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Lone Star Fox Terrier Club, Inc.

Constitution and By-Laws

(Revised October 1, 1988)

CONSTITUTION 

SECTION 1.           The name of the club shall be The Lone Star Fox Terrier Club, Incorporated.

SECTION 2.           The objects of the club shall be:

1.     To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Smooth Fox Terriers and Wire Fox Terriers and to do all possible  to bring their natural qualities to perfection;

2.     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 Smooth Fox Terriers and Wire Fox Terriers shall be judged;

3.     To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breeds by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at dog shows and obedience trials;

4.     To conduct sanctioned and licensed specialty shows and obedience 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 by-laws as may be required to carry out these objects.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE 1 - MEMBERSHIP

 SECTION 1.    Eligibility.  There shall be three types of memberships.

1.     Regular.  Open to all persons eighteen years of age and older who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this club.

2.     Honorary Life.  Open to persons the club has selected to honor for their achievements in Smooth Fox Terriers and/or Wire Fox Terriers, or for their lifetime service to the club, who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this club.

3.     Junior.  Open to persons under the age of eighteen years who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this club. 

Honorary Life members and Junior members shall pay no dues, shall not vote, nor hold any office.

While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the club’s primary purpose is to be representative of     the breeders and exhibitors in its immediate area.

SECTION 2.    Dues.  Membership dues shall be $10.00 per year per person or $15.00 per year for a husband and wife, and $5.00 for each additional member of the same household, payable on or before the 1st day of January of each year.  During the month of November the Treasurer shall send each member a statement of his dues for the ensuing year.

SECTION 3.    Election to Membership.  Each applicant shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors and which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the constitution and by-laws and the rules of the American Kennel Club.  The application shall state the name, address and occupation of the applicant and it shall carry the endorsement of two members.  Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year.

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 application will be voted upon and affirmative votes of ¾ of the members present and voting at that meeting shall be required to elect the applicant.

Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the club may not re-apply within six months after such rejection.

SECTION 4.     Termination of Membership   Memberships may be terminated:

1.     By resignation.  Any member in good standing may resign from the club upon written notice to the secretary; but no members 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.

2.        By lapsing.  A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid 90 days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the board may grant an additional 90 days of 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.

3.        By expulsion.  A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article 6 of these by-laws.

 

ARTICLE 2 – MEETINGS AND VOTING 

SECTION 1.    Club Meetings.  Meetings of the club shall be held in (or within 25 miles of) the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Metroplex on the first Saturday each month, or as designated by the Board of Directors, at such an hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors.  Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.  The quorum for such meetings shall be seven (7) 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 and voting at any regular special meeting of the board; and shall be called 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 in (or within 25 miles of) the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Metroplex at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings.  Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 5 days and not more than 15 days prior to the date of the meeting, and said notice shall state the purpose of the meeting, and no other club business may be transacted thereat.  The quorum for such a meeting shall be seven (7) of the members in good standing. 

SECTION 3.    Board Meetings.  Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in (or within 25 miles of) the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Metroplex on the first Saturday of the months of March and September in each year, or as designated by the Board of Directors, at such hour and place as may be designated by the board.  Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the secretary at least 5 days prior to the date of the meeting.  The quorum for such a meeting shall be the majority of the board. 

SECTION 4.    Special Board Meetings.  Special meetings of the board may be called by the president; and shall be called by the secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least three members of the board.   Such special meetings shall be held in (or within 25 miles of) the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Metroplex at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such meeting.  Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed by the secretary at least 5 days and not more than 10 days prior to the date of the meeting, or telegraphic notice shall be filed at least 3 days and not more than 5 days prior to the date of the meeting.  Any such notices shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted thereat.  A quorum for such a meeting shall be the 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 meeting of the club at which he is present.  Proxy voting will not be permitted at any club meeting or election.

 

ARTICLE 3 – DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS 

SECTION 1.    Board of Directors.   The board shall be comprised of the president, vice-president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary and treasurer and shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the club and its meetings and the Board and its meetings.

1.    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 by-laws.

2.    The vice-president shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the president in case of the president’s death, absence or incapacity.

