United States American Bulldog Club Bylaws

Amended January 24, 2020

 
 
 

ARTICLE I: ORGANIZATION

1. NAME

A. This organization shall be registered as United States American Bulldog, Inc. with the state of New York.

B. The official abbreviation of this name shall be USABC

C. The official colors of the organization shall be burgundy, white, black, and gray

2. PROFIT STATUS

A. USABC is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization and shall abide by the laws of the state of New York for such organizations.

ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES

1. USABC OBJECTIVES

A. To promote and preserve the working heritage of the American Bulldog.

B. To preserve the proper conformation of the American Bulldog.

C. To educate the American Bulldog community and general public regarding responsible ownership, ethical breeding practices, training, health, breed specific legislation and all matters pertaining to the American Bulldog.

D. To provide an outlet to the American Bulldog community to compete and seminars.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

1. MEMBERSHIP

A. Membership shall be open to all American Bulldog enthusiasts of good character who subscribe to the purposes and objectives of USABC as stated herein.

B. Membership shall not be open to those individuals that by word or action imply support of illegal or inappropriate activity.

C. There shall be three types of members:

  1. Full Members:

    a. Full members shall be entitled to hold office and benefit in all the advantages of USABC

    b. Full members shall pay annual dues.

    c. Dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors and are payable each year by the date each individual’s membership expires.

    d. Membership shall cease automatically if the dues are not paid by the expiration date of membership with no notice from USABC required.

    e. Full members shall be entitled to vote. The majority vote of the general membership shall count for ONE vote on all major USABC issues.

  2. Honorary Members:

    a. Honorary members shall be elected by a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors.

    b. Honorary members shall not hold office.

    c. Honorary members shall not vote.

    d. Honorary members shall not pay annual dues.

  3. Member Clubs:

    a. Member Clubs shall consist of three or more full members.

    b. Member Clubs shall pay annual dues.

    c. Dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors and are payable each calendar year.

    d. Membership shall cease automatically if the dues are not paid by due date of each year without notice from the USABC required, a reinstatement fee may apply.

2. RESIGNATION OF MEMBERSHIP

A. Any member may resign his membership at any time upon submission to the secretary a signed statement of resignation.

3. SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION

A. Any member may be suspended by a three-quarters vote of the Board of Directors or automatically as provided for elsewhere.

B. Any member under suspension shall not be entitled to vote or participate in official USABC events.

C. Any member under suspension for more than four consecutive or non consecutive months of any calendar year may be expelled from membership by a three-quarters vote of the Board of Directors.

D. Any member under suspension may be reinstated to full membership in good standing at any time by a three-quarters vote of the Board of Directors.

E. Any member may be expelled at any time for a violation of the Bylaws stated herein by a three-quarters vote of the Board of Directors.

4. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

A. Meetings of USABC shall be called by a majority of the Board of Directors or the President

B. There shall be at least one meeting of USABC during each calendar year.

C. A regular annual meeting of the board shall be held immediately following the annual meeting of members at the place of such annual meeting of members.

D. Order of Business:

  1. Meetings of USABC shall be conducted according to The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, 4th Edition by Alice Sturgis.

5. SPECIAL MEETINGS

A. Special meetings may be called by a majority of the Board of Directors

  1. The secretary shall cause a notice of such meeting to all members at their addresses as they appear in the membership roll book at least two weeks prior to the scheduled date of such meeting.

  2. Such notice shall state the date, time, place and purpose of the meeting and by whom called.

    a. No other business but that specified in the notice may be transacted at such special meeting without the unanimous consent of all present at such meeting.

B. In the case of urgent business, the President may, with the approval of two other officers, call an emergency meeting of the Board of Directors.

  1. In such an instance, the two weeks notification will not be required; rather a personal, telephone, or electronic notification to each board member shall be sufficient.

  2. In such an instance, a majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

6. QUORUM

A. The presence at any meeting of the majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum and shall be necessary to conduct the business of USABC.

  1. A lesser number may adjourn the meeting for a period of not more than 36 hours and the secretary shall notify by telephone or other electronic means those members who were not present at the meeting originally called.

  2. A quorum as hereinbefore set forth shall be required at any adjourned meeting.

B. The presence at any membership meeting of USABC of a quorum of the Board of Directors shall constitute a legal meeting so long as notification of said meeting was caused by the secretary to the membership of USABC by telephone, mail or other electronic means no less than thirty days prior to the scheduling of the meeting.

ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A. The Board of Directors shall consist of the General Board of Directors (President, Vice- President, Secretary and Treasurer) and at least four officers.

  1. All members of the Board of Directors shall be members in good standing of USABC

  2. The board shall determine all questions regarding good standing, but good standing shall include the correct payment of dues.

  3. The Board of Directors will be responsible for running the day to day business of USABC.

  4. Each member of the Board of Directors will hold ONE vote.

  5. A full term of office shall equal (2) calendar years.

  6. No one person shall hold office in the same position for more than (4) consecutive terms.

  7. All Board of Director nominees shall have been members in good standing or held position on a USABC committee for at least one year prior to being elected to office.

  8. All Presidential nominees shall have held (1) full term on the Board of Directors prior to being elected to office.

2. DUTIES OF THE GENERAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A. The President shall:

  1. Preside over all meetings

  2. Serve as spokesman for USABC for public affairs and when dealing with external organizations.

B. The Vice-President shall:

  1. Assist the President in all matters pertaining to USABC

  2. Succeed the President should the President be unable to fulfill his duties either on a temporary or permanent basis.

  3. Preside at meetings in the event that the President is absent.

C. The Secretary shall:

  1. Conduct the correspondence of USABC

  2. Prepare and distribute minutes of all meetings.

  3. Preside at meetings in the event that the President and Vice-president are absent.

D. The Treasurer shall:

  1. Oversee the receipt and disbursement of USABC moneys.

  2. Provide a written report on the financial condition and activities of USABC to the Board of Directors and membership at the annual membership meeting.

3. TERMINATION

A. An Officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the board, the president or the Secretary. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the board or such Officer, and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

B. Open Board of Director positions may be filled by Interim Officers after a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V – CONSTRUCTION

1. CONSTRUCTION

A. If there be any conflict between the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and these by-laws, the provisions of the certificate of incorporation shall govern.

ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENTS

1. AMENDMENTS

A. The by-laws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the members at the time they are entitled to vote in the election of directors.

B. By-laws may also be adopted, amended or repealed by the board of directors.

C. Any by-law adopted, amended or repealed by the board may be amended by the directors entitled to vote thereon as hereinbefore provided.