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BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
Membership
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Section 1.
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Eligibility.
There shall be four types of membership:
Individual membership is open to all persons eighteen (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.
Ownership of a Bearded Collie is not necessary for membership.
Household or joint membership is open to two persons over 18 years of age living in the same household who
are in good standing with The American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club. Each
member of the household or joint membership is entitled to a separate vote. Ownership of a Bearded Collie
is not necessary for membership.
Associate membership is open to all persons eighteen (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.
This is an optional choice without voting privileges or the right to hold office. Ownership of a Bearded
Collie is not necessary for membership.
Junior membership will also be available (without voting privileges or the right to hold office)
for persons between the ages of ten (10) and eighteen (18) years of age who are in good standing
with The American Kennel Club, who subscribe to the purposes of this Club and who reside at the
same address as an adult member. Junior members may automatically convert to individual
membership upon reaching their eighteenth (18th) birthday. Ownership of a Bearded Collie is not
necessary for membership. While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club's
primary purpose is to be a representative of the breeders and exhibitors, and fanciers in its
immediate area.
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Section 2.
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Dues. Membership dues shall be established by the
Board of Directorsand shall include rates for individual regular
(voting) membership, household or joint regular (voting) membership, associate individual non-voting
membership, associate joint non-voting membership, combination joint membership (1 voting and 1 associate
member within a household) and junior membership, but in no case shall the annual dues exceed $30 for a single
membership, $45 for a household or joint membership, $22.00 for an associate single membership, $ 38.00 for a
joint associate membership and $15 for a junior membership. During the first to the fifteenth of October, the
Treasurer will send to each member a statement of dues for the ensuing
year. Dues are payable on or before the 15th day of January of each year. No member may vote whose dues are
not paid for the current year.
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Section 3.
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Election to Membership. Each applicant for
membership shall fully complete a form as approved by the
Board of Directors and which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the
Constitution and By-laws and the Rules of The
American Kennel Club and the Chicagoland Bearded Collie 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 payable for the current year. All
applications are to be filed with the Secretary and presented to the
Board, who will make a recommendation to the membership. Each application is to be read at the first meeting
of the Club following its receipt and published in the next newsletter. At the next Club meeting the
application may be voted upon by secret ballot and affirmative votes of three-fourths (3/4) of the members
present and voting at that meeting shall be required to elect the applicant. Applicants for membership shall
not be present during the voting process. Any member who objects to the granting of membership to an applicant
after reading of the application at the club meeting following its receipt, may file an objection in writing
together with reasons for such objection with the Secretary within 30
days. The Secretary shall notify the entire board of such objection before an application is approved or
rejected. Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club shall be notified in writing by the
President and shall have their dues returned and may not re-apply within
six months after such rejection.
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Section 4.
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Termination of Membership. Membership may be terminated:
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(a)
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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 last day of each March.
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(b)
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By Lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically
terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid sixty (60 days after the 15th day of
December of the current year. However, upon written request the Board
may grant an additional sixty (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.
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(c)
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By Expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided
in Article VI of these By-Laws.
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ARTICLE II
Meetings and Voting
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Section 1.
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Club Meetings. Meetings of the Club shall be held at least
six times each year in the Greater Chicagoland, IL area at such hour and place as may be designated by the
Board of Directors. Notice of such meeting shall be published by the Secretary at least ten (10)
days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be twenty percent (20)% of
the regular (voting) members in good standing.
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Section 2.
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Special Club Meetings. Special Club Meetings may be called
by the President, or by a majority vote of the members of the
Board. Such special meeting shall be held in the Greater Chicagoland, IL 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
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 twenty percent (20%) of the regular (voting)
membership.
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Section 3.
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Board Meetings. Meetings of the
Board of Directors shall be held at least six (6) times a year in the Greater Chicagoland, IL area,
at such hour and date as may be designated by the Board. Written notice of such meeting shall be
mailed by the Secretary at least five (5) days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for
such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board.
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Section 4.
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Special Board. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the
President, or shall be called by the
Secretary. Such special meetings shall be held at such place,
date and hour as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such meeting. Notice of
such meeting shall be published by the Secretary at least five (5) days and not more that
ten (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.
A quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board.
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Section 5.
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Voting. Each regular member in good standing whose dues are paid for the
current year shall be entitled to one (1) vote at any meeting of the Club at which he/she
is present. A maximum of two (2) votes shall be entitled for each household or
joint membership. Associate membership and junior membership shall exclude the
right to vote. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any Club meeting or election.
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ARTICLE III
Directors and Officers
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Section 1.
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Board of Directors. The Board shall be comprised of the
President, Vice-President,
Secretary, Treasurer,
Immediate Past President, and four (4) other persons all of whom
shall be members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for a one-year term 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. The Immediate Past President shall have the same voting
status as the rest of Board.
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Section 2.
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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 it meetings.
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(a)
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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 by-laws
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(b)
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The Vice-President shall have the duties and
exercise the powers of the President in case of the President's death, absence or
incapacity and shall oversee all committees.
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(c)
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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. He/she shall have charge of correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify
new members of their election to membership of the Club with their addresses,
and carry out other duties as are prescribed in these by-laws.
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(d)
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The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys
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 always be open to inspection
of the Board and he/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/she shall render an account received and expended during the
previous year. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of
Directors shall determine, if the Board deems it necessary.
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Section 3.
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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 of then members
of the Board at its first regular meeting following the creation of such a 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 shall be filled by the Board.
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ARTICLE IV
The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections
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Section 1.
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Club Year. The Club's fiscal year shall begin on the first day of
January and end on 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.
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Section 2.
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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,
written ballot from among those nominated in accordance with
Section 4 of this article. They shall take
office immediately upon the conclusion of the election and each retiring officer shall
turn over to his successor in office all properties and records relating to that office
within thirty (30) days after the election.
