Olde English Bulldogge Kennel Club

 

Dedicated to the Promotion and Preservation of the Olde English Bulldogge

Revised March 2006

 CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS

Section 1:   The name of the club shall be:

                  The “Olde English Bulldogge Kennel Club”; (OEBKC)

Section 2:    The clubs objectives shall be:

A.   To promote and encourage quality in breeding of purebred Olde English Bulldogges, developed from the OEB’s original foundation stock.

B.   To encourage the organization of independent Olde English Bulldogge clubs under the O.E.B.K.C. where there are sufficient fanciers of the breed.

C.   To urge members, breeders, and show giving organizations to accept the standard of the breed as approved by the O.E.B.K.C. as the Standard of Excellence by which the Olde English Bulldogge shall be judged.

D.   To advance the interests of the breed and to do all in its power to encourage respectable and competitive sportsmanship at all dog shows.

E.   To conduct good O.E.B.K.C. sanctioned matches and specialty shows.

 Section 3: The club shall not be conducted or operated for profit and no part of any       profits, remainder of residue from dues or donations shall inure to the benefit of any member(s) or individual(s). 

A.   No part of the net earnings of the OEBKC shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to it’s members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the OEBKC Board of Directors and Officers shall be authorized and empowered to pay any reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in section 2 hereof. 

B.   No substantial part of the activities of the OEBKC shall be the carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in(including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.

Section 4: Constitution and By-Laws; The members of the Olde English Bulldogge Kennel Club shall adopt and may from time to time revise the Constitution as may be required to carry out the objectives of the organization.

Section 5: The Board of Directors of the Club may adopt standing rules as necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the Club. Such rules shall be consistent with these By-Laws.

Section 1.   Eligibility:

A.   Membership is open to all people over the age of 18, who subscribe to the purpose of the club and code of ethics and own an OEB that is registered with the OEBKC. Each applicant for membership will apply on the form approved by the Board of Directors available on the OEBKC website (oebkc.us).

 B.   Each applicant will have a 6 month probation period, during which time they will not have voting rights.

 C.   Any member in good standing may resign from the OEBKC upon written notification to the Corresponding Secretary. If a member does not resign in writing and fails to respond to a written request by the membership committee, (or the Corresponding Secretary) said membership will be automatically terminated.

 

D.   Any membership that has fees of any type, membership dues or registration fees that are overdue must be paid within 30 days of membership expiration. Said members voting right will be suspended until overdue dues/fees are paid in full. If dues/fees are not paid within 30 days after suspension, said membership will be terminated. There shall be two types of memberships: 

a) Individual Membership – This membership is open to all individuals over the age of 18 years old, reside the US or Canada, and are in good standing with the OEBKC. All members, except Associate and Honorary members, in good Club standing have voting rights within the Club. Each member will be sent an e-mail providing them access to the electronic OEB domain Newsletter. 

b) Family Membership – This membership is available to one adult family member of an OEB owner, over 18 years of age which resides under the same roof as the owner of said OEB. All members, except Associate and Honorary members, in good standing have voting rights within the Club. The member will be sent an e-mail providing them access to the electronic OEB domain Newsletter. 

c) Associate Membership – This membership is available to anyone, over 15 years of age, residing in the US or Canada and is in good standing with the OEBKC. Associate members are not entitled to vote or hold office, but are entitled to all website privileges. 

d) Honorary Membership - Is available to persons 18 years of age and older who are residents of Canada and the US. This membership is for outstanding contributions to the Olde English Bulldogge or the canine world in general and is elected by a majority vote of the Club membership. Honorary members do not pay dues and are entitled to all website privileges. Honorary members are not eligible to vote. However, such members can maintain a regular membership if they pay dues. 

Section 2.  Dues:

A. Individual Membership dues will be $25 per member. 

B. Family Membership dues will be $35 per Family. 

C. Associate Membership dues will be $10. 

D. Honorary Memberships have no dues. 

 Section 1.   Club Meetings:

A.   Club meetings shall consist of the Annual meeting and any others called by the Board of Directors. A quorum shall be no less than 10% of the membership. 

a)     Annual meetings will be held in October of each year at a location to be announced no later than August 1^st of each year. 

Section 2.  Board Meetings:

A.     There will be a minimum of one Board Meeting each year that ALL Board of Directors (Officers) will be physically present. The location of all Board Meetings shall be held at a place designated by the President or the majority of the Board. 

B.     The Board may also conduct the Club’s general business and hold Board Meetings via the internet, in person or telephone whenever deemed necessary by the President or the majority of the Board. 

C.     For a motion to stand at any meeting there must be at least 4 members of the Board of Directors voting on the motion. 

