Montana Brittany Club Constitution, accepted July 24, 2007.

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.

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Montana Brittany Club Bylaws, accepted July 24, 2007.

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 3 (three) 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.  Considering the vast geographical area represented by the Club, the Board should be comprised of members representative of all regions of the state. 

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 moneys 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 moneys received and 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 must attempt to obtain nominees representing all regions of the state including west, central and eastern  parts of the state and 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 board 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) 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/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 petition addressed to the Secretary signed by twenty (20) percent 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 least 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 "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.

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 moneys for any use other that 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.

These Constitution and Bylaws are officially entered into this date of; July 24, 2007.

___________________________________________    ________________________________________
President                                Vice President

___________________________________________    _________________________________________
Secretary                                Treasurer

Board Members:

___________________________________________    _________________________________________


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