GREAT LAKES ALL TERRIER ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

Adopted: March 1999
Revised: November 2000

CONSTITUTION
OF
The Great Lakes All Terrier Association

ARTICLE 1

Name and Objects

SECTION 1. The name of the Club shall be the Great Lakes All Terrier Association.

SECTION 2. The objects of the Club shall be:

(a) to encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Terriers and

to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection;

(b) to urge members and breeders to accept the Terriers’ standards, as

approved by the American Kennel Club as the only standard of

excellence by which Terriers shall be judged;

(c) to do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of Terrier

breeds through quality education programs and by encouraging

sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, obedience trials, and other

AKC sanctioned events; and

(d) to conduct sanctioned matches, Terrier Group shows, obedience

trials and other AKC sanctioned events under the rules and regulations of

the American Kennel Club.

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 objects.

Great Lakes All Terrier Association

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE 1

Membership

SECTION 1. Eligibility.

Members. There shall be one type of membership, Individual, 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. The Club’s membership

should be representative of Terrier breeders and exhibitors. Therefore, members

shall have demonstrated experience and commitment to the breeding of dogs assigned to

the Terrier Group by the AKC. The membership should reflect representation for each

Terrier breed. While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club’s

primary purpose is to be representative of the Terrier breeders and exhibitors in the

Greater Chicago area.

SECTION 2. Dues. Membership dues shall not exceed $25.00 per member per year,

payable on or before the lst day of January of each year. No member may vote whose

dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of November, the Treasurer

shall send to each member a statement of his dues for the ensuing year.

SECTION 3. Election to Membership. Each applicant for membership shall apply on

a form as approved by the Board of Directors and which shall provide that the applicant

agrees to abide by the Constitution and By-laws, the rules of the American Kennel Club

and document the applicant’s involvement in the breeding and exhibiting of Terriers.

The application shall state the name, address and occupation of the applicant - and

shall carry the endorsement of two members in good standing. Accompanying the

application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year.

All applications are to be filed with the Corresponding Secretary and each

application is to be read at the first membership meeting of the Club following its

receipt. At the next Club meeting, the application will be voted upon by secret ballot

and affirmative votes of 2/3 of the members present and voting at that meeting shall

be required to elect the applicant.

Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not re-apply

within six months after such rejection.

All delegates of the Great Lakes Terrier Association, as of January 1999, shall

automatically be members of the Great Lakes All Terrier Association unless membership

is terminated under the provisions of Article 1, Section 4 (a)(b)(c) of these By-laws.

SECTION 4. Termination of Membership. Memberships may be terminated:

(a) by resignation. Any member in good standing may resign from the

Club upon written notice to the Corresponding Secretary. 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 90 days after the first

day of the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional 90 day

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.

(c) by expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as

provided in Article VI of these By-laws.

ARTICLE II

Meetings and Voting

SECTION 1. Club Meetings. Meetings of the Club shall be held in the Greater

Chicago area at least six (6) times a year, at such hour and place as may be designated

by the Board of Directors. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the

Corresponding Secretary at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. The

quorum for such meetings shall be 20% of the voting 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 Board who are present and voting at any regular

or special meeting of the Board; and shall be called by the Corresponding Secretary

upon receipt of a petition signed by five (5) members of the Club who are in good

standing. Such special meetings shall be held in the Greater Chicago area at such place,

date and hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call

such meetings. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed by the Corresponding

Secretary at least five (5) days and not more than fifteen (15) 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% of the

members in good standing.

SECTION 3. Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held

in the Greater Chicago area at least six (6) times a year, at such time and place as may be

designated by the Board. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the

Corresponding Secretary at least five (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 (3) members of the Board. Such special meetings

shall be held within the Greater Chicago 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 given by the Corresponding Secretary at least five (5) days and not more

than ten (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 (1) vote at any meeting of the Club at which he

or she is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any Club meeting or election.

ARTICLE III

Directors and Officers

SECTION 1. Board of Directors. The officers of the Club shall be comprised of the

President, Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and

three Directors, all of whom shall be members in good standing and all of whom 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 Board shall be vested with the general

management of the Club’s affairs.

SECTION 2. Officers. The officers of the Club shall be comprised of the President,

Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer. The

Club’s officers shall serve in their respective capacities with regard to all Club meetings

and Board meetings.

(a) 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 the President in addition to those duties particularly specified in

these By-laws.

