Bylaws

(Revised 2008)

ARTICLE I.    Membership

Section A.  No person shall be eligible for membership in L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, INC. who is not a member in good standing of the Hunting Retriever Club, Inc.

 Section B.  The Regular Membership of the Club shall consist of such persons who are at present Regular Members of the club in good standing and such other persons as shall be accepted into Regular Membership from time to time by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section C. Classes of Membership

1.                  ACTIVE MEMBERS.  Any breeder, owner and/or fancier of hunting retrievers regardless of sex, race, creed, color or occupation may be eligible for membership in said association subject to the acceptance by the Board of Directors of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club.  

2.                  Life MEMBERSHIP.   Life Membership can be conferred upon an adult member of this club who shall have rendered notable and outstanding service to L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club.  

3.                    A Life Member shall be entitled to all privileges of any member of this club without payment of annual dues.  Must Be approved by L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club Board and general membership by a 2/3 majority.

4.                  Section D.  Expulsion of Members  *

1.     Any member of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club may be expelled by a majority vote of the Board of Directors voting by secret ballot for conduct by work, deed, or act detrimental to said club.

2.    An individual member so expelled shall have the right to appeal to the membership for reinstatement.  The said appeal shall be filed in writing with the Secretary of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club within seven (7) consecutive calendar days after written notification of said expulsion.  The appeal for reinstatement shall be acted upon at the next general membership meeting.  Reinstatement shall be granted upon a two-third (2/3) majority vote of the voting members present at the meeting.  Voting on said appeal to be by secret ballot.

3.    The Board of Directors reserves the right to withhold renewing a member’s membership for conduct by word, deed, or act detrimental to said club.

ARTICLE II. Dues  *

Section A.  Dues for L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club shall be __$20.00/ $25.00__ per year for Single/Family membership and are due by January 1^st of each calendar year.  In order for the dues to be increased, it must be approved by two-third (2/3) majority vote of the Board of Directors. If a NEW member joins after January 1^st of the current year, dues will be prorated for remainder of calendar year.

ARTICLE III. Officers *

Section A.  Elected Officers.  The elected officers of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.  The officers shall be elected by the general membership who shall be members of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club in good standing.  The term of office of elected officers shall run from 1^st Thurs of February for 2 year term.

The President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer shall constitute the Executive Committee.

Section B.  In the event of the death, impeachment, or resignation of an elected officer other than the President, the unexpired term will be filled by an individual who meets the requirements for office as set forth in the constitution and is duly elected by the Board of Directors within thirty (30) days of the vacancy.

ARTICLE IV. Board of Directors *

The L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club Board of Directors, shall consist of three (3) officers, the immediate Past President (if applicable) and three (3) board members (one (1) being the board secretary ) plus one (1) alternate elected by the general membership at the annual meeting of members.  The Board Members shall be elected by the general membership who shall be members of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club in good standing.  The term of office for Board Members shall run from 1^st Thurs of February for 2 year term.

ARTICLE V. Committees

Section A.   * Nominating Committee.  A nominating committee shall consist of three (3) members in good standing appointed by the President for the purpose of presenting a slate of officers to the membership.  One of the three shall be designated by the President to be the chairperson of the committee.  There will be a minimum of one individual nominated for each office.  They shall be contacted prior to being officially nominated to see if they are willing to serve.

Section B.  Auditing Committee.  The Auditing Committee shall consist of three (3) members in good standing appointed by the President for the purpose of auditing the accounts of the Treasurer prior to the annual meeting and report at each annual General Membership meeting.

Section C.  Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President, from time to time as deemed necessary to carry on the work of this club.  The President shall be the ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE VI. Duties

Section A.  Elected Officers.

1.   President.  The President serves as the presiding officer and spokesman of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club.  The President shall preside over all General Membership and Board Meetings.

As Executive and Managerial head of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, shall be responsible for the preservation and maintenance of the highest principles of the club.  Shall have the authority to appoint any and all committees, as the President may deem necessary to carry out the business and/or interests of this club.  Shall have the authority to spend up to $50.00 per month, as they may deem necessary to carry out the business and/or interests of this club.  Shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. As an ex-officio member of the committees, the President has the same rights as the other committee members, but is not obligated to attend meetings of the committees.

The President serves as administrative head of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club and acts under the immediate direction of the Board of Directors.  The President is responsible for the day-to-day administration of this club.  Where practical, the President shall seek out input from the Directors and other officers before making major decisions between meetings.  In order to maintain continuity, the outgoing President will be a voting member of the Board of Directors for the following year.

2.  Vice-President.  The Vice-President assists the President in directing, coordinating and controlling activities of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club. The President and Vice-President shall work closely together endeavoring to keep the lines of communication open to ensure the Vice-President is kept well informed.  The Vice-President shall serve in an advisory capacity to the President of issues needing consultation.  In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall preside over all meetings of the club with the same power vested in the President.  The Vice-President succeeds to the Presidential office on the resignation, removal, death, or disability of the President.  The Vice-President shall accept other responsibilities as assigned by the President.

