Wirehaired
Vizsla Club of America
Constitution and
Bylaws
Amended: April
25, 2009
Constitution
Article I – Name,
Mission Statement and
Objectives
Section 1. The name of
the Club shall be the
WIREHAIRED VIZSLA CLUB OF AMERICA, hereafter
WHVCA.
Section 2. The
Mission of the WHVCA is to promote and
protect quality and versatility in the purebred Wirehaired Vizsla,
to educate members and others about the breed, to encourage the
highest standards of ownership and breeding, and to strive to bring
the breed’s natural qualities to
perfection.
Section 3. The
objectives of the WHVCA shall be:
a. 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 Wirehaired Vizsla shall be
judged.
b. To educate about
and encourage owners to perform appropriate health tests, and to
track health reports.
c. To encourage
participation in field events, conformation shows and performance
events.
d. To conduct and
encourage sportsmanlike competition at all dog related sporting
events under the rules of the American Kennel
Club.
e. To educate members
and others through the club’s website, club newsletters and assist
in the organization of independent local WHV clubs and offer
guidance to these clubs through WHVCA
membership.
Section 4. The WHVCA
shall not be conducted or operated for profit, and no part of any
income or remainder or residue from dues or donations to the Club
shall inure to the benefit of any member or
individual.
Section 5. The members
of the WHVCA shall adopt and may from time to time revise such
by-laws as may be required to carry out these
objectives.
BY-LAWS
Article I –
Membership
Section 1.
Eligibility: There shall be six classes of membership: Single,
Family, Junior, Honorary Lifetime, International and Affiliated
Club. Each type of membership shall be open to all persons who are
in good standing with the American Kennel Club, and who subscribe to
the purposes of the WHVCA and its Code of
Ethics.
a.
Single membership
shall be persons 18 years of age or older living in the
United
States, its Territories, Possessions, or
in active military service abroad. They shall be entitled to
all privileges and benefits of the
Club.
b. Family membership shall be open to two (2) adults, 18
years and older, residing at the same address. Both members shall enjoy all
the privileges and benefits of the Club, including the right to
vote. Either member may
hold office, but both member may not hold
office concurrently.
A family membership shall receive a single subscription to
the WHVCA newsletter.
c.
Junior membership
shall be open to persons under the age of 18 years, and shall be
entitled to all privileges of the WHVCA, excluding the right to vote
and the right to hold office. Junior members may automatically
convert to a regular membership upon reaching there 18th
birthday. Junior membership dues shall be one half of a single
membership.
d. Honorary Lifetime
Membership: Any individual, who has rendered meritorious service to
WHVCA or the Wirehaired Vizsla breed for thirty years, may be
nominated for honorary lifetime membership by any WHVCA member in
good standing. Election shall be by 2/3 majority approval of the
Board of Directors, and then in addition by a 2/3 majority approval
of the general membership via a mail ballot, with 2/3 being of those
total ballots received by the Secretary. Honorary lifetime members
shall be entitled to all privileges and benefits of the WHVCA.
Honorary lifetime members are excluded from paying
dues.
e.
International Membership shall be persons 18 years of age
or older living outside of the
United
States, its’ Territories, or
Possessions. They shall
be entitled to all privileges and benefits of the Club, excluding
the right to vote and the right to hold office. International
members must have a valid email address to receive club mail or
correspondence. Dues shall be the same as Single Membership,
payable in US
dollars.
f.
Affiliated Club Membership: Open to all local Wirehaired
Vizsla Clubs who meet the following
requirements:
1. Shall accept the
Constitution and By-laws of the WHVCA and as approved by
WHVCA.
2. Shall accept the breed
standard as approved by the WHVCA.
3. Shall submit an application
for membership that includes a copy of their Constitution and
By-Laws, a list of officers, directors, and members, and shall
up-date this information yearly when the dues for the following year
are paid.
4. Shall have at least ten (10)
members over the age of 18 years.
Affiliated Clubs may
not hold office, but are entitled to all other benefits and
privileges of membership. They are entitled to be represented by one
delegate, who must also be a WHVCA member in good standing at
meetings and are entitled to one (1) vote and a single subscription
to the WHVCA newsletter.
Affiliated Clubs are entitled to all other benefits as
provided by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Dues:
Annual Membership dues shall be an amount determined from time to
time by the Board of Directors and will vary by class but will not
exceed $100.00 per year. Dues shall be payable on or before the
first of January of each year. After 30 days, a 20% late fee will be
applied. Membership will lapse after 60 days and individuals must
re-apply for membership. For applications accepted after September
1st, dues shall be 1/2 of the stated amounts. No member may vote
whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of
October, the Treasurer shall send to each member a statement of dues
for the ensuing year.
