Constitution and Bylaws for
The Border Collie Club of Greater Los Angeles
(As Revised 6-6-11)
Article I - Name and Objects
Section 1. The name of the club shall be: Border Collie Club of Greater Los Angeles, Inc.
Section 2. The objectives of the club shall be:
(a) to encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Border Collies 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 Border Collies 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, herding trials, and agility trials
(d) to conduct dog shows, sanctioned matches, obedience trials, tracking tests, herding trials and agility trials under the rules and regulations of The American Kennel Club.
(e) To maintain and improve the health of the Border Collie breed by encouraging and facilitating health testing of breeding stock.
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 bylaws as may be required to carry out these objects.
BYLAWS
Article I - Membership
Section 1. Eligibility.
There shall be one type of 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. Persons under the age of 18 may join as Junior Members. Members under the age of 18 shall have no voting rights, nor may they hold office.
Section 2. Dues.
Yearly membership dues shall be payable on or before the 1st day of January of each year. The amount of dues shall be established by a majority vote of the board of directors. Dues for regular members shall not exceed $25 per year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of December, the Membership Chair shall send to each member a statement of dues for the ensuing year. New members joining after September 1st will be considered paid through the following year. Membership dues shall be discounted for members living in the same household. The amount of household dues shall be set by a majority vote of the board.
Section 3. Election to Membership.
Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form approved by the board of directors and shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the constitution, bylaws, code of ethics 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 payment for the current year. All applications are to be filed with the Membership Chairman and each application is to be read at the first meeting of the club following its receipt. An application for membership shall not be considered until the applicant has attended one meeting. At the next club meeting the application will be voted upon and affirmative votes of 2/3 of the members present and voting. A secret ballot vote will be granted if requested by any member present at the meeting. Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the club shall have their dues refunded and may not reapply within six months after such rejection.
Section 4. 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 are incurred on the first day of January.
(b) by lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid March 1; 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 VI of these bylaws.
Article II - Meetings and Voting
Section 1. Club Meetings.
Meetings of the club shall be held at least 6 times per year within Los Angeles County at such hour and place as may be designated by the board of directors. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed or emailed 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 members in good standing. In the absence of a quorum, no business requiring a vote may take place.
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 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 within Los Angeles County at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meeting. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed or emailed by the Secretary at least five days and not more than 15 days prior to the date of the meeting. 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. In the absence of a quorum, no business requiring a vote may take place.
Section 3. Out of County Meetings.
An Out of County meeting may be called by a majority vote of the board who are present and voting at any regular or special meeting. One meeting a year may be held out of county. Such meeting must be held within 50 miles of Los Angeles County. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed or emailed by the Secretary at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20 percent of the members in good standing. In the absence of a quorum, no business requiring a vote may take place.
Section 4. Board Meetings.
Meetings of the board of directors shall be held at least 6 times per calendar year within Los Angeles County at such hour and place as may be designated by the board. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed or emailed by the Secretary at least five days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the board. In the absence of a quorum, no business requiring a vote may take place.
Section 5. Special Board Meetings.
Special meetings of the board may be called by the President; or shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least three members of the board. Such special meetings shall be held within Los Angeles County at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such meeting. The Secretary shall mail or email written notice of such a meeting at least five days and not more than 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. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the board. In the absence of a quorum, no business requiring a vote may take place.
Section 6. 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 is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any club meeting or election.
Article III - Directors and Officers
Section 1. Board of Directors.
The board shall be comprised of the officers, the membership chair and one member at large, all of whom shall be members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for one-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 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. The Vice President shall also be responsible for maintaining a current copy of the standing rules.
(c) The Secretary shall keep a record of all club meetings and of the board and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the club. The Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify officers and directors of their election to office 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. At the annual meeting an accounting shall be rendered of all moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the board of directors shall determine.
(e) The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person; in this case the board shall be comprised of five (5) persons.
Section 3. Other Directors.
The other directors shall be the Membership Chair and the Board Member at Large.
The Membership Chairman shall keep a membership roster, notify new members of their election to membership, give a membership packet to all new members which shall include at a minimum a copy of the club’s By-Laws, Constitution and Code of Ethics. The Membership Chair shall also be responsible for adding new members to all electronic club mailing lists, sending out the annual dues notice, and promoting the club and new membership.
Board Member at Large: The Board Member at Large has no assigned duties.
Section 4. Vacancies.
Any vacancies occurring on the board or among the offices 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 vacancy, or at a special board meeting called for that purpose. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled automatically by the Vice President and the board shall fill the resulting vacancy in the office of Vice President.
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 January, 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 the 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 October, the board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of three members, not more than one of who may be a member of the board or of the same household. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committee 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 before November 1.
(a) The committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and position on the board and, after securing the consent of people 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 15th, notify each member by mail or email of the candidates so nominated.
(c) Any member may make additional nominations, in one of two ways. First, the nomination may be made at the December meeting, provided that the person so nominated does not decline when their name is proposed. 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. The second way by which a nomination may be made is by a member sending notice of the nomination to the Secretary in writing by no later than December 15th. The person making the nomination must secure in writing the consent of the person so nominated and forward it to the Secretary by December 15th. No person may be a candidate for more than one position. The Secretary shall notify each member in writing by mail or email of all additional nominations no later than January 1st.
(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, herding trials, tracking tests, agility trials, 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 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 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 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 $25, 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 interests of the club. If the board considers that the charges do not allege conduct that 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 or 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 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, reprimand or 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 finding 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 may occur at a regular or special meeting of the club, to be held within 60 days but not earlier than 30 days after the date of the board's 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 finding and recommendation, 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 board's suspension shall stand.
Article VII - Amendments
Section 1.
Amendments to the constitution and bylaws 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 a 2/3 secret vote of the members present and voting at any regular or special meeting called for the purpose. These proposed amendments must be included in the notice of the meeting and mailed or emailed 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, no club property, proceeds thereof, or any assets of the club shall be distributed to any club members. After payment of the debts of the club its property and assets shall be given to one or more charitable organizations 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 President
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of Membership Chair
Report of Show Committees
Reports of other committees
Election 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 majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:
Reading of minutes of last meeting
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of Membership Chair
Report of Show Committees
Reports of other 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 bylaws and any other standing rules of order which the club may adopt.
Constitution and Bylaws
BORDER COLLIE CLUB OF GREATER LOS ANGELES