Montana Brittany Club
Bylaws & Constitution
Updated: 6-27-09
These Constitution and Bylaws are officially entered
into July 24, 2007 and, amended June 13, 2009.
Montana
Brittany Club Constitution accepted July 24, 2007 and, amended
June 13, 2009.
Article I
Name and Objectives
Section 1. The name of the club shall be the Montana Brittany Club.
Section 2. The objectives and purpose of the club shall be:
(a) to do all in its power to protect and advance the interests
of the Brittany including striving to discourage the breed from
becoming split into groups of "field dogs" and "bench dogs" and to keep
it forever a "dual dog".
(b) to promote good fellowship and cooperation among breeders and
owners of Brittanys.
(c) to encourage higher standards in breeding, training and
showing, hunt tests, trials, etc. of Brittanys and encourage sportsman
like competition at:
-Club trial and demonstration events
-AKC (American Kennel Club) Hunt tests, trials and shows. Under
the rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club.
-American Field Trials. Under the rules and regulations of the
American Field Trialers Association.
-National Shoot-to-Retrieve Association (NSTRA). Under the rules and
regulations of the National Shoot-to-Retrieve Association.
-Other club events. Under the rules and regulations of the
recognized club.
Section 3. The club shall not be conducted or operated for profit and
no part of any profits or remainder 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.
Montana Brittany Club Bylaws
Accepted July 24, 2007 and, amended June 13, 2009.
Article I
Membership
Section 1. Eligibility.
There shall be two types of membership open to all persons 18 years of
age and older who subscribe to the purpose of this club.
-Individual (one person)
-Family (all family members living in the same home are entitled to
participated in all Club events).
Section 2. Dues.
Membership dues shall be an amount designated annually by the Board of
Directors and approved by the General Membership, payable on or before
the first day of March of each year. During the month of January,
the Secretary shall send to each member a statement of his/her dues for
the ensuing year.
Section 3. Membership.
Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form approved by the
board of directors. The application shall state the name,
address, e-mail address, phone number and occupation of the applicant
and shall carry the endorsement of two members in good standing All
applications are to be filed with the Secretary and each application is
to be read at the first meeting of the club following its receipt. At
the next club meeting the applications will be voted upon and
affirmative votes of two-thirds of the members present and voting by
secret ballot at that meeting shall be required to elect the applicant.
Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the club may not
reapply within six months after such rejection. Accompanying the
application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the
current year which is filed with the Secretary.
(a) Membership applications shall be readily available via newsletter,
web site or by e-mail from the Secretary, or in hard copy from any
Board member.
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. Obligations other than Dues are
considered a debt to the Club and they are incurred on the first day of
each fiscal year. In no case may a person vote at any club
meeting whose dues are unpaid as of the date of that meeting.
(b) by lapsing. A membership will be considered lapsed and
automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid by March 1
of the current year.
(c) by expulsion. A member may be terminated by expulsion as
provided in Article VI of these Constitution and Bylaws.
Article II
Meetings and Voting
Section 1. Club Meetings.
Meetings of the club shall be held a minimum of 4 times a year at such
hours and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors.
Notice of all meetings shall be by e-mail, web site, newsletter or
mailed via U.S. Postal Service for those members not wishing to be
e-mailed at least 10 days prior to the meeting.
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 and voting at any
regular or special meeting of the Board, or 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 at
such hour and place as may be designated by the person or persons
authorized herein to call such meetings. The Secretary shall make
notice of such a meeting at least 5 days and not more than 15 days
prior to the date of the meeting. The purpose of the meeting shall be
stated and no other club business shall be transacted thereat.
Section 3. Quorum for Club Meetings and Special
Meetings.
The quorum for Club Meetings or for a Special Meeting of the Club shall
be twenty (20) percent of the members in good standing.
Section 4. Board Meetings.
Meetings of the Board of Directors should be held where attendees see
and/or hear each other. This includes meeting (in person) "physically"
in the same room or conducting a meeting by video or teleconference.
Board Meetings shall be in the months of January through December of
each year, at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board.
The Secretary at least five days prior to the date of the meeting shall
make notification by mail, e-mail, telephone or in person of each such
meeting. The Board meeting minutes shall be read at the first
Club meeting following the Board meeting. Board meetings and
Special Board meetings shall be open to the general membership unless a
majority of the Board designates that a particular meeting be closed.
Section 5. Special Board Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President or by the
Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least three
members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held where
attendees see and/or hear each other as described in Section 4 of
Article 2 of the bylaws and at such hour and place as may be designated
by the person authorized herein to call such meetings. Such
meetings must be called within fourteen (14) days of the request.
Written or e-mail notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the
Secretary at least five (5) days and not more than ten (10) days prior
to the date of the meeting, or verbal notice shall be made to all board
members at least one (1) day and not more than two (2) days prior to
the meeting. Any such notice shall state the purpose of the
meeting and no other business shall be transacted thereat. A
quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority vote of the
Board.