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Section 3.
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Elections. The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of
votes for each office shall be declared elected. The four (4) nominated candidates
for other positions on the Board who receive the greatest number of votes for such
positions shall be declared elected. Ballots shall be counted as described in
Section 4 of this Article.
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Section 4.
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Nominations and Ballots. No person may be a candidate in a Club
election who has not been nominated. During the month of September, the Board may
select a Nominating Committee consisting of three members and two alternates, not more
than one of whom may be a member of the Board. The Secretary
shall immediately notify the committee and alternates of their selection. The
Board shall name a Chair for the Committee and it shall be his/her duty to call a
committee meeting which shall be held on or before November 1st.
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(a)
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The Committee shall nominate one (1) candidate in each office, and four (4) candidates
for four (4) 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.
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(b)
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Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report, the Secretary shall before November
30th notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.
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(c)
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Additional nominations of eligible members may be made by written petition addressed
to the Secretary and received at his/her regular address on or before the regular
December club meeting, signed by five percent (5%) of the members in good standing and
accompanied by the written acceptance of each such additional nominee signifying his/her
willingness to be a candidate. Additional nominations of eligible members may also
be made at the December meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so
nominated does not decline when his/her name is proposed, and provide further that
the proposer presents to the Secretary a petition containing the signatures of five
percent (5%) of the members in good standing. If the proposed candidate is not in
attendance at this meeting, his proposer shall present to the Secretary a written
statement from the proposed candidate signifying his/her willingness to be a
candidate. No person may 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 which have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating Committee.
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(d)
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Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than as provided
in this section.
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(e)
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If no additional nominations are received, the slate submitted by the Nominating
Committee will automatically be elected.
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(f)
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If one or more valid additional nominations are made, the Secretary shall prepare
a written ballot listing in alphabetical order, all of the nominees for each position for
which there have been such additional nominations. So that the ballots remain
secret, each vote after marking his/her ballot, shall fold it and place it in a approved
ballot box. The Secretary and one other member of the club appointed by the Board of
Directors shall count the ballots and immediately report the results of the election to
the member of the Board and each nominee and member present at the annual meeting.
After the ballots are counted, the Secretary shall keep the ballots for sixty (60) days
after which they may be destroyed.
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ARTICLE V
Committees
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Section 1.
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The Board may each year appoint Committee Chairs to advance
the work of the Club in such matters as specialty
shows, matches, obedience trails, herding, 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
its particular projects
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Section 2.
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Any committee chair appointed by the Board may be terminated by a majority vote of
the Board upon notice to the appointees; and the Board may appoint successors to those
persons whose services have been terminated.
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ARTICLE VI
Discipline
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Section 1.
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American Kennel Club Suspension. Any member who is suspended for
the privileges of the American Kennel Club shall automatically be suspended from the
privileges of this Club for a like period.
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Section 2.
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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 deposit of $10.00 which shall be forfeited 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 conduct prejudicial to the
best interest of the Club or breed, and the Board may refuse to entertain jurisdiction.
If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges it shall fix a date of a hearing by the Board or a
committee of not less than three members of the Board, not less than three (3) weeks nor more than six
(6) 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/her own defense and may bring witnesses if he/she wishes.
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Section 3.
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Board Hearing. The Board or Committee
shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing, but both
complaint 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 or Committee may by majority vote of those present
issue a written reprimand and/or 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 case, the suspension shall not restrict the defendants right to
appear before his/her fellow member 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 filled with the Secretary. The
Secretary, in turn, shall notify each of the parties of
the Board's decision and penalty, if any.
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Section 4.
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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 sixty
(60) days but not earlier than thirty (30) days after the date of the Board's recommendation
of expulsion. The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in his/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/her own behalf if he/she wishes. The meeting shall then vote by secret
ballot on the proposed expulsion. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting
at the meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. If expulsion is not voted, the Board's
suspension shall stand.
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ARTICLE VII
Amendments
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Section 1.
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Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws. 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 (20%) of the
regular (voting) membership. 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 (3) months of the
date when the petition was received by the Secretary.
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Section 2.
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The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members
present and voting at any regular or special meeting called for that 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.
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ARTICLE VIII
Dissolution
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Section 1.
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Dissolution.
The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two-thirds (2/3)
of the member. In the event of the dissolution other than for purposes of reorganization of the
Club whether voluntary/involuntary or by operation of law, none of the property of the Club nor any proceeds
thereof nor any of the assets of the Club shall be distributed to any members of the Club. After
payment of the debts of the Cub, its property and assets shall be given to the
Beardie Rescue Program of the Bearded Collie Club of America
or a charitable organization for the benefit of dogs selected by the Board of
Directors.
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ARTICLE IX
Order of Business
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Section 1.
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Meetings of the Club. 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:
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1.
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Roll Call
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7.
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Election of Officers (annual meeting)
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2.
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Minutes of Last Meeting
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8.
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Election of New Members
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3.
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Report of the President
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9.
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Unfinished Business
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4.
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Report of the Secretary
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10.
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New Business
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5.
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Report of the Treasurer
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11.
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Adjournment
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6.
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Report of the Committees
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Section 2.
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Meeting of the Board. At meetings of the Board, the order of
business, unless otherwise directed by majority vote of those present, shall be as
follows:
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1.
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Reading of Minutes of Last Meeting
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5.
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Unfinished Business
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2.
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Report of Secretary
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6.
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New Business
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3.
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Report of Treasurer
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7.
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Adjournment
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4.
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Reports of Committees
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ARTICLE X
Parliamentary Authority
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Section 1.
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Parliamentary Authority. 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-Laws and any
other special rules of order the Club may adopt.
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Rev. 2003
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