporation, Code of Ethics and the Rules and Regulations of the American Kennel Club. The applicant shall be endorsed by two (2) members in good standing.

 

a. All applications are to be filed with the Recording Secretary, Membership Chairman and Treasurer.

b. Applications for membership shall be read at the first and second General Membership meetings immediately following their receipt by the Membership Chairman where applicants are in attendance. At the third attended meeting the applicant will be voted upon and affirmative votes of 3/4 of the members present and voting at that meeting shall be required to elect the applicant. Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not re-apply within six months after such rejection.

c. Reinstatement of former members in good standing who have voluntarily withdrawn from the Club shall have their application read at the first and second general membership meeting after its receipt and voted on at the third meeting immediately following its receipt by the Recording Secretary.

 

SECTION 4

TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

Membership may be terminated by:

a. Resignation - Any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Recording Secretary, but no member may resign when in debt to the Club.

b. Lapsing - A member will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid 30 days after the first day of the fiscal year, however, the Board may grant an additional 30 days of grace to such members in meritorious cases.

c. Expulsion - A member may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these By-Laws.

 

ARTICLE II

Meetings and Voting

 

SECTION 1

CLUB MEETINGS

Meetings of the Club shall be held monthly within the boundaries of the greater Antelope Valley area, at such hour and place as may be directed by the Board of Directors. Written or electronic (for those members that have opted in) notice of each meeting shall be sent by the Corresponding Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meeting shall be 20% of the members in good standing.

 

SECTION 2

SPECIAL CLUB MEETINGS

Special Club meetings may be called by the President, or by a majority vote of the members of the Board who are present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the Board or by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by five (5) members of the Club who are I good standing. Such special meetings shall be held within the boundaries of the greater Antelope Valley area at such hours as may be designated by the person or persons authorize herein to call such meetings. Written or electronic (for members that have opted in) notice of such meetings shall be sent by the Corresponding Secretary to all members at least five (5) days but. Not more than fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting and said notice shall state the purpose of the meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20% of the members in good standing.

 

SECTION 3

BOARD MEETINGS

Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held two (2) weeks prior to each Club general meeting in the greater Antelope Valley area at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board. Written or electronic (for those members that have opted in) notice of all meetings of the Board of Directors shall be sent by the Corresponding Secretary to all Board members at least five (5) days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for all Board meetings shall be a majority of the Board.

 

SECTION 4

SPECIAL BOARD MEETINGS

Special Board meetings may be called by the President or by the Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of a written request by at least three (3) member of the Board Such special meeting shall be held in the greater Antelope Valley area, at such hour and place as may be designated by the person authorize herein to call such meetings. Written or electronic (for those members that have opted in) notice of such meeting shall be sent by the Corresponding Secretary to all Board members at least five (5) days but not more than ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting; Said notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted thereat. A quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board.

 

SECTION 5

VOTING

Each member in good standing whose dues are paid for the current year shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Cub in which he is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any Club meeting or election nor will absentee balloting.

 

ARTICLE III

Directors and Officers

 

SECTION 1

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors shall be composed of the President, Vice-President, Corresponding and Recording Secretaries, Treasurer and four (4) other members all of whom shall be members in good standing whose duties are as specified in the Standing Rules and all of who shall be elected for a one year term at the Clubs annual meeting as provided in Article IV, and shall serve until successors are elected. General management of the Club's affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors. It is suggested that the Nominating Committee shall make an effort to insure that candidates elected are to be representative of all interests.

