TENNESSEE VALLEY KENNEL CLUB BYLAWS ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP Section 1.  ELIGIBILITY Each member shall be entitled to one vote.  No member shall vote whose dues are not paid for the current year.  There shall be three types of membership, as follows: General Membership  shall be 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. Junior Membership shall be ineligible to vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Directors.  A Junior member shall advance to general membership immediately following his/her eighteenth birthday and shall be entitled to all general membership privileges and obligations. Lifetime Membership shall be for anyone who has been a Tennessee Valley Kennel Club member for longer than 20 years.  Lifetime members shall not be required to pay dues. While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club’s primary purpose is to be representative of the breeders and exhibitors in the immediate area. Section 2.  DUES All membership dues shall be set yearly at the January meeting by the general membership on the recommendation of the Board of Directors.  Lifetime members pay no dues. During the month of March, the Treasurer shall send to each member a statement of his dues for the ensuring year. Section 3.  ELECTION TO  OR  REINSTATEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP Each applicant for membership shall attend a minimum of three meetings before being accepted into Club membership and apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors and which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by these Constitution and Bylaws and the Rules of the American Kennel Club. Applications shall be obtained, in person, from a Club Officer, at the meeting in which the prospective member is a guest.  In no way does this meeting constitute the first meeting for the purpose of reading the application.  All applications are to be filed with the Corresponding Secretary and shall carry the endorsement of two members in good standing. Each application shall be read at the first meeting attended by the applicant after the application has been filed with the Corresponding Secretary.  At the second Club meeting attended as an Applicant, the application shall be voted upon by secret ballot and an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the membership present shall  be required to elect the Applicant. All unexercised applications shall be terminated at the end of six months from the date of application and dues remitted back to the Applicant. Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not re-apply within six months after such rejections. Section 4.  TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP Membership may be terminated by: Resignation.  Any member in good standing shall resign from the Club upon written notice to the Secretary; but no members shall resign when in debt to the Club.  Dues obligation shall be considered a dept to the Club and they become incurred on the first day of each fiscal year.    Lapsing.  A membership shall be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid  30 days   after the first day of the fiscal year,  however the Board may grant an additional  60 days of grace to such delinquent membership whose dues are unpaid as of the date of that meeting. Expulsion.  A membership may be terminated by expulsion a provided by Article VI of these Constitution and Bylaws.  ARTICLE II - MEETINGS AND VOTING   Section 1.  CLUB MEETINGS Meetings of the Club shall be held monthly in the Greater Knoxville area at such date, hour, and place as may be designated by the membership at the Annual Meeting.  The Board may recommend a change of the meeting date for specific cause.  Written notice of each such meeting shall be sent by the Corresponding Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.  E-Mail notices may be sent to members who have agreed in writing to receive e-mail communications.  The Quorum for the general meeting shall be 20% of the membership 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 or special meeting of the Board, or by the Corresponding 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 the Greater Knoxville area at such hour and place as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings.  Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Corresponding 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 business shall be transacted thereat.  The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20% of the membership in good standing. Section 3.   BOARD MEETINGS Meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held monthly in the greater Knoxville area at such date, hour and place as may be designated by the Board.  Written notice of each such meeting shall be sent by the Corresponding Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.  E-mail notices may be sent to Board members who have agreed in writing to receive e-mail communications.  The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board. Section 4.  SPECIAL BOARD MEETINGS Special Meetings of the Board may be called by the President, or by the Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least 3 members of the Board.  Such special meetings shall be held in the Greater Knoxville area and at such hour and place as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such meeting.  Written notice of such meeting must be mailed by the Corresponding Secretary at least 5 days and not more than 15 days prior to the date of the meeting.  Any such notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted thereat.  A quorum for such a meting shall be a 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 or election meeting. ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS   Section 1.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, five other members, all of whom shall be members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for one-year terms, and AKC Delegate, who shall be a member in good standing and who shall be elected for two year terms at the Club’s Annual Meeting as provided in Article IV and shall serve until their successors are elected.  The general management of the Club’s affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors.  The Board shall issue a written report to the Club after each Board or Directors Meeting covering the business transacted. Section 2.  OFFICERS The Club’s Officers, consisting of the President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer, shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the Club and its meetings and the Board and it’s meetings.  These Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Club. 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. The Vice-President shall have the powers and exercise the duties of the President in case of the President’s absence, incapacity, or death. The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club and the Board, maintain a membership roll, take and report all minutes of meetings, and keep a record of all matters which shall be ordered by the Club. The Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify new members of their election to membership, notify officers and directors of their election to office and maintain a membership roll complete with addresses. The Delegate to the American Kennel Club shall be elected for a period of two years and shall represent the Club at meetings of the American Kennel Club and report to the President and the Board of Directors on all matters affecting the Club or its interests.  The Delegate shall be a member of the Board of Directors of the Club.   The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the Club and receipt therefore.  He 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 shall report 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.  