By-Laws – Gateway Vizsla Club

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I

NAME AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1. The name of the Club shall be Gateway Vizsla Club.

Section 2. The objectives of the Club shall be:

To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Vizslas and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection;
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 Vizslas 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, field trials, hunt tests, tracking tests and agility events;

To conduct sanctioned and licensed specialty shows, obedience trials, field trials, versatility tests, hunting dog tests, tracking tests and agility events;

To achieve all of the above in an effective communal and sportsmanlike manner by personal contact and fellowship among members of the Club at meetings called from time to time pursuant to these by-laws.

ARTICLE I

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Eligibility. While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club’s primary purpose is to be representative of the breeders, exhibitors, and owners in its immediate area.

There shall be three 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.

Regular – A regular membership enjoys all club privileges including the right to vote and hold office. A regular membership carries one vote.

Household – A household membership enjoys all club privileges including the right to vote and hold office. A household membership carries a maximum of two votes.

Associate – An associate membership enjoys all club privileges as a regular membership except that this membership waives the right to vote or hold office. Associate members are not computed in determining a quorum. Associate members will pay a reduced membership fee as stated in Article 1. Section 2.

Existing Regular or Household members who wish to change their status to Associate member may do so by indicating such choice on the annual membership form and submitting with their annual dues at January 1.

New members applying for an Associate membership may do so by following the procedure as described in Article 1. Section 3. After a period of one year, an Associate member may apply for a Regular or Household membership. Members upgrading their membership at times other than at the first of the calendar year will be expected to pay the difference for Regular or Household annual membership dues, less their Associate dues already paid for that year.

Section 2. Dues. Membership dues shall be $20 per year for Household membership, $15 per year for Regular membership and $10 per year for Associate membership. Dues are payable on or before January 1. No member may vote whose dues are not current. No Associate membership will be sustained for an Associate member whose dues are not current. During the month of November, the Treasurer shall send to each member a form detailing the membership options and associated dues. The form should be completed and returned to the Treasurer with the appropriate dues. The form shall also appear in the newsletter, which precedes the December meeting. New members who join during the course of a year shall have their dues prorated the first 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 this constitution and by-laws and the rules of The American Kennel Club. The application shall state the name, address, and occupation of the applicant, and it shall carry the endorsement of one member. 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 Board following its receipt. At the next Club meeting the application will be voted upon and affirmation of a simple majority of the members present and voting at that meeting shall be required to elect the applicant.

Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not re-apply within six 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 and they become incurred on the first day of each fiscal year.
By Lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid 90 days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional 90 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. Newsletter delivery will cease on January 31 to delinquent members.
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 Meeting. Meetings of the Club shall be held within the greater St. Louis area at least 4 times yearly at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of each meeting shall be mailed at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 20% of the voting members in good standing.

Section 2. Special Club Meeting. 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 request of five members of the Club who are in good standing. Such meetings shall be held within the greater St. Louis 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 at least 5 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% of the voting members in good standing.

Section 3. Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held within the greater St. Louis, area at least 4 times yearly at such 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 such meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a simple 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 request signed by at least three members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held within the greater St. Louis area at such place, date, and hour as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such meeting. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 5 days and not more than 10 days prior to the date of the meeting, or telegraphic notice shall be filed at least 3 days and not, more than 5 days prior to the date of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted thereat. A quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board.

Section 5. Voting. Each member in good standing (18 years of age or older) whose dues are paid for the current year shall be entitled to one vote; household memberships (18 years of age or older) will carry two votes at any meeting of the Club at which they are 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 President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three other persons all of whom shall be members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for two-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 the 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 the powers normally appurtenant to the office of President in addition to those particularly specified in these by-laws.
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. The Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify new 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 by
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 of the Board. At every meeting the condition of the Club’s finances and every item of receipt or payment shall be reported. At the annual meeting an accounting shall be rendered of all the moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal
The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person in which case the Board shall be comprised of the officers and four other persons.

Section 3. Vacancies. Any vacancy 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 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. The Club’s fiscal year shall begin on the 1st 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.

Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in the month of December at which Officers and Directors for the ensuing year may be elected by secret, written ballot prepared by the Secretary 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 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 three nominated candidates for the 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 Board meeting prior to October 1, the Board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of three members, not more than one of whom may be on the Board. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committee persons of their selection. The Board shall name a Chairman for the Committee and it shall be their duty to call a committee meeting which shall be held on or before November 1.

The Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and three candidates for the three 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.
Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee’s report, the Secretary shall notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated, prior to the annual meeting.
Additional nominations may be made at the December meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated does not decline when his name is proposed, and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at the meeting, his proposer shall present to the Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying his willingness to be a candidate.
Nominations cannot be made in any other 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, field 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 or committee member may be terminated by a simple 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 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 $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 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 of a hearing by the Board not less than 3 weeks, nor more than 6 weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall promptly send one copy of the charges to the accused member and 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, 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 simple 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 the punishment is insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty be expulsion. In such a 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 findings and recommendations and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his own behalf if he wishes. The members shall then vote by secret written 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 by-laws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition addressed to the Secretary signed by twenty 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 by-laws may be amended by a 2/3 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. 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 purposes of reorganization whether voluntary or involuntary 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 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 the meetings of the Club, the order of business, so far as the character and the nature of the meeting may permit, shall be as follows:

Roll Call

Minutes of the last meeting

Report of the President

Report of the Secretary

Report of the Treasurer

Report of Committees

Election of Officers and Board

(at the annual meeting) Election of new members

Unfinished business

New business

Adjournment

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