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Revised May 18, 1999
Updated March, 2003
DACHSHUND FANCIERS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
Name and Objects
SECTION 1
The name of the Club shall be the Dachshund Fanciers of Central
Virginia.
SECTION 2
The purpose of the Club shall be:
(a) To encourage and promote the quality breeding of
purebred dachshunds and to do all possible to bring their natural
characteristics to perfection.
(b) To urge members and breeders to accept the Standard of the Breed as
adopted and promulgated by the Dachshund Club of America and approved
by the American Kennel Club as the only Standard of Excellence by which
dachshunds shall be judged.
(c) To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests
of the Breed by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at Dog Shows,
Obedience Trials, Field Trials,Tracking Tests and Hunting Tests.
(d) To conduct sanctioned and licensed Specialty Shows, Obedience
Trials, Field Trials, Tracking Tests and Hunting Tests under the Rules
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 or residue from dues or donations to the
Club shall inure to the benefit of any club member or individual.
SECTION 4
The members of the club shall adopt and may from time to time revise
such bylaws as may be required to carry out these objects.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Membership
SECTION 1 Eligibility.
There shall be two types of membership open to all persons eighteen
years of age and older who are in good standing with the American
Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this club.
(a) Single Membership. Open to persons eighteen years of
age and older who enjoy all privileges of the club including
voting and holding office.
(b). Household Membership. Open to two persons eighteen years of
age and older living in the same household. Each such person shall
enjoy all privileges of the club including voting and holding
office.
There shall also be a Junior Membership open to persons 10-17 years of
age. Junior members may not vote or hold office. They may
automatically convert to regular membership upon reaching their
eighteenth birthday.
While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the club's
primary purpose is to be representative of the breeders and
exhibitors in its immediate area.
SECTION 2 Dues.
Single Membership shall be $15.00 per year. Household Membership shall
be $25.00 per year with a limit of two (2) votes per household.
Dues shall be payable on or before the first day of October of
each year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the
current year. During the month of August, the Treasurer shall
send to each Member a Statement of Dues for the following year.
SECTION 3 Election to Membership.
Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form approved by the
Board of Directors, which shall provide that the applicant agrees
to abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Club 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 (2) members in good standing and be accompanied by
the amount of dues for the current year.
All applications are to be filed with the Membership Committee Chairman
and each application is to be read at the first meeting of the club
following its receipt. At that meeting, the applications will be
voted upon and affirmative votes of 2/3 of the members present
and voting by secret ballot at that meeting shall be required to
elect the applicant.
SECTION 4 Termination of Membership.
Membership 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) Lapse. A membership will be considered lapsed and
automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid
ninety (90) days after the first day of the Fiscal Year; however,
the Board may grant an additional ninety (90) days of grace to
delinquent members in meritorious cases. In no case may a person be
entitled to vote at any Club meeting when dues are unpaid as of the
date of that meeting.
(c) 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.
At least six general meetings shall be held each Fiscal Year in the
Metropolitan Richmond area at such hour and place as may be
designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of each such
meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least ten (10) days
prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for each such
meeting shall be twenty (20) percent of the membership 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 5 members, in good
standing, of the club. Such special meetings shall be held in the
Metropolitan Richmond area and at such an hour and place as
designated. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed by the
Secretary at least five (5) days but not more than fifteen (15) days
prior to the date of the meeting. Said notice shall state the purpose
of the meeting and no other club business may be transacted at that
meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20% of the membership
in good standing.
SECTION 3 Board Meetings.
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in the Metropolitan
Richmond area at least six times within each fiscal Year and at
such hour and place as may be designated by the Board of
Directors. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed by the
Secretary at least five (5) 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 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 3 members of the Board of Directors. Such special meetings
shall be held in the Metropolitan Richmond area at such hour and place
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 five (5) days but no more than ten (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 that
meeting. 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 is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted for 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 at least one (1) other person acting in
the capacity of Board Member, 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 of these
Bylaws and shall serve until their successors are elected. Board
member positions shall be added to the Board of Directors for each
additional ten (10) members to a maximum of three (3) Board Members.
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 the 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 this Constitution and 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 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. He/She shall have charge of 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 the Constitution and Bylaws.
(d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due to or
belonging to the club and receipt therefore; deposit the same in a
financial institution, satisfactory to the Board, in the Name of the
Club; present contracts, purchase orders and other financial
commitments to the Board before signing; and shall present bills for
approval of the Board before payment and the Secretary shall record in
the Minutes all such approvals. The Books shall at all times be open to
inspection by the Board and the condition of the Club's finances and
every item or receipt or payment not before reported shall be
reported every meeting; at the Annual Meetings a complete account
of monies received and expended during the previous Fiscal Year shall
be rendered. The books and accounts shall be audited each Fiscal Year.
