CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I NAME and OBJECTIVES SECTION 1.The Name of the Club Shall Be the Bichon Frise Club of America, Inc
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BICHON FRISE CLUB OF AMERICA, INC MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I NAME AND OBJECTIVES SECTION 1.The name of the Club shall be the Bichon Frise Club of America, Inc. SECTION 2.The objects of the Club shall be: (a) To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of pure-bred Bichons Frises and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection. (b) To encourage the organization of independent local Specialty clubs in those localities where there are sufficient fanciers of the breed to meet the require- ments of the American Kennel Club. (c) To urge members and breeders to accept the stand- ard of the breed as approved by The American Ken- nel Club as the only standard of excellence by which Bichon Frise shall be judged. (d) To do all in its power to protect and advance the in- terest of the breed and to encourage sportsmanlike competition at Specialty Conformation, Companion and Performance events. (e) To conduct Specialty Conformation, Companion and Performance events under the Rules and Regulations of the American Kennel Club. (f) To support and encourage research designed to im- prove the health and welfare of the Bichon Frise. 1 SECTION 3.The Club shall not be conducted or operat- ed for profit and no part of any profits or remainder or resi- due from dues or donations to the Club shall inure 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 bylaws as may be re- quired to carry out these objects. BYLAWS ARTICLE I MEMBERSHIP SECTION 1. Eligibility. The club shall be comprised of an unlimited number of Individual, Household, Junior and For- eign members, who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club, and who subscribe to the purposes of the Club. (a) Individual Membership. Individual membership shall be comprised of individuals who are reputable citizens of the United States, and who are eighteen (18) years of age or older. (b) Household Membership. Household membership shall consist of Two (2) adult members residing in the same household, who are reputable citizens of the United States, each eligible to vote and hold of- fice. (c) Junior Membership. Junior Membership shall be comprised of reputable citizens of the United States who have attained the age of ten (10) years, and who have not reached the age of eighteen (18) years of age. Junior members who are not a part of a household membership shall apply for membership under the provisions listed in Section 2 of these By- 2 laws. Junior members shall not hold office or have any vote in the affairs of the Club. (d) Foreign Membership. Foreign membership shall be comprised of reputable citizens of a country other than the United States, who are eighteen (18) years of age or older, and who subscribe to the purpose and principles of this Club. Foreign Members shall not hold office, or have the right to vote nor shall they endorse any candidate for membership who, upon acceptance, would become a voting member of the club SECTION 2. Election to Membership. Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form approved by the Board of Directors, which, in addition to any other matters re- quired by the Board of Directors, shall state the name, ad- dress and occupation of the applicant, and provided the ap- plicant subscribes to the principles and purpose of the Club, and agrees to abide by the CONSTITUTION AND BY- LAWS of the Club and the Rules of The American Kennel Club. Each application shall furnish the names of two mem- bers in good standing, who are not related to the applicant or each other, and are not members of the same household, and who are willing to endorse said applicant for member- ship. (a) An endorser of a new applicant must have been a member in good standing for at least one Year prior to endorsement. No member may endorse more than three (3) voting members in any one official year (as defined in Article IV, Section 1.) Endorsers shall furnish such information regarding the applicant as the Board may require and shall have known the ap- plicant for the period of at least two years prior to sponsoring said applicant. (b) Applicants shall be approved or disapproved by a majority of the members of the Board whose vote is received by the Recording Secretary within thirty 3 days after the members of the Board have been offi- cially notified of the application for membership and requested to vote there on, when the Board votes via email. All applicants for membership shall be pub- lished, along with the names of their endorsers, in the Bulletin prior to being voted upon by the Board of Directors. The Board shall not be required to pro- vide reasons for any refusals which may occur. (c) An application which has failed to receive the re- quired favorable vote by the Board of Directors may be presented by one of the applicant’s sponsors at the next Annual Meeting of the Club, and the Club may elect the applicant to membership by the favor- able vote of 75% of the members present. SECTION 3. Dues. Membership dues shall be in an amount fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, but shall not exceed $100.00 for Individual and Foreign Membership, $110.00 for Household and $10.00 for Junior Membership per year. Dues shall be due and payable on or before July 1 of each year. No member may participate in any meeting of the Club, vote on any matter pertaining to the business of the Club, endorse applicants for member- ship, or Candidates for office until their dues are paid in full for the current year. No later than the first week of June, the Recording Secretary shall send to each member in good standing a Statement of the Dues for the Ensuing year. Dues to new members shall be payable within 30 days of their notification of acceptance into membership. A mem- bership shall be considered lapsed as of October 1st, unless, in the opinion of the majority of the Board, extenuating cir- cumstances allow for reinstatement. SECTION 4. Termination of Membership. Membership may be terminated: (a) By Resignation. Any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Sec- retary: but no member may resign when in debt to 4 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 mem- ber’s dues remain unpaid 90 days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional 90 days of grace to such delinquent mem- bers 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 MEEETINGS SECTION 1.The Annual Meeting of the Club shall be held in the month of May in conjunction with the Club’s Specialty Show, at a place, date and hour designated by the Board of Directors. If, in the opinion of the majority of the Board, it becomes necessary to hold the Club’s Specialty Show outside the limits of the Month of May, the Board may vote to do so, providing however, that the meeting falls within the period of April 15 and June 30.Written notice of the Annual Meeting shall be mailed/ emailed to each member at least 3 months in advance by the Recording Secretary. The Quorum for such 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 Board who are present at a meeting of the Board who may vote by mail/email: and shall be called by the Recording Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by 10% of the Club who are in good standing. Such meeting shall be held at such place, date, and hour as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written 5 notice of such meeting shall be mailed/emailed by the Recording 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 meet- ing shall be 10% of the members in good standing. SECTION 3. Board Meetings. The first meeting of the Board shall be held following the Annual Meeting at the call of the newly installed President. No prior written no- tice is required. However, 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 of the Board. Written notice of each such other meeting shall be mailed/ emailed by the Recording Secretary 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 or by mail/email. SECTION 4.The Board of Directors may conduct its business by USPS and by email. The General Manage- ment for the affairs of the Club shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors.