Constitution and By-laws of the SBTC/USA

April 2, 1968

SBTC/USA MEMBERS:

At the behest of SBTC/USA Acting Chairman Joseph Orday, who urged that the Los Angeles area members hold an organizing meeting because of their numbers and proximity, an informal gathering met at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Laurence Rant in Los Angeles on March 15, 1968. An Organizing Committee was set up, consisting of Jack Crowther, Steve Stone, Jean Harrison and Larry Rant. They met at the home of Steve Stone on March 21, 1968, and drafted a Proposed Provisional Constitution and By-laws (enclosed) and nominated the following persons for the following offices:

Chairman - Joseph Orday

President - Jack Crowther

Vice-Presidents - (Regional)

Chicago: T. J. Gundry

Maryland: Claude Williams

California: Jean Harrison

Secretary - Steve Stone

Treasurer - Larry Rant

Members of the Board of Directors:

Billie Rant, Jean Harrison, Judy Venable.

Additional nominations may be made in writing by any Club member in good standing before Sunday, May 5th, when the next Club meeting will be held at the Rants' residence. (In the interest of getting business taken care of, no dogs invited.)

ALL CLUB MEMBERS ARE INVITED to make further nominations and to suggest additions or alterations for the Proposed Provisional Constitution and By-laws in writing, before the above date. The meeting will set up the Club organization. If accord cannot be reached the matter will be presented to the membership for mail ballot.

The 1968 Board and Officers in any case will serve for only the remainder of the year, unless re-elected as stipulated by the By-laws. It was decided to have the majority of Officers from the Los Angeles area for the purposes of convenience and in order to expedite the Club business. Until now the Club has been virtually a one-man organization but is now outgrowing that stage and should assume a political as well as a social identity. The Los Angeles members will soon form the Southern California SBTC (SCSBTC) and hope that members in other regions will follow suit.

If the majority of Club members responding approve of the Officers, Directors, Constitution and By-laws as proposed herein, this will be considered a mandate for approval at the May 5th meeting, so all members wishing to add to the nominations or alter the By-laws are encouraged to send their proposals in writing before the meeting.

PROPOSED PROVISIONAL CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER CLUB OF THE U.S.A.

Article I - NAME AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1 - The name of the Club shall be the STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER CLUB OF THE U.S.A.

Section 2 - The objectives of the Club shall be:

(a) to encourage and promote the breeding of Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the U.S.A.

(b) to promote the true type of Staffordshire Bull Terrier; to encourage the breeding and dissemination of knowledge concerning the breed.

(d) to promote the formation and founding of regional affiliate breed Clubs throughout the U.S.A.

Section 3 The Club shall be a non-profit organization, and no part of any Club income shall inure in any way to the benefit of any member or individual.

Article II - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - ELIGIBILITY. Membership shall be open to all persons interested in the improvement of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Section 2 - MEMBERSHIP CLASSES. Membership shall consist of two classes:

(a) Regular member. Residents of the U.S.A.

(b) Associate member. Residents of Canada, England, New Zealand and other countries where the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is found.

Section 3 - DUES. Regular membership dues will be $5.00 per year. Associate membership dues will be $1.00 per year. Dues will be payable between the first of January and the first of April each year. Failure to pay dues will result in the lapse of membership rights. During November, the Secretary will send statements of dues for the ensuing year to all members.

Section 4 - APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP will be made to the Secretary in writing and either accepted or rejected by the Board of Directors. A rejection may be appealed to the membership at large by mail ballot.

Section 5 - TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP may take place as follows:

(a) BY RESIGNATION in writing from a member in good standing.

(b) BY LAPSING, when dues have not been paid within 90 days after the first of April.

(c) BY EXPULSION on a vote of a majority of the Club members in a mail ballot for activity detrimental to the interests of the breed.

Article III - OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.

Section 1. THE OFFICERS shall be a President, three Regional Vice-Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Vice-Presidents shall act as Regional Presidents in their areas. The officers shall serve for a term of one (1) year. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person.

(a) The President shall preside at Club meetings and be empowered to appoint committees and enforce the Constitution and By-laws.

(b) The Secretary shall keep minutes of all Club meetings and of all votes taken by mail. He shall have charge of all Club correspondence, and shall notify Club members of all business and matters pertinent to the Club. He shall keep a roll of names and address of all Club members and will perform other corresponding functions as directed by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall also be in charge of the Stud Book Registry and will keep the stud book meticulously and perfect in every detail.

(c) The Treasurer shall collect, receive, and be responsible for all dues and money belonging to the Club. He shall pay all bills endorsed by the President or any two officers of the Club. He shall deposit all Club money in a bank satisfactory to the Board, in the name of the Club. His books shall at all times be open to inspection by the Board and he shall report to them at every meeting the condition of the Club's finances. If necessary, the Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board shall determine.

Section 2 - THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS shall consist of the President, Secretary, Treasurer and two Club members. In the event that one person holds the offices of Secretary and Treasurer then the Board will be extended by an additional regular Club member. Three directors will constitute a quorum. Directors will serve for a period of one (1) year.

Section 3 - VACANCIES occurring on the Board of Directors shall be filled for the unexpired term of office by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Club.

Article IV - THE CLUB YEAR, MEETINGS, ELECTIONS.

Section 1 - THE CLUB YEAR, both fiscal and calendar will begin on the 1st of January and end on the 31st of December.

Section 2 - NOMINATIONS for any office and for the Board of Directors may be made in writing by any regular Club member in the month of January before the annual meeting in February, or at the annual meeting.

Section 3 - VOTING shall take place at the annual meeting and other Club meetings, and by mail ballot. Only regular members in good standing are eligible to vote. Voting by proxy is not allowed. Results of the voting shall be tabulated by persons appointed by the President and/or the Board of Directors.

Article V - AMENDMENTS.

Section 1 - This provisional Constitution and By-laws may be amended by a majority of regular Club members, either at a meeting or by mail ballot, providing that the proposed amendment has been made known to the members at least 30 days in advance.

Article VI - DISSOLUTION.

Section 1 - The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of at least 2/3 of the regular Club members in good standing. After payment of all debts of the Club, its property and assets shall be divided equally among the members.

(4) Article VII -DISCIPLINE

Section 1 - Discipline will be maintained by the Board of Directors. All disciplinary actions taken by the Board may be appealed to the membership at large by mail ballot.

Article VIII - RULES OF ORDER

Section 1 - All business of the Club shall be conducted under Roberts Rules of Order when not otherwise specified in this Provisional Constitution and By-laws.