CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
Name and Objects
SECTION 1. The name of the Club shall be the Bulldog Club of New England, Inc.
SECTION 2. The objects of the Club shall be:
(a) to encourage and promote quality in the breeding of pure-bred bulldogs 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 bulldog 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 and obedience trials;
(d) to promote and conduct sanctioned matches and specialty shows and obedience trials under the rules of The American Kennel Club;
(e) to provide educational material pertaining to the breeding, rearing, and care of pure-bred dogs and in particular the bulldog.
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 by-laws as may be required to carry out these objects.
BY-LAWS
Article I
Membership
SECTION 1. Eligibility. There shall be three types of memberships open to all persons 18 years of age or older who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of the Club. The three types of membership are:
(a) Family Membership- Husband and wife or two adult members of the same household, each entitled to enjoy all the privileges of the Club including voting and holding office. Each of the two adult members of the household are entitled to a separate vote.
(b) Single Membership- Enjoys all the privileges of the Club including voting and holding office.
(c) Associate Membership- Those persons 18 years of age or older living outside the Club area and are entitled to all the privileges of the Club except voting and holding office.
While membership is unrestricted as to residence, the Club's primary purpose is to be representative of the breeders and exhibitors in its immediate area.
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SECTION 2. Dues. Dues for each year will be voted upon at the January Executive Committee meeting. If no vote is taken at he January Executive Committee meeting, the dues for the previous year shall continue in effect. Dues are not to exceed a maximum of $100.00 (one-hundred dollars) for a family membership, $75.00 (seventy-five dollars) for a single membership and $60.00 (sixty dollars) for an associate membership. During the month of February, the membership committee shall send each member a statement of his or her dues for the ensuing year. The statement will indicate dues are payable by April 1, the beginning of the fiscal year.
SECTION 3. Election to Membership. Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Executive Committee and which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by these constitution and by-laws and the rules of The American Kennel Club. The application for family membership and single membership shall state the name and address of the applicant and it shall carry the member in good standing with the Club. The application for associate membership shall state the name and address of the applicant and no endorsement of a club member will be required. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues payable for the current year.
All applications are to be filed with the secretary and each application for family or single membership is to be read at the first meeting of the Club following its receipt and published in the Club bulletin. At the next meeting of the Club the application will be voted upon and affirmative votes of 2/3 of the members present and voting at that meeting shall be required to elect the applicant. Applications for associate membership are to be filed with the secretary but need not require sponsors or the approval process applicable to family or single memberships.
Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club 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 resignation will entitle one to a refund of dues nor release said member from the obligation due 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. Membership will be considered lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid 60 days after April 1.
(c) by expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these by-laws.
Article II
Meetings and Voting
SECTION 1. Club Meetings. Meetings of the Club shall be held on the first Tuesday of each month except July, at such an hour and place as may be designated by the Executive Committee, as long as such place is located within the Greater Boston Area. The quorum for such meeting shall be 20% of the members in good standing living within the Greater Boston Area. The Greater Boston Area is defined as the area within Route 128. Notice of each meeting shall be mailed by the Club Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.
SECTION 2. Special Club Meetings. Special Club meetings may be called by the President, or by a majority of the members of the Executive Committee who are present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the Executive Committee, and shall be called by he Secretary upon receipt of a
petition signed by five members of the Club who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall
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be held within the Greater Boston Area at such place and time as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings, 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 10 members in good standing.
SECTION 3. Executive Committee Meetings. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held on the first Tuesday of April, June, September, December, January and March. The exact time and place of these meetings shall be set by a majority vote of the Executive Committee at a prior meeting as long as such place is located within the Greater Boston Area. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary to each member of the Executive Committee at last 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for an Executive Committee meeting shall be a majority of the Executive Committee.
SECTION 4. Special Executive Committee Meetings. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least three members of the Executive Committee. Such a special meeting shall be held within the Greater Boston Area at such time and place as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such a meeting. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the secretary 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. A quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Executive Committee.
SECTION 5. 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 or she is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any meeting or election.
Article III
Directors and Officers
SECTION 1. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, American Kennel Club Delegate, Immediate Past President and four other persons all of whom shall be members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for one year terms, except for the American Kennel Club Delegate who shall be elected on even numbered years only. Each member of the Executive Committee, including the Immediate Past President has a vote. All votes shall occur 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 Executive Committee between regular Club meetings.
SECTION 2. Officers. The Club's officers consisting of the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, each elected annually and an American Kennel Club Delegate elected biennially on the even numbered years, shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the Club and its meetings and the Executive Committee and its meetings.
(a) The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and of the Executive Committee, and shall have the duties and powers normally appurtenant to the office of President in addition to those particularly specified in these by-laws.
(b) The First Vice President shall the duties and exercises the powers of the President in case of the President's death, absence or incapacity.
(c) The Second Vice President shall have custody of the property of the Club and shall
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distribute it to those persons who are entitled to it, getting a receipt each time. Second Vice President shall be a member of the Show Committee.
(d) The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club and the Executive Committee, and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club. The Secretary shall have charge of all correspondence, notify new members of their election to membership, notify members of meetings, notify officers and Executive Committee persons of their election to office, keep a roll of the membership of the Club with their addresses and carry out such duties as prescribed in these by-laws.
