BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
Membership
SECTION 1. Eligibility. There shall be five types of membership, open to all persons eighteen years of age and older as well as independent local Karelian Bear Dog Specialty clubs who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club.
(a) Regular Membership -Open to persons eighteen years and older. Enjoys all the privileges of the Club including the right to vote and hold office.
(b) Junior Membership - Open to persons under 18 years of age. Junior members will follow the same application process as regular members, paying a processing fee. Junior members
will not pay dues or be eligible to vote or hold office. If Junior members are in good standing on their 18th birthday they will automatically become Regular members upon
payment of dues.
(c) Local Clubs -Local Karelian Bear Dog Specialty Clubs, that have received recognition from The American Kennel Club to hold B-Sanctions events. The Club’s constitution and by-laws must not be in conflict with those of The Karelian Bear Dog of America or The American Kennel Club. Further, the Club shall agree to incur no indebtedness on the part of The Karelian Bear Dog Club of America. Member Clubs shall have no vote or office holding privileges.
(d) Foreign Members - Open to persons eighteen years of age and older residing in any foreign country. Foreign members pay regular dues plus mailing surcharge if established by the
Board and enjoy all Club privileges except voting and office holding.
(e) Lifetime Membership -May be conferred upon members of long standing by recommendation from the Board and ratified by 2/3 vote of the membership present at the
Club’s annual business meeting. Lifetime members have full office holding and voting privileges but do not pay dues. Lifetime membership shall not be conferred upon
more than one person (or two if husband and wife) in any Club official year.
SECTION 2. Dues. Membership dues shall be established by the Board of Directors and approved by the majority of members at the annual meeting. Dues shall be payable on or
before the lst day of January of each year. The Treasurer shall send to each unpaid member and member club a notice of unpaid dues for the ensuing year. This notice may be included in the Club’s publication; however, statements shall be sent to members who’s dues remain unpaid after the January 1st deadline. Foreign members may be charged a dues surcharge to cover additional mailing expense as established by the Board
SECTION 3. Election to Membership. The Board will appoint a committee consisting of five members, one from each region plus a membership chairperson in accordance with Article V of these by-laws. Not more than one committee member shall be a member of the current Board. The committee will receive, process and elect new members and or local clubs to the club subject to Board approval.
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 these constitution and by-laws, code of ethics 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 membersin good standing. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues
payment for the current year.
Applicants may be elected by secret ballot at any board meeting of the board of directorsor by secret vote of the directors by mail. Affirmative votes of 2/3 of the directors
present at a meeting of the board, or of 2/3 of the entire board voting by mail, shall be required to elect an applicant.
Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the club may not reapply withing 12 months after such rejection.
Persons becoming members after the 31st day of December are considered as having an effective membership date of June 1st of the following year in regard to payment of dues.
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 30 days of grace to such delinquent members in meritorious cases. The Secretary shall delete lapsed member’s name from the membership roster 120 days past 1st day of fiscal year. All Club privileges shall be terminated and the member must re-apply for membership in accordance with Article 1.
Section 3. 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 by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these by-laws.
ARTICLE II
Meetings
SECTION 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Club shall be held in the month of June in conjunction with the clubs specialty show if possible, at a date, time and place
as designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of the annual meeting shall be mailed to each member and member club at least 60 days prior to the date of meeting. The quorum for the annual meeting shall be 10% 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 at a meeting of the Board or who vote by mail; and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by 10% of the members of the Club who are in good standing. Such meeting shall be held within 60 days at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed to each member by the Secretary at least 14 days and not more than 30 days prior to the meeting. The notice of the meeting shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other club business may be transacted. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 10% of the members in good standing.
SECTION 3. Board Meetings. The first meeting of the Board shall be held immediately following the annual meeting and election. Other meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as are designated by the President or by a majority vote of the entire Board. Written notice of each such other meeting shall be mailed to each member of the Board at least 14 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, facsimile or telephone conference call.
