CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
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CONSTITUTION OF THE PACIFIC COAST PARSON RUSSELL TERRIER CLUB
Article I - Name and Objects
Section 1. Name
The name of the club shall be Pacific Coast Parson Russell Terrier Club
Section 2. Objectives
The objectives of the club shall be:
(a)
To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Parson Russell 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 Parson Russell Terriers 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:
- Any other competitions for which they are eligible
(d)To conduct sanctioned events listed above in (c) under the rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club
Section 3. Non Profit Status
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. Bylaws
The members of the club shall adopt and may from time to time revise such bylaws as may be required to carry out the club’s objects.
Section 5. Membership Area
The club will be located in Riverside, California physically, but will accept members outside this area throughout the United States.
BYLAWS OF THE PACIFIC COAST PARSON RUSSELL TERRIER CLUB
Article I: Membership
Section 1. Eligibility.
There shall be two types of voting membership open to all persons 18 years of age and older who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club: Single Memberships and Family Memberships, with no more than two adults living at the same address. Associate Members will have no voting rights and shall be comprised of people who have never bred a PRT litter. No convicted felons, persons with outstanding judgments debts, persons who have been suspended from the AKC, or persons who have been convicted of animal abuse or cruelty will be eligible to become a member.
Section 2. Dues.
Membership dues will be set by the Board each year and will be listed on that year's application form. Renewals will be payable on or before the 1st day of March of each year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. Memberships expire if not paid by June 1 of the year. During the month of November, the Membership Chair shall notify each member of 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 will include the address to which the form will be sent. Submittal of an application will be construed to mean that the applicant agrees to abide by the constitution and bylaws 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 members in good standing, one of which must be a board member. Applicants who don't have signatures will
Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year. Such dues will not be deposited until and unless the applicant is voted into the Club.
No convicted felon nor any person who has an outstanding judgment against them for any debt, related or unrelated to transactions in dogs, may become a member of the Club.
All applications are to be sent to the address shown on the application. The Membership Chair will submit the applications to be voted upon to the members attending the next club meeting and a majority of those members present are sufficient to vote that person into the club. Vote shall be by show of hands. Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the club may not reapply within six months after such rejection.
Section 4. Termination of Membership.
Memberships may be terminated in the following ways:
(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. Obligations other than dues are considered a debt to the club and must be paid in full prior to resignation.
(b)By lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid 60 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. 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 bylaws.
Article II: Meetings and Voting
Section 1. Club Meetings.
Meetings of the club shall be held each month in a location chosen by the Board of Directors in advance within the 200-mile radius around the City of Riverside, California, which is the place of business for the Club, at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board. Written notice of each such meeting shall be noticed on the website or e-mailed by the Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings 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 a location chosen by the Board of Directors in advance within the 200-mile radius around the City of Riverside, California, which is the place of business for the Club, at such hour and place as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed or e-mailed by the Secretary at least five days and not more than 15 days prior to the date of the meeting and the notice shall state the purpose of the meeting. No other club business may be transacted at the special club meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 50 percent of the members in good standing. A Special Meeting may be called on a date regularly scheduled for the monthly meeting.
Section 3. Board Meetings.
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held each month in a location chosen by the Board within the 200-mile radius around the City of Riverside, California at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed or e-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. The Board may choose to hold a conference call in lieu of meeting in person.
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 a location chosen within the 200-mile radius around the City of Riverside 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 mailed by the Secretary at least five days and not more than 10 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 at the meeting. The 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 the member 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 officers and three (3) 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 bylaws.
(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 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; 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 bylaws. In addition, the Secretary shall be the AKC Liaison and shall have charge of correspondence and coordination with the AKC.
(d)The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the club. Moneys shall be deposited in a bank designated by the Board, in the name of the club. The books shall at all times be open to inspection by the Board and a report shall be given at every meeting on the condition of the club's finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported; and at the annual meeting an accounting shall be rendered of all moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer may be required to be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.
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 remaining 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.
(a) The club's fiscal year shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December.
(b) 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 January, preferably at a show that is held in conjunction with the Palm Springs cluster, at which the new board of directors members for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret 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 board member shall turn over to the successor in office all properties and records relating to that office at that annual meeting or no more than 30 days after the election.
