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SECTION 1. The name of the club shall be the "NorthEastern
New York Golden Retriever Club, Inc."
SECTION 2. The objects of the club shall be:
(a) to encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred
Golden Retrievers and to do all possible to bring their natural
qualities to perfection;
(b) 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 Golden Retriever shall be judged;
(c) to do all in its power to protect and advance the interests
of the breed by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at
¨ dog shows
¨ obedience trials
¨ tracking tests
¨ field trials
¨ hunting tests
¨ agility tests
(d) to conduct sanctioned matches
¨ dog shows
¨ obedience trials
¨ tracking tests
¨ field tests
¨ hunting tests
¨ agility tests
under the rules and regulations of The American Kennel Club.
SECTION 3. The club shall not be conducted or operated
for profit and no part of any profits of remainder of 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 bylaws as may be required to carry
out these objects.
Rev. 6/9/99
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Membership
SECTION 1. Eligibility. There shall be individual, household,
life, and honorary membership open to all persons 18 years of
age and older who are in good standing with The American Kennel
Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this club. 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.
SECTION 2. Dues. Membership dues shall not exceed $50.00
per year, payable on or before the 1st day of December each year.
No member may vote who's dues are not pad for the current year.
During the month of October the Treasurer shall send to each member
a statement of dues for the ensuing year. Any new membership submitted
after October 1, shall constitute membership for the next calendar
year. Membership received prior to October 1 shall constitute
membership for the present calendar year.
SECTION 3. Individual. Memberships open to all individuals
18 years or older who are in good standing with The American Kennel
Club and subscribe to the purposes of this club. Individual members
are allowed to vote and hold office. Each applicant for membership
shall apply on a form approved by the board of directors and which
shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the constitution
and bylaws and the rules of The American Kennel Club. The application
shall state the name and address of the applicant and it shall
carry the endorsement of one member in good standing. Accompanying
the application, the prospective member shall submit dues for
the current year.
Household. Memberships open to more than one person
residing in the same household, 18 years of age or older and in
good standing with The American Kennel Club and subscribe to the
purpose of this club. Each person, maximum of two, is allowed
to vote and hold office. Those under the age of 18 are allowed
to participate in club functions but not vote nor hold office.
Applicants for membership shall apply on a form approved by the
board of directors and which shall provide that the applicant
agrees to abide by the constitution and bylaws and the rules of
The American Kennel Club. The application shall state the name
and address of the applicant and it shall carry the endorsement
of one member in good standing. Accompanying the application,
the prospective member shall submit dues for the current year.
Life. Membership nominated and voted upon by the general
membership. Life membership is for those individuals who have
rendered outstanding service to the club and have been a club
member for at least 10 years, are in good standing with The American
Kennel Club and subscribe to the purpose of this club. A 2/3 of
quorum vote is needed. Voting will be held at the annual meeting.
Such members are exempt from paying dues and are allowed to vote
and hold office.
Honorary. Membership nominated and voted upon by the
board. Honorary membership is for those individuals who have performed
outstanding service for the breed or club, are in good standing
with The American Kennel Club and subscribe to the purpose of
this club. Voting will be held at the annual board meeting. A
majority vote is needed. Such members are exempt from paying dues
and are allowed to participate in all club functions. They are
now allowed to vote and hold office but are to be given the option
to pay full membership dues and therefore granted voting privileges.
Voting on Individual and Household Memberships. All
applications are to be filed with the Secretary and each application
is to be read at the first meeting of the club following its receipt.
At the general meeting the applications will be voted upon and
a majority vote of the members present and voting shall be required
to elect the applicant. Applicants for membership who have been
rejected by the club may not reapply within six months after such
rejection.
SECTION 4. Termination of Membership. Members 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 are incurred on the first day of each
fiscal year.
(b) By lapsing. A membership will be considered lapsed and automatically
terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid 90 days after the
first day of the fiscal year; however, the board may grant an
additional 30 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 bylaws.
ARTICLE II
Meetings and Voting
SECTION 1. Club Meetings. Meetings of the club shall
be held each month in The Capital Region (or within the greater
Albany area) at such hour and place as may be designated by the
board of directors. Written notice of each such meeting shall
be mailed by the Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date
of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 20 percent
of the membership 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; and shall be called by the secretary upon
receipt of a petition signed by five members of the club who are
in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held in The Capital
Region (or within the greater Albany area) 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 meeting shall
be mailed by the Secretary at least five days 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 a meeting shall be
20 percent of the members in good standing.
SECTION 3. Board Meetings. Meetings of the board of
directors shall be held each month in The Capital Region (or within
the greater Albany area) at such hour and place as may be designated
by the board. Written notice of each such meeting must be in writing
and be mailed by the Secretary at least five days prior to the
date of the meeting. The quorum for such meeting shall be a majority
of the board.
