Constitution & Bylaws of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America

This Corporation (Club) is organized under the general non-profit Corporate Laws of the State of Washington and shall have the specific and general purposes and powers set forth in its Articles of Incorporation on file in the office of the Clerk of the County of King.

ARTICLE I

NAME AND OBJECTS

SECTION 1. The name of the Club shall be the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America.

SECTION 2. The Club is formed for the following objectives:

(a) To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of Staffordshire Bull Terriers and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection.

(b) To encourage the organization of independent local Staffordshire Bull Terrier Specialty Clubs in those localities where there are sufficient fanciers of the breed to meet the requirements of The American Kennel Club.

(c) 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 the Staffordshire Bull Terrier shall be judged.

(d) To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breed and to encourage sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, obedience trials, tracking tests and agility trials.

(e) To conduct sanctioned matches, specialty shows, obedience trials, tracking tests and agility trials under the rules of The American Kennel Club.

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 objectives.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1 - MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Eligibility. There shall be five types of memberships, open to all persons who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club.

(a) Regular Membership. Open to those persons 18 years of age and older who are residents of the United States. Members enjoy all the privileges of the Club including the right to vote and hold office.

(b) Foreign Membership. Open to those persons 18 years of age and older who reside outside the United States. Foreign members enjoy all the privileges of the Club except they may not vote or hold office and do not count in determining a quorum.

(c) Honorary Membership. Open to persons 18 years of age and older who are residents of the United States. This membership is for outstanding contributions to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier 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 not eligible to vote. However, such members can maintain a regular membership if they pay dues.

(d) Junior Membership. Open to residents of the United States who are between 10 and 17 years of age. These members enjoy all the privileges of the Club except the right to vote and hold office. Junior members may convert to regular membership upon reaching their 18th birthday.

(e) Household Membership. Open to two persons 18 years of age and older who are residents of the United States and living in the same residence. Household members enjoy all the privileges of the Club including the right to vote and hold office. Each person in the household shall be entitled to one vote.

SECTION 2. Dues. Dues for continuing membership shall be due on or before January 1st of each year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of December, the Treasurer shall send to each member, sent via email or 1st class mail a statement of dues for the ensuing year. Dues shall be periodically evaluated and adjusted by the Board as they deem necessary.

SECTION 3. Election to Membership.

(a) Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board and which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by these bylaws and the rules of The American Kennel Club. The application shall state the name, address, age and occupation of the applicant and it should carry the endorsement of two members in good standing. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year.

(b) Applicants may be accepted by ballot at any meeting of the Board of Directors or by vote of the Board of Directors by 1st class mail or email. Affirmative votes of two-thirds of the Board of Directors present at a meeting of the Board or of two-thirds of the entire Board voting by 1st class mail or email shall be required to accept an applicant.

(c) Upon acceptance of an applicant, his/her name will be published in Staff Status for a period of 1 year, during which time the applicant will receive all SBTCA correspondence, however will not be able to vote or advertise until fully granted full membership .

(d) An applicant will be fully vested one year from the date his/her application had been accepted. However should any factual documentation be presented to the Board as to why applicant should not be fully vested, (e) below will be enacted.

(e) An applicant who has received a negative vote by the Board or should the Board receive a valid recommendation as to why the applicant should not be granted full membership, one of the applicant’s endorsers may at the next annual meeting of the Club present the application to the members and the members may approve such applicant by favorable vote of 75% of the members in good standing present. Any applicant not so elected may apply again after six months.

SECTION 4. Termination of Membership. Memberships may be terminated:

(a) By resignation. Any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Secretary. Obligations other than dues are considered a debt to the Club and must be paid in full prior to resignation.

(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. The first day of the fiscal year is January 1st. The Board may grant an additional 30 days 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 or election.

(c) By expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI Section 4 of these bylaws.

(d) Obligations other than dues are considered a debt to the club and must be paid in full prior to resignation.

