ARTICLE I
Name and Objectives
Section 1. The name of the Club shall be
"The Society for the Preservation of the Smooth Chow Chow."
Section 2. The objectives of the Club shall be:
(A) To preserve and protect the unique heritage and qualities which
distinguish the Smooth Chow.
(B) To document the history and genealogy of the Smooth Chow for the
purpose of breed improvement and for the promotion of the Smooth Variety within the
framework of The Chow Chow Club, Inc. and the American Kennel Club.
(C) To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of pure-bred
Smooth Chow Chows and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection.
(D) To urge members and breeders to accept the standard of the breed
as approved by The American Kennel Club as the only standard of excellence by which the
Smooth Chow Chow shall be judged.
(E) To do all in its power to protect and advance the interest of the
Smooth Chow Chow by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at dog shows and obedience
trials.
(F) To encourage members to be guided by the Code of Ethics of The
Society for the Preservation of the Smooth Chow Chow.
Section 3. The Club shall not be conducted 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 objectives.
ARTICLE II
Membership
Section 1. Eligibility - There shall be three types of membership.
(A) Regular Membership - Open to all persons eighteen years
of age and older who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club, who subscribe to
the purposes of this Club, and who meet the following three criteria:
1. Owning or co-owning a Smooth Chow.
2. Having bred 3 litters of Chows.
3. Having earned 5 Championship or Obedience titles on Chows owned or
bred by the applicant.
(B) Associate Membership - Open to all persons eighteen years
of age and older who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club, who subscribe to
the purposes of this Club, but who do not meet the three stated criteria for membership.
Regular Membership fees and dues apply to Associate Membership, which offers all Club
benefits and participation, except voice in Club management and eligibility to vote or to
hold elective office.
(C) Lifetime Membership - Open to founding members who have
maintained continuous membership for 10 consecutive years, and have paid dues for this
period. There will be no charge for dues once Lifetime Membership is awarded. All Club
benefits and participation, including voice in Club management, eligibility to vote and
hold elective office will inure to Lifetime Members.
Section 2. Dues - Membership dues shall be $20.00 for
individuals, excepting Lifetime Members, per year, payable on or before the last day of
November of each year. During the month of October the Treasurer shall send to each member
a statement of his dues for the ensuing year.
Section 3. Election to Membership - Each applicant to
membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors and which shall
provide that the applicant agrees to abide by this 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 not
residing in the same household. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall
submit dues payment for the current year.
All applications are to be filed with the Secretary and each application is to be read
and voted upon at the first meeting of the Club following its receipt, and 3/4 of the
members present and voting at that meeting shall be required to elect that applicant
Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not reapply within six
months after such rejection.
Section 4. Member in Good Standing - A member who is
considered in good standing shall be one who has paid dues and is also in good standing
with The American Kennel Club
Section 5. 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 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 1st day of each fiscal year.
(B) By lapsing - A membership will be considered as lapsed
and automatically terminated if such members dues remain unpaid 60 days after the first of
the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional 60 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 VII of these By-Laws.
ARTICLE III
Meeting and Voting
Section 1. Annual Club Meetings - Meetings of the Club
shall be held in conjunction with the Annual Chow Club, Inc. National Specialty Show on
the date and at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors.
Written notice of each meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least one month prior
to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be at least 10% of the
members in good standing.
Section 2. Annual Board Meetings - Meetings of the Board of
Directors shall be held in conjunction with the Annual Chow Club, Inc. National Specialty
Show in each year, on such date, hour and place as may be designated by the Board of
Directors. Written notice of each meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least one
month prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be a majority
of the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Voting - Each regular and lifetime 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. All voting is by signed ballot and all votes will be published
in the Club Newsletter.
ARTICLE IV
Directors and Officers
Section 1. Board of Directors - General management of the
Clubs affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall
be comprised of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three other persons,
all of whom shall be members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for two
year terms and shall serve until their successors are elected. Officers are limited to one
two-year term in the same office. The Board of Directors shall meet at the Annual Meeting
and shall consult by mail or telephone whenever it is deemed necessary, or on request of
the President, to act on any business requiring their attention. By a majority vote of the
whole, the Board shall have full authority to act on any matter whose urgency does not
permit awaiting action by the membership. Any such emergency action taken through meeting,
mail or telephone consultation shall be fully substantiated and reported to the membership
at the next regular meeting.
Section 2. Officers - The Clubs Officers, President,
Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer 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 at all meetings of the Club and of the
Board, and shall have the duties and powers normally appurtenant to the office of the
President, in addition to those particularly specified in these by-laws. The President
shall appoint all committees except those otherwise provided for; and shall be a member
ex-officio of all committees except the Nomination Committee, entitled to a vote only in
the event of a deadlock
(B) The Vice-President shall have the duties and exercise the powers
of the President in case of the Presidents death, absence or incapacity.
