Untitled Document

Constitution

Section 1. The name of the Club shall be the MOUNT RAINIER YORKSHIRE TERRIER CLUB

Section 2. The objects of the Club shall be:
(a) To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Yorkshire Terriers 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 Yorkshire Terriers 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; and any other event for which the Club is eligible;
(d) To conduct sanctioned and licensed shows and obedience trials; and any other even for which the Club is eligible, under the rules of the American Kennel Club.

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 objectives.

Section 1. Eligibility. There shall be one (1) type of membership, open to all persons eighteen years of age and older who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposed of this Club. While membership is not to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club's primary purpose is to be representative of the breeders, fanciers and exhibitors in its immediate area.

Section 2. Dues. Membership dues shall not exceed $50.00 per year and shall be set by the Board at the Annual Meeting, on a yearly basis for all members. Dues are payable on or before the 1st day of January of each year. No regular members may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of November, the Treasurer shall send to each member a statement of their dues for the ensuing 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, By-Laws, the Club's Code of Ethics and Conduct, 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 (2) members in good standing. The applicant shall submit payment of dues for the year with the membership application. An application for membership received during the last quarter of the Club's Fiscal Year will have their Annual Dues apply for the following 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. At the next Club meeting, the application will be read again and will be voted upon and affirmative votes of 2/3 of the members present and voting by secret ballot at that meeting shall be required to elect the applicant.
The Secretary will promptly notify the applicant of the result of the membership vote.
Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not re-apply within six (6) months after such rejection.

Section 4. Termination of Membership. Membership may be terminated:
(a) 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.
(b) By lapsing. A member will be considered as lapsed if such member's dues remain unpaid sixty (60) days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional thirty (30) days of grace to such delinquent members in meritorious cases. A reinstated member will not be required to re-apply for membership. In no case may a person be entitled to vote at any Club meeting whose dues are unpaid as of the date of the meeting.
(c) By expulsion. A member may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these By-Laws.

Section 1. Club Meetings. Regular meetings of the Club shall be held, if not monthly, at least every other month, within the greater Seattle/Tacoma area, at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of each meeting shall be sent by the Secretary at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meeting shall be 15% of the members in good standing.

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 or special meeting of the Board, and 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 meeting shall be held within the greater Seattle/Tacoma area at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized to call such meeting. Written notice of such a meeting shall be sent by the Secretary at least five (5) days and not more than fifteen (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 15% of the members in good standing.

Section 3. Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and place as are designated by a majority vote of the entire Board. Notice of each such meeting shall be sent by the Secretary to each member of the Board at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for a board Meeting shall be a majority of the Board voting in person, by mail, Email, FAX or telephone conference call.

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 written request signed by at least three (3) members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held within the greater Seattle/Tacoma area at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person authorized to call such meeting. Written notice of such meeting shall be sent by the Secretary at least five (5) days and not more than ten (10) days of the meeting, or telegraphic notice shall be filed at least three (3) days and not more than five (5) 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 meeting shall be a majority of the Board.
(a) The Board of Directors may conduct its business by mail, Email, FAX or telephone conference call through the Secretary. Items voted on by conference call must be confirmed in writing within 30 days.

Section 5. Voting. Each regular 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 is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any Club meeting or election.
The following is the procedure for secret balloting by mail. The Club Secretary will send to all members, in good standing, the ballot, listing all nominees for each position in alphabetical order, or issue being considered, together with a blank envelope, a Club addressed return envelope marked "Ballot" with club member's name. So that ballots remains secret, each voter after marking his ballot will place it in the blank envelope which in turn shall be placed in the second envelope addressed to the Secretary or designated professional firm or individual. The unopened returned ballot envelopes will be presented to the Board. The Board will check the returns against the list of members whose dues are paid and will count the votes and report to the membership the results.
If a member is attending a Board meeting and has not returned the ballot, he may submit his vote in person prior to the counting of the ballots.