Section 3. Elections.
Depending on the number of board member positions open at any election, the nominated board candidates receiving the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected to fill the open slots. The new board of directors will select the vacant officer positions as soon as possible.
Section 4. Nominations.
(a) No person may be a candidate in a club election who has not been nominated. At the monthly meeting in November, 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 committee members and alternates of their selection. The Board shall name a chairperson for the committee and it shall be such person's duty to call a committee meeting, which shall be held on or before November 15 so that Nominating Committee nominations may be announced at the December monthly meeting.
(b)The committee shall nominate one candidate for each position on the Board that is to become vacant and, after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall report their nominations to the Secretary in writing before the December monthly meeting. Additional nominations may be made at the December monthly meeting.
(c)Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report and additional nominations, the Secretary shall, at least two weeks before the January meeting, notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.
(d)Nominations cannot be made at the Annual Meeting or in any manner other than as provided in this Section.
(e)Write-in candidates are allowed if the proposed candidate gets notarized signatures of 35% of the membership on a petition.
Article V: Committees
Section 1. Standing Committees.
The Board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the club in such matters as dog shows, obedience trials, rescue, matches, membership, and other fields that 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. Termination of Committee Appointments.
With good cause shown by compelling evidence that the person has failed to perform his/her duties, 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 a successor to the person whose services have been terminated.
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.
Section 2. Suspension for Conviction of a Felony Involving Animal Abuse or Fraud.
Any member who is convicted of a felony involving animal abuse or fraud automatically shall be suspended from the privileges of this club for a period equal to the sentence of the offense. The suspension will become expulsion upon the occurrence of a second offense.
Section 3. Conviction of a Felony or Having a Judgment Entered Related to a Debt Owed by the Member.
Section 4. Charges.
(a) Any member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the sport of purebred dogs. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary together with a deposit of $25, which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board following a hearing.
(b) 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 misconduct prejudicial to the sport of purebred dogs. If the Board considers that the charges do not allege misconduct prejudicial to the sport of purebred dogs, it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges, it shall fix a date for a hearing by the Board not less than three weeks nor more than six weeks thereafter.
(c) 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 or her own defense and bring witnesses if he or she wishes. Notice to the defendant must be at least three weeks from receipt of the notice.
Section 5. Actions Deemed Prejudicial to the Sport of Purebred Dogs.
Actions that are automatically deemed to be misconduct prejudicial to the sport of purebred dogs include, but are not limited to: any felony conviction related to fraud and/or theft; any action by the local authority against the individual related to animal abuse or fraud or theft; any legal judgment against the individual for monies owed on accounts or for failure to refund deposits and/or purchase costs of an animal; or any bench or other type of warrant for the arrest of the individual for failure to attend a court or other legal hearing related to or arising out of another person's attempt to collect monies allegedly owed for deposits on or payments made to purchase an animal.
Section 6. Board Hearing.
(a) 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. If legal issues are to be considered, legal counsel should be allowed, but if only factual issues are to be considered, then legal counsel can be denied.
(b) 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 reprimand or suspend the defendant from all privileges of the club for not more than six months from the date of the hearing. The Board may also, if it deems the punishment insufficient, 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 that considers the Board's recommendation.
(c) Immediately after the Board reaches 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 7. Expulsion.
(a) 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 4 of this Article.
(b) Such proceedings may occur at a regular or special meeting of the club to be held within 60 days but not earlier than 30 days after the date of the Board's recommendation of expulsion. 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 finding and recommendation and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his or her own behalf if he or she wishes for not more than 15 minutes.
(c) The members shall then vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion. A two-thirds (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.
Article VII: Amendments
Section 1. Proposed Amendments.
Amendments to the constitution and bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition addressed to the Secretary signed by twenty percent (20%) 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. Voting on Amendments.
The constitution and bylaws may be amended by a secret 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. A majority vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those voting at a meeting with a quorum of members is required to amend the constitution or bylaws.
Article VIII: Dissolution
(a) The club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of two-thirds (2/3) of the members.
(b) 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. Membership Meetings.
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:
- Report of Secretary, including minutes of prior meeting
- Election of officers and Board (at annual meeting)
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:
- Report of Secretary, including minutes of prior meeting
Article X: Parliamentary Authority
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.
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