ARTICLE II - MEETINGS

SECTION 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Club shall be held in conjunction with the Club’s Specialty Show, if possible, at a place, date and hour designated by the Board of Directors. The meeting will consider the reports of the affairs of the Club and transact such other business as may be brought before the meeting. Written notice of the annual meeting shall be sent to each member by 1st class mail or via email to the address appearing on the books of the Club by the Secretary not less than 30 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for the annual meeting shall be 10% 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 at a meeting of the Board or who vote by 1st class mail or email, and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by 10% of the members of the Club who are in good standing. Such meetings shall be held at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall send via 1st class mail or email written notice of such meetings 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 Board shall meet at such time, date and place as may be designated by the President or by a majority vote of the entire Board. The Secretary shall send via 1st class mail or email written notice of such meetings to each member of the Board at least 14 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for a Board meeting shall be a majority of the Board voting in person, by 1st class mail, via email, fax, telephone conference or via videoconference..

SECTION 4. The Board of Directors may conduct its business by 1st class mail, email, fax, telephone conference call or via videoconference through the Secretary. Items voted upon by telephone conference call must be confirmed in writing within 7 days.

ARTICLE III BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS

SECTION 1. Board of Directors. The Board shall be nine in number, comprised of the Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) and five Board Members, all of who shall be members in good standing who are residents of the United States. They shall be elected for two-year terms as provided in Article IV and shall serve until their successors are elected. The President, Treasurer and two Board Members are elected one year; the Vice President, Secretary and three Board Members being elected the following year. They shall be elected for not more than two successive terms to the same office and only one member from a household may serve at any one time. Board Members (five in number) are to be represented from the five geographical areas as listed in Section 2 (e) following, in that one Board Member shall be elected from each of the five areas in order that each area is represented on the Board. However, these Board Members are representatives of the entire Club and not just their immediate geographical areas and, as such, shall be elected by the composite regular membership in good standing. Additionally, any member who is suspended may not run for a position on the Board for a year after the suspension period is completed.

SECTION 2. Officers. The Club’s Officers, consisting of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and five Board Members shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the Club and its meeting 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 subject to the limitations of the Articles of Incorporation, the within Bylaws and the general corporate laws of the State of Washington as it relates to non-profit corporations.

(b) The Vice President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President’s death, absence, or incapacity.

(c) The Secretary shall have charge of the general correspondence of the Club, notify members of meetings and elections, notify new members of their election to membership, keep a roll of the members of the Club with their addresses, keep a record of all meetings of the Club and of the Board, of all votes taken by 1st class mail or email and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club or records as prescribed by these Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation and carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these Bylaws. Each Committee Chairman shall be responsible for all correspondence connected with the duties of that Committee.

(d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due as belonging to the Club. The Treasurer shall deposit the same in a bank satisfactory to the Board in the name of the Club. All checks disbursed by the Treasurer over $200 or greater must be co-signed by the Club Secretary or another member of the Board as designated by the Club President. The Treasurer’s books shall be open at all times to inspection of the Board and he or she shall report upon the conditions of the Club’s finances as directed by the Board. At the Annual Meeting of the Club, the Treasurer shall render an account of all monies received and expended during the fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as determined by the Board, the cost of such bond to be paid by the Club.

(e) The Board Members shall be liaison representatives for all members of the Club, but in order to be readily accessible to those members living within their geographical areas, one Board Member shall be elected from the states grouped below. The Board Members shall be elected by the composite of all regular members in good standing voting. The Board Members in Area I and IV shall be elected during the electoral year that includes the President and Treasurer. The Board Members from Area II, III, and V shall be elected during the year that includes the election of the Vice President and Secretary.

AREA I – Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont

AREA II – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico

AREA III – California, Hawaii

AREA IV – Alaska, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming

AREA V – Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin

(f) AKC Delegate. To be eligible to represent the Club as Delegate to The American Kennel Club at its quarterly meetings, the candidate shall have been a member in good standing for a period of at least two years. The Delegate shall serve as liaison between the Club and The American Kennel Club and shall communicate all matters of interest and concern to the Club’s Board of Directors as soon as practical after each meeting of The American Kennel Club. The Delegate shall be elected by the general membership for a term of two years and shall serve until his or her successor has been qualified and elected, unless he or she has voluntarily resigned or his or her appointment is withdrawn by a two-thirds vote of the membership.

SECTION 3. Vacancies.

(a) Vacancies occurring on the Board or among the Officers during the year shall be filled until the next 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 to the office of President shall be filled automatically by the Vice President and the resulting vacancy in the office of the Vice President shall be filled by the board. A vacancy shall be deemed to exist in the case of the death, resignation or removal of any Board Member.