Section 1. Board of Directors. The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and four (4) other persons, all of whom shall be members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for one-year terms at the Club's annual meeting as proved 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, Recording Secretary, Corresponding 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 normal appurtenant to the office of President in addition to those particularly specified in these By-Laws.
(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, and will be the Club's Parliamentarian, and be familiar with Robert's Rules of Order.
(c) The Recording 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; shall be responsible for any Club newsletter and notify members of meetings.
(d) The Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence, have charge of the Membership Committee, notify officers and directors of their election to office, keep a roll of the members of the Club with the addresses and carry out such other duties as are prescribed in the By-Laws.
(e) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club. The Treasurer shall deposit the same 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 and the Treasurer 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 shall render an account of all monies receive and expended during the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer may be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.
(f) The offices of Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary may be held by the same person in which case the Board shall be comprised of the Officers and five (5) other persons.

Section 3. Vacancies. Any vacancies 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 the purpose, except that vacancy in the office of President shall be filled automatically by the Vice-President, and the resulting vacancy in the office Vice-President shall be filled by the Board.

Section 1. The Club Year. 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 November at which Officers and Directors for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret, written ballot from those nominated in accordance with Section 4 of this Article. The newly elected Officers and Board shall be installed and take office just prior to the adjournment of the Annual Meeting. Each retiring officer shall turn over to his successors in office all properties and records relating to that office within thirty (30) days after the election.

Section 3. Election. The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. The four (4)* or five (5)* 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 and Ballots. No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated. During the month of August the Board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of three members and two alternates, not more than one 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 September 1st.
(a) The Copmmittee shall nominate one candidate for each office and positions on the Board, and after securing the consent of each person so named, shall immediately report their nominations to the Secretary in writing.
(b) Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report, the Secretary shall before September 15th, notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.
(c) Additional nominations may be made at the October 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.
(e) If no valid additional nominations are made during the October Meeting, the Nominating Committee's slate shall be considered to have been elected unanimously and no ballotting will be necessary.

Section 1. Appointment. The Board may, each year, appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as specialty shows, obedience 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 assist the Board on particular projects.

Section 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.

Section 1. American Kennel Club Suspension. Any member who is suspended from the privileges of the American Kennel Club automatically shall 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 the breed. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary together with a deposit of $25.00 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 which would be prejudicial t the best interest of the Club or the breed. If the Board considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interest of the Club or the breed, it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges it shall fix a date of hearing by the Board not less than three (3) weeks nor more than six (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/her own defense and bring witnesses if he/she wishes.

Section 3. Board Hearing. The Board shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing, but both complainant and accused member shall be treated uniformly in that regard. Should the charges be sustained, after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by complainant and accused member, the Board may, by a majority vote of those present, suspend the accused member from all privileges of the Club for not more than six (6) months from the date of the hearing. And, if it deems that punishment insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty be expulsion. In such case, the suspension shall not restrict the accused member's right to appear before the 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 proceedings may occur at a regular or special meeting of the Club to be held within sixty (60) days, but not earlier than thirty (30) days after the date of the Board's recommendation of expulsion. The accused member shall have the privilege of appearing in his/her own behalf, though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. The President shall read the charges and the Board's finding and recommendations, and shall invite the accused member, if present, to speak in his/her own behalf if he/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 so voted the Board's suspension shall stand.

Section 1. Amendment Proposal. Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition addressed to the Corresponding Secretary signed by 20% of the general 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 (3) months of the date when the petition was received by the Secretary.

Section 2. Voting. The constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the general 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 (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII Dissolution
The Club may be dissolved at any time by written consent of not less than 2/3 of the general members. 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 as assets shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefit of dogs selected by the Board of Directors.

Section 1. Club meetings. At meetings of the Club, the order of business so far as the character and nature of the meeting ay permit, shall be as follows:
Roll Call
Minutes of Last Meeting
Report of President
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of Committees
Unfinished Business
New Business
Election of Officers and Board (Annual Meeting)
Election of New Members
Installation of Newly Elected Officers and Board (Annual Meeting)
Adjournment

Section 2. Board meetings. 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
Report of Committees
Unfinished Business
New Business
Adjournment

ARTICLE X Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of "Robert's Rules of Order, New Revised," shall govern the Club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws and any other special rules of order the club may adopt.

GLOSSARY
Member in good standing - An individual who is not suspended by the American Kennel Club or their Club and whose dues for the year are already paid.
Types of Membership
Regular - Individual Member; enjoys all club privileges including the right to vote and hold office.
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.