Constitution and By-Laws Borzoi Club of California

Established 1948 Approved by:       Borzoi Club of America       American Kennel Club

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SECTION 1.   The name of the Club shall be Borzoi Club of California, Inc.

SECTION 2.   The objectives of the Club shall be:
(a) To encourage and promote the preservation of purebred Borzoi 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 the Borzoi shall be judged.
(c) To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the coursing and racing events, and obedience trials.
(d) To conduct sanctioned and licensed specialty shows and obedience trials 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 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 objects.

SECTION 1.   ELIGIBILITY - There shall be four (4) types of membership open to all persons in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club.
(a) Active Membership: Open to persons eighteen years of age or older.
(b) Junior Membership: Open to persons between the ages of sixteen and eighteen years of age. They shall enjoy every privilege of the Club, excepting the right to vote or hold office and shall pay dues at the rate of 50% of the dues for Active Members.
(c) Associate Membership: Any Active Member may request Associate Membership by so notifying the Recording Secretary. Associate Members shall not have the right to vote or hold office. An Associate Member shall pay dues at the rate of 50% of the dues for Active Members, and may regain active membership status by payment of additional dues to the full active membership amount.
(d) Honorary membership: Honorary Members may be elected from among those having rendered valuable service to the Club. The name of the proposed Honorary Member shall be presented to the Board of Directors for approval, after which the name shall be submitted to the General membership at the next regular meeting. A majority vote shall rule. Honorary Members shall be exempt from payment of dues and shall be entitled to all privileges of the Club, except that they shall not be entitled to vote nor hold office. Honorary Members may retain Active/Voting status by payment of Active Membership dues. The term "Members In Good Standing" as used subsequently in these By-Laws shall refer to Active Members only. Any officer or director who becomes an Associate Member will be considered to have vacated that office. 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.   MEMBERSHIP DUES
(a) The membership shall set the amount of membership dues.
(b) The dues of any new member who is accepted for membership during the month of October, shall be considered paid for the ensuing year.
(c) Dues shall be due and payable on or before January 1st. All monetary obligations to the Club must be paid at the time of dues renewal. There will be a 30 day grace period from January 1st for late renewals. The Treasurer shall mail a notice of dues renewal in the month of October.

SECTION 3.   ELECTION TO MEMBERSHIP - Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form, as approved by the Board of Directors, which shall provide that the Applicant agrees to abide by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Borzoi Club of California, Inc. and by the rules of the American Kennel Club.
(a) The Applicant(s) shall be supplied with an application for membership, a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws, Standing Rules, and Code of Ethics.
(b) In addition, the application shall state; date, name, address, home and business phone, occupation, membership in other dog clubs, interest in the Borzoi, and be endorsed by two members of the Borzoi Club of California, Inc. who are in good standing.
(c) A filing fee equivalent to one years dues must accompany the application. Upon approval of the Applicant(s), the filing fee shall apply as the first year's dues.
(d) Applications shall be given to the Recording Secretary. The application is to be read at the first meeting of the Club following its receipt by the Recording Secretary.
(e) The Applicant(s) must attend two meetings within a twelve month period to qualify for membership.
(f) At Applicant(s)'s second qualifying meeting, a two-thirds vote of those members present and voting, shall elect the Applicant(s) to membership. No Applicant may be present during voting.
(g) Applicants who have been denied membership, may not reapply for one (1) year from the date on their application.

SECTION 4.   TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP - Memberships may be terminated:
(a) by resignation: Any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Recording 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 thirty (30) days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the Board of Directors may grant an additional thirty (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 By-Laws. The interest of any member in the property of the Club shall cease with the termination of his membership and no part of annual dues shall be returnable. Termination of membership shall not relieve any member from his monetary obligation to the Club.

SECTION 1.   CLUB MEETINGS - Meetings of the Club shall be held at least six (6) times a year, and at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 20% of the members in good standing.

SECTION 2.   SPECIAL CLUB MEETING - Special Club meetings may be called by the President, or by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors who are present and voting at any regular meeting. Such special meetings shall be held at such hour and place as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed by the Recording Secretary at least five (5) days and not more than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of 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% of the membership in good standing.