(b) All serving on the Board are expected to advise all other Board Members if they will be unavailable to participate in Board business, and additionally indicate when they will be able to resume the responsibilities of their position. Those serving on the Board of Directors may be removed by a 2/3 vote of the Board if they fail to communicate within any 30 day period with relation to Board business without providing the above information pertaining to unavailability

ARTICLE IV - THE CLUB YEAR, VOTING, NOMINATIONS, 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 and shall continue through the election at the next year. The elected Officers and Board Members shall take office on the first day of the month following 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 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, Delegate and Board Members, amendments to the constitution and bylaws and the standard for the breed, which shall be decided by written ballot cast by 1st class 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 1st class mail or email.

SECTION 3. Annual Election. The election of Officers and Board Members (and Delegate to the American Kennel Club, who may – but need not – be a Board Member or Officer of the Club) shall be conducted by ballot. Ballots to be valid must be received by an independent professional firm by November 15th. Ballots shall be counted by an independent professional firm. The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. If any nominee, is unable to serve for any reason, such nominee shall not be elected and the new Board of Directors in the manner provided by Article III shall fill the vacancy so created.

SECTION 4. Nominations and Ballots. No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated in accordance with these bylaws and who has not been a regular member in good standing for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to July 15th. No person may be nominated for a third successive term for the same office, nor may more than one member of a household run for office or hold office concurrently. The Board of Directors shall choose a nominating committee before July 15th. The committee shall consist of three members from different areas of the U.S.A. and two alternates, all members in good standing, no more than one of who may be a member of the current Board of Directors. The Board shall name a chairman for the committee and it shall be his/her duty to call a Committee meeting on or before August 1st. The Nominating Committee may conduct its business by 1st class mail or email.

(a) The Nominating Committee shall nominate from among the eligible members of the Club, one candidate for each office and for each position on the Board of Directors (and for the Delegate to The American Kennel Club) and shall procure the acceptance of each nominee so chosen. The Committee should consider geographical representation of the membership on the Board to the extent that is practicable to do so. The Committee shall then submit its slate of candidates to the Secretary who shall send via 1st class mail or email the list including the full name of each candidate and the name of the State in which he resides, to each member of the Club before August 15th so that additional nominations may be made by the members if they so desire by September 15th.

(b) Additional nominations of eligible members may be made by written petition addressed to the Secretary and postmarked on or before September 15th, signed by five members and accompanied by the written acceptance of each additional nominee signifying his willingness to be a candidate. Except for the position of Delegate, no person shall be a candidate for more than one position.

(c) If no valid additional nominations are postmarked on or before September 15th, the Nomination Committee’s slate shall be declared elected and no balloting will be required.

(d) If one or more valid additional nominations are postmarked on or before September 15th, an independent professional firm shall on or before October 1st, send by 1st class mail to each member in good standing a ballot listing all of the nominees for each position in alphabetical order, with the names of the states in which they reside together with a blank envelope and a return envelope addressed to the independent professional firm or individual marked “Ballot” and bearing the name of the member who whom it was sent. Each voter, after marking their ballot, shall seal it in the blank envelope, which in turn shall be placed in the second envelope, addressed to the independent professional firm. The independent professional firm shall check the returns against the list of members whose dues are paid for the current year prior to opening the outer envelopes and removing the blank envelope, and shall certify the eligibility of the voters as well as the results of the voting which shall be communicated to the membership by 1st class mail or email.

(e) Nominations cannot be made in any manner other than as provided above.

ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. All committees shall always be subject to the final authority of the Board.

(a) Standing Committees. The Board may each year appoint a member to chair a standing committee to advance the work of the Club. At the beginning of each fiscal year the secretary will send a letter to the current chairperson of a committee asking if they wish to continue serving in the capacity of chairperson. The following are the SBTCA standing committees:

AKC Gazette Columnist

AKC Legislative Liaison

AKC Public Education Coordinator

Complaint Committee

Health

Historian

Judges Education

Membership

Performance
Rescue

SBTCA Magazine

Sunshine

Website

(b) Ad Hoc Committee. This committee may be appointed as the need arises, to carry out a specified task, at the completion of which that is, on presentation of its final report to the assembly it automatically ceases to exist. An ad hoc committee may not be appointed to perform a task that falls within the assigned function of an existing standing committee.

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.

