PCC Constitution & By-Laws
ARTICLE I
Name and Objectives
SECTION 1. The name of the Club shall be PIEDMONT COLLIE CLUB,INC
SECTION 2. The objectives of the Club shall be:
(a) to encourage and promote the selective breeding and exhibition of pure-bred Collies and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection;
(b) to urge members and breeders to accept the standard of the breed as approved by The American Kennel Club as the only standard of excellence by which the Collie shall be judged;
(c) to do all in its power to protect and advance the interest of the Collie and to encourage sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, obedience trials, and all other sanctioned AKC events;
(d) to hold all events for which the club is eligible under the rules and regulations of the American
Kennel Club;
(e) to promote education among its members and the general public.
SECTION 3. The Club shall not be 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 objectives.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
Membership
SECTION 1. Eligibility. There shall be three types of membership open to all persons who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club:
- Regular (individual) – enjoys all club privileges including the right to vote and hold office;
- Household – two (2) adult members residing in the same household, each eligible to vote and hold office; and
- Junior – open for free to minors under 18 years of age; a non-voting/non office holding membership which may automatically convert to regular membership at age 18.
While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club’s primary purpose is to be representative of the fanciers, breeders, and exhibitors in its service area as defined by the American Kennel Club.
SECTION 2. Dues. Annual membership dues shall be determined by recommendation of the Board of Directors as changes are warranted and voted on by the membership. Dues are payable on or before the first 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 or her dues for the ensuing year. A second notice concerning dues will be sent by the Club Treasurer mid-January. Membership shall be considered lapsed if unpaid by January 31st.
SECTION 3. Election to Membership. Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors and shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the Club’s Constitution and By-laws and the rules of The American Kennel Club. The application shall state the name and address of the applicant and shall contain such other information as deemed applicable by the Board. It shall also carry the endorsement of two current members as evidenced by their signatures (members who pay joint dues may serve as one sponsor.) The applicant will agree to abide by the Piedmont Collie Club Code of Ethics. The application shall be reviewed by the Board of Directors and approved by a secret vote of the general membership. The original application shall be retained by the Corresponding Secretary in the Club’s files
All applications for membership are to be given to the Corresponding Secretary who will check each application for completeness and forward to the Board of Directors for review. At the first meeting of the Club following the review by the Board, it shall be read in the meeting. After an applicant has attended two Club functions such as Club meetings, conformation shows, performance events or educational seminars held by the Club, the application will be voted upon by secret vote and affirmative votes of two-thirds (2/3) of the members in good standing present and voting at the meeting shall be required to elect the applicant. If an applicant submits an application at the first function attended, that function shall count as one of the two required and that applicant may be voted upon at the next meeting attended. Once the application is approved, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year to the Treasurer.
If an applicant is rejected by the Club, applicant may not re-apply within six (6) months of such rejection.
SECTION 4. Termination of Membership. Membership may be terminated in one of three ways:
(a) By resignation – any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Corresponding Secretary; however, no member may resign when in debt to the Club. Dues are due on the first day of each fiscal year and are considered a debt to the Club.
(b) By lapsing – A membership will be considered lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid by January 31. In no case may a person be entitled to vote at any Club meeting whose annual 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 as frequently as necessary by methods in accordance with State law, such as electronic, virtual, teleconference or methods as may be developed, or in the Club’s service area which is greater Asheboro, NC area if meetings are held in person, as may
be designated by the Board.
Written notice of each meeting shall be mailed (e-mail or by US mail) by the Corresponding Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 20% of the members in good standing. Quorum may be met with members physically present at the meeting or by
any of the methods permitted by North Carolina State Law.
SECTION 2. Special Club Meetings. Special Club meetings may be called by the President or by a majority vote of the members of the Board or shall be called by the Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by 5 members (in good standing) of the Club. Special Club Meetings may be in person or by any of the methods permitted by North Carolina State Law. Special meetings shall be held in the Club’s service area at such place, date and hour designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed (e-mail or by US mail) by the Corresponding Secretary at least 5 days and not more than 15 days prior to the date of the meeting and shall state the purpose of the meeting. No other Club business shall be transacted. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20% of the members in good standing. Quorum may be met with members physically present at meetings or by any of the methods permitted by North Carolina State Law.
SECTION 3. Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held within the Club’s service area on a regular basis, or other methods as permitted by State law. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed (e-mail or by US mail) by the Corresponding Secretary at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. The quorum for such a meeting shall be the majority of the Board. Quorum may be met with members physically present at meetings or by any of the methods permitted by North Carolina State Law.
SECTION 4. Special Board Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or may be called by the Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of a written request by at least 3 members of the board. Such special meetings shall be held in the Club’s service area at such place,
date and hour as designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such a meeting or by any of the methods permitted by North Carolina State Law. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed (e-mail or by US mail) by the Corresponding Secretary at least 5 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. A quorum for such meetings shall be a majority of the Board. Quorum may be met with members physically present at meetings or by any of the methods permitted by North Carolina State Law.
SECTION 5. 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 the member is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any club meeting or election. Voting may be conducted in person or by any of the methods
permitted by North Carolina State Law.
ARTICLE III
Directors and Officers
SECTION 1. Board of Directors. The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and three directors, 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 shall serve in their respective capacities both regarding the Club and its meetings and the Board and its 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 President in addition to those 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, absence, or incapacity. The Vice-President is also responsible for the Club’s educational activities.
