The Mifflin County Dog Training Club

The Mifflin County Dog Training Club Bylaws

Established November 1988
^{(Rev. Jan. 2003, March 2005, April 2007)}

Introduction

The name of the club shall be: The Mifflin County Dog Training Club

Section 1: The objective of the club shall be:

A. To promote an active interest in, and a public appreciation of the breeding of AKC (American Kennel Club) and UKC (United Kennel Club) recognized purebred dogs, and the studying, owning, showing and obedience training of all dogs.

B. To educate the public in all phases of being a responsible dog owner.

C. To conduct and support obedience classes, exhibitions, seminars and promote Canine Good Citizenship.

D. To provide the facilities for and make possible the training of dogs under the supervision of qualified trainer or trainers.

E. To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of all breeds of AKC and UKC registered purebred dogs and to encourage sportsmanlike competition in dog training and at dogs shows and obedience trials.

F. Encourage the public to buy AKC and UKC registered purebred dogs from recognized, reputable, established breeders.

Section 2: 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 a member or individual.

Section 3: 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.

ARTICLE I:

Section 1: There shall be three types of memberships:

A. A single membership – must be eighteen (18) years of age or older.

B. Family membership – two or more household members with at least one adult(s) eighteen (18) years of age or older.

C. Junior membership – shall be open to all persons between the age of eight (8) and seventeen (17) years with parental consent. Children eight to twelve must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Junior members (non-voting) shall not be permitted to hold a Club office. Upon reaching the age of eighteen (18), a junior member may apply for regular membership by sending a written notice to the Club secretary.

Section 2: Membership dues shall be:

A. $20.00 per year for individuals, payable on or before March 1st of each year.

B. $25.00 per year for family membership, payable on or before March 1st of each year.

C. $10.00 per year for junior membership, payable on or before March 1st of each year.

Section 3: Each prospective applicant must attend a minimum of two (2) club-sponsored activities (one of which is a mandatory monthly meeting) prior to applying for membership (e.g. two workshops, obedience classes, clinics, etc.) The application shall state the name, address and occupation of the applicant and it shall carry the endorsement of two Club members in good standing. All applications are to be filed with the Corresponding Secretary. At the next club meeting in which the applicant is present, it will be read. At a subsequent meeting in which the applicant is present, the applications will be voted on. Affirmative votes of ¾ of the members present and voting at that meeting shall be required to elect the applicant. Applications for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not re-apply within six months after such rejection.

Section 4: Memberships may be terminated:

A. 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 New Year.

B. A membership will be considered lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid sixty days from the first day of the New Year. If terminated, reapplication must be made as per Article I, Section 3 of these Bylaws. In no case may a person whose dues are unpaid as of the date of that meeting be entitled to vote at any Club meeting. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these Bylaws.

Section 5: Membership in regards to Obedience Classes:

Any member, in order to receive scheduled obedience classes free of charge or at a reduced fee, must abide by the following terms:

Active member – Being a member that attends at least two club meetings and two club activities (excluding workshops) within a twelve month period.

1) Any member that assists or teaches a class may receive one class free of charge.

2) Once a year a scheduled specialty class or workshop will be offered to all active club members pending availability.

Article II:

Section 1: Meetings of the Club shall be held the first week of each month, on a designated day and place, at 7:00pm. A quorum shall be 20% of the membership in good standing.

Section 2: 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 she/he is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted to any Club meeting or election.

Article III:

Section 1: Board of Directors shall be the current 6 elected officers of the Mifflin County Dog Training Club and the previous past president. If the past president declines the position, a club member shall be appointed by the current elected officers in a majority vote. The club’s officers, consisting of the President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian, shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the Club and its meetings. The positions of Newsletter Editor, Advertising and Publicity Chair, and Hospitality Chair shall be appointed by the elected officers.

A. President – Shall preside at all meetings of the Club and shall have the duties and powers normally appurtenant to the office of President; in addition to those particularly specified in these Bylaws.

