UKC By-Laws - Timber Ridge Obedience Club of Central WI
Timber Ridge Dog Training Club, Inc.
Constitution and Bylaws
The Timber Ridge Dog Training Club, Inc. is officially associated with the United Kennel Club, Inc.
Article I Name and Goals
Section 1
The Name of the Club shall be That Timber Ridge Dog Training Club, Inc. (a for profit Wisconsin Corp.)
Section 2 The goals of the Club are
a) To promote the training of dogs belonging to pet owners in the North Central Wisconsin Area.
b) To promote dog training classes for various skill levels of obedience and/or agility competition.
c) To conduct demonstrations, fun matches, and perhaps eventually dog shows to further promote responsible dog training for all types of dogs. To conduct UKC licensed events.
d) To promote a variety of dog training skills such as flyball, agility, tracking, conformation, field trials, and herding as the interest of the members and the Board indicate.
e) Salaries, fees, commissions or dividends shall not be paid to any member. Monies accumulated shall be applied to further equipment purchase and the purchase of land and/or a building to be used for dog training activities.
Article II Membership
Section 1 Eligibility ñ Four types of membership
a) Single membership shall be open to all person eighteen years of age or older who in the judgment of the membership chairman and the Board are in sympathy with the goals of this Club. Single members shall be allowed to vote.
b) Family memberships shall be open to two persons of a family, residing at the same address, eighteen years of age or older who in the judgment of the membership chairman and the board are in sympathy with the goals of this Club. Family members each shall be allowed to vote.
c) Junior memberships shall be open to all persons ten years to eighteen years of age who in the judgment of the membership chairman and the Board are in sympathy with the goals of the Club. Junior members may participate in meetings, but are not allowed to vote.
d) Honorary lifetime membership shall be bestowed by the Board of Directors on their own initiative or by the Board upon the recommendation of the membership or the Membership committee. Honorary lifetime members shall be allowed to vote.
Section 2 Dues
Dues shall be due and payable by January 1st of each year. If dues are not paid by January 1st memberships other than honorary are considered expired. Dues amounts shall be as follows: Single, $15.00, Family, $20.00, Junior $10.00, Honorary, no fee. Theses amounts may be changed as necessary by a majority vote of the membership present at a regular meeting. Persons joining the club after September 1st shall be considered a paid member for the current year and the following year without further payment.
Section 3 Election to membership
a) Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors, and which shall provide that the applicant aggress to abide by this constitution and bylaws. The application, which must be acquired at a meeting of this club, shall carry the endorsement of a current single, family, or honorary member. The dues payment for the current year shall accompany the application. All applications are to be forwarded to the Secretary and each application is to be read the at the first meeting of the club following the receipt of the application, with the applicant present. At the next (2nd) club meeting the application will be read with the applicant present, and voted upon, by secret ballot or voice vote or show of hands as the presiding officer shall determine. A æ vote of those present shall constitute acceptance into the Club. Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not re-apply for a six month period following the rejection vote. The same process shall be followed upon re-application as upon the initial application.
The charter members of the Club shall be members after one reading of applicant with the charter member present at a meeting. Charter members shall be those persons accepted into the Club in the first 90 days following incorporation of the Club.
Section 4 Termination of Membership
a) Resignation ñ Any member in good standing may resign upon written notice to the Secretary. If any debt is owed to the Club the Board may, take legal action to collect such debts, and the resignation is not considered complete until such debts are paid in full.
b) Lapsing – Any member who has not paid his or her dues by January 1st of each year shall be automatically lapsed and shall not be allowed to vote until said dues are paid. If the lapsed member does not pay his or her dues within 90 days after the due date the former member shall be required to go through the application process as a new member. The Board may grant an additional 90 days in meritorious cases, but in no case may a lapsed member vote at any meetings until current dues are paid.
c) Expulsion – A member may be expelled following a hearing before the Board of Directors after which a majority of the Board votes to expel the member at the next Club meeting following said vote the membership shall vote by secret ballot, following a presentation of the facts, and a 2/3 vote to expel the member.