SECTION 4. General Management. The Board of Directors may conduct its business by mail, facsimile machine, or other device transmitting written text to all Board members. Board members may discuss and vote on written transmitted text of issues by telephone. Board members may discuss and vote on issues not accompanied by written text; however, transmission of written text must be distributed within 15 days, and vote ratified at the next Board meeting. When dealing with issues of administrative details, the Board members may agree to waive mailing of written text when voting by phone.
ARTICLE III
Directors and Officers
SECTION 1. Board of Directors. The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice president,Secretary, Treasurer and 2 other persons. All shall bemembers in good standing and residents of the United States. They shall
be elected for a one-year term at the Club’s annual meeting as provided in Article IV, and shall serve with a four year term limitation until their successors are elected. All Officers and Board member positions should be filled each year. General management of the Club’s affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors. All Officers and Board members, shall have full voting privileges.
SECTION 2. Officers. The Club’s officers, consisting of the President, Vice-Presidents, 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, absense or incapacity.
(c) The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club and of the Board and of all votes taken by mail, and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club.
The Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, 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 there bylaws.
(d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the Club and shall deposit the same in a bank approved by the Board, in the name of the Club. The Treasurer’s books shall at all times be open to inspection of the Board and a report shall be given at every meeting of the condition of the Club’s financial status and every item of receipt or payment not before reported; at the annual meeting, a certified accounting of all the Club’s money received and expended during the previous fiscal year shall be presented. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.
(e) The Delegate to The American Kennel Club is appointed by the Board of Directors. The Delegate, while not a Board member and cannot vote, is urged to attend all Board
meetings, and to provide a report to the Board regarding AKC issues effecting the Club.
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; except that a vacancy in the office of President shall be filled automatically by the Vice-President selected by the Board and the resulting vacancy in the office of Vice-
President shall be filled by the Board.
ARTICLE IV
The Club Year, Voting, Nominations, Elections
SECTION 1. Club Year. The Club’s fiscal year shall begin on the 1st day of January and end on the 31st day 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. The elected Officers and Directors shall take office immediately upon the conclusion of the annual meeting 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 2. Voting. At the annual meeting or at a special meeting of the Club voting shall be limited to those members in good standing who are present at the meeting, except for the annual election of Officers and Directors, amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws and the Standard for the Breed which shall be decided by written ballot cast by mail. Voting
by proxy shall not be permitted. The Board of Directors may decide to submit other specific questions for decision of the members by written ballot cast by mail.
SECTION 3. Annual Election. The election of officers and directors (and deligate to the American Kennel Club, who may but need not be a director officer of the club) shall be
conducted by secret ballot. Ballots to be valid must be received by the Secretary. Ballots shall be counted by three inspectors of election who are members in good standing and
neither members of the current board nor candidates on the ballot (provided, however, thatthe board may designate an independent professional firm to send, receive and count the ballotsapart from the annual meeting). Disclosure of election results prior to the announcement at the annual meeting is strictly prohibited.
The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. If any nominee, at the time of the meeting, is unable to serve for any reason, such nominee shall not be elected and the vacancy so created shall be filled by the new Board of Directors in the manner provided by Article III, Section 3.
SECTION 4. Nominations and Ballots. No person may be a candidate in a club election who has not been nominated in accordance with these by-laws. A Nominating Committee shall be chosen by the Board of Directors. The committee shall consist of five members, one chosen from each region, plus a chairperson, all members in good standing, no more than one of whom may be a member of the current Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee may conduct its business by mail, facsimile machine or other device transmitting written text to all committee members.
(a) The Nominating Committee shall nominate from among the eligible members of the Club, one candidate for each office and for each position on the Board of Directors
and shall procure the acceptance of each nominee so chosen. The committee must consider geographical representation of the membership on the board as much as it is practicable to do so. The committee shall then submit its slate of candidates to the election chairperson who shall mail the list, including the full name of each candidate and name of the State in which he resides, to each member of the Club on or before March 15th, so that additional nominations may be made by the members if they so desire.
(b) Additional nominations of eligible members may be made by completion of the nominating packet obtained from and returned to the election chairperson and received at his regular address postmarked on or before April 15th, containing the petition signed by five (5) members; the written acceptance of each such additional nominee signifying his willingness to be a candidate, and the nominee’s 100 word statement to the membership. No person shall be a candidate for more than one position.