Section 3. Election to
membership:
a. Each applicant for
membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of
Directors which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by
the Constitution, By-laws and the CODE of Ethics of the WHVCA. The
application shall state the name, and address of the applicant and
such additional information as the Board of Directors requests.
Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit
dues payment for the current year. Applicants may be elected to
membership by a majority vote of directors present at any scheduled
board meeting.
b. When a Junior
member in good standing, reaches the age of 18 years, they must
apply for general membership by written request to the Membership
Chairperson. The Junior need not file a new application or fee,
simply update their personal information with the membership chair
and shall then have his or her Junior membership changed to single
membership.
Section 4. Termination
of Membership: Membership may be terminated
by:
a. Resignation: Any
member in good standing may resign from the club upon written notice
to the Secretary, but no member may resign when in debt to the Club.
Dues obligations are considered a debt to the club and they become
incurred on the first day of each fiscal
year.
b. Lapsing: A
membership will be considered lapsed and automatically terminated if
such members’ dues remain unpaid 60 days after the first day of the
fiscal year. However, the Board may grant an additional 30 days of
grace to such delinquent members in meritorious cases. In no case
may a person be entitled to vote whose dues are
unpaid.
c. Expulsion: A
membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI
of these By-laws.
Article
II -- Meetings and Voting
Section
1. Club Meetings: Club meetings shall consist of the Annual Meeting
and any other meeting or meetings so called by the Board of
Directors. Members of the WHVCA will be notified of the time and
place of the club meeting at least 10 days prior to the meeting.
Notification can be by mail or e-mail, at the discretion of the club
Secretary. Minutes of the meeting shall be published in the
newsletter and/or club website. A quorum shall be no less than 10
percent or a minimum of 5 regular members in good standing,
whichever is greater.
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 or
shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition stating
the reason for such a meeting and signed by 5% of the members of the
club eligible for voting who are in good standing with the club.
Written notice of such a meeting shall be e-mailed or mailed by
the Secretary at least 10 days prior to, and not more than 15 days
before the date of the meeting. Said notice shall state the purpose
of the meeting, and no other club business may be transacted. The
meeting shall be held at a time and place designated by the Board. A
quorum for such a meeting shall be no less than 10 percent of the
memberships in good standing.
Section
3. Board Meetings: Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held
monthly as needed or as designated by the Board. Written notice of
such meetings shall be mailed or emailed by the Secretary at least 7
days prior to the date of the meeting. A quorum shall be a majority
of the Board members. The Board may conduct business through the
mail via the Secretary, via conference calling telephone services,
or via internet and electronic mail.
Section
4. Special Board Meetings: Special meetings of the Board may be
called by the President, or shall be called by the Secretary upon
receipt of a written request signed by a majority of the members of
the Board. Such a special meeting shall be held at a time and place
designated by those requesting such a meeting. Written notice shall
be mailed or emailed by the Secretary at least 10 days prior to, and
not more than 15 days prior to the date of the meeting, and shall
state the purpose of the meeting. No other business shall be
transacted. A quorum for such ayes meeting shall be a majority of
the Board.
Section
5.Voting: Each member in good standing whose dues are paid for the
current year shall be entitled to one vote at any general meeting of
the club at which he or she is present. Voting by proxy shall not be
permitted. For those
issues put before the entire general membership, specifically annual
elections of officers and directors, changes in the breed standard
or Code of Ethics, amendments to the Constitution and By-laws,
initial approval of Honorary Lifetime Membership, expulsion and
other issues designated by the Board of Directors, voting shall be
by written ballot cast in person at the annual meeting or by mail or
email via the Secretary (or designated professional
firm).
Section
6. Meeting attendance: All general meetings may be attended only by
WHVCA members in good standing and their guests. All Board meetings
may be attended by Board members only, except where otherwise
permitted by these Constitution and By-Laws. Non-members and members
in good standing may attend Board Meetings by approval of the
majority of the Board members present at the meeting, provided they
notify the Board of their desire to participate at least 24 hours in
advance.
Article III --
Directors and Officers
Section
1. Board of Directors: The
Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, AKC Delegate and 3
Directors-at-large, all of whom shall be members in good
standing and all of whom shall reside in the
United
States. The immediate
past President shall be nominated for a Director
position. Board officers and Directors shall be elected
for two
year terms and shall serve until their successors are elected, or
their positions are vacated voluntarily or involuntarily. General
Management of the Clubs affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of
Directors.
All members of the
Board of Directors shall be obligated to attend or otherwise
participate in all regular meetings of the Board, except where
notice of anticipated absence, along with a reason for the absence,
is given to the clubs President prior to the meeting. Members
failing to attend or otherwise participate in more than 50% of the
Board meetings Semi-annually, shall automatically forfeit their
position on the Board. In special cases, exceptions to
automatic forfeiture may be granted by a majority of the remaining
Board members.
