Rules, Regs, and Legal Mumbo-Jumbo 

Orange Coast Bull Terrier Club Constitution & By-laws

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I - Names and Objectives 

Section 1. The name of the Club shall be Orange Coast Bull Terrier Club of the Orange County Area. 

Section 2. The objectives of the Club shall be: 

a) To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of pure-bred Bull Terriers that will conform to the physical characteristics set forth in the Official Standard of the Bull Terrier Club of America and approved by the American Kennel Club, and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection. 

b) To promote friendship and cooperation among Bull Terrier enthusiasts and to educate and encourage them in areas that will benefit the breed. 

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. To conduct sanctioned matches, specialty shows and obedience trials under the rules and regulations 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 from the dues or donations to the Club shall be used 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. 


BY-LAWS 

ARTICLE I - Membership 

Section 1. Eligibility: There shall be two types of memberships open to all persons 18 years of age and older who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club. Ownership of a Bull Terrier is not mandatory, just an appreciation of the breed. While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club's primary purpose is to be representative of the breeders and exhibitors in it's immediate area.

Section 2. Dues: Membership dues shall not exceed $20.00 per year for individuals and $25.00 per year for couples. Dues shall be payable on or before the first day of January of each year. Each member shall have one vote regardless of whether his dues were paid as a single or couple. No member 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 his 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 and By-laws and the rules of the AKC. The application shall state the name, address, telephone number, and occupation of the applicant, and it shall carry the endorsement of two members. 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. At the next Club meeting the application will be voted upon and affirmative votes of 3/4 of the members present and voting at that meeting shall be required to elect the applicant. 
Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not reapply within six months after such rejection. 

Section 4. Termination of Membership. Members may be terminated by: 

a) 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) Lapsing: A membership will be considered lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid 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. 

c) Expulsion: A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these By-laws. 

ARTICLE II - Meetings and Voting 

Section 1. Club meetings: Meetings of the Club shall be held in the greater areas of Orange County and Northwestern San Diego County, in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of each meeting shall be mailed at least 10 days prior to the meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20 percent 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 (or within 25 miles of) the City of Orange, at such place, date, and hour as may be designated by the persons authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least five days and not more than 15 days prior to 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 percent of the members in good standing. 

Section 3. Board Meetings: Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in (or within 25 miles of) the City of Orange in the months of February, April, June, July, October, and December at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the Board. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least five days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board. 

Section 4. Special Board Meeting: Special meetings 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 (or within 25 miles of) the City of Orange at such date, place, and hour as may be designated by the person herein authorized to call such meeting. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least five days and not more than 10 days prior to the date of the meeting, or telegraphic notice shall be filed at least three days and not more than five 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 the 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 is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any Club meeting or election. 

ARTICLE III - Directors and Officers 

Section 1. Board of Directors: The Board 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 October 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 and in addition to those particularly specified in these By-laws. He shall be Chairman of the Board of Directors. 

b) The Vice President shall have the duties and powers of the President in the case of the President's death, absence, or incapacity. 

c) The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club. He or 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 role 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 monies due or belonging to the Club. He or she shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the Board, in the name of the Club. His or her books shall at all times be open to inspection of the Board and he or she shall report to them at every meeting the condition of the Club's finances and every item of receipt and payment not before reported; and at the October meeting, he or she shall render an account of all monies received and expended during the previous fiscal year. 

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 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. 

ARTICLE IV- The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections 

Section 1. Club Year: The Club's fiscal year shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first 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 Annual Meeting in October, of even numbered years.

Section 2. Annual Meeting: The Annual Meeting shall be held in October, at which officers and directors will be elected in even numbered years. When an election is conducted, it will be by secret, written ballot from among those nominated in accordance with Section 4 of this Article. The elected officers shall take office on November 1 and each retiring officer shall turn over to his or her 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 candidates nominated for other positions on the Board who receive the greatest number of votes for such positions shall be declared elected. 

The election of Officers and Directors shall be conducted by ballot at the Annual Meeting in October. Ballots shall be counted by three inspectors of election who are members in good standing and who are neither members of the current Board nor candidates on the ballot, and who shall be chosen by the members present at the meeting. The inspectors of election shall check the names of the voters present against the list of members in good standing prior to opening and counting the ballots, and shall certify the eligibility of the voters present as well as the results of the voting, which shall be announced at the Annual Meeting. 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 in 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 at the June meeting. The Committee may consist of three members in good standing, no more than one of whom shall be a member of the current Board of Directors. 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 June 1st.

a) The Committee shall nominate from among the eligible members of the Club one candidate for each office and for each other position on the Board of Directors, 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, before July 15, notify in writing, the candidates so nominated. 

c) Additional nominations may be made at the August meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated accepts when his or her name is proposed, and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, his or her proposer shall present to the Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying his or her willingness to be a candidate. No person may be a candidate for more than one position, and the additional nominations which are provided for herein may be made only from among those members who have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating Committee. 

d) Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than as provided in this Section.

ARTICLE V - Committees 

Section 1. The Board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as dog shows, trophies, annual prizes, membership, and other fields which may be well served by the committee. 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. 

ARTICLE VI - Discipline 

Section 1. AKC Suspension: Any member who is suspended from the privileges of the AKC 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 interests of the Club or the breed. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary together with a deposit of $10.00 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 prejudicial to the best interests of the Club and the breed. If the Board considers 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 Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges, it shall fix a date of a hearing by the Board not less than three weeks nor more than six 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 defendant may personally appear in his or her own defense and bring witnesses if he or she wishes. 

Section 3. Board Meeting: 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 respect. 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 six months from the date of the hearing. And, if it deems that punishment is 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 or her fellow members at the ensuing Club meeting which considers the Board's recommendation. Immediately after the Board 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 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 meeting 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. The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in his or 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 or her own behalf if he or she wishes. The meeting shall than vote by secret written ballot on the proposed expulsion. If expulsion is not 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 20 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 & By-laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the 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 weeks prior to the date of the meeting. 

ARTICLE VIII - Dissolution 

The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two-thirds of the members. In the event of a 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 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, to be 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, Report of the President, Report of the Secretary, Report of the Treasurer, Reports of Committees, Election of Officers and Board (at Annual Meeting), Election of New Members, Unfinished Business, New Business and 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 the Last Meeting, Report of Secretary, Report of Treasurer, Reports of Committees, Unfinished Business, New Business and Adjournment. 

ARTICLE X - 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 bylaws and any other special rules of order the club may adopt.


Adopted 3-99
Revised 8-27-99
OCBT

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