The Board of Directors may require the Treasurer to be bonded, the
expense to be borne by the Club.
SECTION 3 Vacancies.
There shall be the automatic succession of the Vice- President in the
event of a vacancy in the Office of the President. Other
vacancies occurring on the Board during the year shall be filled
for the unexpired term of office by a majority vote of all the
then members of the Board at its first meeting following the
creation of such vacancy or at a special board meeting called for
that purpose.
ARTICLE IV
The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections
SECTION 1 The Club Year.
The Club's Fiscal Year shall begin on the fIrst day of October and end
on the last day of September.
The Club's official year shall begin immediately after the conclusion
of the CIub's Annual Meeting and shall continue through the
conclusion of the club's next Annual Meeting.
SECTION 2 Annual Meeting.
The Annual Meeting shall be held in the month of September at which
Board Members and Officers 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 after the conclusion of the Annual Meeting and
retiring Board Members and Officers shall turn over to their
successors all properties and records relating to that
Office/Position within thirty (30) days after election.
SECTION 3 Elections.
The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each
office shall be declared elected. The 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 June, the Board shall select a
Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) members and two (2)
alternates, not more than one (1) of whom shall 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 the duty of this person
to call a committee meeting which shall be held on or before July
10th
(a) The Committee shall nominate one (1) candidate for
each
office and other candidates for the other positions on the Board (the
number of Board member positions being based on the number of
members in good standing as provided by the Club Secretary as of
May 31st) and immediately, after securing the consent of each person
nominated, report the nominations to the Secretary in writing.
(b) Upon receipt of the Report of the Nominating Committee, the
Secretary shall forthwith notify each member in writing of the
nominees for each Office and Position at least two weeks before
the August meeting.
(c) Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the
August meeting by any member present at the meeting provided that the
person so nominated does not decline when their name is presented
and provided further that, if the proposed candidate is not in
attendance at this meeting, the proposer shall present to the
Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate
signifying willingness to be a candidate. However, no person who
has declined the Committee's nomination may be nominated. No person may
be a candidate for more than one (1) office or position.
(d) Only members in good standing may be nominated for an office
or position.
(e) 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 of Directors shall appoint such committees as may be deemed
necessary to advance the work of the Club in the ensuing year in
such activities as Club Programs, Dog Shows, Membership and other
matters which may require study and recommendation of a 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 American Kennel Club Suspension.
Any member who is suspended from any privilege of the American Kennel
Club automatically shall be suspended from the similar privileges
of this Club for a like period.
SECTION 2 Charges.
A member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct
prejudicial to the best interest of the Club or Breed. Written
charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the
Secretary together with a deposit of ten dollars ($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 interest of the club. If the Board considers that the
charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the
best interest of the club, 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
(3) weeks or more than six (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/her 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 by
sustained, after hearing all of the evidence and testimony
presented by the Complainant and the Defendant, the Board may, by
a majority vote of those present, suspend the Defendant from
privileges of the Club for not more than six (6) months from the date
of the hearing. And, if it deems that punishment is insufficient, it
may also recommend to the membership the penalty be expulsion.
(Expulsion of a member may only occur by a secret written ballot vote
by the Club membership as specified below.) In such cases, the
suspension shall not restrict the right of the Defendant 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 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 of the 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 or special meeting of the
club to be held within sixty (60) days, but not earlier than
thirty (30) days after the date of the Board's recommendation of
expulsion., The Defendant shall have the privilege of appearing on
his own behalf though no evidence may be taken at this meeting.
The President shall read the charges and Board's findings and
recommendation and invite the member, if present, to speak if
he/she desires. 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 to the Constitution and Bylaws
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 (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.
The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (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 (2)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 (2/3) of the members in good standing. In
the event of the dissolution of the Club, other than for the
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 converted to cash and shall be
distributed to worthy charitable and non-profit institutions
engaged in research, medical care, dog rescue and welfare work,
breeding and nutrition programs and similar activities,
particularly for Dachshunds, but not necessarily restricted to
this breed of dog; said distribution to be in accordance with the
recommendation of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX
Order of Business
SECTION 1 Meeting of the Club.
At meeting 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
Report of the Committees
Elections of Officers and Board (At the Annual Meeting)
Election of New Members
Unfinished Business
New Business
Adjournment
SECTION 2 Board Meeting.
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 Meeting
Report of the Secretary
Report of the Treasurer
Report of Committees
Unfinished Business
New Business
Adjournment
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 special rules of order the Club may adopt.