CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

GOLD COAST AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG CLUB

Founded: November 6, 1980

Constitution and Bylaws Adopted: October 8, 1981

Revised: October 4, 1984

Revised: September 12, 1987

Revised: March 2, 1989

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONSTITUTION

1.          Name and Objectives

          1.1          Name

          1.2          Objectives

          1.3          Nonprofit Status

          1.4           Bylaws

BYLAWS

1.          Membership

          1.1          Eligibility

          1.2          Dues

          1.3          Election to membership

          1.4           Termination

2.          Meetings and Votings

2.1          Club meetings

2.2          Special club meetings

2.3          Board meetings

2.4          Special board meetings

2.5           Voting

3.          Directors and officers

3.1          Board of Directors

3.2          Officers

3.3          Vacancies

4.          Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections

4.1          Club year

4.2          Annual meeting

4.3          Elections

4.4           Nominations

5.           Committees

5.1          Standing committees

5.2          Termination

6.          Discipline

          6.1          American Kennel Club suspension

          6.2          Charges

          6.3          Board Hearing

          6.4           Expulsion

7.          Ammendments

7.1          Sumbittal

7.2          Approval

8.          Dissolution

8.1           Dissolution

9.          Order of Business

9.1          Club meetings

9.2          Board meetings

9.3          Parlimentary authority

CONSTITUTION

1                    NAME AND OBJECTIVES

1.1          NAME

The name of the Club shall be Gold Coast Australian Cattle Dog Club.

1.2          OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Club shall be:

                    (1)           To encourage and promote pure-bred Australian Cattle Dogs and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection.

                    (2)           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 Australian Cattle dogs shall be judged.

                    (3)           To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breed and to encourage sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, working trials, obedience trials, and field trials.

(4)           To conduct sanctioned matches, specialty shows, field trials obedience trials, and working trials under the rules of the American Kennel Club.

1.3                    NONPROFIT STATUS

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 any member or individual.

1.4                    BYLAWS

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.

BYLAWS

MEMBERSHIP

1          ELIGIBILITY

1.1          ELIGIBILITY

There shall be four types of membership open to those person who subscribe to the purposes of the Club and who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club.

(1)          Regular membership is open to all persons eighteen years of age or older. This membership pays dues, has a vote, can hold an elected office, and has all the normal duties, obligations, and responsibilities of, a member of the Club.

(2)          Associate membership is available for people who live outside the immediate area of the Club. They will have all the privileges of the Club, except voting and holding an elected office. They may become regular members by attending two meetings and paying the appropriate dues. 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.

(3)          Junior membership is open to all persons under eighteen years of age. This membership pays dues, but may not make motions, vote or hold office. Prior approval of parents is required.

(4)          Honorary membership, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, * may be granted to those persons who have displayed significant service benefitting the Club's objectives or the Breed or both. Persons's approval is required. No dues, no right to vote or hold office.

1.2                    DUES

Membership dues shall be payable on or before the first day of January of each year. No member may vote, conduct any official business, or hold office in the Club whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of November the Treasurer shall send to each member a statement of his/hers dues for the ensuing year. The annual dues shall be set, and is subject to change, by the Board of directors, and shall not exceed $25 a year.

1.3                    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 application agrees to abide by these constitution and bylaws 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 two members. 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 is to be read at the first and second meetings of the Club following its receipt. At the next Club meeting the application will be voted upon and affirmative votes of 3/4 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 reapply within six months after such rejection.

1.4                    TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP          Membership may terminate:

(1)          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 (January 1).

(2)          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 (March 1): 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.

(3)          EXPULSION. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article 6 of these Bylaws. At termination of membership, the person must relinquish all Club property.

2                    MEETINGS AND VOTING

2.1          CLUB MEETINGS

Meetings of the Club shall be held on the first Thursday of each month, except for weekend meetings, time and place to be designated by the Board of Directors.

2.2          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, or shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by five members of the Club who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held at such place, date and hours as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herin 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 business may be transacted thereat. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20% of the members in good standing.