Section 3.  Voting:

A.   Each member in good standing, whose dues are current, shall be entitled to one vote at any general meeting.

B.   At annual, general or special meetings of the OEBKC voting shall be limited to those members present.

C.   With respect to voting on motions at a meeting the following will apply: Majority of one rules except when 2/3 vote is required.  

a)     The 2/3 vote is required when a proposed action takes away members’ rights. Such actions include but are not limited to: 

1)       Motions to limit or extend debate

2)      To close debate

3)       To make a motion and special order

4)       Rescind an action with no previous notice given

5)       To suspend the rules and to alter the Constitution and By-Laws 

D.   Special Ballots may be sent out quarterly with the newsletter if there is an issue that needs to be addressed before the October meeting. 

Section 4.   Meeting Attendance:

A.   All general meetings may be attended by members and their guests. 

Board of Directors and Officers

 

Section 1.   Board of Directors:

A.   The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Registrar/Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary. All of whom will be members in good standing and are residents of the United States and/or Canada.

 

B.   The board of directors shall be elected to serve two year terms at the OEBKC Annual Meeting as provided in Article IV; section 2.

 

C.   The President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary shall be elected in years that end in even numbers.

 

D.   The Vice President and Corresponding Secretary shall be elected in years that end in odd numbers.

 

E.   General management of OEBKC affairs will be entrusted to the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.   Officers:

A.   OEBKC Officers will consist of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary and Points Secretary. They will serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the OEBKC and its meetings, the Board of Directors and its meetings.

 

B.   The President will reside over all meetings and shall have the duties and power normally accorded to the President. Included but not limited are the following duties:

a)     Represents and can speak for the OEBKC at large.

 

b)     Supervises all activities of the OEBKC and presides over all meetings. When presiding at meetings the President must uphold and enforce these principles:

1)       Keep order

2)      Be fair

3)       Be impartial

4)       And protect the rights of all members

 

C.   The Vice-President will assume the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of the President’s death, absence or incapacity. The Vice-President shall also perform such duties as may be assigned to him/her by the President. The Vice President shall have the additional responsibility of appointing both standing and special committees.

 

D.   The Treasurer will collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the O.E.B.K.C. Monies to be deposited into a Bank account with two (2) signatures on the account. The two signatures will consist of the Treasurer and Vice President/Corresponding Secretary. The books shall be open for inspection by the Board and a detailed annual report shall be posted in the newsletter with a brief synopsis of the OEBKC’s financial state and every item or receipt not yet reported.

 

E.   The Corresponding Secretary shall keep a members roll with address, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. He/she shall produce a quarterly newsletter prior to the end of March, June, September, and December of each year.

 

F.   The Recording Secretary shall keep all records of meetings and all votes by mail. He/she will record all show points and any titles earned by OEBKC registered OEB’s. With the assistance of the Corresponding Secretary, the Recording Secretary will post the previous years show point total for all OEBKC dogs shown during the previous year.

 

Section 3.  Vacancies:

A.    In the event of a premature or unexpected vacancy of an Officers seat , the vacant seat will be filled by a majority vote by the Board of Directors. The vote will consist of each Board Members nomination of any club member that is in good standing with the club and is interested in holding the position.

 

B.    The exception to this vacancy rule is with the President’s seat which will automatically and immediately be filled by the Vice President or an interim Vice President if the remaining Board of Directors votes unanimously to do so.

 

C.     Any and all retiring, resigning, or dismissed members of the Club, must deliver ALL OEBKC documents and materials to their successor or the President within 30 days of retirement, resignation, or dismissal. The OEBKC will pay postage for the return of all Club related documents and materials. 

 

Section 4.  Reports:

A.    The Treasurer/Registrar, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and all committees shall publish an annual report at the Annual Club Meeting.

 

Section 1.   Club year:

A.    The OEBKC’s fiscal year begins on the first day of February and ends on the last day of January of the following calendar year. Elected Officers and Directors will assume office at the close of the Annual meeting. Each out going Officer WILL turn over ALL documents and property of the OEBKC within thirty days of the Annual Meeting to the successor of said office or the President. 

Section 2.   Elections:

A.    Election of Officers will be done at the Annual Meeting and the vote shall be by secret ballot. For absentee ballots to be valid, they must be received by the Recording Secretary at least 20 days prior to the election and be accompanied by a NOTARIZED affidavit signed by the member casting his/her vote. All absentee ballots can be mailed to:

B.    The Ballots shall be counted before the meeting by inspectors of election who are in good standing and are standing Officers or members who shall be chosen in advance by the Board. The nominee receiving the largest number of votes for each Officers position shall be declared elected. If any nominee at any time is unable to serve for any reason, such position will be filled in accordance with Article III; section 3. 

Section 1.   Committees:

“All members will conduct themselves in a proper respectable manner at dog events and will follow the Rules of the event. They will see that their dogs behave properly while on the events grounds. They will not get into arguments with judges/testers at the event. ALL OFFICERS and MEMBERS must remember that on the phone, internet, in person, and at a dog event they are representing the BREED and the O.E.B.K.C.” 

