Constitution of the
Northwest Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club
ARTICLE
1
Name
Section 1: The name of this club shall be the
Northwest Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club
ARTICLE
11
Object
Section 1: To promote, encourage, and improve
the breeding and exhibition of the Netherland Dwarf Rabbit in accordance with
ANDRC and ARBA rules and Standards of Perfection.
Section 2: To hold at least two (2) sanctioned
all Netherland Dwarf Shows each year.
Section 3: To publish an informative bulletin
quarterly (January/Treasurer's report and sweepstakes, April, July and
October/Elections) to the membership.
Section 4: This club shall be a non-profit
organization.
ARTICLE
III
Affiliation
Section 1: This club shall be affiliated with
the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc.and the
American Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club.
ARTICLE
IV
Membership
Section 1: Any person of good character and
reputation who is in accord with the objectives of this club may become a
member of this club.
Section 2: An application form, as prescribed by
the Board of Directors, along with payment in
Section 3: The term of membership shall begin
from the date of receipt of application and expires one year from issue.
Section 4: Members will be notified thirty- (30)
days prior to the expiration of membership.
If renewed more than sixty(60)days after due
date that member will forfeit show points.
After that date they will be considered new members.
Section 5: A member appointed to any special
committee shall be in good standing with the Northwest Netherland Dwarf Club,
American Rabbit Breeders Association and the American Netherland Dwarf Rabbit
Club.
Section 6: New members shall receive a membership
card, copy of the Bylaws and Constitution and quarterly news bulletins.
Section 7: All Northwest Netherland Dwarf Rabbit
Club (NWNDRC) members residing in Region Seven (7), as defined by the American
Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club (ANDRC), are eligible to earn club sweepstakes
points and awards. The show must be ARBA and ANDRC sanctioned. All NWNDRC shows
will provide a report to the Sweepstakes Chairman. It is the responsibility of
the NWNDRC member to send his/her Exhibitor Report, or copy, as proof of earned
sweepstakes points to the Sweepstakes Chairman within sixty-(60) days of said
show. An email will not be considered as proof.
Section 8: Sweepstakes points are earned from
January 1st through December 31st of each year.
Section 9: Sweepstakes awards will be given out
at the first Sponsored NWNDRC Show after April 1st of following year. Awards
and cost must be approved by a simply majority vote of the Board.
ARTICLE
V
Officers
Section 1: The officers of this club shall
consist of a President, Vice
President, Secretary ,
Treasurer , and four (4) Directors.
Section 2: The President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer and the four (4) Directors shall constitute the Board of
Directors.
Section 3: The Officers and Directors shall be
elected from and by the membership by mail ballot. Any member to be eligible
for any office must breed/show Netherland Dwarf rabbits.
Section 4: The term of office for the Officers
and Directors shall be two (2) years. The Past President shall serve as a member
of the Board of Directors for one (1) year following the termination of his/her
term.
Section 5: The terms of office for all members
of the Board of Directors shall commence at one ( I)
minute past midnight January I.
Section 6: Premature vacancies of any office
shall be filled by appointment by the President. Any discrepancy in appointments shall be
subject to a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Any Board member failing
to report his/her vote to the President within thirty-30) days shall by his/her
silence, forfeit his/her vote to the President, who will cast their vote as
he/she wishes.
Section 7: The position of secretary and
treasurer shall be combined and/or separated if the Board decides it would
benefit the Club and subject to a simple majority vote by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE
VI
Meetings
Section 1: This club shall hold at least one (1)
General Membership meeting each year. These meetings are to be held at a NWNDRC
Show or via Internet chat group. In order to transact business at any meeting
of the Club, there shall be a quorum of at least fifteen percent (15%) of the
membership, in addition to at least two officers and two directors.
Section 2: The President may call as many
meetings/or via internet chat lines of the Board of Directors as he/she deems
necessary to transact the business of the Club. The presence of four (4)
Officers and or Directors shall constitute a quorum.
Section3: Due to the geographic distance between
the Board of Directors and Officers, closed board meetings may be conducted
through emails or a designated Internet chat lines.
