Section 1.

The name of the club shall be the Raisin River Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of Michigan.

Section 2.

1. To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Rhodesian Ridgebacks and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection.
2. To encourage sportsmanlike conduct at dog shows and performance events.
3. To promote education within our membership concerning all aspects of the breed and to provide opportunities for socialization of dogs.
4. To conduct sanctioned matches, dog shows, obedience trials, lure coursing tests/trials, and other AKC events for which the club is eligible, under the Rules and Regulations of the American Kennel Club.
5. To encourage the education and training of judges.

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 bylaws as may be required to carry out these objectives.

Section 1. Eligibility

1. Regular membership is open to all person’s eighteen (18) years of age and older who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the objectives and Code of Ethics of the club.
2. There shall be junior memberships open for persons between the age of ten (10) and seventeen (17) years of age who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club, and who subscribe to the objectives and the Code of Ethics of the club. Junior members pay no dues and have no rights to vote or hold office in the club. Upon reaching their 18th birthday, a Junior Member may be able to convert to regular membership.
3. Newsletter membership is open for persons above the age of eighteen (18) years of age who do not reside within the club’s local area, or who do not attend regular club meetings or functions. Newsletter members are entitled to participate in all club activities except voting and holding office.
4. While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the club’s primary purpose is to be representative of owners, breeders and exhibitors in its immediate area.

Section 2. Dues

1. The Board of Directors shall set annual dues. Dues will be payable on or before the 1st day of June. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. A statement of dues for the ensuing year shall be sent to each member during the month of March.
2. The Board may designate Individual, Family, and Newsletter membership for dues purposes. Family is defined as two regular members who are eighteen (18) years of age or older who reside in the same household.

Section 3. Election to Membership

1. Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the Constitution and Bylaws, the Code of Ethics of the Club, and the rules of the American Kennel Club. The applicant shall state his name, address, and occupation, and the application form will carry the endorsement of two members in good standing. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues for the current year.The endorsing members must be from two separate households, and may not be immediately related to the applicant.
2. All membership applications are to be filed with the Recording/Corresponding secretary and each application is to be read at the first meeting following its receipt. At the next club meeting the application will be voted upon by ‘secret’ vote. Affirmative votes of 2/3’s of the members present and voting at that meeting shall be required to elect that applicant.
3. Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the club may not re-apply within six months after rejection.

Section 4. Objections to Applicants for Membership

1. Objections to a membership application may be voiced at the reading of the application, or submitted in writing by mail to the Recording/Corresponding Secretary before the vote on membership is taken for the applicant. At the first meeting of the Board of Directors following this objection, the Board will either recommend to the membership of the club to accept the application or to reject the application.

Section 5. Termination of Membership

1. Resignation. Any member in good standing may resign from the club upon written notice to the Recording/Corresponding Secretary; but no member may resign when in debt to the Club.
2. Lapsing. A membership will 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 30 days of grace to such delinquent members in meritorious cases. In no case may a person be entitled to vote at any club meeting whose dues are unpaid as of the date of that meeting.
3. Expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these Bylaws.

Section 1.

Club Meetings shall be held each month in the greater Ann Arbor, Michigan area at such hour and place as shall be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the Recording/Corresponding Secretary at least 5 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 20 percent of the members in good standing.

Section 2. Special Club Meetings

Special Club meetings may be called by a majority vote of the members of the board upon receipt of a petition signed by five members of the club who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be called by the Recording/Corresponding Secretary and held in the greater Ann Arbor, Michigan area at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such a meeting. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least five days and not more than 10 days prior to the date of the meeting and said notice shall state the purpose of the meeting, and no other club business may be transacted thereat. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20 percent of the members in good standing.

Section 3.

Board Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held each month in the greater Ann Arbor, Michigan area at such place and time as may be designated by the board. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the Recording/Corresponding Secretary at least 5 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such a meeting will 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 Recording/Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least three members of the board. Such special meetings shall be held in the greater Ann Arbor, Michigan area at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such meeting. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Recording/Corresponding Secretary at least five 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. The quorum for such a meeting will be a majority of the board. In the case of emailed notices for Special Board Meetings, the Recording/Corresponding Secretary shall ensure an electronic receipt response is received from each Board Member.

Section 1. Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the officers and 3 other persons, all of whom shall be members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for one year terms at the club’s annual meeting as provided in Article IV and shall serve until their successors are elected. 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, Recording/Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the club and its meeting and the board and it’s meetings.

1. 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 of President in addition to those particularly specified in these bylaws.
2. The Vice President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President’s absence or incapacity.
3. The Recording/Corresponding Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the club and of the board and all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the club.   The Recording/Corresponding Secretary shall have all charge of correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify new members of their election to membership, notify officers and directors of their election to office, keep a roll of the members of the club with their addresses, and carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these bylaws.
4. The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the club. Moneys shall be deposited in a bank designated by the board, in the name of the club. The books shall at all times be open to inspection by the board and a report shall be given each month of the condition of the club’s finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported; during the month of July (once per year following dues renewal) an accounting shall be rendered of all moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year.

