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ARTICLE 1
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1 - ELIGIBILITY
There shall be five classes of membership open to
persons who are in good standing with the
American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of
this club:
(a) Individual Membership shall be open to a person 18
years of age and older who enjoy all the privileges of the
club including the right to vote and hold office.
(b) Household Membership - shall be open to two persons
18 years of age and
older occupying the same residence. Both members holding
Household Membership shall enjoy all the privileges of the
club. including the right to vote and hold office.
(c) Lifetime Membership - shall be accorded, upon
unanimous vote of the Board of Directors, to any member
who has made significant contributions to the breed and/or
the club over a period of 20 years or more. Lifetime
members shall be eligible to vote and hold office in the
club but shall not be subject to payment of dues.
(d) Foreign Membership shall be open to any person 18
years of age and older,
residing outside the United States, enjoying all the
privileges of the Club except the right to vote or hold
office.
(e) Junior Membership - shall be open to any United
States resident, 10 through 17 years of age. Junior
members shall have all privileges of the Club except the
right to vote or hold office. Junior Members can convert
to single or household membership upon reaching their 18th
birthday.
SECTION 2 - DUES
(a) Membership dues shall be $20 per year for
Individual United States Members; $30 per year for
Household Membership; $10 per year for Junior- Members and
$26 per year for Regular and Associate Foreign Members.
{b) The Board of Directors may increase dues by a rate
not to exceed 10% annually, with any increase subject to
confirmation by a vote at the following Annual Meeting of
the Club.
(c) Dues are payable on or before the first day of
October of each year. In order to remain a member in good
standing, dues must be received by the Treasurer prior to
December 31. A notice shall appear in the August edition
of the dub newsletter each year informing the membership
of the provisions of this section. Members accepted into
membership after the first day of March in any year shall
not be required to pay dues until October 1 of the next
year.
SECTION 3 - ELECTION TO MEMBERSHIP
(a) Each applicant for membership shall apply on the
form approved by the Board of Directors which shall
provide that the applicant agrees to abide by these
constitution and bylaws and the rules of the American
Kennel Club. The application shall state the name, address
and occupation of the applicant and shall carry the
endorsement of two members in good standing whose dues
are paid for the current year. The prospective member
shall submit to the membership chairman the application
with dues payment for the current year. Such dues shall be
returned to the applicant if the application receives a
negative vote.
(b) Each application shall be accompanied by a
non-refundable application fee
of $10.
(c) Applicants may be elected at any meeting of the
Board of Directors or by
written vote of the Directors by mail. Any application
failing to receive unanimous endorsement of the Board on
the first ballot of the Board shall be discussed by Board
members prior to reconsideration of the applicant. An
affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Directors shall be required
to elect an applicant.
(d) An application which has been denied membership by
the Board may be
presented by one of the applicant's endorsers at the next
annual meeting and the Club may elect such applicant by
favorable vote of 75% of the members present at said
annual meeting. Applicants for membership who have been
rejected by the membership may not apply within 12 months
of such rejection.
SECTION 4 - TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership may be terminated:
(a) By 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 on
the first day of each fiscal year.
(b) By Lapsing: A membership will be considered as
lapsed and automatically
terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid after
December 31; however, the Board may grant a 90 day
extension to such delinquent members in meritorious cases.
Application for such extension must be made through the
Secretary prior to December 31 for such an extension to be
considered. Members granted such an extension by the Board
may vote or hold office that year only if their dues are
paid as of the date of the election.
A member whose membership has lapsed may, within three
months of lapsed
membership (by April 1),pay a $20 late penalty and
reactivate membership or may re-apply for membership,
being subject to the non-refundable $10 application fee.
(c) By Expulsion:. A membership may be terminated by
expulsion as provided in Artide VI of these bylaws.
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