CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS OF THE
PACIFIC RIM MALTESE CLUB, INC.
ADOPTED: FEBRUARY 16, 1993
REVISED: JULY 27, 1996
 

ARTICLE 1
Name and Objective


Section 1

The name of this club shall be PACIFIC RIM MALTESE CLUB, INC.

Section 2

The objectives of the Club shall be:
  (a) To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Maltese and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection.

(b) To encourage 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 Maltese shall be judged.

(c) To do all in its power to protect and advance the interest of the breed by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at dog shows and obedience trials. 

(d) To conduct sanctioned and licensed specialty shows and obedience trials under the rules of the American Kennel Club, Inc.

Section 3

The Club shall not be conducted or operated for profit and no part of the 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 objectives.

ARTICLE 2
Membership


Section 1

All prospective members must attend at least one (1) meeting before applying for membership in the Club. All applications must carry the endorsement of two members in good standing.

There shall be three types of membership open to persons 18 years of age or older who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purpose of this club.

  Regular: Enjoys all club privileges including the right to vote and hold office.

Household: Household member shall be entitled to one vote each, with the exception of members of household who are not 18 years of age.

Associate: An associate member is one where the individuals are entitled to all privileges except voting and office holding. Dues shall be at a lower rate than regular members; basically to cover printing and postal expenses. Associate members are not computed in determining a quorum. Applications should be filed with the Secretary, but need not require sponsors or approval process applicable to prospective regular applicants; after a period of time (one year), the person may apply for Regular or Household membership as outlined by the By-laws.

Junior: Open to persons 10-17 years of age. A junior member may not vote or hold office and may automatically convert to regular membership upon reaching their 18th birthday. 

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

Section 2

DUES:

Membership dues shall be $10.00 per person, $16.00 per couple, $7.50 for associate per year, payable on or before the 1st day of January each year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of November, the Secretary shall send to each member a statement of his/her dues for the ensuing year.

Section 3

ELECTION TO MEMBERSHIP:
Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form approved by the Board of Directors. The application shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by this 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, in good standing. 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 applicantion is to be read at the first meeting of the club following its receipt, after fulfilling Article 2, Section 1 ELIGIBILITY. At the next club meeting the application will be voted upon by secret ballot and an affirmative vote of 3/4 of the members present and voting at this meeting shall be required to elect the applicant. Applicants who have been rejected by the club may not re-apply within six (6) months after such rejection.


Section 4

Membership may be terminated by:

  1. 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 in the fist day of the fiscal year.

2. Non-payment of dues
A member 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 at the date of that meeting.

3. Expulsion in accordance with Article 7 of these By-laws.
The membership cannot decline the acceptance of dues from any member without due process. In the event of conduct which may be detrimental to the Club or breed, disciplinary procedures, as outlined in the By-laws, shall be followed.


ARTICLE 3

Club Meetings

Section 1

Meetings of the Club shall be held within the greater Portland, Oregon area on the third Tuesday of January through December each year, at such place as may be designated by the BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed by the Secretary or by the Club’s newsletter at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting. A quorum for such meetings shall be 20% of the members in good standing. Meeting notices shall be sent via First Class Mail.

Section 2

SPECIAL CLUB MEETINGS
Special club meetings may be called by the Board of Directors. Such Special meetings shall be held within the greater Portland Oregon area, at such our and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed, via Fist Class Mail, by the Secretary or the Club’s newsletter at least five (5) days and not more than fifteen (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 20% of the members in good standing.

Section 3

BOARD MEETINGS
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held within the greater Portland, Oregon area on the third Tuesday, just prior to the regular meetings in the months of January, March, May, July, September, and October each year, at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors.  Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed, via Fist Class Mail, by the Secretary of the Club’s newsletter at lest five (5) days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be a majority of the Board members.

Section 4

SPECIAL BOARD MEETINGS
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Board of Directors or by the secretary upon a receipt of a written request signed by at least three (3) members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held within the greater Portland, Oregon area and at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. 

Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary, via First Class Mail, or the Club’s newsletter at least five (5) days and not more than ten days (10) prior to the date of the meeting.  Telephone notices cannot be permitted.  Any notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted thereat.  Quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board.

Section 5

EMERGENCY MEETINGS
Twenty-four (24) hour notice by telephone for emergency meetings called by the Board of Directors.