 

SECTION 2

OFFICERS

The Club's officers, consisting of President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the Club and its meetings and Board and its meetings.

a. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and the Board and shall have the duties and powers normally appurtenant to the office of President in addition to those specified in the By-Laws. The President shall vote on all membership applications, at the Annual meeting for election of Officers and Board of Directors and to break or make a tie on any motion at meetings of he Board of Directors.

b. The Vice-President shall have the powers and exercise the duties of the President in the event of the President's absence. In the event of the President's incapacity, death or resignation, the Vice-President automatically becomes President for the unexpired term.

c. The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club and of the Board and all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club.

d. The Corresponding Secretary shall keep a roll of all members of the Club and their addresses and notify members in writing or electronic (for those members that have opted in) message of Club meetings where required. He/she shall issue notices concerning Club business to all members as ordered by the Board of Directors and carry out such other duties as may be prescribed in the By-Laws. He shall have charge of all correspondence of the Club, and shall answer or institute answers to all communications as directed by the President or Board of Directors and shall keep a file on all correspondence of the Club.

e. The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club and provide a receipt therefore. He/she shall deposit the same in a bank satisfactory to the Board in the name of the Club. His books shall at all times be open to inspection of the Board and shall report to them at every meeting the condition of the Club's finances and every item of receipt or payment not previously reported. During the month of January he shall send to each member a statement of their dues for the ensuing year. At a Board or General meeting he shall render an account of all monies received and expended during the previous year. The books shall be audited in the months of March and September. He shall attend auditing meetings and cooperate with the auditing committee at the time of the audits. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.

f. The AKC Delegate will be elected for a three (3) year term and will be required to attend a minimum of six 6) club general meeting during each year of his term.

 

SECTION 3

VACANCIES

During the year any vacancies occurring on the Board among the officers or the AKC

Delegate position shall be filled, until the next annual election, by a majority vote of all then members of the Board at its first regular meeting following the creation of the 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 resulting vacancy in the office of Vice-President shall be filled by the Board.

 

SECTION 4

All officers and board members shall attend a minimum of six (6) board and six (60 club general meetings during their elected year.

 

ARTICLE IV

Club Year, Elections, Nominations

 

SECTION 1

CLUB YEAR

The Club's fiscal year shall begin on the first day of March and end on the last day of February. The Club's official year shall begin immediately at the conclusion of the election at the annual Election Meeting and shall continue through the election at the next annual Election Meeting.

 

SECTION 2

ELECTION MEETING

The Election Meeting shall be held in the month of February at which time all Officers, delegate to the American Kennel Club and Directors for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret, written ballot from among those nominated in accordance with Section 6 of this Article. They shall take office and preside immediately at the conclusion of the election. Each retiring office and director shall turn over to his successor all properties and records relating to that office within thirty (30) days after the election.

 

SECTION 3

NOMINATIONS

During the month of November, the Board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of five (5) members and two (2) alternates not more than one of whom may be a member of the Board. The Corresponding Secretary shall immediately notify the committeemen and their alternates of their selection in writing or electronic (for those that have opted in) message. This shall be done on a rotating basis. Anyone having been chosen as an alternate, but not having actively participated may be eligible for the next years committee. The Board shall name a chairman for the committee and it shali be his/her duty to call a committee meeting, which shall be held on or before January 1st. The committee shall report their nominations to the Corresponding Secretary in writing or electronic (for those that have opted in) message. Upon receipt of the nominating committee's report the Corresponding Secretary shall, at least two

2) weeks before the January meeting, notify in writing or electronic (for those that have opted in) message each member of the candidates so nominated. Additional nominations may be made at the January meeting. Nominations cannot be made at the Election Meeting are in any manner other than provided for in this Section. In order to be considered for a board position, nominees must have attended at least 6 general club meetings in the current calendar year.

 

a. The committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and for AKC Delegate who may, but need not be, an Officer or Director of the Club, and four (4) candidates for the four other positions on the Board and after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report their nominations to the Recording Secretary in writing or electron (for those that have opted in) message.

b. Upon receipt of the Nominating Committees report, the Corresponding Secretary shall forthwith notify each member in writing or electronic (for those that have opted in) message of the candidate so nominated.

c. Additional nominations may be made at the January meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated does not decline when his name is proposed and provided, further, that if the proposed candidate is not present at this meeting, his proposer shall present to the Recording Secretary a written or electronic (for those that have opted in) notice from the proposed candidate signifying his/her willingness to be a candidate. No person may be a candidate for more than one office. No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated.

d. Nominations cannot be made at the annual Meeting or in any manner other than as provided in this section of Article IV.

e. All nominees for a Board position must meet the following qualifications: Having been a member in good standing since the start of the official year, must have attended at least six (6) meetings within that period.