Article III Meeting
Section I Regular Meetings
The regular meeting of the Club shall be held in the Wausau Area on the 2nd Monday of each month, at such hour and place as designated by the President. Meetings may be held elsewhere if agreeable to the majority attending the prior regular meeting, except: the annual (January) meeting shall be held in the Wausau Area. Written notice of each 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 ten (10) voting members.
Section 2 Special 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 of the Board, or by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by I0 members who are In good standing. Such meetings shall be held in the Wausau Area and at such time and place as may be designated by the person(s) authorized to call such meetings, Written notices of such meetings shall be mailed by the Secretary to all members at least I0 days prior to the date set for such meetings.
Section 3 Board Meetings
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in the Wausau Area at least quarterly at such hour and place as may be designated by the President. 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 a meeting shall be four members. Board meetings may be held elsewhere if agreed to by the majority of the Board at the previous regular Board meeting. The annual Board meeting (In January quarter) shall be held in the Wausau Area.
Section 4 Special Board Meetings
Special Board meetings may be called by the President or the Secretary upon the receipt of written request signed by at least three members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held in the Wausau Area at such hour and time as designated by the person(s) authorized herein to call such a meeting. Written notice shall be mailed by the Secretary at least I0 days prior to the date of the meeting or fax or commercial delivery shall be sent least 5 days prior to the date of the meeting. The meeting shall be limited to the purpose for which it is called. No other business shall be conducted at said Special Meeting. Quorum for such a meeting is four Board members.
Article IV Board of Directors
Section I
The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, and four other persons elected from the membership. Membership shall consist of 2 persons elected for two years term, and two persons elected for one year term. After the initial start-up election all directors terms shall be for two years. The immediate past president shall also be a Board member for 1 year. The elections for the Board and the Officers shall be held at the annual meeting in January of each year as spelled out in Article V. General Management of the Club’s affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors.
Section 2 Officers
The Club’s officers shall consist of the President, Vice-president, Secretary, and Treasurer, They shall serve in regard to the Club meetings and Board of Director’s meetings. They shall be Board members.
a) The President shall preside at all meetings of tie Club and the Board and shall have duties and powers as spelled out in the Constitution and Bylaws. The President or his successor shall use Roberts Rules of order in the conduct of all meetings.
b) The Vice-president shall have the powers and duties of the President in case of the President’s death, absence, or incapacity.
c) The Secretary keeps the minutes of the meetings, sends meeting notices, keeps the membership roll with addresses, accepts new applications and resignations and notifies officers and board members of their elections The Secretary may enlist an assistant to help with correspondence as necessary.
d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club and receipt therefore. He shall deposit same in a Bank account acceptable to the Board. His books shall at all times be open to the inspection of the Board. He shall give a report of the Club financial condition, in writing at each meeting. A complete independent third party audit of the club books shall be completed by a competent accountant each year, preferably prior to the annual meeting,
Section 3 Vacancies
Any 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 regular meeting following the creation of such vacancy.
Article V Club Year, Annual Meetings, Elections
Section 1 The Club fiscal year shall begin on January 1st and end on December 31st. Its annual meeting shall be in the Wausau Area on the 2″ Monday of January, at such time and place as designated by the President.
Section 2 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 3 Proxies
Proxy voting will not be permitted at any Club or Board meeting.
Section 4 Elections
The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. The nominated candidates for the Board receiving the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected. All officers and two board candidates shall be elected each year.
Section 5 Nominations
No person may be a candidate in a Club election unless duly nominated. At the regular October Club meeting a nominating committee of five persons shall be elected. Nominations shall be made from the floor with at least eight nominations made. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committee of its election. The President shall appoint a chairman for this committee and it shall be his duty to call a meeting prior to November 15th.
a) The committee shall nominate one or more candidates for each office and four candidates for the two Board positions. The committee shall report these nominations to the Secretary in writing within 48 hours of nomination. The nominations shall be notified writing within I0 days of nomination.
b) One person so nominated who refuses to be a candidate for the position shall notify the Secretary within 10 days of his notification that he will not be a candidate.
c) The Secretary shall notify all members of the declinations to nomination no later than the December Club meeting.
d) Additional nominations may be made at the December Club meeting by any member in attendance. If the nominated member is in attendance he may decline. If the nominated member is not in attendance, the nominator must present a written acceptance, within 10 days of the Club meeting or his name will be excluded from the ballot. No person may be a candidate for more than one position. Additional floor nominations may only be made by members not included on the Nomination Committee. Additional candidates may be nominated from among members who were not nominated by the Nominating Committee or who declined nomination by the Committee. However, n person may be nominated for the same position that that person declined upon nomination by the Nominating Committee.
e) Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any other way than provided above in Section 5, Article V.