Section 3. Board Members

There shall be three Board Members each of whom shall be elected to serve a one-year term.

Section 4. Vacancies

Any vacancies occurring on the board or among the offices 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 automatically filled by the Vice President and there resulting vacancy in the office of Vice President shall be filled by the board.

Section 1. Club Year

The club’s fiscal year shall begin on the first day of June, and end on the last day of May.

Section 2. Annual Meeting

An annual meeting shall be held in the month of May, at which officers and directors for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret ballot from among those nominated in accordance with Section 4 of this article. They shall take office immediately upon the conclusion of the election and each retiring officer shall turn over to the successor in office all properties and records relating to that office within 30 days after election.

Section 3. Elections

The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. The nominated candidates for other positions on the board of directors who receive the greatest number of votes for such positions shall be declared elected. In the case of a tie for any position, a revote for that position shall be conducted at that time. I the case of a second tie, a candidate’s name will be drawn from a hat to determine the winner.

Section 4. Nominations

No person may be a candidate in a club election who has not been nominated. During the month of February, the board shall select a nominating committee consisting of three members and two alternates, not more than one of who may be a member of the board. The potential committee members shall be contacted by phone to determine their willingness to serve in this capacity. The board shall name a chairman for this committee, and it shall be such person’s duty to call a committee meeting, which shall be held on or before March 1st.

1. The committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and position on the board, and after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report his or her nominations to the Recording/Corresponding Secretary in writing.
2. Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee’s report the Recording/Corresponding Secretary shall notify each member in writing of the candidates nominated at least two (2) weeks prior to the April meeting.
3. Additional nominations may be made at the April meeting by any member in attendance, provided that the person so nominated does not decline when their name is proposed, and provide further that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, the individual proposing the candidate shall present to the Recording/Corresponding Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying willingness to be a candidate. No person may be a candidate for more than one position.
4. Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than as provided in this Section.

Section 1.

The board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the club in such matters as specialty shows, obedience trials, field trials, agility trials, trophies, annual prizes, membership, and other fields which may well be served by committees. Such 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 appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the full membership of the board upon written notice to the appointees; and the board may appoint successors to those persons whose services have been terminated. Absent board members shall be allowed to vote by proxy within 72 hours of the vote.

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 or the breed, or for violating the club’s Code of Ethics. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Recording/Corresponding Secretary together with a deposit of $50, which shall be forfeited if the board following a hearing does not sustain such charges. The Recording/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 interest 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 not less than three weeks or more than six weeks thereafter. The 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 both 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 reprimand or suspend the defendant from all privileges of the club for not more than six months form the date of the hearing. In such case, the suspension shall not restrict the defendant’s right to appear before this fellow member at the ensuing club meeting which considers the board’s recommendation. Immediately after the board has reached a decision, it’s finding shall be put in written form and filed with the Recording/Corresponding Secretary. The Recording/Corresponding Secretary in turn shall notify each of the parties of the board’s decision and penalty, if any.

Section 4. Code of Ethics Violation

Any member that is found by the board to have violated the Code of Ethics shall be suspended for a minimum of 6 months; second violation will receive a minimum suspension of 12 months.

Section 5. Membership Review

Any member, who undergoes a suspension, will subject their membership to review at the next membership renewal date.

Section 1.

Amendments to the constitution and bylaws may be proposed by the board of directors or by written petition addressed to the Recording/Corresponding Secretary signed by 20 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 membership with recommendations of the board by the Secretary for a vote within three months of the date when the petition was received by the Recording/Corresponding Secretary.

Section 2.

The constitution and bylaws may by amended by a 2/3 secret vote of the members present and voting at any regular 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 weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

Section 1.

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 purposes of 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 members of the club but after payment of the debts of the club its property and assets shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefit of dogs selected by the board of directors.

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:

1. Roll Call
2. Minutes of the last meeting
3. Report of the President
4. Report of the Recording/Corresponding Secretary
5. Report of the Treasurer
6. Reports of Committees
7. Election of officers and board (annual meeting)
8. Election of new members
9. Unfinished business
10. New business
11. Adjournment

Section 2.

At meetings of the board, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:

1. Reading of minutes of last meeting
2. Report of the Recording/Corresponding Secretary
3. Report of Treasurer
4. Reports of Committees
5. Unfinished Business
6. New Business
7. Adjournment

All reports shall be submitted in writing to the Recording/Corresponding Secretary at the time of the meeting for inclusion in the written minutes.

Section 1.

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 an in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any other special rules of order the club may adopt.