Back to the USBCC PageThe name of the club shall be the United States Border Collie Club (referred to hereafter as USBCC).
The club is formed to preserve the Border Collie's unique genetic heritage as a sound working dog. The club seeks to improve its well-being, to rescue those that have been abandoned, to help owners learn how to use and understand their dogs, to improve communication among all Border Collie owners, and to combat all attempts to change the way the dog is bred, adopt a conformation standard, or show it in the breed ring.
The club shall be operated as a non-profit organization. None of the income or properties shall inure to the benefit of the officers or members.
1. Membership is open to anyone who
agrees with the club's principles
2. Members shall be dropped from the membership roll if dues are not paid after
newsletter notification .
3. Membership dues shall be set by the Board of Directors. Single lifetime memberships
will be available for a flat payment. Dues shall be higher for members outside
the United States, in amounts to be determined from time to time by the Board.
4. Members will receive a membership card and quarterly newsletter per receipt
of dues.
5. There will be two classes of members with voting rights and privileges as
follows:
a. General membership. General
members shall have the right to vote on those matters set forth in these bylaws
and on such other matters as the Board of Directors may determine from time
to time. General members have the right to hold elective office.
b. Junior membership. Junior membership is available to any individual
who has not reached his 18th birthday. A junior member does have the right to
vote but not to hold elective office.
1. Members whose dues are up-to-date
may vote on club business.
2. Elections will be by ballot or proxy. A member may cast a vote in person,
by proxy, or mail.
3. One membership, one vote.
A meeting shall be held annually for the election of officers and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the directors.
Notice of each meeting of the members shall be given by the club and shall state the date, time and place and, unless it is an annual meeting, shall indicate the purpose for which the meeting is being called. Such notice of any meeting shall be given to each member entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall be given personally, by mail or by newsletter not less than two weeks before the date of the meeting.
A quorum shall consist of a majority of directors and officers.
1. Any member may be suspended or
expelled for cause such as violation of the USBCC By-Laws, or for conduct prejudicial
to the best interest of the USBCC.
2. Any member charged with misconduct shall have the right to present his case
to the Board of Directors. A majority of the Board must hear the evidence, and
by majority vote, may table the complaint, dismiss the complaint, suspend the
member, or expel the member. The secretary shall inform the member in writing
of the Board's action.
3. An expelled member may be reinstated by 1 ) re-application to the secretary
after a period of one year and approval of a majority of the board members;
2) an affirmative vote by two thirds of those eligible members voting in a membership
mail ballot. Both sides in the dispute shall be permitted to state their case
in writing in the poll of the membership. The member wishing reinstatement shall
be entitled to such a poll of the membership, provided he pays the expenses
of preparing a mail list.
The affairs of the USBCC shall be managed by the Board of Directors
The members of the initial Board of Directors shall be those individuals named in the Articles of Incorporation who shall serve until their successors are elected. Thereafter, seven Directors-at-large shall be selected from the general membership. Officers shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. In recognition for great service to the club, the Directors may, by unanimous consent, appoint a Chairman Emeritus to serve for life as conscience of the club.
The Directors shall be elected by
the membership, and each shall serve for three (3) years or until his or her
successor has been elected. Terms shall be staggered, so that the terms of all
Directors will not expire at the same time. At the annual meeting, the Board
of Directors will appoint a Nominating Committee, at least one member of which
shall not be a member of the Board. The Nominating Committee shall propose a
list of candidates, which shall be published in the subsequent newsletter. Additional
candidates may be proposed by the membership, upon submission of a written petition
endorsed by at least three (3) members. A list of all candidates, including
those chosen by the Nominating Committee and those proposed by petition, will
be published in the spring newsletter, and ballots will be provided. Results
of the balloting will be annouced in the subsequent newsletter, and successful
candidates will be installed at the annual meeting.
Any director of officer may resign at any time be giving written notice to the President of the club. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time is specified, at the time of acceptance thereof as determined by the President of the club.
Except as otherwise required by law or by these By Laws, any director or officer may be removed from such office with or without cause by a two-thirds vote of the directors at any regular meeting, or by two thirds vote of the members at a special meeting where a quorum is present. The meeting notice must state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is the removal of the director or officer.
Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors and officers.
The Board of Directors shall meet to discuss and direct the affairs of the USBCC at least once a year at a time and place to be decided upon by the officers. In some instances, business may be conducted by electronic means.
Secretary shall send notice of the time of day and place of any meeting at least 14 days previous by notice sent to each Director at his or her address. The purpose of the meeting must be stated in the notice.
A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a regular meeting.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting where a quorum is present shall be the act of the USBCC. Each director shall have one vote. Voting by proxy shall be permitted.
There shall be no compensation for services as officer or director, but such members may receive reimbursement for reasonable authorized expenses incurred in official duties as determined by the Board. The Board may authorize funds to be set up for special purposes or projects which someone other than the President or Treasurer may draw on.
The officers of the club shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, Treasurer and Newsletter Editor.
The officers shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.
The officers shall be installed at the annual meeting at which they are appointed and shall hold office for four (4) years.
The President shall be the principal executive officer of the USBCC.
1. The President shall preside at
meetings of the Board of Directors and membership.
2. The President shall represent the club in matters dealing with individuals
or groups who are not club members.
3. The President shall submit a report of activities of the Board to the membership
annually in the newsletter.
4. The President may appoint members or committees to perform duties for the
USBCC.
The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President if the President is absent or unable to perform the duties of the President. The Vice President shall perform other duties as assigned by the President of the Board.
The Secretary shall perform the normal secretarial duties of correspondence and record-keeping.
1. The Secretary shall keep records
of both Board and membership meetings and shall mail copies to each officer
and Board member.
2. The Secretary shall handle any official correspondence not taken care of
by the President and shall perform other duties as assigned by the President
3. The Secretary shall act as membership chairman and shall keep a complete
and current register of the addresses of each USBCC member.
The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of all funds and securities of the USBCC, receiving and giving receipts for monies due the club from any source, and depositing such monies in the name of the club in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select.
1. The Treasurer and the President
are to be authorized to sign checks to pay such expenses that the USBCC shall
incur.
2. The Treasurer shall give a written financial report of the previous year
in the first newsletter mailed to the general membership in the calendar year.
3. The Treasurer shall keep the master membership list, and the current membership
list shall be sent to the Secretary quarterly.
4. Prior to the annual meeting, the Treasurer shall submit the books to the
audit committees selected by the directors.
The newsletter editor will produce an elegant simple quarterly newsletter.
Amendments to the by-laws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or in a petition to the Secretary signed by twenty percent of the members in good standing.
By-laws may be altered or repealed and new by-laws adopted by a majority vote of those eligible members voting by mail ballot thereon.
In the event of the dissolution of the USBCC, all monies and properties shall be donated to such Border Collie organizations as the Directors may determine. No profits shall inure to any officer or director or member of the USBCC.
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