(b) The Vice President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the

President in case of the President’s death, incapacity, or absence.

(c) The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club

and of the Board and of all matters for which a record shall be ordered

by the Club.

(d) The Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence,

notify members of meetings, notify officers of their election to office,

keep a roster of the members with their addresses. The secretaries

shall also carry out such other duties as are prescribed by these By-laws.

(e) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the

Club and shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the Board in the

name of the Club. The Treasurer’s books shall at all times be open to

inspection by the Board. The Treasurer shall report to the membership

at every meeting the condition of the Club’s finances and every item of

receipt and payment not before reported. At the annual meeting the

Treasurer shall render an account of all monies received and expended

during the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be bonded in the

amount the board of directors shall determine.

SECTION 3. Vacancies. Any vacancies occurring among the officers during the

year shall be filled until the next annual election by a majority vote of the Board of the

Club present and voting at its first regular meeting following the creation of the vacancy,

or at a special meeting called for that purpose; except that a vacancy in the office of the

President shall be filled automatically by the Vice President and the resulting vacancy in

office of the Vice President shall be filled by the Board.

ARTICLE IV

The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections

SECTION 1. Club Year. The Club’s fiscal year shall begin on the lst day of January

and end on the 31st day of December. The Club’s official year shall begin immediately

at the conclusion of the election at the annual meeting and shall continue through the

election at the next annual meeting.

SECTION 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in the month of

September, at which 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 the conclusion of the election and each retiring officer shall

turn over to his successor in office all properties and records relating to that office within

thirty (30) days after the election.

SECTION 3. Elections. The nominated candidate receiving the majority number of

votes for each office shall be declared elected. The three 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 and Ballots. No person may be a candidate in a Club

election who has not been nominated in accordance with these By-laws. A Nominating

Committee shall be chosen by the Board during the month of May. The Committee shall

consist of three members and two alternates, all voting members in good standing. The

Corresponding Secretary shall immediately notify the committeepersons and alternates of

their selection. The Board shall name a Chairperson for the Committee, and it shall be

his or her duty to call a committee meeting, which shall be held on or before June 20.

(a) The Nominating Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office,

and 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.

(b) Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee’s report, the Secretary shall,

at least two weeks before the July meeting, notify each member in

writing of the candidates so nominated.

(c) Additional nominations may be made at the July meeting by any

member in attendance, provided that the person so nominated does not

decline when their name is proposed, and provided further that if the

proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, the proposer

shall present to the 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.

(d) Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner

other than as provided in this Section.

ARTICLE V

Committees

SECTION 1. The Board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the

work of the Club in such matters as specialty shows, performance events, membership

and other fields that 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 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 appointee; and the Board may

appoint successors to those persons whose services have been terminated.

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 interests of the Club. Written charges with

specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Corresponding Secretary together with a

deposit of $25.00 which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by a trial

board 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 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 not less than three (3) weeks, nor more than six (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/her own defense and

bring witnesses if he/she 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 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 (6) 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 case the suspension shall not restrict the defendant’s right to

appear before his fellow members at the ensuing Club meeting which considers the

Board’s recommendation. Immediately after the Board has reached a decision its finding

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 following a Board hearing and upon the Board’s

recommendation of expulsion. The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in

his/her own behalf, though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. The President

shall read the charges and the Board’s findings and recommendations, and shall invite the

defendant, if present, to speak in his/her own behalf if he/she wishes. The members shall

then vote by secret written ballot on the proposed expulsion. A 2/3 vote of those present

and voting at the meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. If expulsion is not so voted,

the Board’s suspension 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 Secretary signed

by 20% 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 three (3) months of the date when the petition was

received by the Secretary.

SECTION 2. The Constitution and By-laws may be amended by a 2/3 secret vote of

the members present and voting at any regular or special meeting called for

that 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.

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 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 by 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 membership.

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 Secretary

Report of Treasurer

Report of Committees

Election of Officers (at Annual Meeting)

Election of New Members

Unfinished Business

New Business

Adjournment

SECTION 2. At meetings of the Board, the order of business, unless otherwise directed

by a majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:

Reading of Minutes of Last Meeting

Report of Secretary

Report of Treasurer

Report of Committees

Unfinished Business

New Business

Adjournment

ARTICLE X

Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall

govern the Great Lakes All Terrier Association in all cases to which they are applicable

and in which they are not inconsistent with these By-laws and any special rules of order

the Great Lakes All Terrier Association may adopt.