CDRC Constitution
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1.
The Club shall be known as the Capital District Retriever Club Inc.
SECTION 2.
The purposes of this club shall be:
1. To stimulate interest in the training of retrievers for hunting, Field
Trials and Hunting
Tests.
2. To encourage the conservation of wild life through the use of properly
trained
retrievers.
3. To encourage the members to perfect, by selective breeding, retrievers
most suitable
for such work.
4. To mentor members in the most humane ways of training of dogs, and to enhance
retriever
training as to show case the dogs to the hunting and general public.
5. To conduct sanctioned and licensed field trials according to AKC
regulations.
6. To conduct sanctioned and licensed Hunting Tests according to AKC regulations.
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.
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BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Membership
SECTION 1.
Membership in this Club shall be in one of six classes:
Types of memberships
Regular (Individual) — Enjoys all club privileges including the right to vote and hold office.
Household — Two (2) adult members residing in the same household, each eligible to vote and hold office.
Associate or Newsletter —Entitled to all club privileges except voting and office holding (offered to individuals who live outside of the club’s area; also offered to individuals who live in the club’s area but are not active). These members will not to be counted when making up a quorum for the club.
Junior —Open to children under 18 years of age; a non-voting/non-office holding membership which may automatically convert to regular membership at age 18.
Honorary — An individual who has made significant contributions to the Sport, Breed or the Club; honorary members pay no dues and are not eligible to vote, but can maintain regular (or household) membership if they pay dues.
Life — For those individuals who have been members for a long period of time (usually 20+ years); Life members pay no dues but are eligible to vote and hold office.
SECTION 2.
Dues. Membership dues shall not exceed $10 individual, $15 Household per year, Associate or Newsletter per year $5, Honorary no fees unless they wish to be a voting member, life members. The dues are payable on or before the 1st day of February, of each year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of January the Treasurer shall send to each member a statement of dues for the ensuing year.
SECTION 3.
Membership. Each applicant for membership shall apply on the clubs membership form. The applicant agrees to abide by the constitution and bylaws CDRC and the rules of The American Kennel Club. The application shall state the name, address, 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. At which time they are eligible to vote at club meetings.
SECTION 4.
Termination of Membership. Memberships may be terminated:
(a) By resignation. Any member may resign from the club upon written notice to the Secretary or President.
(b) By lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid (either 30 days) after the first day of the fiscal year.
(c) By expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these bylaws.
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SECTION 5.
New members should receive a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws, and a welcoming letter describing the policy governing use of club properties for personal training and the clubs code of ethics.
ARTICLE II
Meetings and Voting
SECTION 1.
Club Meetings. Meetings of the club shall be held 2 times year. In a 60 mile radius
Of
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 meeting of the board; and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by 70% of membership of the club who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held In a 60 mile radius Of Albany NY (Capital District 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 five 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 70 percent of the members in good standing and two officers of the club.
SECTION 3.
Board Meetings. Meetings of the board of directors shall be held 2 times a year In a 60 mile radius Of Albany NY (Capital District Area), at such hour and place as may be designated by the board or can be conducted via a conference telephone call. Conference call meeting follow normal meeting protocol. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed 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.
SECTION 4.
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 In a 60 mile radius Of Albany NY (Capital District 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 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.
SECTION 5.
Voting. Each member in good standing whose dues are paid for the current year. present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any Club meeting or election.
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ARTICLE III
Directors and Officers
SECTION 1. Board of Directors. The board shall be comprised of the officers and 1 other persons all of whom are shell be members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for two-year terms or until [the officer's] successor is elected," 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.
(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; 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 bylaws. The President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary in case of the Secretary’s death, absence, vacancy or incapacity.
(d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the club.
Moneys shall be deposited in a national bank with branches just not local to the current Treasurer’s town of residence. A branch must easily accessible so that the next treasurer may take office and make for an easy transition. 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 club President may act as treasurer in the event the treasurer is not present or absent from an event. The clubs bank account will have two signature cards on file. The President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer in case of the Treasurer’s death, absence, vacancy or incapacity.