The treasurer shall be bonded by a reputable bonding firm, such expense for bonding to be paid by the Club.  The Treasurer shall provide the Club a complete financial report of each event of the club within 60 days of the event. At the end of the fiscal year, an audit shall be made and a report of these findings be given to the Board of Directors and the Club. Section 3.  VACANCIES Any vacancies occurring in the Board or among the Officer 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.  Notice of such election shall be included in a regular meeting notice prior to such election. ARTICLE IV - THE CLUB YEAR, ANNUAL MEETING, ELECTIONS & NOMINATIONS Section 1.  CLUB YEAR The Club’s Fiscal year shall begin on the first day of June and end on the thirty-first day of May. Section 2.  ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting shall be held in the month of May at which directors and officers for the ensuring year shall be elected by ballot from among those nominated in accordance with Section 4  of this Article.  They shall take officer immediately upon the adjournment of the Annual Meeting and each retiring officer shall turn over to his successor in the office all properties and records relating to the office within fifteen days, except the Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary shall turn over to his successor all properties and records within thirty days. Section 3.  ELECTIONS The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each position shall be declared elected.  The five nominated candidates for other positions on the Board who receive 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.  During the month of January, the Board shall select a nominating committee consisting of five members, no more than one of which may be a member of the Board.  The Corresponding Secretary shall immediately notify the committee of their election.  The Board will name a chairman for this committee and it shall be his duty to call a committee meeting and it shall be held on or before the first of March. The committee shall nominate one candidate for each office, and for AKC Delegate, who may, but need not be, an officer of the Club, and five candidates for the five other positions on the Board, and after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report their nominations to the Corresponding Secretary in writing. Upon receipt of the Committee’s report, the Corresponding Secretary shall, at least two weeks prior to the April meeting, notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated. 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 Corresponding Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate to show his willingness to be a candidate.  No person may be a candidate for more than one position. Nominations cannot be made at the Annual Meeting or in any manner other than as provided in this Section. ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES Section 1.  STANDING COMMITTEES The Board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as dog shows, obedience trial, companion dog events, membership, and other fields which may well be served by committees.  Ad hoc committees may also be appointed by the Board to aid in particular projects. Section 2.   TERMINATION OF COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT Any committee appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the members of the Board present, upon written notice to the appointee, and the Board may elect successors to those persons whose services have been terminated by a majority vote. ARTICLE  VI  - 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 interest of the Club.  Written charges and specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Corresponding Secretary, together with a deposit of $100.00, which shall be forfeited if the Board declines jurisdiction or does not sustain the charges following a hearing.  The corresponding 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 Corresponding 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 complainant and defendant shall be treated uniformly in that regard.  Should the charges be sustained, after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by the 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 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 defendants right to appear before his fellow members at the ensuring Club meeting which considers the Board’s decision; its findings shall be put in written form and filed with the Corresponding Secretary.  The Corresponding 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 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, the Board’s findings and recommendations, and invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his own behalf, if he wishes.  The meeting shall then vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion.  A 2/3 vote of those present shall be necessary for expulsion.  If expulsion is not so voted, the Board’s suspension shall stand. ARTICLE  VII   AMENDMENTS Section 1.  AMENDMENTS PROPOSED Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition addressed to the Corresponding Secretary, signed by twenty percent of the membership 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 Corresponding Secretary, for a vote within 3 months of the date of when the petition was received by the Secretary. Section 2.   VOTING ON CHANGES TO CONSTITUION AND BYLAWS The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members present at any regular or special meeting called for the purpose, but the proposed amendments must be embodied in the call for any such meeting and mailed to each member at least two weeks prior to the date of each meeting. Section 3.  AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB APPROVAL OF CHANGES TO CONSTITUION AND BYLAWS No amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws adopted by the Club shall become effective until it has been approved by the Board of Directors of the American Kennel Club. ARTICLE  VIII   DISSOLUTION Section 1.  DISSOLUTION 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 the purposes or 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 member of the Club; but after payment of the debts of the Club, its property and assets shall be given to one or more charitable organizations, as recommended by the Board of Directors and approved by 2/3 of the then members ARTICLE  IX   PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY and ORDER OF BUSINESS Section 1.  ROBERT’S RULES The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s 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 Bylaws and any special rules of order the Club may adopt. Section 2.  ORDER OF BUSINESS AT MEETINGS 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 Corresponding Secretary                Report of the Treasurer                Report of the AKC Delegate                Report of Committees                Election of Officers and Board (at Annual Meeting)                Election of New Members                Unfinished Business                New Business                Adjournment Section 3.  ORDER OF BUSINESS AT BOARD MEETINGS At meetings of the Board, the order of business, so far as the character and nature of the meeting may permit, shall be as follows:               Minutes of the Last Meeting of the Board               Report of the Corresponding Secretary               Report of the Treasurer               Report of the AKC Delegate               Report of Committees               Unfinished Business               New Business               Adjournment   These  Bylaws were revised  / amended  and approved by vote  of the Tennessee Valley Kennel Club Inc. at the meeting of 01 May 2008.  TVKC/kc TENNESSEE VALLEY KENNEL CLUB  Home