CONSTITUTION
Article 1
Section 1. The name of the club shall be the “Gallatin Dog Club, Inc.”.
Section 2. The objectives of the club shall be to:
Obedience
- promote the training of purebred dogs;
- disseminate knowledge regarding obedience training;
- conduct classes for the training of dogs and their handlers
- encourage the training of judges;
- hold and support obedience trials and tracking matches under the rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club; and
- promote cooperation and good sportsmanship among its members in the training and exhibition of dogs.
Tracking
promote the training of purebred dogs;
disseminate knowledge regarding tracking;
conduct classes for the training of dogs and their handlers;
encourage the training of judges;
hold and support tracking tests and tracking matches under the rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club; and
promote cooperation and good sportsmanship among its members in the training and exhibition of dogs.
All-Breed / Group / Herding / Lure Coursing / Coonhounds
To further the advancement of all breeds of purebred dogs
To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of
dog shows
obedience trials
tracking tests
herding tests and trials
lure coursing tests and trials
coonhound events
and to encourage sportsmanlike competition at such events; and
To conduct
sanctioned matches
dog shows
obedience trials
tracking tests
herding tests and trials
lure coursing tests and trials
coonhound events
under the rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club.
Section 3. The club shall not be conducted or operated or 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 objectives.
Passed and adopted this ______ day of ______________, 199__.
President _______________________
Secretary _______________________
Treasurer _______________________
BYLAWS
The principal office of the Gallatin Dog Club, Inc. shall be located at
__________________________________, City of _____________________________,
County of ________________, State of Montana. The corporation may change such principal office by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Article 1
Membership
Section 1. Eligibility. There shall be two (2) types 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, and one (1) type of membership open to all persons under 18 years of age who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this club.
Individual all persons eighteen (18) years of age and older
Family all persons twelve (12) years of age and older belonging to one family
Junior all persons under eighteen (18) years of age (shall enjoy all rights and privileges of the Club except the right to vote or hold office)
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. Annual Dues. The Club membership shall, at the annual meeting, determine the amount of annual dues payable to the corporation by members of each three classes. Dues shall be payable before the first day of September in each year.
Section 3. Election to Membership. Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as 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. 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 at the first meeting of the club following its receipt. The application will be voted upon and affirmative votes of 2/3 of the members present shall be required to elect the applicant. Voting may be done by secret ballot.
Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the club may not reapply within six (6) months after such rejection.
Section 4. Termination of Membership. Memberships may be terminated:
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.
by lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid for 30 days.
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 monthly at such place and time as determined by the Board of Directors. The quorum for such meetings shall be 20 percent of the members in good standing.
Section 2. Special Club Meetings. Special club meetings may be called by the President, the Board of Directors, or not less that 10 percent of the members having voting rights. The quorum for such meetings shall be 20 percent of the members in good standing.
Section 3. Special Board Meetings. Special meetings of the board may be called by the President. The quorum for such meetings shall be a majority of the board.
Section 4. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting may be held in conjunction with a regular club meeting. The quorum for such meeting shall be 20 percent of the members in good standing.
Section 5. Voting. Each member in good standing whose dues are paid for the current year, except Junior members, 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.
Article III
Directors and Officers
Section 1. Board of Directors. The board shall be comprised of nine (9) members which include the officers of the club, all of whom shall be members in good standing. General management of the club’s affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors. The remaining positions on the board will consist of Public Relations Director, Training Director, Show Director, Membership Director, and Program Director. The duties of the Board of Directors are as follows:
The Public Relations Director shall be chairman of the public relations committee. It shall be the duty of this committee:
To collect, print, and disseminate Club news to the members, including notices of meetings, minutes, training class regulations, etc.
To inform the non-member public of the activities of the Club and its training classes, and participation in American Kennel Club Dog Shows.
To encourage public participation in the objectives of the Club and promote public understanding and good will.
The Membership Director shall be chairman of the membership committee. It shall be the duties of this committee:
To receive and examine applications for membership and report thereon to the club.
To encourage the stability of the present memberships in view of making a better club.
To investigate the turnover and lapsed memberships in view of making a better club.
To keep a current roster of members, their dogs, and other pertinent information as directed by the Board.
To send written notice to members when Club dues must be paid.
The Program Director shall be chairman of the program committee. It shall be the duties of this committee to arrange for programs for the regular Club meetings, and other special events.
The Show Director shall be chairman of the committees whose duties are to produce our annual or bi-annual AKC All Breed Dog Show and Obedience Trial.
The Training Director shall be chairman of the training committee. It shall be the duty of this committee:
To set up the training class method and procedure; to make regulations concerning student handlers, dogs, admittance, etc.; to train the classes and the instructors.
To investigate and make arrangements for the physical equipment and facilities necessary for the training classes, such as location, cleanup facilities, mats, etc.; to store club property used in the training classes.
To enroll student handlers at the beginning of each new class sequence, to check attendance at each class session, and to keep records of the class. All enrollments and other records shall be kept in a permanent file.
The committee as a whole shall make arrangements for the graduation excerises for each training class.
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.
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.
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 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; have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify 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.
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 on 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 moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the board of directors shall determine.
The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person, in which case the board shall be comprised of eight (8) people.
Section 3. Vacancies. Any vacancies occurring on the board or among 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 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 September of each year and end at midnight of the last day of August of the following year.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in the month of September at which time officers and directors for the ensuing year shall be elected by 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.
Section 4. Nominations. No person may be a candidate for Club Office who has not been nominated. At least two (2) months preceding the annual meeting nominations shall be open. Nominations may be made at a regular meeting or be sent in writing to the Secretary not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the annual meeting. The Secretary shall prepare the slate of candidates so nominated, to be published not less than seven (7) days before the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made up to the time of the elections at the annual meeting by any member in attendance. The proposed candidate must commit himself/herself to serve if elected, either by oral declaration or statement in writing. No person may be a candidate for more than one office. For any non-nominated positions, candidates shall be recruited by the Board of Directors.
Article V
Committees
Section 1. The board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the club in such matters as dog shows, obedience 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 for 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. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary together with a deposit of $30.00, 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 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 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 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 fight 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 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 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 hall 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 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 two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership 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.
Section 3. No amendment to the constitution and bylaws that is adopted by the club shall become effective until it has been approved by the Board of Directors of the American Kennel Club.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we, the Directors of Gallatin Dog Club, have hereunto subscribed our names this ________ day of ____________, 199__.
