Club Constitution and By-Laws

Article I – Name and Objects

Section 1.
The name of the club shall be Ontario DockDogs

Section 2.
The objects of the club shall be:

a) Support the governing body of sanctioned dock jumping events, DockDogs
b) To promote and conduct sanctioned DockDogs events on a yearly basis
c) Support the sport of dog dock jumping
d) Educate the members and the public about the sport of dock jumping
e) Conduct training sessions and informal and formal events associated with dog activities
f) Protect and advance the interests of dog activities by encouraging safety, sportsmanlike competition and responsible dog ownership
g) Promote happy and fun dog activities and social gatherings

Section 3.
The club or organization shall keep proper books and records according to general accounting practice and principals.

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 the above objectives.

BYLAWS

Article I: Membership

Section 1. Eligibility. There shall be types of membership open to all persons18 years of age and older who are in good standing with DockDogs National and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club.

While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the club’s primary purpose is to be representative of the participants of “DockDogs Dogs” in its immediate area.

Section 2. Dues. Membership dues shall not exceed $35 for individual membership and $70 for family (2+ members in same household), payable on or before January 1st of each year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year.

Of these membership dues paid by each member, $5.00 up to $250.00 maximum will be paid to DockDogs National as dues to DockDogs National. This payment along with a current membership list will be due on October 1st of each year.

Section 3. Election to Membership. Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the club board of directors and which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the constitution and bylaws by the rules of Ontario DockDogs. The application shall state the name and contact information of the applicant and it shall carry the endorsement of two members in good standing. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year.

Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the club may not reapply within six months after such rejection.

Membership shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, colour, nationality, sex, religion, or on the basis of the breed, or mixed breeding of any member’s dog(s).

Section 4. Code of Ethics. All members must follow the DockDogs Code of Ethics attached to these By-laws as Exhibit A. Failure to abide by the Code of Ethics can result in disciplinary action and/or expulsion as provided by Article VI.

Section 5. Termination of Membership. Memberships may be terminated:

a) Resignation. Except when in debt to the Club any member may resign by giving written notice to the Secretary.
b) Lapsing. A membership shall be lapsed and automatically terminated if a member’s dues remain unpaid 30 days after the date on which the dues are due. The Board may grant an extension until January 1 on an individual basis and for sufficient cause.
c) Expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these bylaws.

Article II: Meetings and Voting

Section 1. General Club Meetings. Meetings of the club shall be held annually within the Southern Ontario area, at such hour and place as may be designated by the board of directors. Notice of each such meeting shall be e-mailed and telephoned by the Secretary no less than 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 50% of the members in good standing.

Section 2. Board of Director Meetings

a) Board Meetings. Meetings of the board of directors shall be held bi-monthly within the greater Burlington area at such hour and place as may be designated by the board. Notice of each such meeting shall be e-mailed and telephoned by the Secretary no less than 4 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 75% of the Board members.

Section 4. Voting. Each member in good standing whose dues are paid for the current year shall be entitled to one vote at any meeting of the club at which he 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 board shall be comprised of at least three officers and two other persons, all of whom shall be members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected to two year terms at a General Meeting that has been designated 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, Secretary and Treasurer shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the club and its meetings and the board and its meetings.

a) The President will oversee the board and member meetings and shall represent Ontario DockDogs at those occasions that require representation from this organization.
b) The Vice President shall stand in for the President at those times the President is unable.
c) The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the club and the board and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the club; have charge of the 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 for the club with their addresses, and carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these bylaws
d) 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 at every meeting on the condition of the club’s finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported; and at the annual meeting an accounting shall be rendered of all moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year.
e) Administration shall aid all board members in whatever capacity necessary.

Section 3. Vacancies. Any vacancies occurring on the board or among the offices during the year shall be filled at the next General Meeting of the Club.

Section 4. Compensation. All directors, officers and committee members shall serve under an agreeable compensation plan.

Article IV: The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections

Section 1. Club Year. The club’s fiscal year shall begin on January 1st and end on the last day of December.

Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in the fall, 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 the 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 who receive the greatest number of votes for such positions shall be declared elected.

Article V: Committees

Section 1. The board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the club in such matters as sanctioned jumps, training/fun day events, annual awards, 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 appointee; and the board may appoint successors to those persons whose services have been terminated.

Article VI: Discipline

Section 1. DockDogs National Suspension. Any member who is suspended from the privileges of or expelled from DockDogs National automatically shall be suspended from the privileges of this club for a like period or expelled from this club.

Section 2. Violations of the Code of Ethics, Rules and Regulations. Violations of the Code of Ethics, Rules and Regulations are not tolerated. In addition to charges of violations of the Code of Ethics brought by members of this Club pursuant to Article VI, Section 3, any member of DockDogs National or any Judge or official at an event may prefer charges for a violation of the Code of Ethics. If charges are brought at the DockDogs National level, the DockDogs National Disciplinary Procedure shall be followed.

Section 3. Charges. Any member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the club or for a violation of the Code of Ethics. Written charges with specifications must be filed with the Ontario DockDogs office by the Secretary of the Club. The Secretary shall also 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 interests of the club or a violation of the Code of Ethics. If the board considers that the charges do not allege conduct, which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the club or a violation of the Code of Ethics, it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the board entertains jurisdiction of the charges, it shall fix a date for a hearing by the board 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/her own defense and bring witnesses if he/she wishes.

Section 4. 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 suspend the defendant from all privileges of the club for not more than six months form 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/her 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 Secretary. The Secretary, in turn, shall notify each of the parties of the board’s decision and penalty, if any.

Section 5. 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, to be held within 60 days but not earlier than 30 days after the date of 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 finding and recommendation, and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his/her own behalf if he/she whishes. The members shall then vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion. A two-thirds vote of those present and voting at the meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. If expulsion is no so voted, the board’s suspension shall stand.

Article VII: Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to the constitution and bylaws may be proposed by the board of directors or by written petition addressed to the 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 Secretary for a vote within three months of the date when the Secretary received the petition.

Section 2. The constitution and bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds 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 2. All amendments, changes or deletions to the Constitution and By-Laws must be submitted to the DockDogs National office within 30 days of passage.

Article VIII: Dissolution

Section 1. The club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two-thirds 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 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.

Article IX: Order of Business

Section 1. At meetings of both the board and 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
Reports of committees
Election of officers and board (at annual meeting)
Election of new members
Unfinished business
New Business
Adjournment

Article X: Parliamentary Authority

Section 1. Anything not covered by the Constitution, Bylaws, or Standing Rules shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order, Revised.