SECTION 3.   BOARD MEETINGS - Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held prior to the general meeting, 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 Recording Secretary at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a simple majority of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.   SPECIAL BOARD MEETINGS - Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President, and shall be called by the Recording Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least three (3) members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held at such hour and place as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed by the Recording Secretary at least five (5) days and not 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 thereat. A quorum for such meetings shall be a simple 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, except when voting on Judges.
(a) Nominations for Judges for an Independent Specialty, or in conjunction with an All-Breed Club, shall be by secret mail in vote, or hand delivered at that general membership meeting.

SECTION 1.   BOARD OF DIRECTORS - The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and two (2) Directors. All shall be members in good standing, all shall be elected for a one (1) year term at the Club's annual meeting as provided in Article IV.
(a) The general management of the Club's affairs shall be directed by the Board of Directors, and their findings shall be recommended to the general membership for action.

SECTION 2.   OFFICERS - The Club's Officers, consisting of the President, Vice- President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding 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 By-Laws. He/she shall be an ex-officio member of all committees with the exception of the Nominating Committee.
(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. His/her duties shall further extend into Club activities as designated by the President. He shall be responsible for the program at a general membership meeting.
(c) The Recording Secretary shall keep minutes of all Club and Board meetings and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club. He/she shall keep an up-to-date roster of members and take roll at each meeting. He/she shall keep a file of all membership applicants. He/she shall keep a record of all carried motions by date, and include the name of the persons making and seconding the motions. Motions that are Standing Rules (all carried motions that do not affect the Constitution (and By-Laws), shall be designated by an asterisk. This list of Standing Rules shall be submitted to all members at the Annual Meeting each year. He/she shall have copies of the Constitution and By-Laws, and Code of Ethics available for Applicants and Club Members. He/she shall distribute a current roster each March to all Club Members. He/she shall publish the name, address, and telephone number of new members and the name of resigned members in the bulletin.
(d) The Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence, notify new members of their election to membership, and notify Officers and Directors of their election to office.
(e) The Treasurer shall be responsible for collecting and receiving all monies due or belonging to the Club. He/she shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the Board, in the name of the Club. He/she shall report at every meeting the condition of the Club's finances and every item or receipt of payment not before reported. The books shall be audited yearly, and a report made to the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual report each calendar year (January 1st to December 31st). This written report shall be made available to members at the next general membership meeting. The Treasurer shall mail notices of dues obligations to members during the month of October.

SECTION 3.   The Parliamentarian shall be appointed to the Board by the President following the election of Officers, and will serve for a one (1) year term, with a voice but without a vote.

SECTION 4.   VACANCIES
(a) Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the officers during the year shall be filled for the unexpired term of office by a majority vote of 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. All resignations from the Board shall be effective as of the date of the letter of resignation.

SECTION 1.   CLUB YEAR - The Club's fiscal year shall begin on the first day of January and end on the 31st day of December. The Club's official year shall begin immediately at the conclusion of the election at the annual meeting.

SECTION 2.   ANNUAL MEETING - The Annual Meeting shall be held in the month of January at which Officers and Directors 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 upon conclusion of the election, and each retiring officer shall turn over to his successor in office all properties and records, in order and up-to-date, relating to that office within thirty (30) days after the election.

SECTION 3.   ELECTIONS
(a) The Election of Officers and Directors shall take place at the Annual meeting. The election shall be by secret ballot and all votes must be cast in person. Ballots shall be counted by an election committee of three (3) members. Their completed and signed tally sheets shall be given to the President who will then announce the results of the election to the attending membership. The election committee shall seal the ballots in an envelope which shall be retained by the Recording Secretary for a period of three (3) months. The sealed envelope shall be opened only in the event of a written protest signed by three (3) members and submitted to the Recording Secretary. The Board shall then open the envelope and recount the ballots at the next Board Meeting. At the end of the three (3) month period, the Recording Secretary shall destroy the envelope and its contents.
(b) The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. The two (2) nominated candidates for other positions on the Board who received the greatest number of votes for such positions shall be declared elected. In the event two (2) or more candidates receive an equal number of votes for an office, there shall be a run-off between those candidates either by secret ballot or by show of hands. The decision as to how to vote in case of a tie shall be made by the candidates receiving a tie vote. There will not be any absentee ballots or proxy voting.
(c) The results of all elections shall be posted in the next Club Bulletin.

