SECTION 1. The name of the Club shall be The Rose City American Staffordshire
Terrier Club.
SECTION 2. The objectives of the Club shall be:
(a) to encourage and promote quality in breeding of pure-bred American Staffordshire
Terriers and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection;
(b) to aid and assist members and non-members in the furtherance of knowledge
and information concerning the American Staffordshire Terrier;
(c) to urge members and breeders to accept and support the standard of the breed
as approved by the American Kennel Club and the Staffordshire Terrier Club of
America as the only standard of excellence by which American Staffordshire Terriers
shall be judged;
(d) 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;
(e) to adhere to and support the ethical guidelines of the Staffordshire Terrier
Club of America;
(f) to conduct sanctioned and licensed specialty shows and obedience trials
under the rules of the American Kennel Club and the Staffordshire Terrier Club
of America.
SECTION 3. The Club shall not be conducted or operated for profit and no part
of any profit 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 two types of membership open to all persons
who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to
the purposes of the club:
(a) 1. Regular - Enjoys all the privileges of the Club including voting and
holding office.
2. Couple - Open to two adults residing in the same household, each is entitled
to a separate vote.
(b) Junior memberships shall be for any person 10 through 17 years of age. Junior
members may not vote or hold office; may automatically convert to regular membership
upon reaching their 18th birthday.
Although membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club's primary
purpose is to be representative of the American Staffordshire Terrier fanciers
in its immediate area.
SECTION 2. Dues. Membership dues shall be $15 per individual and $20 per couple
per year. Junior membership dues shall be $5 per individual per year. Dues shall
be payable on or before the date of the annual meeting in July of each year.
No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the
month of June, each member will be notified that his dues are payable 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, which shall provide that the
applicant agrees to abide by this constitution and the by-laws, and the rules
and ethics of the American Kennel Club and the Staffordshire Terrier Club of
America. The application shall state the name, address, and occupation of the
applicant and it shall carry the endorsement of two members in good standing.
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 club following its receipt. An applicant
must attend one meeting for the reading of his/her application. At the second
club meeting the application will be read and voted upon by secret ballot, and
an affirmative vote of 75% of the members present and voting at the 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:
(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 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 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.
(c) By expulsion. A membership may be terminated as provided in Article VI of
these by-laws.
SECTION 1. Club Meetings. Meetings of the Club shall be held in Oregon or Washington
on a bi-monthly basis in January or February, March or April, May or June, July,
September or October and November or December, at such hour and place as may
be designated by the board. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed
at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings
shall be 20% 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 meetings shall be held in Oregon or Washington
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 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 20% of the members in good standing.
SECTION 3. Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held
monthly in Oregon or Washington at such hour, and place as may be designated
by the Board. The Board will meet in July for budget planning. Written notice
of each such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 5 days prior
to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meeting shall be a 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 written
request signed by at least three members of the Board. Such special meetings
shall be held in Oregon or Washington at such place, date, and hour as may be
designated by the person authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice
of such meetings 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.
Any such notice shall state the purpose 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 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. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any Club meeting, election,
or Board meeting.
SECTION 1. Board of Directors. The Board of Directors 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 one-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 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 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.
(c) The Secretary shall keep record of all meetings of the Club and the Board
and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club. He/She 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-laws.
(d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the
Club. He/she shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the Board, in the
name of the Club. His/Her books shall at all times be open to inspection of
the Board and he/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/she shall render an account of all moneys received
and expended during the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be bonded
for an amount to be determined by the Board at the annual budget meeting.
(e) 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 three (3) other
persons.
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 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.
SECTION 1. Club Year. The Club's fiscal year shall begin on the first day of
July and end on the thirtieth day of June
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
July 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 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 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 April, the Board shall select a
Nominating Committee consisting of three members and one alternate, not more
than one of whom may be a member of the Board. The Secretary shall immediately
notify the committee persons and alternate 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 May 1.
(a) 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.
(b) Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report, the Secretary shall notify
each member in writing at least two weeks before the May meeting, of the candidates
so nominated.
(c) Additional nominations may be made at the May/June 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 this meeting, his/her proposer shall present to the Secretary
a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying his/her willingness
to be a candidate. No person may be a candidate for more than one position.
(d) Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other
than as provided on this section.
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, 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.
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 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 to 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 by registered mail together with a notice of the hearing and
an 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, but 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 majority vote of those present suspend the defendant from
all privileges of the Club for not more than 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 defendant's right to appear before his/her 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 no earlier than 30 days after the date of the Board's recommendation of
the expulsion. The defendant 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 findings and recommendations, and shall
invite the defendant, 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. 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 two-thirds (2/3)
vote of the members present and voting at a 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.
SECTION 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 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 the last meeting
President's report
Secretary's report
Treasurer's report
Committee reports
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
Secretary's report
Treasurer's report
Committee reports
Unfinished business
New business
Adjournment
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 by-laws and any special rules
of order the Club may adopt.
Copyright © 2002, 2003 Rose City American Staffordshire
Terrier Club