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Tampa Bay Poodle Club By-Laws |
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By-Laws
Article I Membership Section 1. Eligibility. There shall be two types of membership: Regular with full voting rights and Associate, entitled to all privileges of the Club except the right to vote and hold office. Associate membership shall be defined as a member not desiring to be actively involved 50% of the club activities and functions. All memberships shall have the right to review monthly minutes at the regularly scheduled Club meetings. Any member shall have the right to request copies of the minutes emailed to them or by USPS, upon submission of a self addressed and stamped envelope to the secretary. Membership is open to all persons who are in good standing with the AKC and who subscribe to the purpose of this Club. While membership is unrestricted as to residence, the Club's primary purpose is to be a representative of breeders and exhibitors, to promote education, and the rescue of unwanted poodles, by referral to Florida Poodle Rescue, in the immediate area. Section 2. Dues. Membership dues are not to exceed forty ($40.00) dollars for Regular membership and twenty ($20.00) dollars for Associate membership. Dues shall be set, from time to time, by the Board of Directors, with the majority consent of the membership. Dues are payable to upon the election to membership and on the first day of May thereafter. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of April, the Treasurer shall send to each member a statement of his dues for the official year. Section 3. Elections 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 and regulations of the American Kennel Club. The application shall state the name, address, and occupation of the applicant, and it shall hold the endorsement of two (2) members in good standing. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for 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, as submitted, is then turned over to a membership committee to review the application and prepare recommendations to be present at the next Club meeting. At the next Club meeting, upon hearing Membership Committee recommendations, the applicant will be voted upon, by secret written ballot. The affirmative votes of three-fourth of the members present and voting at that meeting shall be required to elect the applicant. Applications for membership that have been rejected, by the Club, may not re-apply for reconsideration until six months after such rejection. Section 4. Termination of Membership. Memberships may be terminated:
Meetings and voting Section 1. Club meetings. The annual meeting of the Club shall be held in May. Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, shall be held on the 2nd Tuesday in each month, at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Notification of any change of such meetings shall be the responsibility of the Secretary, at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. The meeting shall be held within the Tampa Bay area. The quorum for such meetings shall be twenty (20) percent of the active members in good standing. Section 2. Special Club meeting. Special Club meeting may be called by the President, or by a majority vote of the then 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 (5) members of the Club who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held at such hour and place as may be designated by the person or persons authorized here in to call such a meeting. Notice of meetings shall be at least five (5) days and not more than ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting and such notices shall state the purpose of the meetings and no other Club business shall be transacted there at. The quorum of such meeting shall be twenty (20) percent of the active members in good standing. Section 3. Board Meetings. Meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held proir to the regular meetings of the Club in each month, at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board. The Secretary shall communicate notice of such meetings, at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum of such meetings shall be a majority of the Board. Section 4. Special Board Meetings. Special Board Meetings shall be called by the President and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least three (3) members of the Board. The Secretary shall give notice of such meetings, telephonically, at least one (1) day prior to the meeting. Such notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted there at. A 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, shall be entitled to one (1) vote at any meeting of the Club at which he/she is present. Associate members shall not be entitled to vote or hold office. Article III Directors and Officers Section 1. The Board. The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Recording/ Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and three other persons, all of who shall be members in good standing; all of whom shall be elected for term of one-year. The Board members agree to attend three-fourths of all General and Board meetings, in order to effectively run the Club. The Board shall be elected at the Clubs' annual meeting as provided in Article V . General management of the Clubs' affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors. Section 2. Officers. The Club officers, consisting of the President, Vice-President, Recording/Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the Club and its meetings and the Board and its members. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and the Board, and shall have the duties and powers normally belonging to the office of President in addition to those particularly specified in this Constitution and By-Laws, and shall be an ex officer member of all committees except the nominating committee.
The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections Section 1. Club Year. The Club fiscal year shall begin on the 1stof May and end on the 30th day of April. The Club official year shall begin immediately at the conclusion of the annual meeting and shall continue through the next annual meeting. Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in the month of May at which directors and officers for ensuing year shall be elected by a secret, written ballot from among those nominated in accordance with Section 4 of this Article. The elected individuals shall take office immediately upon the conclusion of the election and each retiring officer shall turn over to his/her successor, all properties and records related to that office within 30 days after the election. Section 3. Elections. The candidate to the office of President, Vice-President, Recording/Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and Board Members shall be elected individually. The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared duly elected. Section 4. Nominations. No person may be a candidate in an election who has not been nominated. During the month of February, the Board shall select a nominating committee consisting of three members and two alternates, not more than one of who may be a member of the Board (except for the alternates). The Secretary shall immediately notify the committee persons and the alternates of their selection. The Board shall name a chairperson for the committee and it shall be his/her duty to call a committee meeting, which shall be held on or before March 15th.
Committees Section 1.The Board may each year appoint standing committees, to advance the work if the Club in such matters as dog shows, obedience trials, trophies, annual prizes, membership and other fields which may be served by committees. Such committees may also be appointed by the Board to aid the Club on particular projects. Section 2.Any committee appointed by the Board may be terminated by majority vote of the full membership of the Board upon written notice to the appointee. The Board may appoint successors to those persons whose service has been terminated. Article VI Discipline Section 1. American Kennel Club Suspension. Any member who is suspended from the privileges of the American Kennel Club shall automatically be suspended from 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 interest of the Club or breed. Written charges with specifications must be filled in duplicate with the Secretary, together with a deposit of $50.00, which shall be forfeited if the Board, following a hearing, does not sustain such charges. 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 action alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Club or breed. If the Board considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interest of the Club it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges it shall fix a date of the hearing by the Board not less than 2 weeks nor more than 5 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 assurance that the defended may personally appear in his own defense and bring any witness if she/he wishes. Section 3. Board Hearing. The Board shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing, however, in any case, 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, the complainant and defendant, the Board may, by a majority vote, of those present, recommend suspension of the defendant from all privileges of the Club for more than six months from the date of hearing. If the Board deems that the evidence is sufficient, it may also be recommended, to the membership, that the penalty be expulsion. in such cases, 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. 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 the meeting of the Club, following a Board hearing and upon the Board's recommendation as provided in Section 3 of these Articles. Such proceeding may occur at a regular or a special meeting of the Club to be heard within 60 days but not earlier than 30 days after the date of the Board's recommendation of expulsion. The defendant shall have the right of appearing in his own behalf, though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. The President shall read the charges and Board's findings and recommendations, and shall invite the defendant, in present, to speak in his own behalf if he/she so wishes. The membership shall then vote, by a 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 active membership in good standing. Amendments proposed by the 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 Secretary first received the petition. Section 2.The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by 2/3 vote of the active members at any regular or special meeting, called for that purpose, provided the proposed amendments have been included in the notice of meeting, communicated, to each member, at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting. Article VIII Section 1.At General membership meetings of the Club, the order of business, as such relates to the character and nature of the meeting may permit shall be as follows: ROLL CALL MINUTES OF LAST REGULAR MEETING REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT REPORT OF THE SECRETARY REPORT OF THE TREASURER REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEES ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD (at annual meeting) ELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENTS PROGRAM 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 BOARD MEETING REPORT OF SECRETARY REPORT OF TREASURER REPORTS OF COMMITTEES UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT Section 3.The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, (revised) shall govern this corporation in all cases, which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the By-Laws of this corporation. Constitution & By-Laws Committee: Linda Sciacca - President and members of TBPC Presented to AKC with corrections: Update: Last Updated April 12, 2005 by Terry Goldman. |