Section 6

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/she is present. Proxy voting shall not be permitted at any Club meeting or election.

ARTICLE 4
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Section 1

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TREASURER, PAST-PRESIDENT and three (3) other persons, all of whom shall be elected for one year terms at the Club’s annual meeting as provided in Article 5. General management of the Club’s affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors. The past-president shall vote as a regular board member.

(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 in these By-laws.

(b) The VICE-PRESIDENT shall have the powers and exercise the duties 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 Cub. All correspondence, telephone calls, and business on behalf of the Pacific Rim Maltese Club, Inc. Shall first be approved by the Board of Directors or the membership of the Club. He/she shall have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify officers and directors of their election to office, keep a roll of the members of the Club with their addresses, and carry out such other duties as are prescribed by these By-laws.

(d) The TREASURER shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club. He/she shall deposit the same in a bank satisfactory to the Board in the name of the Club. His books shall, at all times, be open to inspection of the Board and he/she shall report to them at every meeting the condition of the Club’s finances and every item or receipt or payment not before reported, and at the annual meeting he/she 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.

(e) The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person in which case the Board shall be comprised of the officer, past President and four (4) other persons.

(f) New members must be in the Club for at least one year before holding office.


Section 3

VACANCIES
Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the officers during the year shall be filed for the unexpired term of office by a majority vote of all those then members of the Board at its first regular meeting following the creation of such vacancy, or Special Board meeting following the creation of such vacancy.

ARTICLE 5
THE CLUB YEAR, ANNUAL MEETINGS, ELECTIONS

Section 1

THE 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 elections 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 January at which Directors and Officers for the ensuing year shall be elected for the ensuing year by secret written ballot from among 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 all properties and records relating to that office within thirty (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 three nominated candidates for other positions on the Board who receive the grater number of votes for such positions shall be declared elected.

Section 4

NOMINATIONS
No person may be a candidate in the Club election who has not been nominated. During the month of October, the Board shall select a nominating committee consisting of three members and two alternates, not more than one of whom may be a member of the Board. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committee persons and alternatives of their selection. The Board shall name a chairperson for the Committee and it shall be his/her duty to call a committee meeting which shall be held on or before November 1st .

(a) The Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and three candidates for the three positions on the Board, and after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report heir nominations to the Secretary in writing.

(b) Upon receipt of the Nominating committee’s report, the Secretary shall, at least two weeks before the December meeting, notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.

(c) Additional nominations may be made at the December meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated does not decline when his name is proposed, and provided further than 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. No person may be a candidate for more than one office (except, see Article 4 Section 2 Item (e), and the additional nominations which are provided for herein may be made only from among those who were not nominated by the nominating committee.

(d) Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than provided in this section.

ARTICLE 6
Committees

Section 1

The Board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as dog shows, 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 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 are being terminated.

ARTICLE 7
Discipline

Section 1

American Kennel Club suspension. Any member suspended from privileges of the American Kennel Club shall automatically be suspended from the privileges of the Club for a like period.

Section 2

CHARGES
Any member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Club or the breed. Written charges, with specifications, must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary, together with a deposit of $10.00 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 preset 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 or the Breed. If the Board considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interest of the Club or the Breed 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 of not less than three (3) weeks nor more than six (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/her own defense and bring witnesses if he wishes.

  (a) On the assumption that the accused is innocent until proven guilty, they would enjoy all club privileges until such time as the charges are sustained following a hearing.

Section 3

BOARD HEARING
The Board of Directors 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, 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 cases, the suspension shall not restrict the defendant right to appear before his fellow members at the ensuing club meeting which considers the Boards 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 4

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 3 of this Article. Such proceedings may occur at a regular or special meeting of the Club, to be held within 60 days but no 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 members shall then vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion. A 2/3 vote of those present and voting at the meeting shall be needed for expulsion. If expulsion is not so voted, the Board’s suspension shall stand.

ARTICLE 9
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 and signed by 20% of the membership in good standing.  Amendments proposed by such petition shall be promptly considered by the Board 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 bi-laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members present at any regular meeting or special meeting called for that 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 10
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 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 Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 11
Parliamentary Authority

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 By-laws.

ARTICLE 12
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 BOARD
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEES
ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD (at Annual Meeting)
ELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT

Section 2

At meetings of the Board, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by a majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:

  READING OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST BOARD MEETING
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT


 

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