Section 6. Meetings held by telephone or similar
communication equipment.
Meetings of Board members may be conducted by video or teleconference
call or similar computer/phone communications equipment by means of
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at
the same time and participation by such means shall constitute presence
in person at a meeting.
In adherence with AKC recommendations.
(a) every Board member must be provided with the means to participate;
(b) a procedure must be in place to verify the identity of the
participants;
(c) a mechanism must be in place to verify that the Board members are
listening, and also identifies others that may be
listening;
(d) all board members must agree to participate in this manner.
Section 7. Voting.
Each family membership in good standing whose dues are paid for the
current year shall be entitled to two individual votes and each
individual member shall be entitled to one vote at any meeting of the
Club at which they are present. Proxy voting will not be
permitted at any Club meeting or election. The membership vote of
the presiding officer will be cast by that officer only for the purpose
of breaking a tie.
Article III
Directors and Officers
Section 1. Board of Directors.
The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer and three (3) directors, all of whom shall be
members in good standing. The President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer and 3 Directors shall be elected for 2 year terms
in accordance with Article IV of these bylaws, and shall serve until
the successors are elected.
Section 2. Officers.
The Club's officers, consisting of the President, Vice President,
Secretary, and Treasurer shall serve in their respective capacities
both with regard to the Club and its meetings and the Board and its
meetings. General management of the club's affairs shall be
entrusted to the board of directors.
(a) Director and/or Officer eligibility. Any member is eligible
for office and/or board of directors.
(b) 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 constitution and bylaws.
(c) The Vice President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of
the president in case of the President's absence, incapacity or
death. Additionally the Vice President shall serve as Sergeant at
Arms at all Club meetings.
(d) The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club and
of the Board and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by
the Club. The Secretary shall have charge of all of the
correspondence, notify members of meetings, advertisement of new
members, notify officers and directors of their election to office,
keep a roll of the members of the Club with their addresses, implement
electronic communications for conducting Board meetings and carry out
such other duties as are prescribed in the constitution and bylaws.
(e) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging
to the Club. The Treasurer shall deposit the same in the bank
satisfactory to the Board, in the name of the Club. The books
shall at all time be open to inspection of the Board and the Treasurer
shall report to the board at every meeting the condition of the Club's
finances and provide a complete listing of every item of receipt or
payment not before reported; and at the annual meeting, the Treasurer
shall render an account of all monies received and expended during the
previous fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such
amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.
(f) A Board Member who misses three consecutive Board Meetings or three
total shall be automatically terminated. It is provided that the
Board member may submit in writing to the Board a legitimate excuse for
the absence to avoid removal.
(g) The Board will delegate club and/or Board members to be in charge
of newsletter, club web site, and club equipment.
Section 3. Vacancies.
Any vacancy occurring on the Board during the year shall be filled for
the unexpired term of office by a majority vote of the then members of
the Board present at its first regular meeting following the creation
of such vacancy.
Section 4. Removal.
Any officer or Director may be removed from office by a two-thirds
(2/3) vote of the members present at a regular meeting or a special
meeting if notice of proposed removal was given in the notice
concerning that meeting. It is provided, however that the
Director or Officer to be voted upon must have received from the
Secretary by registered mail, notice that his/her name will be
submitted for removal at least ten (10) days prior to that meeting.
Article IV
Club Year, Annual Meeting, Nominations, Elections
Section 1. Club Year.
The Club's official year shall begin immediately at the conclusion of
the election at the annual meeting in February continuing through the
election at the next annual meeting.
Section 2. Annual Meeting.
The annual meeting shall be held in the month of February at which
election and installation of officers and directors will take
place. At the first Board meeting in March, and/or within 30 days
after the election, retiring Officers and directors shall turn over to
his/her successor in office all properties and records related to that
office. The outgoing Officers and directors will conduct business
as normal until after the first Board meeting in March.
Section 3. Elections.
The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each
office 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 December, the Board shall select a
nominating committee consisting of three members and two alternates,
not more than one of whom shall be a member of the Board. The Secretary
shall immediately notify the committee-persons and alternates of their
selection. The Board shall name a chairperson for the committee
and it shall he his/her duty to call a committee meeting which shall be
held on or before January fifteenth (15th). The nominating
committee shall nominate one or more candidates for each office and
elected Board position. The nominating committee may not nominate
one of its members for any elected position; however, any member of the
nominating committee may be nominated for any of the elected positions
in the Club by a club member, from the floor, at the February meeting.
(a) The committee shall nominate one or more candidates for each office
and position on the board, and after securing the consent of each
person so nominated, shall immediately report their nominations to the
Secretary in writing.
(b) Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report, the Secretary
shall on or before January thirtieth (30th) notify each member in
writing, e-mail, or newsletter of the candidates so nominated.
(c) Additional nominations may be made at the February meeting by any
member in attendance, provided that the person so nominated does not
decline when their name is proposed, and provided further that if the
proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, the proposer
shall present to the Secretary a written statement from the proposed
candidate signifying willingness to be a candidate. No person
shall be a candidate for more than one position, and the additional
nominations, which are provided, for herein may be made only from among
those members who have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating
Committee.