SECTION 4.   NOMINATIONS - Any member in good standing desiring to run for any office described in Article III, Section 2 (a) thru (e), or Director must have attended at least two (2) general membership business meetings during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding Nominations. No person may run for more than one office.
(a) During the month of September, the President, with approval of the Board, shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) members and two (2) alternates, not more than one of whom may be a member of the Board or of the same family or household. The Corresponding Secretary shall immediately notify the committee and alternates of their selection. The Board shall name a Chairman for the committee, and it shall be his/her duty to call a committee meeting, which shall be held on or before October 1st.
(b) The Nominating Committee Shall select one candidate for the office of President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer. The Nominating Committee shall also select one (1) candidate for each Director. The committee shall immediately report their nominations to the Recording Secretary. Upon receipt of the committee's report, the Recording Secretary shall before October 15th notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.
(c) Additional nominations may be made at the last general membership meeting of the year, by any member, in person, from the floor. If the nominee is not present at this meeting, the person making the nomination must present a written statement from the nominee stating that he/she is willing to accept the nomination. Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than as provided in this section. The Recording Secretary shall send notice of all nominations by first class mail to all members.

SECTION 1.   At its first or second meeting of each official year, the President, with approval of Board, shall appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as:
(a) Bench Show Committee, consisting of three (3) members with one (1) Chairman, which shall be in direct charge of all phases of the Club's Specialties and Matches, subject to final approval of the Board.
(b) Auditing Committee, which shall consist of three (3) members who shall examine the records of the Treasurer during the month of January and report its findings in writing, to the Club, at the next general meeting.

SECTION 2.   Any committee appointed may be terminated by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Written notice shall be given to the appointee of the Board's actions. The Board may appoint successors to these persons whose services have been terminated.

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.   CHARGES - Any member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Club. Written charges with specification must be filed in duplicate with the Recording 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 Recording Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each member of the Board or present them at the next Board meeting. 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. 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 three (3) weeks, nor more than six (6) weeks thereafter. The Recording Secretary shall promptly send one copy of the hearing and an assurance that the defendant may personally appear in his own defense and bring witnesses if he/she wishes.

SECTION 3.   SUSPENSION - 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 complainant and defendant, the Board may by a two-thirds vote of those present, suspend the defendant from all privileges of the Club for not more than six (6) months from the date of the hearing. if having voted suspension, it deems that punishment is insufficient, it may be recommended 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 decision. immediately after the Board has reached a decision, its finding shall be put in written form and filed with the Recording Secretary. The Recording 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 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 in his/her own behalf, though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. The President shall read the charges and the Board's findings, and recommendation, and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his own behalf if he/she wishes. The membership shall then vote by secret written ballot on the proposed suspension or 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.

SECTION 1.   Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by a written petition addressed to the Recording Secretary signed by 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 Corresponding Secretary for a vote within three (3) months of the date when the petition was received by the Recording Secretary.

SECTION 2.   The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds 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 sent, by first class mail, to each member at least two (2) weeks prior to the date and time of the meeting.

SECTION 3.   (No amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws that is adopted by the Club shall become effective until it has been approved by the Board of Directors of the American Kennel Club.)

SECTION 1.   The Club may be dissolved at any time by a written consent of not less than two-thirds of the members. in the event of the dissolution of the Club, other than for the purpose of reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntarily, or by operation of law, none of the property of the Club nor any process thereof, nor any assets of the Club, shall be distributed to any members of the Club, but after payments of debts of the Club, its property and assets shall be given to a charitable organization selected by the Board of Directors for the benefit of dogs.

SECTION 1.   At meetings of the Club, the order of business, as far as the character and nature of the meeting may Permit, shall be as follows:
Roll call - (Introduction of guests)
Minutes of the last meeting
Report of the President
Report of the Vice-President
Report of the Recording Secretary
Report of the Corresponding Secretary
Report of the Treasurer
Report of the Committees
Election of Officers (Annual Meeting)
Election of new members
Unfinished business
New business
Adjournment

SECTION 2.   At meetings of the Board, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by the majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:
Roll call
Minutes of the last meeting
Report of the President
Report of the Vice-President
Report of the Recording Secretary
Report of the Corresponding Secretary
Report of the Treasurer
Report of Committees
Unfinished business
New business
Adjournment

SECTION 3.   At all meetings of the Club, the procedure shall be governed by the latest edition of Robert's Rule of Order, unless already covered by The Constitution and By-Laws.

Approved by The Borzoi Club of California, Inc. Board of Directors, June 20th, 1991

Amended by the General Membership, July 12th 1991

Amended by the General Membership, May 15th, 1994

Amended by the General Membership, November 1st, 1997

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