(C) The Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence and is
responsible for notification of members of meetings, notification of new members of their
election to membership, to furnish each new member with a copy of the Constitution and B
-Laws and to notify Officers and Directors of their election to office. He/She shall keep
a 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 keep a roll of the members names and addresses,
shall keep on file all membership agreements and applications, and shall carry out such
duties are prescribed in these By-Laws.
(D) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or
belonging to the Club. He/She shall deposit same in a bank designated by the Board in the
name of the Club. His/Her books shall, at all times, be open to the inspection of the
Board and he/she shall report to them at every meeting the condition of the Clubs finances
and every item of receipt or payment not before reported.
Section 3. Vacancies - Any vacancies occurring on the Board
or among the Officers during the year shall be filled until the next annual election by a
majority vote of all the then-members of the Board at its first regular meeting following
the creation of such a vacancy, or by mail or telephone consultation among Board Members;
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 shall be filled
by the Board.
ARTICLE V
The Club Year, Elections
Section 1. Club Year - The Clubs fiscal year shall begin on
the first day of January and end on the last day of December.
Section 2. Annual Meetings - The Annual Meeting shall be held
in accordance with Article III at which Officers and 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 immediately upon conclusion of the election and
each retiring officer shall turn over to his/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. The three other
nominated candidates for the other positions on the Board who receive the greatest number
of votes for such positions shall be declared elected.
Section 4. Nominations - No person shall be a candidate in a
Club election who has not been nominated. During the month of October, the President shall
appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of 3 members, not more than one of whom may be a
member of the Board. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committee-men of their
election. The President shall name a Chairman for the Committee and it shall be his/her
duty to contact Committee members by mail or telephone to develop a proposed slate of
officers by November 1.
(A) The Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office, and 3
candidates for the 3 other positions on the Board, and, after securing the consent of each
person so nominated, shall immediately report their nominations to the Secretary in
writing.
(B) Upon receipt of the Nominating Committees report, the Secretary
shall, before December 15th, notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.
(C) Additional nominations shall be made at the Annual meeting by any
member in good standing, in attendance, provided that the person so nominated does not
decline when his/her name is proposed, and provided further that if the proposed candidate
is not in attendance at this meeting, his/her proposer shall submit to the Secretary a
written statement from the proposed candidate signifying his/her willingness to be a
candidate. No person shall be a candidate for more than one position, 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.
ARTICLE VI
Committees
Section 1. The Board may each year appoint standing committees to
advance the work of the Club in such matters as History and Genealogy, Newsletter,
Education, Trophies, Annual Prizes, Membership and other fields which may well be served
by 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. Any committee appointed 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 VII
Discipline
Section 1. American Kennel Club Supervision - Any person 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 best interest of the Club or the Breed.
Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary together
with a deposit of $10.00 which shall be forfeit if such charges are not sustained by the
Board following a hearing. The 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 prejudicial to the
best interests of the Cub or the Breed. If the Board considers that the charges do not
allege conduct which could be prejudicial to the best interests of the Club or the Breed,
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 at the next Annual Meeting. 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 defendant may
personally appear 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 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 it 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 defendants right to appear
before the fellow members at the ensuing Club meeting which considers the Boards
recommendation. Immediately after the Board has reached a decision, its findings shall be
put in written form and filed with the Secretary. The Secretary shall, in turn, notify
each of the parties of the Boards 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
Boards recommendation as provided in Section 3 of this Article. 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 Boards findings and recommendations
and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his own behalf if he wishes. The
members shall then vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion. A 2/3 vote of those
present and voting at the meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. If expulsion is not so
voted, the Boards suspension shall stand.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws may be
proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition of any member in good standing
at any meeting, addressed to the Secretary and signed by at least 10% of the members in
good standing. Any proposal to amend must be published in the Club Newsletter.
Section 2. The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote
of the members present and in good standing at the Annual Meeting, provided the proposed
amendments have been included in the notice of the meeting and mailed to each member at
least one month prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE IX
Dissolution
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 purposes of reorganization whether voluntary or
involuntary or by operation 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 debts of the Club, its property and assets shall be given to a
charitable organization for the benefit of dogs selected by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
Order of Business
Section 1. At meetings of the Club, the order of business so
far as the character and nature of the meeting shall permit, shall be as follows:
ROLL CALL
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
REPORT OF PRESIDENT
REPORT OF SECRETARY
REPORT OF TREASURER
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD
ELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT
Section 2. At meetings of the Board, the order of business,
unless otherwise directed by a majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:
ROLL CALL
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
REPORT OF PRESIDENT
REPORT OF SECRETARY
REPORT OF TREASURER
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
