Revised 06/04

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

THE APRICOT/RED POODLE CLUB

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE 1

Name and Objectives

SECTION I. The name of the Club shall be "The Apricot/Red Poodle Club".

SECTION 2. The objectives of the Club shall be:

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

and red poodles 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 they shall be Judged;

breed by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at dog shows

and obedience trials;

(d) to conduct matches under the rules of The American Kennel Club;

(e) to promote improved communications, understanding, and

relationships between poodle breeders/owners.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE 1

Membership

SECTION I. Eligibility.

Membership shall be open to all persons eighteen years of age or older who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club, and who subscribe to the objectives and ethics of the Apricot/Red Poodle Club.

SECTION 2. Dues:

Membership dues shall be $20 per member and $5 for each additional

member in the same household. Dues notice for the next year will be

published in the October newsletter. Members whose dues are not paid

by January 1 will receive written notice to that effect.

SECTION 3. Election to Membership:

Each applicant for membership shall apply on the form provided by the

Board of Directors and which shall provide that the applicant agrees to

abide by these constitution and by-laws, the rules of the American Kennel

Club, and the Code of Ethics of the Club. The application shall state the

name, address, kennel name (if applicable), and telephone number of the

applicant. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall

submit dues for the current year. All applications are to be filed with the

Secretary. Each applicant's name, address and phone, and names of

sponsors, will be published in the next newsletter. Members must make

objections to the proposed applicant within 60 days in writing to the

Secretary. Applicants may only be refused membership for known major

offenses, such as citation for inhumane treatment of animals, supplying

pet stores, functioning as a puppy mill, or under suspension from the

privileges of the American Kennel Club. If no objections are made to the

Secretary within the specified time, the applicant is automatically accepted

into membership at the end of that 60 days. Applicants for membership

who have been rejected by the Club must wait six months before applying again.

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 Secretary; but 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 day

additional 90 days of 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.

ARTICLE II

Meetings and Voting

SECTION I. Club Meetings.

The annual meeting of the Club shall be held in June during the week of

the Poodle Club of America Specialty Show. The time and place will be

designated by the Board of Directors, and will be published in the

newsletter prior to the month.

SECTION 2. Annual Board Meetings.

Board meetings will be held in June during the week of the Poodle Club

of America Specialty Show, and prior to the meeting of the Club. The

time and place will be designated by the President. Business necessary

between annual meetings will be conducted by phone or mail

SECTION 3. Voting:

Each individual member shall be entitled to one vote at any meeting of

the Club. Mail ballots are to be mailed out one month prior to the date

they are due to be returned. Any major decisions requiring action of the

membership between annual meetings will be conducted by mail ballot.

ARTICLE III

Directors and Officers

SECTION I. Board of Directors.

The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary,

Treasurer, and five other persons, all of whom shall be members in good

standing. All shall be elected at the Club's annual meeting. The Officers

shall be elected for two-year terms, rotating on odd-even years. The

President and Secretary shall be elected during the even years, and the

Vice-President and Treasurer shall be elected during the odd years. The

remaining five members shall be elected annually.

SECTION 2 Officers.

The Club 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 shall preside at all meetings of the Club and the Board,

and shall have the duties and powers normally appurtenant to the

office of the President in addition to those 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.

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

Club. He/she shall have charge of the correspondence, notify

members of meetings via newsletter or special mailing, publish names

of new applicants in the newsletter, publish names of new officers and

directors upon their election to office, keep a roll of the members of

the Club with their addresses and other pertinent information, and

carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these by-laws.

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

the Club. He/she shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the

Board, in the name or the Club. The books shall at all times be open

to inspection of the Board, and the condition of the Club's finances

shall be published in the newsletter. More frequent reports may be

made to members of the Board by mail, as necessary. At the annual

meeting, there shall be a written and verbal account of all monies

received and expended during the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer

shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall

determine. The Board of Directors shall appoint a committee of

three members (including the Treasurer) to audit the books annually

and report at the annual meeting. In ease of resignation of the

Treasurer during the year the books will be audited in the same manner.

SECTION 3. Vacancies.

Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the offices during the

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

all 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 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 June, at which

Officers and Directors for the ensuing year shall be elected by 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 immediately after the election. Mail ballots must be counted by the Secretary and turned over to the President before the date of the meeting.

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.

SECTION 4. Nominations.

No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been

nominated. During the month of February, the Board shall select a

Nominating Committee consisting of three members, not more than

one of whom may be a member of the Board. The Secretary shall

immediately notify the committee of their selection.

The Board shall name a Chairman for the Committee and it shall

be his/her duty to call a committee meeting which shall be held on

or before March 1st.

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

and five candidates for the other positions on the Board. After

securing the consent of each person so nominated, their

nominations shall immediately be reported to the Secretary in

writing.

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

shall before April 1, notify each member in writing of the

candidates so nominated. This notice may be included in the

newsletter or sent as a special mailing.

they .are accompanied by written consent of the person being

nominated. 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 matches, trophies, prizes,

membership, fundraisers, 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 appointee may be terminated by a majority vote of

the 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 I. American Kennel Club Suspension.

Any member who is suspended from the privileges of The American

Kennel Club shall automatically be suspended from the privileges of

the 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 Secretary

together with a deposit of $10, which shall be forfeited if such charges

are not sustained by the Board following a hearing. The Secretary shall

promptly send a copy of the charges to each member of the Board,

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. 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 by the Board

not less than 3 weeks nor more than 6 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 own defense, and bring witnesses if he wishes.

SECTION 3. Board Hearing.

The Board shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel

may attend the bearing, but both the 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 suspend the

defendant from all privileges of the Club for not more than six months

from the date of the bearing. If it deems that punishment insufficient,

it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty be

expulsion. In such cases, the suspension shall not I 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 findings 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 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. The

defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in his 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 own behalf if he

wishes. The meeting shall then vote by secret written ballot on the

proposed expulsion. A 2/3 vote shall be necessary for the 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 or Directors or by written petition addressed to the Secretary

signed by twenty percent or 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

the recommendations of the Board by the Secretary for a vote within

three months of the date when the petition was received by the

Secretary.

SECTION 3. The constitution and by-laws may be amended by a 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 in-

eluded in the notice of the meeting and mailed to each member at

least two weeks prior to the date or 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 or 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 the 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 the Club, the order or 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)

Reading of names 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: