CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I.  Name and Objectives:

SECTION 1. The name of the Club shall be THE CHESAPEAKE SIBERIAN HUSKY CLUB, INC.

SECTION 2. The objectives of the club shall be: (a) To do all possible to bring the natural qualities of the pure-bred Siberian Husky to perfection through selective breeding. (b) To educate and to urge members and breeders to adhere to the standard of the breed as approved by the American Kennel Club as the only standard of excellence by which Siberian Huskies shall be judged. (c) To do all in it's power to protect and advance the interests of the breed by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, sled dog races and obedience trials. (d) To conduct sanctioned matches, specialty shows and obedience matches under the rules of the American Kennel Club and to conduct sled dog races under the rules determined by the club membership.  

SECTION 3. The club shall not be conducted or operated for profit and no part of any 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.


BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I. Membership

SECTION 1. Eligibility: Membership shall be open to all persons 18 years of age and older who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club. The minimum age requirement may be waived by the Board of Directors when the applicant has demonstrated an interest in the breed through exhibiting, breeding and/or racing registered Siberian Huskies.

SECTION 2. Dues: Payments for individual memberships and family memberships, (members of one household) shall be due on the first day of July. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During May, the Treasurer shall send to each member a dues statement for the ensuing year. Members joining after January 1st, shall pay one-half (1/2) the regular dues for that calendar year. Dues shall be set by the Board with the approval of 2/3 of the membership present and voting at any regular club meeting.

SECTION 3. Election to Membership: Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form that has been approved by the Board of Directors. The application shall state that the applicant agrees to abide by the Constitution, By-Laws and Code of Ethics of the Chesapeake Siberian Husky Club, Inc. and the rules of the American Kennel Club. The application shall be endorsed by one member in good standing and shall be accompanied by payment of dues for the current year.  Each application is to be filed with the Corresponding Secretary and shall be read to the General Membership at the first regular meeting attended by the applicant. The members will vote on the application at the regular meeting following the reading of the application. Affirmative votes from 3/4 of the members present and voting at that meeting shall be required to elect that applicant into membership.

SECTION 4. Termination of Membership - Membership may be Terminated:
(a) By Resignation: Any member may resign from the club upon written notice to the Corresponding Secretary.
(b) By Lapsing: A membership will be considered lapsed and automatically terminated if such members dues remain unpaid 90 days after the first day of the fiscal year. However, the Board may grant an additional 90 day period of grace to such delinquent members in meritorious cases.
(c) By Expulsion: A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided for in Article II, Section 4, of the By-Laws.

ARTICLE II. Meeting and Voting

SECTION 1. Club Meetings: Regular club meetings shall be held at least every other month within the greater Baltimore, Maryland, area at such hour and place as designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of each meeting shall be mailed by the Corresponding Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 20% of members 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 meeting of the Board, or by the Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by five (5) club members who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held within the Greater Baltimore area at such place, hour and date as may be designated by the person or person's authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such meetings 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, at which no other club business may be transacted. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20% of the members in good standing.

SECTION 3. Board Meetings: Board meetings shall be held within the Greater Baltimore, Maryland area in at least six (6) different months of each year, on such a day and at such a time and place as designated by the Board. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the Corresponding Secretary at least 5 days prior to the date of the meeting. 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 and shall be called by the Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least three members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held within the Greater Baltimore, Maryland area at such place, date and hour as designated by the person authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed by the Corresponding Secretary at least 5 days and not more than 10 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 meeting 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/she is present. Proxy or mail voting will not be permitted at any club meeting, election, Board meeting or special club/Board meeting.

ARTICLE III. Directors and Officers

SECTION 1. Board of Directors: The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Corresponding/Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and two (2) other persons, all of whom are members in good standing. The Board members shall be elected for one year terms at the club's annual meeting as provided for in Article IV and shall serve until their successors are elected. During any time period, only one member of a family membership may serve on the Board of Directors. General management of the club's affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. Officers: The club's Officers, consisting of the President, Vice-President, Corresponding/Recording Secretary and Treasurer, shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the club and its meetings and the Board and its meetings.

SECTION 3.Duties of Officers:
(a) President: It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all regular and special meetings of the club or of the Board of Directors and to give such supervision of the club as may be necessary to effect its purposes under the Constitution and By-Laws and as may be directed by the Board of Directors. In addition to being the presiding officer, the President shall be entitled to vote at either membership or Board meetings.
(b) Vice-President: It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to assume and carry out the duties of the President in the event of his/her absence or inability to act as President.
(c) Corresponding/Recording Secretary: It shall be the duty of the Corresponding/Recording Secretary to attend to all correspondence, to issue all notices and to have custody of the files and documents of the club. He/she shall notify new members of their election and distribute to each new member a membership card and membership packet. He/she shall notify members of the time and place of membership meetings and notify Directors of the time and place of Board meetings. He/she shall carry out such duties as are prescribed in these By-Laws and/or by the Board of Directors.  The Secretary shall keep a complete set of minutes of every meeting of the club and of the Board of Directors and a record of all matters that shall be so ordered.  He/she shall furnish copies of all minutes of all meetings in a form prescribed by the Board of Directors and keep an up-to-date roll of the members and their addresses. He/she shall carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these By-Laws and/or by the Board of Directors.
(e) Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the club. He/she shall deposit same in a bank satisfactory to the Board, in the name of the club. The club books shall at all times be open to inspection by the Board of Directors and a report shall be given to them at every meeting on the club's finances and on every item of receipt or payment both before reported. At the election meeting, the Treasurer shall render an account of all moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.

SECTION 4. Vacancies: A vacancy occurring during the year in the office of President shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Vice-President. All other vacancies occurring on the Board during the year shall be filled by a majority vote of the then members of the Board at it's first meeting following the creation of such a vacancy.

ARTICLE IV. The Club's Year, Election Meeting and Elections

SECTION 1. Club Year: The club's fiscal year shall begin on the first day of July and end on the 30th day of June the following year. The club's official year shall begin immediately at the conclusion of the annual election of officers and shall continue through the next election at the next annual meeting.

SECTION 2. Election Meeting: At the election meeting to be held in July, Directors and Officers for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret, written ballot from among those nominated in accordance with SECTION 4 of this ARTICLE. They shall take office immediately upon conclusion of the election. Each retiring officer shall turn over to the successor all properties and records relating to that office within thirty days after the election.

SECTION 3. Election: The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. The two nominated candidates for the other positions on the Board of Directors 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 April the Board shall select a nominating committee consisting of three (3) members and two (2) alternates, not more than one of whom shall be a member of the Board. The Corresponding/Recording Secretary shall immediately notify the committee members and alternates of their selection. The Board shall name a Chairperson for the Nominating Committee and it shall be his/her duty to call a committee meeting which shall be held on or before May 15.
(a) The Nominating Committee shall nominate one (1) candidate for each office and two (2) candidates for the other two positions on the Board. After securing the consent of each person so nominated, the Corresponding/Recording Secretary shall immediately be notified in writing of the nominations. After submission of the report, the Nominating Committee shall be dissolved.
(b) The Corresponding/Recording Secretary shall, on or before May 20th, send each club member in good standing the report of the Nominating Committee.
(c) Additional nominations may be made at the June meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated does not decline when his/her name is proposed and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, the proposer shall present to the Corresponding/Recording Secretary a written consent from the proposed candidate signifying his/her willingness to be a candidate. No member may be a candidate for more than one position. A member who has accepted the nomination of the Nominating Committee may not place any name in nomination for office.
(d) Nominations cannot be made at the Election Meeting or in any manner other than provided for in this SECTION.

ARTICLE V. Committees

SECTION 1. The Board of Directors may each year designate standing committees to advance the work of the club in such matters as the Board deems necessary. The Board of Directors will appoint chairpersons or co-chairpersons to these committees. Each committee chairperson shall select members willing to serve on the committee. All 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 chairperson may be removed from that position by a majority vote of the full membership of the Board upon written notice to the appointee; and the Board may appoint a successor for any person whose service has been terminated.

ARTICLE VI. Discipline

SECTION 1. American Kennel Club Suspension: Any member who is suspended from the privileges of the American Kennel Club shall automatically be suspended from the privileges of this club for a like period.

SECTION 2. Charges: Any member or the Board of Directors may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of the club and clearly violating the Code of Ethics. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Corresponding/Recording 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 Board of Directors shall not be required to submit the $10.00 deposit. The Corresponding/Recording Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each member of the Board and to the accused member.  The Board will meet to consider the charges within two (2) weeks after the Corresponding/Recording Secretary receives the charges.  The Board of Directors shall consider the charges and decide whether to dismiss or sustain the charges. If the Board decides to consider the charges, it shall fix a date for a hearing by the Board not less than three (3) weeks nor more than six (6) weeks thereafter. The Corresponding/Recording Secretary shall promptly send to the accused member by registered mail one copy of the charges with a notice of the hearing date and an assurance that the defendant may personally appear in his own defense and bring witnesses if he wishes.

SECTION 3. Board Hearing: The accused will have the right to attend the hearing on his/her behalf. Should the charges be sustained after the hearing all the evidence and the testimony presented by the complainant and defendant, the Board may, by a vote of five (5), discipline the accused. Immediately after the Board has reached a decision, its findings shall be put into written form and filed with the Corresponding/Recording Secretary. The Corresponding/Recording Secretary, in turn, shall notify the defendant and complainant of the Board's decision and penalty, if any.
Censure: The Board of Directors may by a vote of five (5) censure the accused. At the next regular meeting, the charges shall be read by the Corresponding/Recording Secretary.
Suspension and Expulsion: The Board of Directors may by a vote of five (5) recommend, for not more than six (6) months from the date of the hearing, or expulsion of the accused. A member may be suspended or expelled from the club only at the club meeting 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 sixty (60) days but not earlier than thirty (30) days after the date of the Board's recommendation of suspension or expulsion. The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in his own behalf. The President shall read the charges and the Board's recommendation. The defendant may speak in his own behalf or may appoint one (1) other person to represent him. The meeting shall then vote by secret written ballot on the proposed suspension or expulsion. A 3/4 vote of those present and voting at the meeting shall be necessary for the suspension or expulsion. If suspension or expulsion is not so voted, the Board's censure shall stand.

ARTICLE VII. 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 Corresponding/Recording Secretary and signed by twenty percent (20%) of the members in good standing. Amendments proposed by such a petition shall be considered by the Board of Directors within fourteen (14) days after receipt. The petition amendments and the Board recommendations must be submitted to the members by the Corresponding/Recording Secretary as designated in SECTION 2 of this ARTICLE. The members shall vote on the petition amendments within three (3) months from the date of the submission of the petition.

SECTION 2. The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting at any regular meeting or special meeting called for the purpose, provided the proposed amendments have been included in the notice of the meeting and mailed to each member at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII. Dissolution

SECTION 1. The club may be dissolved at any time by written consent of not less than 2/3 of the members. In the event of the dissolution of the club, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operations 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. After payments of the debts of the club, the Board may distribute the property and assets to charitable organizations that benefit dogs.

ARTICLE IX. 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 Last Meeting
Report of President
Report of Corresponding/Recording Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of Committees
Election of New Officers and Board of Directors (Election Meeting Only)
Election of New Members
Unfinished Business
New Business
Adjournment

SECTION 2. At meetings of the Board of Directors, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by majority vote of those present, shall be as follows.
Minutes of Last Meeting
Report of Corresponding/Recording Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of Committees
Unfinished Business
New Business
Adjournment

SECTION 3. Meetings of the club shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order