Bylaws
 

Cocker Spaniel Club of Orange County
~ Bylaws ~


ARTICLE I

Membership

     
SECTION 1. Eligibility.

There shall be three (3) types of memberships open to all persons who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purpose of this Club.
 
  (a) Regular Members.

Any person eighteen (18) years of age and older is eligible to apply for regular membership. They must have attended four (4) or more general meetings during the preceding twelve (12) months to maintain regular member status. Regular members have voting rights and are counted as part of the quorum.
 
  (b) Associate Members.

Any person eighteen (18) years of age and older is eligible for associate membership. Attending less than four (4) general meetings in a twelve-month period automatically puts a regular member into associate membership status. Associate members have voting right, but are not counted as part of the quorum..
 
  (c) Junior Members.

Any person under eighteen (18) years of age, and eligible to compete as a junior handler in an American Kennel club licensed show, shall be eligible to apply for junior membership. Junior members shall have the same privileges as regular members except they shall not have voting privileges. Junior members in good standing shall, upon attaining their eighteenth (18th) birthday, automatically become regular members, and shall thereby pay the current dues for regular membership with the termination of this membership.
 
SECTION 2. Dues.

Membership dues shall be as set by the Board of Directors, payable on or before the first (1st) day of July of each year. During the month of May the Treasurer shall send to each member a statement of his 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 the constitution and by-laws 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. Accompanying the application, the prospective members shall submit dues payment for the current year.

All applications shall be obtained in person at a general membership meeting and filed with the Membership Chairman or Secretary at a subsequent (second) general membership meeting. The application will be read to the membership at the following (third) general membership meeting attended by the applicant. At the fourth general membership meeting the applicant attends the applicant will be voted upon and affirmative votes of three-quarters (3/4) of the members present and voting at the meeting shall be required to elect the applicant. meetings do not have to be consecutive, but must be within a twelve-month period.

Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not re-apply within six (6) months after such rejection.
 
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 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 (1st) 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 ninety (90) days after the first (1st) day of the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional ninety (90) 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.
 

ARTICLE II

Meetings and Voting

     
SECTION 1. Club Meetings.

Meetings of the Club shall be held in, or within twenty-five (25) miles of the City of Santa Ana, on the first (1st) Tuesday of each month, 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 ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be twenty percent (20%) 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 (5) members of the Club who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held in, or within, twenty-five (25) miles of the City of Santa Ana, 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 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 twenty percent (20%) of the members in good standing.
 
SECTION 3. Board Meetings.

Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in, or within twenty-five (25) miles of the city of Santa Ana, in at least the months of July and January, at such hour, place and date as may be designated by the Board. Written notice shall be mailed at least (5) days prior to the date of the meetings. The quorum for such a meeting shall be the 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 (3) members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held in, or within twenty-five (25) miles of the City of Santa Ana, at such place, date and hour as call such meetings. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least five (5) days and not more than ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting, or telegraphic notice shall be filed at least three (3) days and not more than five (5) days prior to date of the meeting. Any such notice 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 (1) 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 President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and five (5) Delegates, one of whom should be the Immediate Past President. Officers and Delegates will be elected for two (2) year terms with Delegates’ terms being staggered as described below, and will serve until their successors are elected. All elections will be held at the Club’s Annual Meeting as provided for in Article IV. General management of the Club’s affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors.
 
  (a) President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two (2) Delegates shall be elected for two (2) year terms at the Club’s Annual Meeting held on even-numbered years. If the Immediate Past President is unable to serve as delegate or is elected to another office, three (3) Delegates will be elected.
 
  (b) Two (2) Delegates shall be elected for two (2) year terms at the Club’s Annual Meeting held on odd-numbered years.
 
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 by-laws.
 
  (b) The Vice-President shall have the duties and exercises the power 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, keep a record of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club, have charge of the correspondence, 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 by-laws.
 
  (d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club. He shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the Board, in the name of the club. His books shall at all times be open to inspection by the Board and she shall report to them at every meeting the condition of the Club’s finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported; and at the annual meeting he shall render an account of all monies received and expended during the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board Directors shall determine.
 
  (e) The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and five (5) Delegates, one of whom should be the immediate past President.
 
SECTION 3. Vacancies.

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) 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 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.
 
  (b) At the next Annual Meeting following the vacancy, the general membership will elect a successor to fill each unexpired term. The ballot shall specify all terms of office upon which the members are voting.
 

ARTICLE IV

The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections

     
SECTION 1. Club Year

The Club’s fiscal year shall begin on the first (1st) day of July and end on the thirtieth (30th) day of June.

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 June, at which Officers and Delegates for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret, written ballot from 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 his successor in office all that office within thirty (30) days after the election.
 
SECTION 3. Elections.
 
  (a) Election shall be by secret, written ballot. The ballot shall specify all terms of office upon which the members are voting.
 
  (b) The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. The nominated candidates for Delegates 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 February, 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 committeemen and alternates of their selection. The Board shall name a Chairman for the Committee, and it shall be his duty to call a committee meeting which shall be held on or before April first (1st).
 
  (a) In even-numbered years, the committee shall nominate one (1) candidate for each office and two (2) candidates for position of Delegate unless the Immediate Past President is unable to serve, in which case, the committee shall nominate three (3) candidates for the position of Delegate. After securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report their nominations to the Secretary in writing.
 
  (b) In odd-numbered years, the nominating committee shall nominate two (2) candidates for position of Delegate. After securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report their nominations to the Secretary in writing.
 
  (c) If a vacancy or vacancies have occurred on the Board, the nominating committee shall additionally nominate a candidate to fill each unexpired term.
 
  (d) Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee’s report, the Secretary shall, before April fifteenth (15th), notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.
 
  (e) Additional nominations may be made at the May Meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated does note decline when this name is proposed, and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, his proposer shall present to the Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying his willingness to be a candidate. No person may be a candidate for more than one (1) position, and the additional nominations which are provided for herein may be made only from among those members who have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating Committee.
 
  (f) 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 trails, 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 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 or the breed. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary together with a deposit of Ten Dollar ($10.00) which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board following a hearing. The Secretary shall promptly send 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 interests of the Club or the breed. If the Board considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the Club or the breed, 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 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 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 complainant and defendant, the Board may, by a majority vote of those present, suspend the defendant from all privileges of the Club for no more than six (6) 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 their 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 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 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 own behalf, though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. The President shall read the charges and the Board’s findings and recommendations, and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his own behalf if he wishes. The meeting shall then vote by secret written 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. Amendments to the constitution and By-Laws 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 (3) months of the date when the petition was received by the Secretary.
 
SECTION 2. The Constitution and By-Laws 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 o f the meeting and mailed to each member at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
 

ARTICLE VIII

Dissolution

     
SECTION 1. The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the members. In the event of the dissolution of the Club, whether voluntary or involuntary or by 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 dogs selected by the Board of Directors.
2001 - © Cocker Spaniel Club of Orange County