THE BC GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG CLUB (1999)

CONSTITUTION

(b)  Conduct conformation, obedience, herding, tracking, agility and any other such events sanctioned by the Canadian Kennel Club.

(c)  Assist owners and the general public in furthering their knowledge and appreciation of the breed through education, programs, literature and periodicals in the interest of the German Shepherd Dog.

(d)  Encourage members to accept the standard of the breed as approved by the Canadian Kennel Club as the only standard of excellent by which the German Shepherd Dog shall be judged.  

The Club may be dissolved at any time by providing to the Canadian Kennel Club written documentation signed by at least two-thirds (2/3's) of the members of that Club who are in favor of this decision; proxies are not permitted.  In the event of the dissolution of the Club, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, none of the property of the Society shall be distributed to any members of the Society, but after payment of the debts of the Society, its property and assets shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefit of dogs.  This organization shall be selected by the officers of the Society.  The Society may be dissolved at any time by ordinary resolution of the voting members.  Four (4) members or more may carry on the Society.  UNALTERABLE

This is an annual trophy, which shall be presented to the "Best in Breed" at the annual Specialty Show.  All trophy donations shall be kept in the trophy checking account and shall be used towards club trophies.  In the event of termination of the Society, all monies in the Marjorie Oliver Memorial Trophy Fund must be donated to the Heart Foundation.  All trophy donations are to be listed in the current show cataloque.  UNALTERABLE

THE BC GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG CLUB (1999)

BY-LAWS

Application For Membership:

Any German Shepherd owner, breeder or fancier is eligible for membership, first as an Associate member without voting privileges, progressing to the status of Ordinary Member as requirements are met.

Any person joining the Society on or after the first day of June in any year shall be fully paid up for the following Society year, which starts after the Annual General Meeting.  Upon becoming an Ordinary Member, each person shall be entitled to receive a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws.

There shall be two classes of members as follows:
(a)  Ordinary Members
(b)  Associate Members

Section 1 - Ordinary Members
Ordinary Members shall be those members who have been Associate Members and attended meeting for three (3) consecutive meetings immediately prior to application for Ordinary membership, who have paid all required fees, and have a desire to become an Ordinary Member.  The Associate Member, upon written indication of desire and completion of the above terms, will be automatically converted to Ordinary Member status at the beginning of the next General Meeting.  An Ordinary Member will automatically revert to Associate Member status, with no voting privileges, after having missed more than three (3) meetings in a row.

Once he/she has attended three (3) meetings in a row, they will be reinstated to the status of Ordinary Member.

Section 2 - Associate Members
Associate Members shall be those persons who are 16 years or older, have completed and signed the required application form and have paid the required fees.  Associate Members do not carry voting privileges and cannot hold the position of Officer or Director.

Section 3 - Dues
The annual dues shall be set for the ensuing year at the Annual General Meeting in September and is payable at the same meeting.  To be eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting, members must have their dues paid in full before the election of officers.

Section 4 - Termination of Membership
A person shall cease to be a member of the Society by 
(a)  delivering his/her resignation in writing to the Secretary of the Society or by mailing or delivering it to the address of the Society,
(b)  immediately upon expulsion, or on having not been a member in good standing for twelve (12) consecutive months.

Section 5
Reason for expulsion includes, but is not limited to:
(a)  cruelty to animals (abandonment, physical/emotional neglect and physical/emotional abuse)
(b)  third-party sales (laboratories, pet stores, pounds, SPCA)
(c)  supplying the public with unregistered dogs and/or puppies
(d)  vindictive behavior towards another club member (includes gossip mongering, whether it be about a member's dog(s) or the club members themselves)
(e)  suspension or expulsion from the CKC and/or the GSDCC

A member may be expelled by:
(a)  special resolution of the members, passed at a general meeting
(b)  the notice of special resolution for expulsion shall be accompanied by a brief statement of the reason or reasons for the proposed expulsion
(c)  a written complaint about a person received by the Executive of the Club, discussed at the Executive level, then presented to the club members at the next general meeting.  Discussion is had and a vote taken on whether to expel or not.

The person who is the subject of the proposed resolution for expulsion shall be given an opportunity to be heard at the general meeting before the special resolution is put to a vote.

Section 6
All members are in good standing except a member who has failed to pay his/her current annual membership dues for the coming year, and/or is on suspension from the Canadian Kennel Club.

Section 1 - All funds of the Society shall be deposited in one of the Chartered Banks, Trust Companies, or Credit Unions in the name of the Society.  The signing officers empowered to withdraw funds shall be the Treasurer with a second signature required from the President, or in the absence of the President, the Vice President.

Section 2 - Dues shall be paid annually at the Annual General Meeting.

Section 3 - The date of closing of the financial books of The BC German Shepherd Dog Club (1999) shall be August 31st of each calendar year and are to be submitted to the appropriate authorities annually in order to maintain a "Societies" status.

Section 4 - The BC German Shepherd Dog Club (1999) will not exercise borrowing powers.

Section 5 - Committees receiving or holding money belong to the Society shall, at the next regular meeting of the Society after completion of the function, deliver the funds to the Treasurer together with all vouchers and statements of account.  In no case shall a committee be discharged until all bills have been paid and all monies accounted for.

Section 6 - No money over the amount of Fifty dollars ($50.00) may be spent for purchases without the approval of the membership at a General meeting, and all expenditures must be covered by an invoice.

