Constitution & ByLaws

Puget Sound Labrador Retriever Association – Constitution

ARTICLE I

Name and Objects

SECTION 1. The name of the club shall be The Puget Sound Labrador Retriever Association.

SECTION 2. The objects of the Club shall be:

• To encourage and promote the training and quality of Labrador Retrievers and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection.
• To urge members to accept the standard of the breed as approved by The American Kennel Club as the only standard of excellence by which the Labrador Retriever shall be judged.
• To do all in its power to protect and advance the interest of the Labrador Retriever breed and to encourage sportsmanlike competition at conformation and performance events.
• To conduct sanctioned matches, licensed specialty shows, hunting retriever tests, obedience trials, agility trials and other events under the rules of The American Kennel Club or the auspices of the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.
• To conduct classes for the training of dogs and their handlers; to encourage the training of judges; to cooperate with other groups with similar purposes.

SECTION 3. The club shall not be conducted or operated for profit.  No part of any profits or remainder or residue from dues or donations to the Club shall ensure 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.

 

Puget Sound Labrador Retriever Association – ByLaws

Revisions approved by membership on August 3, 2001

ARTICLE I

Membership

SECTION 1. Eligibility. There shall be five classes of membership. Regular membership shall be open to all persons eighteen years of age and older who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club. Family membership shall consist of one or more persons residing in the same household, but only two shall have voting privileges. Honorary members shall consist of those persons so designated by the Board of Directors. Honorary members, not being required to pay dues, shall not be entitled to vote, but each such member should be able to maintain active/voting status by payment of dues. Lifetime membership may be given to an individual, upon approval by the Board of Directors, and lifetime members have full voting privileges. A non-voting Junior Membership is available for persons under the age of 18. 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 be $20.00 per year for an individual member, and $25.00 for a family with two voting members per year, payable on or before the first of February of each year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. Any new member joining the Club during the fourth quarter of any calendar year shall be considered to have paid dues through the end of the succeeding calendar year. During the month of December, a statement of dues for the ensuing year shall be sent to each member through the newsletter.  Dues may be changed by a vote of the Board of Directors before the Annual Meeting but may not exceed $25.00 per person per year without an amendment to these bylaws. Junior memberships dues shall be $10.00 per year. Lifetime members are exempted from paying dues.

SECTION 3. Application for Membership. Each applicant for member ship shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors and which shall provide that the applicant has read and agrees to abide by this club’s constitution, bylaws, and Code of Ethics, and the rules of The American Kennel Club. The application shall state the name, address, occupation, and interests of the applicant, and the endorsement of two members in good standing. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year to the membership chair of the club. The application of new members shall be reported to the Board at its monthly meetings and recorded in the minutes and in the newsletter.

SECTION 4. Termination of Membership.

Membership 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 first day of each fiscal year.

b: By lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid 60 days after the first day 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 VI of these bylaws

ARTICLE II

Meetings and Voting

SECTION 1. Club Meetings. Meetings of the Club shall be held in the greater Seattle metropolitan area at least six times each calendar year, at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of such meeting. Means of notification may be the Club Newsletter. The quorum for such meeting shall be 20 percent 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, and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by 5 members of the Club who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held in the greater Seattle metropolitan 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 a meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 5 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 stand

SECTION 3. Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in the greater Seattle metropolitan area at such regular day, hour and place as may be designated by the Board. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 5 days prior to the date of the meeting.  Means of notification may be the Club Newsletter. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board.

SECTION 4. Special Board Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President, and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least 3 members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held in the greater Seattle metropolitan area at such a place, date, hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 5 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 a majority of the Board.

SECTION 5. Voting. Members in good standing whose dues are paid for the current year shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Club at which they are present. Proxy or absentee voting will not be permitted at any club meeting.

ARTICLE III

Directors and Officers

SECTION 1. Board of Directors. The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and at least eight other persons who shall be members in good standing and whom shall be elected at the Club’s annual meeting. The immediate past president shall be named ‘Chair of the Board’ with voting privileges, and shall have all rights and privileges of elected Board members. No one person may hold more than one elected office or be both an Officer and a Director. The Officers 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. Officers shall be eligible to succeed themselves for a second term, but shall then not be eligible to hold the same office for a period of five years. General management of the Club’s affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors. Board members having missed three Board meetings without just cause will be replaced on the Board in accordance with Section 3 of Article III.

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 the President in addition to those particularly specified in these bylaws. The President shall have general supervision and direction of the Club, shall appoint all Standing Committee chairs and be an ex-officio member of all Club committees.

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. In addition, the Vice-President shall serve as Program Chair for the Club.

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. He or she shall have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify Officers and Directors of their election to office, keep a roll of the members of the club Club with their addresses and carry out such other duties as prescribed in these bylaws.

d: The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club. He or she shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the Board, in the name of the Club. His or her books shall be at all times open to inspection of the Board and he or 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 or she shall render an account of all monies received and expended during the previous fiscal year. An annual audit will be made of the Treasurer’s books by three Club members appointed by the President and approved by the Board. The Treasurer may be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine and the expense be borne by the Club.

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 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, 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 IV

The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections

SECTION 1. Club Year.  The Club’s fiscal year shall begin on the first day of February and end on the 31st day of January.  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, 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 or her successor in office all properties 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 Directors who receive the greatest number of votes for each position shall be declared elected to the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4. Nominations. No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated. At the September Board meeting, the Board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of three members and two alternates, not more than one of whom shall be a member of the Board. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committee members and alternates of their selection. The Board shall name a Chair for the Committee and it shall be his or her duty to call a committee meeting which  shall be held on or before November 1st.

a: The Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and one candidate for each directorship 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 15th, notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.  Means of notification may be the Club Newsletter. The Chair of the Nominating Committee shall formally place the committee’s selections in nomination at the December Club meeting.

c: Additional nominations may be made at the December meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated accepts when his name is proposed, and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, his or her proposer shall present to the Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying his or 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 those members who have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating Committee.

d: Nominations cannot be made in any manner other than as provided in this section. Nominations cannot be made at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE V

Committees

SECTION 1. The Board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as shows, matches, obedience, field events, Newsletter, annual awards, membership or other fields that may well be served by committees. Special committees may be appointed by the President and the Board to aid it on particular projects. All committees shall always be subject to the final authority of the Board.

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 must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary along with a deposit of $10.00 which shall be forfeited if such charges are not substantiated 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 or the breed. If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges, it shall fix a date of a hearing 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 or her defense and bring witnesses if he or she 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 six months from the date of the hearing. If it deems that punishment insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty shall be expulsion. In such a case, the suspension shall not restrict the defendant’s right to appear before his or her fellow-members at the 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 proceedings 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. The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in his or 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 or her own behalf if he or she wishes. The meeting will then vote by secret written ballot on the proposed expulsion. A two-thirds vote of those present and voting 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 a 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 two-thirds 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. Dissolution. The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two-thirds of the members. In event of the dissolution of the Club other than for purposes of reorganization, whether voluntary or in-voluntary 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 any 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

Reading of the minutes of last meeting

Report of the President

Report of the Secretary

Report of the Treasurer

Reports of Committees

Election of Officers and Board (at annual meeting)

Unfinished business

New business

Adjournment

SECTION 2.  At meetings of the Board, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by the majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:

Roll Call

Reading of the minutes of last meeting

Report of the Secretary

Report of the Treasurer

Announcement of New Members

Reports of Committees

Unfinished business

New business

Adjournment

ARTICLE X

Rules

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised, shall govern the Club in all cases to which they are applicable and which they are not inconsistent with the bylaws or special rules of the Club.