CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

Name and Objects

SECTION 1.  The name of the Club shall be the Vizsla Club of Metro Atlanta.

SECTION 2.  The objects of the Club shall be:

a)      to encourage and promote quality in the breeding of pure-bred Vizslas 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 Vizslas 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, tracking tests, hunting tests, and field trials;

d)      to conduct sanctioned and licensed specialty shows, obedience trials, and hunting tests 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 or residue 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 required to carry out these objects.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

Membership

SECTION 1.  Eligibility.  There shall be three types of memberships, individual, family (regular), and associate.  A Regular member enjoys all club privileges including the right to vote and hold office.  In a family membership, the household is entitled to a maximum of two votes, and that privilege is restricted to those 18 years of age and older.  An Associate member is entitled to all club privileges except voting and office holding.  Associate members are not computed in determining a quorum.

While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club’s primary purpose is to be representative of breeders and exhibitors in its immediate area.

SECTION 2.  Dues.  Membership dues shall not exceed $20 for family; $15 for individual and $10 for Associate per year, payable on or before the 1st day of January of each year.  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 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 these constitution and bylaws and the rules of the American Kennel Club.  The application shall state the name, address, and occupation of the applicant.  Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year.  Membership applications should carry the endorsement of 2 members in good standing.

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 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.

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:

a)      by resignation.   Any member in good standing may resign from theClub 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 60 days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional 60 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 within the Metro Atlanta 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 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.  The quorum for such meetings shall be 20 per cent 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 in good standing.  Such special meetings shall be held within the Metro Atlanta area at such place, date, and hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings.  Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 5 days, and not more than 15 days, prior to the date of the meeting, and said notice shall state the purpose of the meeting.  No other Club business may be transacted thereat.  The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20 per cent of the members in good standing.

SECTION 3.   Board Meetings.  Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held each month within the Metro Atlanta area, at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board.  Written notice of each meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 5 days prior to 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 three members of the Board.  Such special meetings shall be held within the Metro Atlanta area at such place, date, and hour as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such a meeting.  Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 5 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 thereat.  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 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 4 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 power 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 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; 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 these Bylaws.

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 of the Board, and a report shall be given at every meeting of 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 shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.

e)      The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person in which case the Board shall be comprised of seven persons.

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 the then members of the Board at its first regular meeting following the creation of such a 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 last 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.

SECTION 2.     Annual Meeting.   The annual meeting shall be held in the month of December at which Officers and Directors 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 officer shall turn over to the 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 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  September, 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 committeemen and alternates of their selection.  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 October 1.

(a)      The Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and position on the Board and after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report their nomination to the Secretary in writing.

(b)      Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee’s report, the Secretary shall  mail written notice of  the nominated candidates to each member at least 2 weeks prior to the November Meeting, at which additional nominations may be made by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated does not decline when their name is proposed, 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.  No person may be a candidate for more than one position.

(c)      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 specialty shows, obedience trials, field trials, trophies, annual prizes, membership, and other fields which 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.   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 the privileges of the American Kennel Club automatically shall be suspended from the privileges of the Club for the 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  $25 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 of a hearing by the Board not less than 3 weeks nor more than 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 assurance that the defendant may personally appear in his 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 be sustained, after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by the complainant and defendant,  the Board may, by a majority vote of those present, either reprimand or   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 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 Board’s recommendation.  Immediately after the Board has reached 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  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 the Article.  Such proceeding 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 on his 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 on his own behalf if he wishes.  The members shall than vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion.  A two-thirds 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.  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 per cent 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 recommendation 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 and Bylaws 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.  The vote for amendments shall be by secret vote.

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 the operation of law, none of the property 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 digs 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:

1.        Roll Call

2.        Minutes of last meeting

3.        Report of President

4.        Report of Secretary

5.        Report of Treasurer

6.        Report of Committees

7.        Election of Officers and Board   (at annual meeting)

8.        Election of new members

9.        Unfinished business

10.     New Business

11.     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:

1.        Reading of minutes of last meeting

2.        Report of Secretary

3.      Report of Treasurer

4.      Report of Committees

5.      Unfinished business

6.      New Business

7.      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.