Only one (1) person
from an individual household shall serve at any one time on the
Board of Directors.
Section 2. Officers:
The clubs officers, consisting of the President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer and AKC Delegate shall serve in their
respective capacities both with regard to the club and its meetings
and the Board and its meetings.
a. The President shall preside
at all meetings of the club and the Board, and shall have the duties
and powers normally appurtenant to the office of President in
addition to those particularly specified by these
by-laws.
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 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. He or she
shall have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meeting,
notify officers and directors of their election to office, and carry
out such duties as are prescribed in these
By-Laws.
d. The Treasurer shall collect
and receive all moneys due to and belonging to the Club. He or she
shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the Board in the name
of the Club. His or her books shall be at all times open to
inspection by the Board, and he or she shall report to them at every
meeting the condition of the Clubs finances and every item of
receipt or payment not before reported. At the Annual Meetings he or
she shall render an account of all moneys received or expended
during the previous fiscal year.
e. AKC Delegate shall
report to the club allactions and matters discussed at the AKC's
quarterly meetings.
Section 3. Vacancies:
Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the offices during the
year shall be filled until the next annual election by a majority
vote of all members of the Board at its first regular meeting
following the creation of such a vacancy, or at a special Board
meeting called for that purpose; except that a vacancy in the office
of the president shall be filled automatically by the vice president
and the resulting vacancy in the office of vice president shall then
be filled by the Board.
Section 4. Term
Limits: No limits shall be made to the number of terms any officer
or director may serve.
Section 5. Liability:
WHVCA shall defend, indemnify and hold its officers, directors,
employees and agents harmless from and against any and all
liability, loss, expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) or
claims for injury or damages arising out of the performance of this
Agreement but only in proportion to and to the extent such
liability, loss, expense, attorneys' fees, or claims for injury or
damages are caused by or result from the negligent or intentional
acts or omissions of WHVCA its officers, directors, agents, or
employees.
Article IV -- The Club
Year, Annual Meetings, and Elections
Section 1. Club Year:
The WHVCA fiscal year shall begin on the first day of January and
end the last day of December. The WHVCA official year shall begin
the first day of January and end the last day of
December.
Section 2. Annual
Meeting: The annual meeting shall be held in conjunction with the
Club's Annual Specialty at a date and time designated by the Board
of Directors. Written notice of the Annual Meeting shall be provided
by the Secretary at least 90 days prior to the date of the meeting.
If there should be no National Specialty, a Regional Specialty will
be selected instead; failing any specialty event, the Annual Meeting
will be held at a time and place designated by the Board. A quorum
shall be no less than 10 percent of the membership in good
standing.
The annual meeting for
WHVCA consists of required (unless canceled due to extreme weather
conditions), recommended and optional elements. These are as
follows:
a.
Required:
1. A membership
meeting
2. Board
meeting
3. President’s address and
awards presentation
4. Question and answers with
the board
5. Auction or another fund
raising activity
b. Recommended, one or
more of the following:
1. A NAVHDA
test
2. A conformation
show
3. An obedience
trial
4. A hunt test and/or Field
Trial
5. Judges
Seminars
6. Agility trial
(demonstration)
7. Tracking test
(demonstration)
8. CGC/Therapy Dog
test
9. Educational
seminars
c.
Optional:
1. Health
Clinics
2. Microchip
clinic
3. Rescue
parade.
Section 3. Elections:
Nominated candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for each
office shall be declared elected. The four nominated candidates for
Directors who receive the greatest number of votes for such
positions shall be declared elected. Newly elected officers and
directors shall take office on the first day of the Clubs official
year, and each retiring officer or directors shall turn over to his
or her successor all properties and records relating to that office
within 30 days after the beginning of the official
year.
Section 4.
Nominations: No person may be a candidate in a club election who has
not been nominated. By June 1, the Board shall appoint a Nominating
Committee consisting of three regular members from different areas
of the USA, and two alternates, all regular members in good
standing, no more than one (1) of whom maybe a member of the current
Board of Directors. The
Board shall name a chairman for the Committee. The Committee shall meet or
otherwise conduct business before September
1.
a. The Committee shall
nominate one candidate for each office and four candidates for the
Director positions on the Board. The immediate past President shall
be nominated for a Director position. The Committee should consider
geographic representation of the membership on the Board to the
extent that it is practicable to do so. After securing consent of
each person so nominated, the Committee shall report their
nominations to the Secretary, who shall mail, or cause to be mailed,
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, on or
before September 15, so that additional nominations may be made by
the members if they so desire.