(e) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all money due or belonging to the Club. The Treasurer shall deposit the same in a bank approved by the Club, in the name of the Club. His or her books shall be subject to inspection on ten days written notice by five members in good standing. His or her books shall be subject to inspection at all times by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall report to the Club 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 he or she shall render an account of all moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year. He or she shall have charge of all corporate books, records and papers and shall be custodian of the corporate seal. The Club's books shall be audited by a committee appointed by the Executive Committee at least once a year and may be audited as frequently as this committee deems necessary.
(f) The American Kennel Club Delegate shall represent the Club at American Kennel Club meetings and shall abide by the rules as prescribed by The American Kennel Club.
SECTION 3. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring on the Executive Committee or among the officers during the year shall be filled until the next annual meeting and election by a majority vote of all the then members of the Executive Committee; except in the case of a vacancy in the office of the President which shall be filled automatically by the First Vice President, and the resulting vacancy in the office of the First Vice President shall be filled by the Executive Committee.
Article IV
The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections
SECTION 1. Club Year. The Club's fiscal year shall begin on the 1st of April and end on the 31st of March. 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 in the month of March at which Officers and Executive Committee persons 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 annual meeting and each retiring officer shall turn over to his or her 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 four nominated candidates for other positions on the Executive Committee 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 December, the Executive Committee shall select the Nominations
Committee consisting of three members and two alternates, not more than one of whom may be a
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member of the board. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committee persons of their selection. The board shall name a chairperson for the committee and it shall be his or her duty to call a meeting which shall be held on or before January 1st.
(a) The Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office, and four candidates for the other four positions on the Executive Committee, and after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall report their nominations to the Secretary in writing.
(b) Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report, the Secretary shall before January 15th notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.
(c) Additional nominations may be made at the February meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated does not decline when his or her 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 among those members who have not accepted a nomination from the Nominating Committee.
(e) Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than provided in this section.
Article V
Committees
SECTION 1. The President each year shall appoint standing committees consisting of Show, Trophy, Auditing, and Membership to advance the work of the Club in such manners as specialty shows, obedience trials, and other fields which may be served by committees. Such committees and any special committees shall always be subject to the final authority of the Executive Committee. All committee appointments made by the President shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Committee and the Executive Committee shall have final approval on all such nominations.
SECTION 2. Any Committee appointments may be terminated by a majority vote of the full membership of the Executive Committee upon written notice to the appointee and the Executive Committee 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 all 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 with the Secretary together with a deposit of $25.00 which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Executive Committee following a hearing. The Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each member of the Executive Committee or present them at an Executive Committee meeting, and the Executive Committee shall first consider whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute prejudicial conduct to the best interest of the Club or to the breed. If the Executive Committee considers that the charges do not allege conduct
which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the Club or breed, it may refuse to entertain
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jurisdiction. If the Executive Committee entertains jurisdiction of the charges it shall fix a date of a hearing of the Executive Committee not less than 3 weeks or more than 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 or her own defense and bring witnesses if he or she wishes.
SECTION 3. Executive Committee Hearings. The Executive Committee 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 the evidence is all heard and testimony presented by complainant and defendant, the Executive Committee 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 the punishment is 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 or her fellow members at the ensuing Club meeting which considers the Executive Committee's recommendation. Immediately after the Executive Committee 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 Executive Committee's decision and penalty, if any.
SECTION 4. Expulsion. Expulsion of a member of the Club may be accomplished only at a meeting of the Club following an Executive Committee hearing and upon the Executive Committee's recommendation a; 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 Executive Committee's recommendation of expulsion. 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 Executive Committee'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 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 voted, the Executive Committee's suspension shall stand.
Article VII
Amendments
SECTION 1. Amendments to the Constitution and By-laws may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by written petition addressed to the Secretary and signed by ten members in good standing. Amendment; proposed by such written petition shall be promptly considered by the Executive Committee and must be submitted to the members with recommendations of the Executive Committee 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 By-laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the Club called for the purpose, provided the proposed amendments have been included in the notes 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 By-laws or to the standard of the breed that is adopted by the Club shall become effective until it has been approved by the Board of Directors of
The American Kennel Club.
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Article VIII
Dissolution
SECTION 1. Dissolution. The Club may be dissolved at any time by 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 operations of law, none of the property of the Club nor any proceeds thereof nor any assets of the Club shall be distributed to any member 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 Executive Committee.
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:
Meeting called to order
Minutes of the last meeting
Reports of Club Officers
Reports of Standing Committees
Reports of Special Committees
Election of Officers and Executive Committee (at annual meeting)
Unfinished business
Applications for membership
Election to membership
New business
Next regular meeting
AdjournmentSECTION 2. At meetings of the Executive Committee, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by a majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:
Reading of the minutes of the last meeting
Report of the Secretary
Report of the Treasurer
Reports of Committees
Unfinished business
New business
Adjournment
Article X
Miscellaneous
SECTION 1. A Club Bulletin containing a summary of the business of the Club conducted at the previous meeting shall be published. The committee in charge of this Bulletin shall consist of one member appointed by the President to be designated as Chairperson and two other members appointed by the Chairperson.
SECTION 2. The Bulletin Committee as described in SECTION 1 of this Article shall be responsible for publishing the only official Club newsletter. All opinions of Club members shall be
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SECTION 3. The Club's meetings are run in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.
Revised: January 1992
Revision: Approved by American Kennel Club December 1991 Voted by membership January 1992