4.                  Secretary/Treasurer The duties of the Secretary/Treasurer are

1. To keep a record of general meetings of the organization, usually called minutes; To make the minutes and records available upon request; To maintain record books in which minutes are recorded, and to have the previous twelve (12) months record books on hand at every meeting; To supply a copy of the previous meetings to the President on a monthly basis; To preside in the absence of the President and Vice-President at all meetings of the club with the same power vested in the President.

2.  To hold funds deposited with them and disburse them as board approved bills are received.  The Treasurer is required to keep current as nearly possible, a balance of the club funds at all times.  They are required to make a financial recap report annually.  This report will be audited annually prior to the General Membership meeting by a Presidential appoint Auditing Committee.  Additional interim non-audited reports will be made at the monthly general membership meetings.

3. * The Office of Secretary/Treasurer may be divided into two offices if 2/3 of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club Board of Directors and the general membership are in agreement.

Section B.  Board of Directors.

Board of Directors will participate in the decision making process and the general supervision of the affairs of the club.

The incumbents will actively participate in the meeting of the club expressing their views, concerns and ideas.  A member of the Board of Directors will willing serve of the special committees to consider, investigate, or take action on certain matters or subjects pertinent to the administration of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, Inc.

Section C.  Absenteeism or Non-performance.

1.      If a Board Member fails to attend 50% of the regular meetings of the Board and/or General Membership, for three (3) consecutive months or any four (4) months in any calendar year, to exclude special meetings, or otherwise fails to perform any of the duties devolving upon said persons may be declared vacant by the Board of Directors and the vacancy filled as herein provided. The Board of Directors may remove any Board Member from office for failure to perform the duties thereof, after giving the Board Member reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard.

ARTICLE VII. Meetings

Section A.  * General Membership Meetings.  A general membership meeting of the L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. will be held on the 1^st Monday of the month with the time and place being announced in the L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. newsletter.  The annual General Membership meeting will be held in February.

1.                  Notice of Annual Meeting.  Notice of the annual meeting shall be given by the Secretary to all members of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. not less than ten (10) days prior to the holding of such meeting, through publication in the L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. newsletter; and shall include nominees for officers and such other business as the President or Executive Committee intends to bring before the meeting.

2.                  Quorum.  A majority of the Board of Directors present in person or by proxy at the General Membership meeting shall constitute a quorum.

3.                  Proxies.  At the meeting, any Board member is entitled to vote by written proxy.  The proxy shall name a voting member in good stating to act as proxy.  The signed proxy shall be presented to L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. Secretary prior to any vote.  In the event that a Director attends the meeting after a proxy has been issued, the proxy shall be null and void.

4.                  The President with five (5) days minimum notice can call a Special General Membership and/or Board meeting.

Section B. Board Meetings.  A board meeting of the L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. will be held once a month.

1.   Quorum.  A majority of the Board of Directors present or by proxy at the Board meetings shall constitute a quorum.

2.   Proxies.  At the meeting, any Board member is entitled to vote by written proxy.  The proxy shall name a voting member in good standing to act as proxy.  The signed proxy shall be presented to L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. Secretary prior to any vote.  In the event that a Director attends the meeting after a proxy has been issued, the proxy shall be null and void.

Section C. All Board and General Membership meetings shall be open to all members in good standing of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, Inc.  However, only Board Members have a voice at Board Meetings.

Section D. The election of the Board of Directors will be conducted at the General Membership meetings and will be by official numbered ballots mailed out to the membership two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.  Ballots must be returned to the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee by mail or personally turned over the night of the election prior to the General Membership meeting being called to order.  In the event, of an outgoing President, the outgoing President shall automatically become a voting member of the Board of Directors. 

ARTICLE VIII. Amendments

These By-Laws may be amended at any General Membership meeting by a two-thirds (2/3s) majority vote of the members present in favor of said amendment, following publication of the proposed amendment for general members fifteen (15) days prior to vote.

ARTICLE IX. Affiliation

United Kennel Club, Inc. of Kalamazoo, Michigan and the Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. have agreed to cooperate in the providing of rules and regulations for the running and standardization of Hunting Retriever Trials which shall be conducted by the L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. members.

To further the above, the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, is hereby granted authority from time to time to propound any changes in this agreement, which are deemed advisable to be discussed with the United Kennel Club, Inc. and upon their agreement, to present to the membership at the following General Membership meeting for approval.

ARTICLE X. Parliamentary Procedure

Robert’s Rules of Order shall be accepted as a basis of Parliamentary Procedure in all meetings of L’Anguille River Hunting Retriever Club.