3.     The recording secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the club and the board and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the club.

4.     The corresponding secretary shall have the charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify new members of their election to membership, notify officers and directors of their election to office, keep a roll of the members of the club with addresses, and carry out such other duties as prescribed in these by-laws.

5.    The treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the club.  He shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the board, in the name of the club.  His books shall at all times be open to inspection of the board and he shall report to them at every meeting the condition of the club’s finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported; and at the annual meeting he shall render an account of all moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year.

6.   The offices of recording secretary and corresponding secretary may be held by the same person in which case the board shall be comprised of the officers and three (3) other persons.

7.   The offices of the secretary and treasurer may be held by the same person in which case the Board shall be comprised of the officers and three other persons.

SECTION 2.     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 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 in the office of president shall be filled automatically by the vice-president and the resulting vacancy in the office of vice-president shall be filled by the board.

 

ARTICLE 4 – THE CLUB YEAR, ANNUAL MEETING, 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 at the annual meeting and shall continue through the election at the next annual meeting. 

SECTION 2.    Annual Meeting.  The annual meeting shall be held in the month of April at which officers and directors for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret, written ballot from those nominated in accordance with Section 4 of this Article.  They shall take office immediately upon the conclusion of 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 3.    Elections.  The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected.  The two (2) nominated candidates for other positions on the board who received the greatest number of votes for such positions shall be declared elected.  

SECTION 4.    Nominations.  NO person may be a candidate in a club election who has not been nominated.  Before February 15, the board shall elect a nominating committee consisting of three members.  The secretary shall immediately notify the committeemen of their selection.  The board shall name a chairman for the committee and it shall be his duty to call a committee meeting which shall be held on or before February 28.

1.    The committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and two (2) candidates for the other two (2) positions on the board, and after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report their nominations to the secretary.

2.     Upon receipt of the nominating committee’s report the secretary shall before March 30 notify the membership of the candidates so nominated.

3.     Additional nominations may be made at the April meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated does not decline when his name is proposed, and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, his proposer shall present to the secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying his willingness to be a candidate.

 

ARTICLE 5 – COMMITTEES 

SECTION 1.   The board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the club in such matters as specialty shows, obedience trials, trophies, annual prizes, membership and other fields which may well 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 appointed 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 6 – DISCIPLINE 

SECTION 1.   American Kennel Club Suspension.  Any member who is suspended from the privileges of the American Kennel Club automatically shall be suspended from 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 breed.  Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the secretary together with a $10 deposit 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 hearing by the board not less than 3 weeks nor 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 own defense and bring witnesses if he wishes. 

SECTION 3.  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 by sustained, after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by complainant and defendant, the board may be a majority vote of those present suspend the defendant from all privileges of the club for not more than six months from the date of the hearing.  And, if it deems that punishment insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty by expulsion.  In such case, the suspension shall not restrict the defendant’s right to appear before his fellow members at the ensuing club meeting which considers the board’s recommendation.  Immediately after the board has reached a decision, its finding 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 4.           Expulsion.  Expulsion of a member of 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 the Article.  Such proceeding may occur at a regular meeting 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 findings and recommendations, and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his own behalf if he wishes.  The meeting shall then vote by secret written 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 7 – AMENDMENTS

 

SECTION 1.   Amendments to the constitution and by-laws may be proposed by the board of directors or by written petition addressed to the secretary signed by seven (7) of the members 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 months of the date when the petition was received by the secretary. 

SECTION 2.   The constitution and by-laws may be amended by a 2/3 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 mailed to each member at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting. 

 

ARTICLE 8 - DISSOLUTION 

SECTION 1.    Dissolution.  The club may be dissolved any time by written consent of not less than 2/3 of the members.   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 9 – 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 the president, secretary, treasurer and committees, election of officers and board (annual meeting), election of new members, unfinished business, new business, adjournment. 

SECTION 2.     At the meetings of the board, the order of business, unless other wise directed by majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:  Reading of the minutes of the last meeting, report of secretary, treasurer and committees, unfinished business, new business, adjournment.