2.3                    BOARD MEETINGS          

Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on the first Thursday of each month, 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 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board.

2.4                    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 at such place, date, and hour as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such a meeting. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 5 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such, a meeting shall be a majority of the Board.

2.5                    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/she is present, or by a signed, dated vote/statement submitted to the Secretary prior to the meeting or election. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any club meeting or election.

3                    DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

3.1                    BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and three other persons all of whom shall be elected for one year terms at the Club's annual meeting as provided in Article 4 and shall serve until their successors are elected. General management of the Club's affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors. For any Board member missing 3 consecutive meetings without valid written excuse, the President shall ask the Board to replace the absentee.

3.2                    OFFICERS

The Club's officers, consisting of 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.

(1)          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 specified in the Bylaws.

(2)          The Vice-President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President's death, absence or incapacity.

(3)          The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club. He or she shall have charge of the correspondence, notify officers and directors of election to office, keep roll of members of the Club with their addresses, and carry out other such duties as are prescribed in these Bylaws.

(4)          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. The books shall be open to the-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. The Treasurer may be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.

3.3                    VACANCIES         

Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the officers during the year shall be filled until the next election by a majority vote of all the then members of the Board at its first regular meeting following the creation of such a 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.

4                    CLUB YEAR, ANNUAL MEETING, ELECTIONS

4.1                    CLUB YEAR

The Club's fiscal year shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first 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.

4.2                    ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting shall be held in the month of December at which officers, and Directors for the ensuing  Year shall be elected by secret written ballot from among those nominated in accordance with Section 4.4 of this Article. They shall take office at the January 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.

4.3                    ELECTIONS         

The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. The three nominated candidates for other positions on the Board who receive the greatest number of votes for such positions shall be declared elected.

4.4          NOMINATIONS

No person may be a candidate in a club election who has not been nominated. During the month of September, 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 committeemen and alternates of their selection. The Board shall name a chairman for the Committee and it shall be his or her duty to call a committee meeting which shall be held on or before October first.

(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.

(2)          Additional nominations may be made at the November meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated accepts when his name is proposed, and provided further that if  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 of the Nominating Committee.

(3)          Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report, the Secretary shall before November Fifteenth notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.

(4)          Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than as provided in this Section.

5                    COMMITTEES

5.1                    STANDING COMMITTEES

The board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work for the Club in such matters as shows, obedience trials, working 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 to aid it on particular projects.

5.2                    TERMINATION         

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.

6                    DISCIPLINE

6.1                    AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB SUSPENSION

Any member who is suspended from privilages of the American Kennel Club automatically shall be suspended from the privilages of this Club for like period.

6.2                    CHARGES

Any members 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 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 or the breed.

If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges, it shall fix a date of a hearing and an assurance that the defendant may personally appear in his own defense and bring witnesses if he or she wishes.

6.3                    BOARD HEARING

The Board shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing, but both complaintant and defendant shall be treated uniformly in that regard.  Should the charges be sustained, after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by the complaintant 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  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 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.

6.4                    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 at a regular or special meeting of the Club to be held within 60 days of the board's recommendation. The defendant shall have the privelege of appearing in his or her 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 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 voted, the Board's suspension shall stand.

7                    AMENDMENTS

7.1                    SUBMITTAL

Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws 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 the recommendations of the Board by the Secretary within three months of the date when the petition was received by the Secretary.

7.2                    APPROVAL

The constitution and Bylaws 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.

8                    DISSOLUTION

8.1          DISSOLUTION

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, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, none of the property of the Club nor any proceeds therof nor any assets shall be distributed to any members of the Club. 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.

9          ORDER OF BUSINESS

9.1                    CLUB MEETINGS

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 the 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

9.2                    BOARD MEETINGS

At meeting 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

·          Report of Committees

·          Unfinished Business

·          New Business

·          Adjournment

9.3                    PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

                    Robert's Rules of Order (revised edition) shall govern the Gold Coast Australian Cattle Dog Club.