b. Additional
nominations of eligible members may be made by written petition,
signed by 3 members, addresses to the Secretary and postmarked on or
before October 15, and must be accompanied by a signed statement by
the proposed candidate signifying his or her willingness to be a
candidate.
c. If no additional
nominations are postmarked on or Before October 15, the Nominating
Committee’s slate shall be declared elected and no balloting is
required. This elected
slate of officers will seat on January 1 or the following
year.
d. If one or more
valid additional nominations are postmarked on or before October 15,
the Secretary shall, by October 30, mail or cause to be mailed to
each regular 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 ballot. All ballots received by the
Board Secretary must be postmarked by December 1st. Any ballot received by the
Board Secretary postmarked after December 1st, shall be considered
invalid. The results of
the selection shall be announced to the membership, as soon as
possible, by the Secretary using a method(s) that reaches all
members.
e. Nominations cannot
be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than provided
in this section.
Article V –
Committees
Section 1. The Board
may each year appoint Standing Committees to advance the work of the
Club in such matters as Tests, Shows, Obedience Trials, Trophies,
Annual Awards, Membership, and other such fields which may be served
by committees. Such committees shall always be subject to the final
authority of the Board. Special committees may also be appointed by
the Board to aid it on particular
projects.
Section 2. Any
committee 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.
Article VI –
Discipline
Section 1. Charges:
Any member may bring charges against another member for alleged
misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of the club, the breed
or the sport. Written charges with specifications must be filed in
duplicate with the Secretary, together with a deposit of $75, 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. If the Board considers that the charges do not allege
conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the
club, the breed or the sport, it may refuse to entertain
jurisdiction. If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges,
it shall fix a date of a hearing by the Board not less than 3 weeks
or more than 6 weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall promptly send
one copy of the charges to the accused member by Registered mail
together with a notice of the hearing and an assurance that the
defendant may personally appear in his or her own defense and bring
witnesses if he or she 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
the complainant and defendant, the Board may, by majority vote of
those present, suspend the defendant from all privileges of the club
for not more than 6 months from the date of the hearing. If it deems
that punishment insufficient, it may also recommend to the
membership that the penalty be expulsion. In such a case, the
suspension shall not restrict the defendants’ right to appear before
his fellow members at the ensuing club meeting which considers the
Board recommendation. 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, and if
expulsion is recommended, arrange to have the minutes of the hearing
either published in the next club newsletter or mailed to each
voting member.
Section 3. Expulsion:
Expulsion of a member from the club may be accomplished by a ballot
included with the minutes of the hearing and recommendation by the
Board. Voting shall be by written ballot via the mail through the
Secretary. Votes shall be received by the Secretary prior to a date
set by the Board. A 2/3 majority of those votes received shall be
necessary for expulsion. If expulsion is not so voted, the Boards
suspension shall stand.
Section 4. AKC
Suspension. Any member who has been suspended from all the
privileges of the American Kennel Club automatically shall be
suspended from the privileges of this club for a like period of
time.
Article VII –
Amendments
Section 1. Amendments
to the Constitution and By-Laws (and to the Standard for the Breed
or Code of Ethics) 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 a 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 3 months of the date when the petition
was received by the Secretary.
Section 2. The
Constitution and By-Laws (and the Standard for the Breed or Code of
Ethics) may be amended at any time provided a copy of the proposed
amendment(s) has been mailed or emailed by the Secretary to every
member in good standing on the date of the mailing, accompanied by a
ballot on which a choice for or against the action to be taken shall
be indicated. A favorable vote of 2/3 of the members in good
standing who returned valid ballots within the time limit shall be
required to effect any such amendment (or change to the Standard for
the Breed or Code of Ethics).
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 it
has been approved by the Board of Directors of the American Kennel
Club.
Article VIII –
Dissolution
Section 1. The Club
may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than
2/3 of the members. In the event of 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 meetings
of the Club, the order of business, so far as the character and
nature of the meeting may permit, shall be as
follows:
Roll
Call
Minutes of the last
meeting
Report of
President
Report of
Secretary
Report of
Treasurer
Reports of
Committees
Election of Officers
and Board (at annual meeting)
Acceptance of new
members
Old
business
New
business
Adjournment
Section 2. At meetings of the Board,
the order of business, unless otherwise directed by majority vote of
those present, shall be as follows:
Reading of minutes of
last meeting
Report of
Secretary
Report of
Treasurer
Reports of
Committees
Old
business
Election of new
members
New
Business
Adjournment
Article X -
Parliamentary Authority
Section 1. The rules
contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly
Revised shall govern the WHVCA in all cases to which they are
applicable, except as specified by the Articles of
Incorporation and these By-Laws.