ARTICLE
VII
Amendments
Section 1: This Constitution may be amended by a
simple majority of votes cast by mail ballot of the entire membership. All
members are to be notified in writing of the proposed amendment by the July new
letter and furnished a ballot during the October elections. The results posted in the January news
bulletin.
Section 2: Any member may submit to the Bylaws
and Constitution Committee a resolution or an amendment to the Constitution
providing it is signed by three (3) or more members in good standing. All
resolutions for amendment of the Constitution shall be published in the July
news bulletin and placed on the October ballot for a simply majority vote.
Section 3: Any resolution adopted by majority
vote of the membership shall take effect sixty (60) days after the date of
certification by the Election Committee.
Section 4: The Bylaws and Constitution committee
shall review bylaws and Constitution every two years.
Revised
12/10/08 VLW
By Laws of the
Northwest Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club
ARTICLE
I
Dues
Section 1: Membership dues shall be recommended
by the Board of Directors for approva1 by the membership.
Section 2: Upon expiration of membership,
providing renewal has not been received, the Treasurer shall notify the member
in writing 30 days prior to membership expires and the member shall have sixty
(60) days from expiration date of membership to renew. The membership will be
terminated at the end of those 60 days if renewal is not received and the
member will forfeit sweepstakes points and be considered a new member if and
when he/she rejoins.
ARTICLE
II
Discipline
Section 1: The Board of Director's may by a
majority vote, expel or reject an application for membership or renewal
providing charges have been preferred by another member. The lack of good
sportsmanship or other actions detrimental to the objectives of the Club will
likewise be grounds for expulsion.
Section 2: A member against whom charges have
been preferred shall be fully informed by the Secretary and given thirty (30)
days to reply before action is taken by the Board Of
Directors.
Section 3: Any person expelled or rejected may
be eligible for reinstatement after a period of one year, upon authority of the
Board of Directors.
Section 4: If an officer or director becomes
delinquent in his/her dues, he/she shall be notified by the secretary in
writing and if his/her dues are not received within 60 days, the office shall
be declared vacant.
Section 5: If an officer or director does not
fulfill his/her duties and shows lack of interest in club matters, he/she shall
be asked to resign by the president. If he/she fails to do so, the Board of
Directors, by majority vote, shall declare the office vacant.
Section 6: If an officer or director shall give
up the breeding/showing of Netherland Dwarf rabbits during the term of his/her
office, he/she shall immediately resign.
Section 7: No Board, Officer or Committee Member
shall exchange privileged information to the general membership, or any other
persons that would cause harm to the Club.
The Board may, by simply majority vote, expel the individual immediately
by removing them from office and reject their membership for at least one year.
Section 8: All non-sufficient fund checks
submitted to the NWNDRC shall have a $35.00 surcharge in addition to the
original amount of check. Membership and
sweepstake points maybe suspended by the Board of Directors until said funds
are paid in full.
ARTICLE
III
Duties of Officers
Section 1: The president shall preside at
meeting (s), fill vacancies by appointment, appoint all committees, act as
chairman of the board of directors and perform other duties as may pertain to
the office.
Section 2: The vice president shall perform all
duties of the president in his/her absence, disability or premature vacancy in
office of president. He/she shall
succeed in office until such a time of an election or term expires.
Section 3: The treasurer shall be custodian of
all funds, maintain a bank account in the name of the club, deposit all money
received except for petty cash authorized by the board and pay all expenses and
debts authorized by the board by check signed by two officers. Shall furnish annual
reports to the board. In addition
the treasurer shall receive and act on all membership applications received,
maintain a complete set of books and records including a roster of members,
certifying eligibility to vote. The books shall be audited each year prior to
January 1. A report shall be printed in
the news bulletin by April of each year.
Section 4: The secretary shall consult and
advise the president on any unusual matters shall keep accurate records of all
meeting and perform such other duties which may be assigned by the president. Shall mail charter fees to ARBA and ANDRC no later than January 1.
Section 5: The board of directors shall have the
power to transact all club business between meetings, act upon charges brought
before them, formulate rules, award locations of all Netherland dwarf shows,
and decide on any questions of policy or anything not specifically covered in
the constitution or bylaws.