Article VI Committee
Section I At its first or second meeting of each official year, the Board shall appoint the following committee:
a) An audit committee of three members shall examine the Treasurers records from time to time and see to the completion of an independent audit by a competent accountant prior to the annual meeting
b) A training committee whose job it is to develop curricula for the various classes taught by Club members under Club auspices.
c) A show and demonstration committee whose job it is to organize fun matches or mall demonstrations or such other activities as to promote dog training to the public.
d) Such other committees as deemed desirable by the Board.
Section 2 Termination
Any committee appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the full membership of the Board upon written notice to the appointee. The Board may appoint successors to those person whose services has been terminated.
Article VII Discipline
Section I Any member who is suspended from the privileges of the United 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 dog training in general, Written charges with specifications must be filled in duplicate with the Secretary, together a fee of $25.00 which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained. The Secretary shall notify the Board and the President shall fix a date of hearing not more than six weeks or less than three weeks later of the date of filing of charges. The Secretary shall within 5 days send a copy of the charges to the accused by registered mail, together with the hearing notice and an assurance that the defendant may appear in his own defense and bring witnesses if he so desires.
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. After the hearing the Board may, by majority vote of those present, suspend the defendant or if the punishment is deemed insufficient, expel the defendant from the Club. Upon this decision the findings shall be filed with the Secretary in written form and each of the parties shall, be notified of the Board’s decision and penalty, if any.
Section 4 Expulsion
Expulsion may be completely accomplished at the Club meeting following the hearing, Upon Board recommendation the expulsion motion shall be voted upon by the membership. The defendant may speak in his own behalf but no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. The membership shall vote by secret ballot and if a 2/3’s majority, shall favor expulsion, the member shall be expelled. A suspension by the Board need not be voted upon by the membership in order to be effective.
Article VIII Amendments
This constitution and bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present at two regular or special successive meetings called for this purpose. A regular meeting followed by a special meeting for this purpose or vice versa shall meet the requirements of this article. A meeting notice in writing shall be sent to each member at least 14 days prior to each meeting.
Article IX Dissolution
The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written, consent of not less than 2/3’s of the voting members. After payment of all debts of the Club, its property and assets shall be given to a charity as may be decided upon by a majority vote of the total members. If a majority of members are not available to vote this decision shall be made by a majority vote of the Board.
Article X
Section I
At Club meetings the order of business shall be as follows:
Roll Call
Minutes of last meeting
Report of Board if any
Report of the President
Report of the Treasurer
Reports of the Committees
Election of officers and Board (annual meeting)
Election of new members
Unfinished business
New Business
Adjournment
(A program may be inserted here or prior to the Business meeting)
Section 2
At meetings of the Board the order of business, unless changed by majority vote, shall be as follows:
Call to order
Minutes of previous meeting
Committee Reports
Unfinished business
Election of new members
New business
Adjournment
We hereby certify, that the foregoing Constitution and Bylaws, consisting of 5 pages, including this page, constitute the Bylaws of the Timber Ridge Dog Training Club, Inc. of Wausau, Wisconsin, adopted by its Board of Directors as of July 1998
_____________________________________ (signature)
Laurie M. Bandy, President
_____________________________________ (signature)
Christine Gilbreath – Board Member
_____________________________________ (signature)
Clay Stebbins – Board Member
We hereby certify that the Constitution and Bylaws, constitution of 5 pages, constitute the revised Constitution and Bylaws of the Timber Ridge Dog Training Club, Inc. of Wausau, Wisconsin, adopted by its Board of Directors as of August, 1998.
______________________________________ (signature)
Laurie M. Bandy – President
________________________________________ (signature)
Christine Gilbreath ñ Board Member
________________________________________ (signature)
Clay Stebbins ñ Board Member