ARTICLE III
Directors and Officers
SECTION 1. Board of Directors. The board shall be comprised
of the officers, past president, 3 directors and the AKC Delegate,
all of whom shall be members in good standing. If a past president
or ex-officio president is to serve on the board, then he or she
is entitled to one vote. When there is no ex-officio president,
a 4th director shall be elected. The 3 (or 4) directors shall
draw lots for terms of office. The lots for 3 directors shall
be 1 two-year term and 2 one-year term or in the case of 4 directors,
2 one-year terms and 2 two-year terms. All elections shall be
held at the 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.
Any board member that misses more than two consecutive meetings
per calendar year must request permission by board majority vote
to be excused for any and up to two more additional meetings due
to medical illness or personal leave of absence from their position.
Any board member who misses more than two consecutive meetings
without contacting a notifying in writing the President or Secretary
of reason for absence, their position will considered vacant and
an election will fill that position per our constitution and bylaws.
SECTION 2. Officers. The club's officers, consisting
of the 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 President in addition to those particularly
specified in these bylaws.
[b] The Vice President shall have the duties and exercise the
powers of the President in case of the President's death, absence
or incapacity.
[c] The 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; 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 a roll of the members of the club with their addresses,
and carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these bylaws.
[d] The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due
or belonging to the club. Moneys shall be deposited in a bank
designated by the board, in the name of the club. The books shall
at all times be open to inspection by the board and a report shall
be given at every meeting of the condition of the club's finances
and every item of receipt or payment not before reported; and
at the annual meeting, an accounting shall be rendered of all
money's received and expended during the previous fiscal year.
The Treasurer may be bonded in such amount as the board of directors
shall determine.
ARTICLE IV
The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections
SECTION 1. Club Year. The club's fiscal year shall begin
on the 1st day of January and end on the last 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 December, at which officers and directors
for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret 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 the 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 nominated candidates for other positions on the board
who receive the greatest number of votes for such positions 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 September, the board shall elect a Nominating Committee consisting
of three member and two alternates, not more than one of whom
may be a member of the board. The Secretary shall immediately
notify the committeemen and alternates of their selection. The
board shall name a chairman for the committee and it shall be
such person's duty to call a committee meeting, which shall be
held on or before October 1.
[a] The committee shall nominate one candidate for each office
and position 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 Committee's report, the
Secretary shall, before November 1, notify each member in writing
of the candidates so nominated.
[c] Additional nominations may be made at the November meeting
by any member in attendance, provided that the person so nominated
does not decline when their name is proposed, and provided further
that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting,
the proposer shall present to the Secretary a written statement
from the proposed candidate signifying willingness to be a candidate.
No person may be a candidate for more than one position.
[d] Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in
any manner other than as 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
specialty shows, obedience trials, field trials, trophies, annual
prizes, membership, rescue 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 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 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 interests
of the club or the breed. Written charges with specifications
must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary together with a
fee of $50.00. After resolution of the charges, the member preferring
the charges may apply to the board for reimbursement of the filing
fee. 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 conduct prejudicial to
the best interests of the club. If the board considers that the
charges do not allege conduct which would be 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 for a hearing by the board not less than three weeks
nor more than six weeks thereafter. 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 defensive and bring
witnesses of he wishes.
SECTION 3. Board Hearing. The board shall have the 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 evidence and testimony
presented by complainant and defendant, the board may be a majority
vote of those present, suspend the defendant from all privileges
of the club for not more than six 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 defendant's
right to appear before his fellow members at the ensuing 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 Secretary. The Secretary,
in turn, shall notify each of the parties 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 recommendation as provided
in Section 3 of this Article. Such proceeding will occur at a
special meeting of the club, to be held within 60 days but not
earlier than 30 days after the date of expulsion. The defendant
shall have the privilege of appearing 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 board's suspension shall stand.
ARTICLE VI
Discipline
SECTION 1. American Kennel Club Suspension. Any may
be proposed by the board of directors or by written petition addressed
to the Secretary signed by 20 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 members with recommendations of the board by the Secretary
for a vote within three months of the date when the petition was
received by the Secretary.
SECTION 2. The constitution and bylaws may be amended
by 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 two weeks prior to the date of
the meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
Dissolution
SECTION 1. 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 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 the President
¨ Report of the Secretary
¨ Report of the Treasurer
¨ Report of the Committees
¨ Elections 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 a majority vote of those present,
shall be as follows:
¨ Reading of minutes of last meeting
¨ Report of Secretary
¨ Report of Treasurer
¨ Reports of Committees
¨ Unfinished business
¨ New business
¨ Adjournment
ARTICLE X
Parliamentary
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 consistent with these bylaws and any other special
rules or order the club may adopt.
ARTICLE XI
Miscellaneous Expenditures
SECTION 1. Each board member may apply to the Board
to be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses, if any. No board
member may be provided compensation for their holding a directorship,
though reasonable expenses to support their continuation of the
Director's functions may be provided, upon passage of a resolution
of the Board of Directors.
Revised and Approved June 9, 1999
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