(e) When necessary an officer of the club may hold more then one office. No officer shall hold more then 2 offices at one time. Often the office of Secretary and Treasurer can be the same person. In which case the board consists of all officers and 2 board of directors.
SECTION 3.
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 the 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.
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ARTICLE IV
The Club Year, Annual
Meeting, Elections
SECTION 1. Club Year. The club’s fiscal year shall begin on the first 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 November board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of one member and one alternate, not more than two of whom may be a member of the board. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committeemen 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 on or before December 1.
(a) The committee shall nominate one candidate for each office (and for Delegate, who
may but need not be an officer or director of the club) and positions on the board
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, at least two weeks before the January’s meeting, notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.
(c) Additional nominations may be made at the November meeting by any member in
attendance, provided that the person so nominated does not decline when their
name is proposed, and provided further that 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.
(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 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.
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ARTICLE VI
Discipline
SECTION 1. American Kennel Club Suspension. Any member who is suspended from all the privileges of The American Kennel Club automatically shall be suspended from the privileges of this club for a like period.
SECTION 2. Expulsion. Expulsion of an officer from the club may be accomplished only at a meeting with a quorum described in ARTICLE II SECTION 1. Any member in good standing of the club may make a motion of no confidence for any officer of the club. An officer for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of the club. Meeting notices must have been mailed as described in ARTICLE II SECTION 1. The members shall then vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion. A quorum described in ARTICLE II SECTION 1 & 2 members of the board of directors must be present to vote at the meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. The expulsion of the officer from office and the club shall stand and is not subject to any appeal of further review and is for the lifetime of the member. The member will not be allowed to participate in any club events going forward.
SECTION 3 Expulsion of a member. A member may be expelled upon violation of the purposes for which the club is formed. This is stated in the ARTICLE II SECTION 2. 4. To mentor members in the most humane ways of training of dogs, and to enhance retriever training as to show case the dogs to the hunting and general public. If any member abuses a dog or trains a dog with methods that are deemed to be excessive force that is witnessed by at least 2 other club members in good standing, the individual will asked to leave the club event. Upon the second occurrence, the member will be suspended till it can be reviewed and voted on at the next meeting made up of a quorum described in ARTICLE II SECTION 1 will decide whether or not to expel the member from the club, this will be for the life time of the member. The expulsion of the member from the club shall stand and is not subject to any appeal of further review and is for the lifetime of the member. The member will not be allowed to participate in any club events going forward.
Un sportsman like conduct will not be tolerated, nor will abusive or excessive force in training of a dogs.
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 70 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 a quorum described in ARTICLE II SECTION 1 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.
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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 good standing. In the event of the dissolution of the club other than for 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 the 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
Minutes of last meeting
Report of President
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Reports of 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
Reports of committees
Unfinished business
New business
Adjournment
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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 special rules of order the club may adopt. The constitution will govern the club, RRO are to be used as a supplement to the clubs constitution for running meetings.
GLOSSARY
Associate or Newsletter —Entitled to all club privileges except voting and office holding (offered to individuals who live outside of the club’s area; also offered to individuals who live in the club’s area but are not active).
Junior —Open to children under 18 years of age; a non-voting/non-office holding membership which may automatically convert to regular membership at age 18.
Honorary — Individual who has made significant contributions to the Sport, Breed or the Club; honorary members pay no dues and are not eligible to vote, but can maintain regular (or household) membership if they pay dues.
Life — Those individuals who have been members for a long period of time (usually 20+ years); Life members pay no dues but are eligible to vote and hold office.
Notices — All club notices must be sent either via the US Postal Service or e-mail in accordance with current AKC® policy.
Delegate Duties — For AKC member clubs only, the general duties of the Delegate must be listed.
Votes on Bylaw Amendments — After amendments are voted upon, the club must provide AKC with the number of members in good standing as well as the date of the vote, and the number who voted for and against. A copy of the revised document
must be submitted to AKC as soon as it is printed.
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