(d) Nominations cannot be made in any other manner other than is
provided in this section.
Section 5. Voting.
Voting for election of Officer's, Board of Director's will take place
at the Club's Annual meeting in February of even years by those
member's in good standing, who are present. The Board of
Director's may designate that the Secretary, a committee appointed by
the Board of Director's or an independent professional agency tally
such ballots.
Article V
Committees
Section 1. The Board will oversee the work of appointed standing
committees to advance the work of the Club. Board members will
serve as Chairperson of one committee, and all members will be
encouraged to participate on a committee. Such committees shall
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 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
services have been terminated.
Section 3. Standing committees should include but not be limited
to: hunting tests, field trials, dog shows.
Article VI
Discipline
Section 1. Charges.
Any individual member may prefer charges against another individual
member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the
Club. Written charges with specifications must be filed in
duplicate with the Secretary together with a deposit of $10.00 (ten
dollars) 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 entertains jurisdiction of the charges, it
shall fix a date of a Board hearing not less than three (3) weeks
nor more than six (6) weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall
promptly send one copy of the charges and the specifications to the
accused member by registered mail together with a notice of the hearing
and assurance that the defendant may personally appear in his/her own
defense and bring witnesses if he/she desires wishes.
Section 2. 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, may
reprimand or suspend the defendant from all privileges of the Club for
not more than six (6) month 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/her fellow members at the ensuing Club meeting which considers the
Board's recommendations. Immediately after the Board has reached a
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 Board's decision and penalty, if any.
Section 3. 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 2 of this Article. Such
proceedings may occur at a regular or special meeting of the Club to be
held within sixty (60) days, but not earlier that thirty (30) days
after the date of the Board's recommendation of expulsion. The
defendant shall have the privilege of appearing on his/her own behalf
if he/she wishes. The members shall then vote by secret written
ballot on the proposed expulsion. A two-thirds (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 or by written petition addressed
to the Secretary signed by twenty (20) present 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 (3) months of the date when the petition was received
by the Secretary.
Section 2. The constitution and bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds
secret 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 distributed to each
member at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
Article VIII
Dissolution
Section 1. The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent
of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the members in good
standing. 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 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, order of business, so far as the
character and nature of the meeting may permit, shall be as
follows:
Roll Call
Minutes of the last meeting
Minutes of the last Board meeting
Report of the President
Report of the Secretary
Report of the Treasurer
Report of the Committees
-awards
presentation at the annual meeting
Election of newly elected
Officers and Board
-at annual
meeting on even numbered years
Election and Introduction of new
members
Unfinished business
New business
Questions and answers
Location/date of next meeting
Adjournment
Section 2. At meetings of the Board, the order of business, unless
otherwise desired by a majority vote of those present, shall be as
follows:
Reading of minutes of the last
meeting
Report of the Secretary
Report of the Treasurer
Report of the committees
Unfinished business
New business
Location/date of next meeting
Adjournment
Article X
Official Gunner
Section 1. The official gunner at field trials, hunt tests or other
shooting events must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
Article XI
Review of Bylaws
Section 1. Committee appointed by the Board of Directors, at lest every
five years should review constitution and bylaws, or at any time the
majority for the Board of Directors considers it necessary.
Article XII
Parliamentary Authority
Section 1. The rules contained in the current edition of "Roberts 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.
Article XIII
Special Purpose Funds
Section 1. Special Purpose Funds.
These funds may be established by a majority vote of the Officers and
Board members present.
(a) Special Purpose Funds shall be funds raised for a specific purpose
and disbursement of said funds for the intended purpose shall require a
majority vote of the membership present to release them for their
intended purpose.
(b) Such Special Purpose Funds will be invested in Certified Deposits
and maintained by the Club Treasurer until such time as they are
released for use by the membership.
(c) To divert any Special Purpose Fund monies for any use other that
for which it was originally intended shall require a 2/3 vote of the
membership present at the Annual Business Meeting.
(d) The Treasurer Reports will reflect all Special Purpose Funds
separately and the amount deposited in each.
Article XIV
Club Territory Designation
Section 1. Club Territory Designation.
For the purposes of membership and club activities the Montana Brittany
Club accepts the geographical boundary designated by the American
Kennel Club which includes the counties encompassed by a triangle
connecting the greater areas of Missoula, MT, Bozeman, MT, and Great
Falls, MT with Helena, MT designated as the focal point for the club
activities.
These Constitution and Bylaws are officially entered into this date of
July 24, 2007 and amended June 13, 2009;
Todd
Breitenfeldt
Tana Kradolfer
___________________________________________
________________________________________
President
Vice President
Alex
Burks
Jan Breitenfeldt
___________________________________________
_________________________________________
Secretary
Treasurer
Board Members:
Terry
Courtright
Rodd Richardson
___________________________________________
_________________________________________