ARTICLE
IV
Committees
Section 1: All money collected by committees or
individuals shall be submitted to the treasurer within 7 days with an itemized
report of income and expenses, to include receipts for expenses.
Section 2: Expenses of a committee or individual
delegated for any function shall not exceed the amount allotted without
approval of the board.
Section 3: An election committee consisting of a
chairman and at least one member or non member shall be appointed to receive
and certify the results of elections to the president and secretary within 10
days of the closing of the poles.
Section 4: An auditing committee consisting of a
chairman and at least one member or non-member shall be appointed to audit the
books of the treasurer each year prior to January 1 and report to the
membership in the annual news bulletin.
Section 5: A show committee, consisting of a
secretary, superintendent, specials person and catalog person plus whatever
supporting personnel as may be required, shall be appointed plan and carry out
the all Netherland dwarf shows. Using a budget authorized by the board, the
show committee will procure the trophies, ARBA judge, catalogs, and show
facility.
The show committee will report to the treasurer
the date of the upcoming show. The
treasurer will then apply for appropriate sanctions. At the conclusion of the show the show
secretary will have all show and sanction reports mailed out within 14 days, as
well as a copy of all reports to the treasurer.
Section 6: Sweepstakes committee shall consist
of a chairman and at least one member if needed, whose duties will be to
receive such show reports as necessary for the club sweepstakes, record
sweepstakes points of each member, report sweepstakes standing in each issue of
NWNDRC bulletin and quarterly on the website and issue and distribute such
awards as outlined in the club sweepstakes rules.
Section 7: A constitution committee consisting
of a chairman and at least one member shall be appointed to maintain the Bylaws
and Constitution. The committee shall be
allowed to offer improvement, amendments or clarification of the Bylaws and
Constitution to the Board of Directors at any meeting, email or Internet chat
line.
Section 8: The President shall appoint news
bulletin editor.
He/she shall provide a quarterly new bulletin to
all members of the club. A News Bulletin Editor shall keep in contact with the
Secretary and Sweepstakes Chairman for the purpose of printing Sweepstakes
points, Show Information and print the names of new and current members.
Members and candidates are encouraged to send in stories, photos or other
information pertaining to the Netherland Dwarf Rabbit.
Section 9: The President shall appoint a
Webmaster.
The Web Chairman shall maintain a NWNDRC web site.
The Chairman shall keep in contact with the Secretary and Sweepstakes Chairman
for the purpose of displaying Sweepstake points quarterly, show information and
list the names of new and current NWNDRC members. All members and candidates are encouraged to
send in stories, photos or other information pertaining to Netherland Dwarf
Rabbit.
ARTICLE
V
Voting Procedure
Section 1:Any member in
good standing may submit his/her name or that of any other member in good
standing as a candidate for any office to the secretary by September 1st. That member running for a position as a board
member or officer must provide verification to the NWNDRC secretary that they
are a current member of ARBA and ANDRC.
Verification must be submitted before he/she is placed on the
ballot.
Section 2: Upon receipt of a nomination by the
secretary, he/she shall determine if the member is eligible to run for the
office. All nominees who qualify must appear on the ballot.
Section 3: In the event that any office does not
have at least one nominee's name submitted, the president shall appoint a
committee to work with him/her to obtain the nominees necessary to complete the
ballot.
Section 4: Ballots will be included with the
October 1 issue of NWNDRC bulletins sent to all members whose dues have not yet
expired. The name of all qualified candidates plus space for write in
candidates for each office will appear on the ballot. An envelope addressed to
the election chairman will be included with each ballot. Ballots must be postmarked
not later than November 1. The election committee shall count all applicable
ballots and send a certified statement of the results to the president and
secretary to be retained for one year (1) in the event there should be any
questioning of the results.
Section 5: No person whose name appears on the
ballot may be on the election committee.
Section 6: In the event of a tie between two or
more persons for the same office, selection shall be made by the board of
directors from the persons so tied.
Section 7: Only original ballots printed in the
official publication and mailed by the election committee shall be valid. Facsimiles or copies of any ballot can be
declared void at the discretion of the election committee.
ARTICLE
VI
Amendment
Section 1:These
bylaws may be amended in the same manner as set down in the constitution
article VII.
Revised
12/10/08 VLW