Section 1.   Suspension:

A.   Any member who is/was a member of a Kennel Club and had their privileges suspended by said Kennel Club may be reviewed for suspension of the OEBKC. 

Section 2.  Charges:

A.   Any member in good standing may refer charges against another member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of this Breed and/or the Club. 

B.   Written charges with SPECIFICATIONS must be filed in duplicate with the Corresponding Secretary accompanied by an administrative deposit of $125.00 which shall be forfeited if, after a Board hearing, such charges are found by the board to be unsubstantiated. If charges are substantiated, the member referring the charges to the Board of Directors will receive $65.00 of their original deposit. 

C.   The Corresponding Secretary will send a copy of the charges to each Board Member. The Board will first consider whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Breed and/or the Club. 

D.   If the board discovers the allegations do not substantiate conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the Breed and/or Club, the board may refuse to entertain jurisdiction and the $125.00 will be forfeited to the Club by the member who has referred the charges. 

E.   If the Board feels that there is substantial evidence supporting the allegations of conduct prejudicial to the Breed and/or Club, it shall set a date for a hearing by the board of not less than 3 Board of Directors, to be held not less than 3 weeks or more than 6 weeks after the decision to have a hearing. The Corresponding Secretary shall promptly send one copy of the charges to the accused member by certified mail with a notification of the hearing and an acknowledgment that the accused member may personally appear or respond in writing in their own defense and bring witnesses and/or provide notarized witness statements if he/she chooses. 

Section 3.  Board Hearing:

A.   The Board or Committee shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing, both defendant and complainant shall be treated equally in regard to counsel. 

B.   Should the charges be substantiated after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by all parties concerned, the Board may by a majority vote of those present reprimand or suspend the defendant from all Club privileges for not more than 6 months from the date of the Boards finding, or until the next Annual meeting if the meeting will occur after 6 months. 

C.   And if the Board deems that the punishment is insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty be expulsion.

 

D.   In such case, a suspension shall not restrict the defendant’s right to appear before his fellow members at that ensuing meeting which considers the recommendation of the Board or Committee. 

E.   Immediately following the Board or Committee’s decision for disciplinary action, its findings shall be put in writing and filed by the Corresponding Secretary. Within 2 weeks of the hearing the Corresponding Secretary shall notify, in writing, each of the parties of the Boards findings and penalties, if any. 

Section 4.   Expulsion:

A.   Expulsion of a member from the Club may ONLY be exercised at the annual Meeting following a hearing and upon the recommendation of the Board or Committee as written in section 3 of this Article. 

B.   The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing on his own behalf though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. The President shall read the charges, findings and recommendations, and shall give the defendant the opportunity to speak, if present, on his own behalf. 

C.   The President shall then call for the members to vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion. 

D.   A 2/3 majority vote of those members present voting at the Annual Meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. 

Section 1.  Amendments to the OEBKC Constitution, By-Laws:

A.   The members of the OEBKC may OCCASIONALLY revise such By-Laws as may be required to carry out the objectives of the Club.

B.   Any changes must be presented to the Recording Secretary in writing who will in turn present recommended constitution and/or By-Law changes to the Board. The President will present the recommended changes to the membership for a vote.

C.   No changes will be made to the Constitution and/or By-Laws without a 2/3 majority vote of the membership.

D.   If recommended changes are accepted by a majority vote of the membership then the Recording Secretary shall make said changes within 2 weeks of the majority vote accepting changes. 

Section 2.  Absence of a By-Law:

A.   Where no specific By-Law or procedure exists, the Board of Directors shall vote and act accordingly on each individual issue or situation not covered in the existing By-Laws.

                  

ARTICLE VIII

Order of Business 

Section 1. At the meetings of the Club, the order of business, so far as the character and nature of the meeting may permit, shall always be as follows

1)       Roll Call

2)      Minutes from last meeting

3)       Report of President

4)       Report of Corresponding Secretary

5)       Report of Recording Secretary

6)       Report of Treasurer

7)       Report of Committees

8)       Election of Officers (when applicable)

9)       Unfinished (Old) business

10)   New Business

11)   Adjournment

 

Section 2. At Board of Directors Meetings, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by a majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:

1)       Reading of Last Minutes

2)      Report of the Corresponding Secretary

3)       Report of Recording Secretary

4)       Report of Treasurer

5)       Reports from Committees

6)       Unfinished (Old) Business

7)       New Business

8)       Adjournment

 

Section 3. The rules contained in the current edition of “Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised” shall govern the Club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these By-Laws and any special rules of order the “Olde English Bulldogge Kennel Club” may adopt.

 

ARTICLE IX

Dissolution 

In the event of the dissolution of the OEBKC, other than purposes of re-organization, none of the property of the O.B.E.K.C., nor any proceed thereof, nor any assets of the Club shall be distributed to any members, but after payment of the Clubs debts shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefit of Dogs, selected by the Board of Directors.