B. Vice-President – Shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President’s absence, incapacity, or death.

C. Recording Secretary – Shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club and all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club. Carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these Bylaws.
D. Corresponding Secretary – Shall have charge of correspondence, notifying members of meetings, notifying new members of their election to membership, notifying officers of their elections to office, keeping a roll of the members of the Club with their current addresses. Shall have the duties of the Recording Secretary in her/his absence.

E. Treasurer – Shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club. Shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the Club, in the name of the Club. Shall keep books on the club’s finances and these books shall at all time be open to inspection by the Club officers. Shall report at every meeting on the condition of the Club finances, which shall include items of receipt of payment not before reported. No financial obligation may be incurred for the Club by any member or members without authorization by the Club officers.

F. Historian – Shall maintain and update articles and photographs of Club activities.

G. Newsletter Editor and Chief – Responsible for writing and editing a monthly newsletter.

H. Advertising and Publicity Chair – Shall promote all Club activities.

I. Hospitality Chair – Arrange and provide refreshments for all Club functions.

Section 2: Any vacancies occurring in the offices of the Club during the year shall be filled until the next annual election by a majority vote of all the current officers. This action shall take place at the next regular meeting following the creation of such vacancy, or at a special meeting called for that purpose. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled automatically by the Vice-President, and resulting vacancy in the office of Vice-President shall be filled by the vote of the officers.

Section 3: Any officer missing more than three consecutive meetings without just cause shall have his/her position terminated and the position shall be filled by a vote of the officers.

ARTICLE IV:

Section 1: The Club’s calendar year shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December.

Section 2: No person may be a candidate in a club election who has not been nominated. Nominations will be made at the October meeting and the candidates will be published in the October newsletter, prior to voting in November.

Section 3: The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. Newly elected officers will take offices on the 1st of January of each year. No person can hold more than one office.

ARTICLE V:

Section 1: Any member who is suspended from the privileges of the AKC automatically shall be suspended from the privileges of the Club for a like period.

Section 2: Any member who is formally charged with neglect or cruelty to animals shall be suspended and if found guilty their membership will be terminated.

Section 3: Any member may prefer charges against a member of alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Club. Written charges, with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Corresponding Secretary, together with a deposit of $10, which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the officers following a hearing. The Corresponding Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each officer and the officers shall first consider whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct, which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the Club. If the officers consider that the charges do not allege conduct, which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the Club, it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the officers entertain jurisdiction of the charges, they shall fix a date for a hearing by the officer not less than three weeks nor more than six weeks thereafter. The Corresponding 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 4: The officers 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 officers may, by a majority vote of those present, suspend the defendant from the privileges of the club for not more than six months from the date of the hearing, and recommend to the membership that the penalty by expulsion. In such case, the suspension shall not restrict the defendant’s right to appear before his fellow members at the ensuing club meeting which considers the officer’s recommendation. Immediately after the officers have reached a decision, the finding shall be put in written form and filed with the Corresponding Secretary. The Corresponding Secretary, in turn, shall notify each of the parties of the officer’s decision and penalty, if any.

ARTICLE VI:

Section 1: Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws may be proposed by the officers or by written petition addressed to the Corresponding Secretary signed by 20% of the membership. Amendments proposed by such petition must be considered promptly by the officers and must be submitted to the members with recommendations from the officers by the Corresponding Secretary for a vote within three months of the date when the petition was received by the Corresponding Secretary.

Section 2: The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members called for the purpose, provided the proposed amendments have been included in the notice of the meetings and mailed to each members at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

ARTICLE VII:

Section 1: The Club may be dissolved at any time by written consent of not less than two-thirds 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 thereof nor any assets of the Club, shall be distributed to any member of the Club. After payment of debts of the Club, its property and assets shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefit of dogs, selected by the officers.

ARTICLE VIII:

Section 1: The rules of Parliamentary Procedure contained in Roberts Rule of Order (revised) shall be the authority governing all meetings of the club and the officers in all cases not covered by these Bylaws and any special rules which may at any time be adopted.

Section 2: At meetings of the Club, the order of business, as far as the character and nature of the meeting may permit, shall be as follows:

Record Attendance
Minutes of the last meeting
Report of President
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of Committees
Election of Officers
Election of New Members
Unfinished/Old Business
New Business
Adjournment