 

ARTICLE V

Committees

 

SECTION 1

The Board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matted as dog shows, obedience trials, trophies, annual prizes, membership and other fields which may well be served by such committees. Such committees shall always be subject to the final authority of the Board. Special Committees may also be appointed by the Board to aid it on particular projects.

 

SECTION 2

During the month of March the Board shall appoint the auditing committee consisting of three (3) members, who shall examine the records of the Treasurer bi-annually in the months of March and September, and report its findings at the next general meeting held after the audit.

 

SECTION 3

Any committee appointed may be terminate by a majority vote of the full membership of the Board upon written or electronic (for those that opted in) notice to the appointee; and the Board may appoint successors to those persons whose services have been terminated.

 

SECTION 4

Each retiring chairman shall turn over and explain to his successor all properties, records, procedures, duties and obligations relating to such chairmanship within thirty (30) days.

 

SECTION 5

A Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE VI

Discipline

 

SECTION 1

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB SUSPENSION

Any member who is suspended from any of the privileges of the American Kennel Club automatically shall be suspended from the privileges of the 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. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Recording Secretary together with a deposit of $25.00 which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board. The Corresponding Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each member of the Executive Board, or present them at a Board meeting, and the Executive Board shall, in Executive Session, first consider whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Club. If the Executive Board considers the charges do not allege conduct which is prejudicial to the best interests of the Club, it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges it shall fix a date of a hearing by the Board not less than three (3) weeks or more than six (6) weeks thereafter. The Corresponding Secretary shall promptly send one copy of the charges to the accused member by certified mail (return receipt requested) together with a notice of the hearing and on assurance that the defendant may personally appearing in his own defense and bring witnesses if he wishes.

 

SECTION 3

BOARD HEARING

The Board shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing, but 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 six (6) months from the date of the hearing. And if it deems that punishment insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty be expulsion. In such cases, the suspension shall not restrict the defendant's right to appear before his fellow-members at the ensuing Club meeting which considers the Board's recommendation. Immediately after the Boar reaches a decision its findings shall be put in written form and filed with the Recording Secretary. The Corresponding Secretary, in turn, shall notify each party of the Board's decision 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 recommendations provided in Section 3 of this Article. Such proceedings may occur at a regular or special meeting of the Club to be held within sixty 60) days but not earlier than thirty 30) days after the date of the Board recommendation of expulsion. The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in his 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 own behalf, if he wishes. The meeting shall then vote by secret written ballot on the proposed expulsion.

A two-thirds vote of those present and 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 Secretary signed by twenty percent 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 membership with recommendations of the Board by the Corresponding Secretary for a vote within three (3) months of the date when the petition was received by the Secretary.

 

SECTION 2

No amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws that is adopted by the club shall become effective until it has been approved by the Board of Directors of the American Kennel Club.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Dissolution

 

SECTION 1

DISSOLUTION

This Club may be dissolved at anytime by written consent of not less than two-thirds of the members in good standing. In the event of the dissolution of the Club other than 

For purposes of reorganization whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, none of the property of the 'club nor any proceeds thereof nor assets of the Club shall be distributed to any members of the Club but after payment of the debts of the Club its properties 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 the meetings off 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 the last meeting

• Report of the Board

• Report of the President

• Report of the Secretary

• Report of the Treasurer

• Unfinished business

• New business

• Election of Officers and Board (Annual Meeting)

• Election of new members

• Adjournment

 

 

SECTION 2

At meetings of the Board, the order of business, unless otherwise direct by a majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:

 

• Reading of the Minute of the last meeting

• Report of the Secretary

• Report of the 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 applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these By-Law and any special rules of order the club may adopt.

 

ARTICLE XI

Resolved

 

The above By-Laws were adopted by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting of the Club on the day of : June 26, 2013.

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Revision of :September 25, 2013