(c) If no valid additional nominations are received by the election chairperson, postmarked on or before April 15th, the Nominating Committee’s slate shall be declared elected at the time of the annual meeting, and no balloting will be required.
(d) If one or more valid additional nominations are received by the election chairperson, postmarked on or before April 15th he shall, on or before May 1st, position in alphabetical order, with the names of the states in which they reside, a 100 word or less statement of qualifications and Club objectives, together with a blank envelope and a return envelope
addressed to the Election Chairperson, or designated professional firm, marked “Ballot” and bearing the name of the member to whom it was sent. So that the ballots may remain secret, each voter, after marking his ballot, shall seal it in the blank envelope which in turn shall be placed in the second envelope addressed to the Election Chairperson, or designated professional firm.
The election committee, or designated professional firm, shall check the returns against the list of members whose dues are paid for the current year prior to opening the outer envelopes and removing the blank envelopes, and shall certify the eligibility of the voters as
well as the results of the voting which shall be announced at the annual meeting. The committee is required to maintain confidentiality of results prior to announcement.
(e) Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than as provided above.
ARTICLE V
Committees
SECTION 1. Each year the Board will appoint standing committees, or persons, to advance the work of the Club in such matters as dog shows, field trials, obedience trials, trophies, annual prizes, membership and other fields which may wlle served by committees. Special committees may also be appointed by the Board at any time to aid with particular projects or Club activities. The committees shall always be subject to the final authority of the Board.
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 service has been terminated.
SECTION 3. Committee Chairmen shall turn over to their successors all properties and records relating to that office within 30 days after the change of the Chair.
ARTICLE VI
Discipline
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 of time.
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 $50.00 which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board or a Committee 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 considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the Club or of the breed 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 of a Committee of not less than three members of the Board, not less than 3 weeks nor more than 6 weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to the accused member by certified 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 or Committee 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 or Committee 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, or until the next annual meeting if that will occur after six months. 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 fellow members at the ensuing Club meeting which considers the recommendation of the Board or Committee. Immediately after the Board or Committee 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 decision and penalty, if any.
SECTION 4. Expulsion. Expulsion of a member from the club may be accomplished only at the annual meeting of the Club following a hearing and upon the recommendation of the Board or Committee as provided in Section 3 of this Article.
The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in his own behalf though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. The President shall read the charges and the findings and recommendations, and shall invite the defendant, if present, ten minutes, or longer should the President permit, to speak in his own behalf. The meeting shall then vote by secret written ballot on the proposed expulsion. A 2/3 vote of those present
and voting at the annual meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. If expulsion is not so voted the suspension shall stand.
ARTICLE VII
Amendments
SECTION 1. Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws and to the Standard for the Breed 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 six (6) months of the date received by the Secretary.
SECTION 2. The Constitution and By-Laws and the Standard for the Breed may be amended at any time provided a copy of the proposed amendment has been mailed by
the Secretary to each member in good standing on the date of the mailing, accompanied by a ballot on which a choice for or against the action to be taken shall be indicated. Dual-envelope procedures described in Article IV, Section 4(d) shall be followed in handling such ballots, to assure secrecy of the vote. Notice with such ballot shall specify a date not less than 30 days after the date postmarked by which date the ballots
must be returned to the Secretary to be counted. The favorable vote of 2/3 of the members in good standing who return valid ballots within the time limit shall be
required to effect any such amendment.
SECTION 3. No amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws or to the Standard for the Breed that is adopted by the Club shall become effective until it has been approved by the Board of Directors of The American Kennel Club.
ARTICLE VIII
Dissolution
SECTION 1. 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:
Call to Order
Roll Call
Minutes of the last general meeting
Minutes of the last board meeting
Report of the President
Report of the Secretary
Report of the Treasurer
Reports of the Committees
Unfinished business
New business
Announcement of election results
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:
Minutes of the last board meeting
Report of the Secretary
Report of the Treasurer
Report of Committees
Report of the AKC Delegate
Unfinished business
New business
Adjournment
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