Section 7 - The cost of individual awards to members in good standing shall not exceed the maximum amount of Thirty dollars ($30.00).

Section 1 - The annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of September (but not during the week prior to the Canadian German Shepherd National Show) of each calendar year for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees and for any other business that may arise.  Not less than 14 days written notice shall be mailed to all members.

Section 2 - All General Meetings will be held in the third week of each calendar month from October to June, inclusive.  Notice of a General Meeting shall specify the place, day and hour of meeting and, in case of special business, the general nature of that business.

Section 3 - A quorum at any General Meeting of the Club shall consist of at least four (4) voting members; including not less than three (3) officers.

Section 4 - All Ordinary Members in good standing present at a meeting of members are entitled to one vote.  Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.

Section 5 - The agenda for all meetings of members shall be drawn up by the President or Secretary or such person as delegated, shall be distributed, inclusive of previous meeting minutes and items for discussion, to all members prior to the next scheduled meeting.

Section 6 - Procedures
At all meetings of The BC German Shepherd Dog Club (1999), Robert's Rules of Order shall be adopted.  The Order of Business shall be as follows:

(a)  Call to order by the President
(b)  Reading and adoption of the minutes of the previous meeting
(c)  Treasurer's report
(d)  Old business arising from the minutes
(e)  Reports of special committees
(f)   New Business
(g)  Adjournment

Section 1 - The Club/Society shall be governed by the elected Executive Board, who will received no monetary or material compensation.

Section 2 - Board meetings of the Executive officers shall be held at a specific time and place determined by the Executive Committee.

Section 3 - The Executive Board shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer (or Secretary/Treasurer).

Section 4 - Any member in good standing with the CKC is eligible for nomination to the Executive Board, with the exception of Associate Members.

Section 5 - Duties
(a)  President - The President shall be the Chief Executive of The BC German Shepherd Dog Club (1999) and shall have the general power and duties or supervision and management usually vested in the office of President of similar organizations.  The President shall be ex-officio a member of all committees and will act as chairperson of all committees.
(b)  Vice President - If the President is absent, or is unable to act, his/her duties and powers may be passed to the Vice President.  If, for any reason, the President vacates that office, the Vice President will automatically assume the position of President for the balance of the term.
(c)  Secretary - The Secretary will cause to be kept a record of the proceedings of all meeting of The BC German Shepherd Dog Club (1999) and shall carry out any other duties as the President and/or Board may require, relative to the position of Secretary.  The Secretary shall have full voting privileges at all Board meetings (i.e., conduct correspondence of the Society, issue notices of meetings of the Club and Board, have custody of all records and documents of the Society except those required to be kept by the Treasurer, and maintain a current list of members.
(d)  Treasurer - The Treasurer shall cause to be kept a correct accounting record of the finances of The BC German Shepherd Dog Club (1999), prepare and present financial reports to the Board, members and others as required, and shall have the same voting privileges as outlined for the Secretary.

The term of office of the Executive Officers shall be from the 1st day of October to the 30th day of September of the following year.  No officer should serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office unless there are no other nominations for that particular office, and the present officer wishes to serve another year.  Nomination for office must be Ordinary Members in good standing for six (6) months prior to the election and be in good standing with the CKC.

A vacancy of office shall be filled by election at the General meeting following the meeting at which the vacancy is announced.

Election of officers shall be by ballot by members present and in the event of a tie, by further ballot until the tie is broken.

Awards will take place at the annual Club BBQ held during the month of July or August.  The Society shall give an award to members in good standing whose German Shepherd Dog has received any of the following titles:

• Championship title
• Companion Dog, Companion Dog Excellent, or Utility Dog titles
• Tracking Dog or Tracking Dog Excellent title
• Herding - HIC, Tested, Started, Intermediate or Advanced titles
• Agility
• TT and/or Canine Good Neighbour

Members shall submit an Awards Form to the designated committee in charge of awards, supplying their dog's names and the titles applied for.

The Board shall have the power to reprimand any member of The BC German Shepherd Dog Club whose conduct, in the opinion of the Board, is detrimental to the interest of The BC German Shepherd Dog Club.  In addition, the Board shall have the power to suspend the office and/or membership of such member.  The member so suspended by the Board shall have the right at the following Annual General Meeting to appeal such suspension before the members present.

(a)  Should a suspended member apply for membership renewal while still under suspension, the Board will have the right to refuse such renewal.
(b)  All complaints shall be presented to the Board, which if they deem necessary, shall appoint a disciplinary committee to review the complaint and make recommendations to the Board.
(c)  The Board will suspend any person deprived, suspended, debarred, expelled, or whose membership has been terminated by the Canadian Kennel Club's Discipline Committee.

Any Board member or club member may resign their office or membership, sending such resignation in writing to the Secretary of The BC German Shepherd Dog Club (1999) by postpaid ordinary mail, or verbally tendering same at the Board meeting. 

The following regular committees may be established on an "as-needed" basis:

• Shows and Trials
• Obedience
• Agility
• Education/Seminars
• Publicity and Advertising
• Tracking
• Awards
• Membership
• Herding

The By-Laws may be amended by a special resolution in the following manner:

(a)  The proposed amendment shall be read as a Notice of Motion at a General meeting.
(b)  The amendment must be passed by a 75% majority of the voting members present.
(c)  Said meeting must have a quorum as provided in the Constitution.