ARTICLE VI - DISCIPLINE

SECTION 1. American Kennel Club Suspension. Any member who is suspended from any of the privileges of The American Kennel Club automatically shall be suspended form 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 $25.00, which shall be forfeited if the Board or a Committee following a hearing does not sustain such charges. 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 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 of the breed, it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges it shall fix a date for a hearing by the Board or a committee of not less than three members of the Board, not less than three weeks nor more than six weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall promptly send one copy of the charges to the accused member by certified mail together with a notice of the hearing and an assurance that the defendant may personally appear in his or her own defense and bring witnesses if he or she wishes.

SECTION 3. Board Hearing. 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 12 months. Additionally, any member who is suspended may not run for a position on the Board for a year after the suspension period is completed. If the Board or committee deems that punishment insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty be expulsion. Immediately after the Board or committee has reached this decision, its findings shall be put in written form and filed with the Secretary. The 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 a meeting of 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 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 finding and recommendation, and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his own behalf if he wishes. The members shall then vote by secret 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 and to the Standard for the breed 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 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 Secretary received the petition. The Board of Directors shall make such recommendations by a majority vote of the Board.

SECTION 2. The Constitution and Bylaws or the Standard for the breed may be amended at any time provided a copy of the proposed amendment has been sent by 1st class mail by the Secretary to each member in good standing accompanied by a ballot on which a choice for or against the action to be taken shall be indicated. Notice with such ballot shall specify a date not less than 30 days after the date postmarked from the Secretary by which date the ballots must be returned to an independent professional firm or individual to be counted. The favorable vote of two thirds of the members in good standing who return valid ballots within the time limit shall be required to effect any such amendment.

SECTION 3. No amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws or to the Standard for the breed that is adopted by the Club shall become effective until the Board of Directors of The American Kennel Club has approved it.

ARTICLE VIII - DISSOLUTION

SECTION 1. The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two thirds of the members in good standing. 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 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.

ARTICLE IX - ORDER OF BUSINESS

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

      1. Roll Call
      2. Reading of minutes of last meeting
      3. Report of President
      4. Report of Secretary
      5. Report of Treasurer
      6. Report of Committees
      7. Election of new members
      8. Unfinished business
      9. New business
      10. 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:

      1. Reading of minutes of last meeting
      2. Report of Secretary
      3. Report of Treasurer
      4. Reports of Committees
      5. Unfinished business
      6. Election of new members
      7. New business
      8. Adjournment

ARTICLE X- CLUB COMMUNICATION METHODS

SECTION 1. Paperless Membership Mailings. Clubs may send members notification of club meetings (also included would be dues notices; minutes and newsletters) and board members notification of board meetings via email, provided that:

The member or board member has signed an authorization agreeing to this method of communication. Such authorization, which is revocable, will also release the club from any liability should the notification be received late or not received by the member or board member due to circumstances beyond the club’s control. At the time of initial membership application or in the renewal process, Applicants or Members have the option to receive club mailings and notifications electronically unless noted otherwise under there respective section of these Bylaws. If a member does not choose to have this option, physical mailings via 1st class mail will be used for all mailings to that member.

SECTION 2. Yearly Membership Mailings.

(a) Membership Renewals – communications to be included in yearly membership renewal packets and sent by December 20 in accordance to Section 1 of this Article XI and shall include but is not limited too a Membership renewal form, current copies of the club’s Code of Ethics, Constitution & By-Laws and election results for the on coming fiscal year.

(b) Membership Directory – communications to be included in a yearly membership directory and sent no later then March 15th in accordance to Section 1 of this Article XI and shall include but is not limited too, a full listing of members in good standing (to include but is not limited unless instructed by the member. Full member name, address, phone number, email), Year end Financial Statement from the previous year.

ARTICLE XI USE OF SBTCA NAME

(a) Only AKC sanctioned clubs which have alrady held an AKC sanctioned match are eligible to advertise that they are supporting the entry of a parent club event. Local clubs which do not meet this requirement may support by donating trophies.

(b) Any materials distributed at a show or event which is being held under the SBTCA name must first be approved by the Board of Directors.

(c) Local AKC sanctioned clubs wishing to hold an event under the SBTCA name must submit their request for perrmission to use the SBTCA name for said event event.

ARTICLE XII - PARLIMENTARY AUTHORITY

SECTION 1. 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 Bylaws and any other special rules of order the Club may adopt.