Section 1. The name of the Club shall be Siberian Husky Club of America, Incorporated.
Section 2. The objects of the Club shall be:
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. Membership shall be Regular Members or Honorary Members and, open to all persons eighteen years of age and older who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club. The minimum age requirement may be waived by the Board of Directors where the applicant has demonstrated an interest in the breed through exhibiting, breeding, and/or racing registered Siberian Huskies.
Section 2. Honorary Members. The Board of Directors may bestow the title of Honorary Member on any member in good standing or any non-member who meets the eligibility requirements for membership. Affirmative votes of 2/3 of the Directors present at a meeting of the Board or 2/3 of the entire Board voting by mail shall be required to bestow this title. Honorary Members will not be required to pay dues. Honorary Members who were previously non-members will not be entitled to vote on Club business.
Section 3. Dues. Annual membership dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors not to exceed $25.00 per person per year payable on or before the 1st day of January each year. During the month of November, the Treasurer shall send each member a statement of his dues for the coming year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year.
Section 4. Initiation Fee. There shall be one fee of $20.00 for an individual applicant or for members of a family applying at the same time.
Section 5. 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 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 member shall submit initiation fee and dues payment for the current year.
The name and address of the applicant, together with the names of the sponsors shall be listed and distributed to the membership subsequent to receipt of said application by the Recording Secretary. Any objection to an applicant for membership, together with reasons for such objection, shall be filed in writing with the Recording Secretary within the time specified in the listing.
Subsequently, applicants may be elected at any meeting of the Board of Directors or by written vote of the Directors by mail. Affirmative votes of 2/3 of the Directors present at a meeting of the Board or 2/3 of the entire Board voting by mail, shall be required to elect an applicant.
An application which has received a negative vote by the Board may be presented by one of the applicant's endorsers at the next meeting of the Club and the Club may elect such applicant by favorable vote of 75% of the members present.
Section 6. Termination of membership. Memberships may be terminated:
Section 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Club shall be held during the period beginning September 1 and ending November 1 of each year at a place, date, and hour designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of the annual meeting shall be mailed by the Recording Secretary to each member at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for the annual meeting shall be 10% of the membership who are present and in good standing.
Section 2. Special Club Meetings. Special Club meetings may be requested by the President and/or called by a majority vote of the members of the Board who are present at a meeting of the Board or who vote by mail, or shall be called by the Recording Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by 10% of the members 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 notice of such meeting shall be mailed 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 meeting shall be 10% of the members in good standing.
Section 3. Board Meetings. The first meeting of the Board shall be held immediately following the annual meeting and election. Other meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as are designated by a majority of the entire Board.
Written notice of each such meeting with an agenda of proposed motions shall be mailed by the Recording Secretary to each member of the Board at least 21 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.
Section 4. The Board of Directors may conduct its business by mail through the Recording Secretary.
Section 1. Board of Directors. The Board shall be comprised of the President, First and Second Vice-Presidents, Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and seven other persons, all of whom shall be members in good standing who are residents of the United States. They shall be elected for two-year terms on odd numbered years 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. Honorary Officers. The Board of Directors may bestow the title of Honorary Officer on any voting member in good standing, for outstanding contributions or service to the Club or the breed. Affirmative votes of 2/3 of the Directors present at a meeting of the Board or 2/3 of the entire Board voting by mail shall be required to bestow this title. Honorary Officers will not participate in Board votes or be required to pay dues.
Section 3. Officers and Directors. The Club's officers, consisting of the President, First and Second Vice-Presidents, Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer shall serve in their respective capacities with regard to the Club and its meetings and the Board and its meetings.
The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.
Section 4. Impeachment. An officer or director may be impeached for failure to discharge his duties as prescribed in Section 3 of this Article by a vote of 80% of the entire Board of Directors.
Section 5. Vacancies. Any vacancies on the Board or among the offices during the term shall be filled for the unexpired term of office by a majority vote of all the then members of the Board.
Section 1. Club Year. The Club's fiscal year shall begin on the 1st 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 on odd numbered years and shall continue through committee reports at the next annual meeting. On alternate years, the official year shall begin immediately at the conclusion of committee reports and shall continue through the election at the next annual meeting. The elected officers and directors shall take office immediately upon the conclusion of the annual meeting and each retiring officer shall turn over to his successor in office all properties and records relating to that office within 30 days after the election.
Section 2. Voting. At the annual meeting or at a special meeting of the Club voting shall be limited to those members in good standing who are present at the meeting, except for the annual election of officers and directors, and amendments to the constitution and by-laws and the standard for the breed which shall be decided by written ballot cast by mail. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted. The Board of Directors may decide to submit other specific questions for decision of the members by written ballot cast by mail.
Section 3. Election.
Section 4. Nominations and Ballots. No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated in accordance with these by-laws. A Nominating Committee shall be chosen by the Board of Directors on or before April 15th of odd numbered years. The Committee shall consist of five members and two alternates, all members in good standing, no more than one of whom shall be a member of the current Board of Directors. The Board shall name a Chairman for the Committee. The Nominating Committee may conduct its business by mail. The following schedule of Nominating Committee actions apply only to the odd numbered years in which the Committee is in session.
Section 1. The Board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as dog shows, trophies, annual awards, 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 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 service has 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 or the breed. Written charges with specifications 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 theBoard or a Committee following a hearing. The Recording Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each member of the Board. After due consideration the Board shall vote whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Club or of the breed. If a majority of the Board considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the Club or of the breed, it shall refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges, it shall fix a date of a hearing by the Board or a committee appointed by a majority of the Board, of not less than three members of the Board, not less than 3 weeks nor more than 6 weeks thereafter. The Recording Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to the complainant and the accused member by registered mail together with a notice of the hearing and an assurance that they may personally appear in their own behalf and bring witnesses if they wish.
Section 3. Board Hearings. The Board or committee 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 or committee may by a majority vote of those present suspend the defendant from all privileges of the Club for not more than six months from the date of the hearing, or until the next annual meeting, if that will occur after six months. 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 recommendation of the Board or committee. Immediately after the Board or committee has reached a decision, its findings 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 decision and penalty, if any.
Section 4. Expulsion. Expulsion of a member from the Club may be accomplished only at the annual meeting of the Club following a hearing and upon the recommendation of the Board or committee as provided in Section 3 of this Article. The President shall read the charges and the findings and recommendations, and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his own behalf though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. The meeting shall then vote by secret written ballot on the proposed expulsion. A 2/3 vote of those present and voting at the annual meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. If expulsion is not so voted the suspension shall stand.
Section 1. Amendments to the constitution and by-laws and to the standard of the breed may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by 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 Recording Secretary for a vote within three months of the date when the petition was received by the Secretary.
Section 2. The constitution and by-laws, and the standard for the breed may be amended at any time provided a copy of the proposed amendment has been mailed by the Recording Secretary to each member accompanied by a ballot on which he may indicate his choice for or against the action to be taken. The notice shall specify a date not less than 30 days after the date of mailing by which date the ballots must be returned to the Recording Secretary to be counted. The favorable vote of 2/3 of the members in good standing whose ballots are returned within the time limit shall be required to effect any such amendment.
Section 3. No amendment to the constitution and by-laws or to the standard of the breed 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 written consent of not less than 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 nor any proceeds thereof nor any assets 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 one or more charitable organizations for the benefit of dogs selected by the Board of Directors.
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:
Section 2. At meetings of the Board, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:
Last update of this page: 08/98
© 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc.