CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
Name and Objects
SECTION 1. The name of the Club shall be Patriot Pug Dog Club.
SECTION 2. The objects of the Club shall be:
A . to encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Pugs 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 Pug Dogs shall be judged In conformation competition.
C. to protect and advance the interests of the breed by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at dog shows and obedience trials.
D. to conduct sanctioned and licensed specialty shows, obedience trials, rally and agility trials and matches under the rules of The American Kennel Club.
E. to encourage and promote education and goodwill within our community by promoting Pugs and their owners through, all levels of conformation, obedience, rally, and agility competition, and also through the support of Pug rescue, canine good citizen qualification, and therapy dog recognition.
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. PPDC offers three levels of membership;
*Active members/Active Family Membership* - Membership shall be open to all persons eighteen years of age and older who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club, who agree to the purposes of this Club, and who commit to attend at least one meeting per year.
*Subscription members/Family Subscription Membership* -Membership shall be open to all persons eighteen years of age and older who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club, who agree to the purposes of this Club, and unable to attend meetings. Subscription members are non-voting members but will receive club correspondence.
*Junior membership -Junior membership shall be open to all persons under eighteen years of age who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club. Junior members are non-voting members but will receive club correspondence.
SECTION 2. Dues. All membership dues are payable on or before the 1st day of January of each year and are as follows;
*Active Membership -15.00
*Subscribing Membership– 15.00
*Active Family Membership - $25
*Subscribing Family Membership = $25
*Junior Membership - 5.00
Dues are 25.00 if two or more family members join. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of November the Treasurer or other designated membership chairperson shall send to each member a statement of his dues for the ensuing membership year, January 1st through December 31st.
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 these Constitution and Bylaws and the Code of Ethics of this Club as well as the rules of The American Kennel Club and Pug Dog Club of America.
The application will include the name and address (omit occupation) of the applicant and it shall carry the endorsement of two members. The prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year at the time of application. All applications are to be filed with the membership chairperson and each application will have a first reading at the club meeting following its receipt.
The applicant's name and address are to be published in the next issue of the newsletter and through club email correspondence.
Second reading of the application and membership election of the applicant will take place at the following club meeting. Membership approval requires an affirmative vote of 3/4 of the members present at the meeting. Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not reapply within 12 months after 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 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 30 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 Meeting. Meetings of the Club shall be held within the club's AKC designated area in the month, hour, and place as designated by the Board of Directors with no less than six meetings to be held annually. Three physical meetings per calendar year and three virtual meetings per calendar year. Written notice of each scheduled meeting shall be mailed or emailed to the membership by the Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 20% of the active members in good standing present at a club meeting.
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 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 of the Club who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held within the AKC designated club territory by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed or emailed by the Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. This notice will state the purpose of the meeting, and no other Club business may be conducted at this special meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20% of the members in good standing.
SECTION 3. Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be held just prior to the General Membership meetings within the AKC designated territory area by the Board. Written notice of board meeting shall be mailed or emailed to board members by the Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of 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. Such special meetings may be conducted by conference call or at a place designated by the president or person authorized to call a special board meeting.
Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed or emailed by the Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. Special board meetings shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be conducted. 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, and excluding subscription members and junior members, shall be entitled to one vote at any meeting of the Club at which that person 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, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and four other persons all of whom shall be active members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for two 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, Corresponding Secretary, Recording 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 bylaws.
b. The Vice-President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President incase of the President's death, absence or incapacity.
c. The Corresponding Secretary shall be in charge of all external club correspondence including correspondence with PDCA and The American Kennel Club.
d. The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club and of theBoard and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club. The recordingsecretary may notify members of meetings, notify new members of their election tomembership, notify officers and directors of their election to office, keep a roll of themembers of the Club with their addresses, and carry out such other duties as areprescribed in these bylaws.
e. The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the Club. Thetreasurer shall deposit the same in a bank in the name of the Club. Treasurer's booksshall at all times be open to inspection by the Board and will report at every meeting thecondition of the Club's finances and every item of receipt, payment and pendingtransactions not yet reported. The treasurer shall render an account of all moneysreceived and expended during the previous fiscal year at the annual meeting.
The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.
SECTION 3. Vacancies. Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the offices during the officer’s two year term shall be filled until the next election by a majority vote of all the currently serving 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.
ARTICLE IV
The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections
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 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 April at which Officers and Directors for the ensuing two year term 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 the conclusion of the election 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 3. Elections. The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. The four nominated candidates for other positions on the Board 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 members and two alternates, not more than one of whom may be a member of the Board. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committee persons 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 within two weeks after the Committee is notified of its selection. No person shall be allowed to accept the nomination for more than one office.
The Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and four candidates for the four other positions on the Board, and, after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report their nominations to the Secretary in writing. Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report, the Secretary shall before March 1st notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.
Additional nominations may be made in writing by March 15th by any member; hisproposer shall present to the Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidatesignifying his willingness to be a candidate. If one or more valid additional nominationsare received by the Secretary on or before March 15th, the Secretary shall mail on orbefore March 25th, to each member in good standing, a notice listing all the candidatesfor each position. The additional nominations which are provided from herein may be only from those members who have not accepted a nomination from the Nominating Committee.
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, 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 appointed 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/Pug Dog Club Of America Suspension: Any member who is suspended from the privileges of The American Kennel Club or Pug Dog Club of America will automatically 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 $50 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 interests of the club. If the Board considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the club it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the board entertains jurisdiction of the charges it shall fix a date of 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 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 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 this 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 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 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 Bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition addressed to the 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 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.
ARTICLE VIII
Dissolution
SECTION 1. Dissolution. The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than 2/3 of the active members. In the event of the dissolution of the Club other than for purposes of reorganization 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 member 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.
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:
Roll Call
Minutes of last meeting
Report of President
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Reports of Committees
Election of Officers and Board (at annual meeting)
Election of new members
Unfinished business
New business
Good and Welfare
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:
Reading of minutes of last meeting
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Reports of Committees
Unfinished business
New business
Adjournment
10/91
rev. 1, 02/92
rev. 1a, 03/92
rev. 1b, 04/92
rev. 1c, 04/92
rev. 2, 10/93
rev. 3, 02/96