(c) The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club and of the Board and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club.
(d) The Corresponding Secretary shall 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 of the Club with their addresses and carry out such duties as are prescribed in these by-laws.
(e) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club. He or she shall deposit the same in a bank, designated by the Board, in the name of the Club. His or her books shall be at all times open to inspection of the Board, and he or she shall report to them at every meeting the condition of the Club’s finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported. At all annual meetings he or she shall render an account of all monies received and expended during the previous fiscal year.
SECTION 3. Vacancies. Any vacancies occurring on the Board during the year shall be filled until the next annual election by a majority vote of all the 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 filled automatically by the Vice-President, and the resulting vacancy in the office of 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 first day of January and end on the thirty first day of December.
SECTION 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in the month of December at which Officers and Directors for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret ballot (written or any of the methods permitted by North Carolina State Law) from among those nominated in accordance with Section 4 of this Article. They shall take office in January, and each retiring officer shall turn over to his or her successor in office all properties and records relating to that office within 30 days after the election.
SECTION 3. Elections. The nominated candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected.
SECTION 4. Nominations. No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated. During the month of October, the Board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of 3 members and 2 alternates, not more than one of whom shall be a member of the Board. The Corresponding Secretary shall immediately notify the committee 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 November 1.
(a) The Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and three candidates for the three other positions on the Board, and after securing the consent of each person nominated, shall immediately report their nominations to the Corresponding Secretary in writing.
(b) Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee’s report, the Corresponding Secretary shall, in early November, notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.
(c) Additional nominations may be made at the November meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person nominated accepts when his name is proposed and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, his or her proposer shall present to the Corresponding Secretary a statement (written or electronic) from the proposed candidate signifying his or her willingness to be a candidate.
(d) No person may be a candidate for more than one position, and the additional nominations which are provided for herein may be made only from among those members who have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating Committee.
(e) The additional nominations which are provided for herein may be made only from among those members who have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating Committee.
ARTICLE V
Committees
SECTION 1. The Board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as shows, trophies, annual awards, ways and means and other fields which may be well 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 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 any of the privileges of The American Kennel Club or Collie Club of America automatically shall be suspended from the privileges of this Club for a like period.
SECTION 2. Charges. An individual member may prefer charges against another individual member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of the club. Written notarized charges containing specific facts signed under oath (“Charges”) must be filed with the Corresponding Secretary. The Corresponding Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the Charges to each Board member. If the Board considers that the Charges do not allege conduct which may 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 for a hearing by the Board or a committee appointed by the Board not less than two (2) weeks nor more than five (5) weeks thereafter. The Corresponding Secretary shall promptly send on copy of the Charges to the accused member by receipted or acknowledged delivery and set forth a time and place at which the accused may attend and present any defense, call witnesses or answer.
SECTION 3. Board Hearing. If the Board has a hearing, the Board or a committee appointed by the Board may hear the charges. The Board or the Board’s appointed committee shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing, but both complainant and accused shall be treated
uniformly in that regard. Should the charges be sustained after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by the complainant and the accused, the Board or Board’s appointed committee may by a majority vote of those present reprimand or suspend the accused from all privileges of the club for not
more than six months from the date of the hearing. And, if the Board or the Board’s appointed committee deems that punishment insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty be expulsion. Immediately after the Board or the Board’s appointed committee 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 or the Board’s appointed committee’s decision and penalty, if any.
SECTION 4. Expulsion. The members shall vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion. A two-thirds (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 and signed by 20% of the membership in good standing. Amendments proposed by such petition shall be promptly considered by the Board and
must be submitted to the members, with recommendations of the Board, by the Corresponding Secretary for a vote within 3 months of the date when the petition was received by the Corresponding Secretary.
SECTION 2. The constitution and by-laws may be amended by a secret 2/3 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 (e-mail or by US mail) to each member at least 2 weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
SECTION 3. No amendment to the Constitution or By-laws that is adopted by the club shall become effective until it has been approved by the Board of Directors of the American Kennel Club.
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 good standing. In the event of the dissolution of the Club, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, none of the property of the Club nor any proceeds nor any assets 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(s) for the benefit of collies selected by the Membership.
ARTICLE IX
Order of Business
SECTION 1. At meetings of the Club, the suggested 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 last meeting
3. Report of the President
4. Report of the Recording Secretary
5. Report of the Treasurer
6. Report of the Corresponding Secretary
7. Report of Committees
8. Election of Officers and Board (at annual meeting)
9. Election of new members*
10. Unfinished business
11. New Business
12. Adjournment
Note: * (This should come after the election of Officers and the Board if taken up at an annual meeting.)
SECTION 2. At meetings of the Board, the suggested order of business, unless otherwise directed by majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:
1. Roll Call
2. Reading of minutes of the last meeting
3. Report of the President
4. Report of the Recording Secretary
5. Report of the Treasurer
6. Report of the Corresponding Secretary
7. Report of Committees
8. Unfinished business
9. New business
10. Adjournment
ARTICLE X
Parliamentary Authority
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 and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws and any other special rules of order the Club may adopt.
Piedmont Collie Club Page 9 of 9
Adopted October 10th, 1994
Amended May 16, 2022
