Constitution and ByLaws

NAME

The name of the Club shall be "SHIBA INU CANADA", hereinafter referred to as the Club.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Club shall be:
- to promote responsible ownership of purebred Shiba Inus
- to preserve and protect the Shiba Inu breed
- to encourage the participation of Shiba Inus in dog-related activities
- to conduct Sanction and Correction Matches, Boosters, Obedience and Specialty Shows in accordance with the rules of the Canadian Kennel Club.

AREA OF OPERATION

The area of operation shall be the whole of Canada.
The Club shall work in co-operation with the Canadian Kennel Club and may further affiliate itself with organizations devoted to the same aims and objectives of the Club.

REVISION OF CONSTITUTION

Revisions of the Constitution may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition addressed to the Secretary. Amendments proposed by such petition shall be considered by the Board and may be submitted to the members with a ballot vote 30 days in advance of the Annual Meeting or Special Meeting when the vote will be taken.
A favourable vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members in good standing whose ballots are returned by mail prior to the vote or are cast at the meeting shall be required to effect such revisions.

DISSOLUTION

The Club may dissolve at any time with written consent of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the members. In the event of the dissolution of the club, 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. After payment of the debts, its property and assets shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefit of dogs, as selected by the Board of Directors.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1 - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Eligibility
There shall be one type of membership; open to any person not excluded from membership in the Canadian Kennel Club and who shall subscribe to the purposes of the Club.
No person shall be eligible for, or continue to enjoy membership who:
a) is under suspension or expulsion by the Canadian Kennel Club or other registry body;
b) knowingly supplies dogs to pet stores or puppy mills;
c) has been convicted of cruelty to animals or of neglect.

Section 2. Dues
Membership fees shall be due on or before the first day of January of each year, at a rate determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Acceptance of Membership Applications
Applications shall be in writing, on prescribed application form. Name, address, and method of contact (i.e. telephone, e-mail, etc.) must be stated in full. Fee for the current year must accompany the application.

Section 4. Termination of Membership
A member in good standing may verbally resign at a regular meeting of the Club, or in writing to the Secretary.
If membership dues are more than 90 days overdue, membership will be terminated.
Expulsion will occur if terms outlined in "Eligibility" are not adhered to.

ARTICLE 2 - ORGANIZATION

Section 1. OFFICERS
The Officers of the Club shall be a President, Vice-President, a Secretary and/or Treasurer.

Section 2. REGIONAL DIRECTORS
There must be a Regional Director for at least three out of five regions; the five regions being: British Columbia, Prairie Provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan & Manitoba), Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island & Newfoundland).

Section 3. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board shall consist of at least 7 people, to include above Officers and Directors, and the Chairs of all standing committees.

Section 4. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

President:
Shall preside at all meetings of the Club and Board of Directors, and shall have the duties and powers normally pertaining to the office of President.
Vice-President:
Shall have the powers and exercise the duties of the President in the event of the President's absence.
Secretary:
Shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club and the Board, and of all votes taken by mail, and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club. Shall handle all correspondence, legal matters, notification of meetings, notify Officers and Directors of their election to office, notify new members of the approval of their membership, keep a roll of members of the Club.
Treasurer:
Shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club. Shall deposit same in a bank satisfactory to the Board, in the name of the Club. Books shall be open to inspection by the Board, and a report to be given to the Board at every meeting of the finances of the Club. At the Annual General Meeting, shall render an account of the monies received and expended during the previous year.
Directors:
Shall act as liaison between members of Region and the Board; to disseminate information to the general public; to act to the credit of the Shiba Inu breed, and of the Club; to encourage membership and support from breeders, exhibitors, and fanciers in their Region.

Section 5. VACANCIES
Any vacancies on the Board or among the Officers during the year, may be filled by the Board from among the members of the Club in good standing, provided that the required regional representation is satisfied.

Section 6. COMMITTEES
The Board may appoint standing Committees during its term to advance the work of the Club in such matters as dog shows, trophies, annual prizes, membership and other fields served by Committees.
Such Committees shall always be subject to the final authority of the Board.
Any Committee appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the Board upon written notice to the appointee. The Board may appoint successors to those persons whose services have been terminated.

ARTICLE 3 MEETINGS

Section 1
Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all meetings insofar as they are applicable.

Section 2
The Annual General Meeting shall be held at a time and place designated by the Board of Directors and shall be held once each calendar year.

Section 3
Board Meetings shall be held regularly, at times designated by a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 4
Special Meetings of members can be called by any three members of the Board of Directors, or by requisition submitted in writing by ten (1) or more members in good standing.

Section 5
Notice of all Annual and Special Meetings shall be mailed first class, at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting to all members in good standing.

Section 6 Quorums
- for any General meeting of members shall be 10.
- for Board Meetings shall be 3.

Section 7 Mail Meetings
The Secretary will circulate to the members of the Board of Directors a letter in duplicate, stating the business to be transacted, giving reports of Committees or Officers.
Only such business as is mentioned in this initial circular may then be transacted. Replies will be made on one copy of the initial circular, on which space must be provided either for voting, or for discussion on each issue.
Each member of the Board will then retain the second copy with their vote or comments for future reference.
Replies must be returned to the Secretary within ten days of receipt to be accepted as attending the meeting. The Board may vote on the issues as received or may write discussion to be considered if there are insufficient votes to settle the matter.
If the issues are not settled on the first exchange of letters, and sufficient discussion is presented to warrant further correspondence, the Secretary shall then circulate to the the Board all discussions until a deciding vote is cast.
At the close of the meeting, the Secretary will advise the members of the Board of all decisions reached. This advice will then constitute the Minutes.

ARTICLE FOUR CLUB YEAR, SIGNING AUTHORITIES & AUDITS

Section 1 Club Year
The Club's fiscal year shall begin of the first day of January, and end on the last day of December.
Terms of Office shall be for twenty-four (24) months, from the first day of January after the elections, at which time all retiring Officers shall turn over to the newly elected Officials all properties and records belonging to the Club.

Section 2 Signing Authorities
All cheques, contracts or any documents requiring the signature of the Club shall be signed by any TWO (2) of the following: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, or Secretary/Treasurer.

Section 3 Audits
The Board, at its discretion, at the Annual General Meeting, may appoint an auditor, who shall audit the financial records to the preceding year and report.

ARTICLE FIVE VOTING, ELECTION OF OFFICERS, AND NOMINATIONS

Section 1 Voting
At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special Meeting of the Club, voting shall be limited to those members in good standing.

Section 2 Election of Officers:
The election of Officers shall be conducted by a mail ballot.

Section 3 Nominations

• A Nominating Committee shall be established, and shall consist of three (3) members in good standing.
  
• The Nominating Committee shall distribute by mail a nomination form to ALL members in good standing to be completed and returned within a specified deadline.
  
• The Committee shall ascertain, in writing or verbally, the nominee's acceptance.
  
• The Ballot shall then be compiled and printed, and together with a blank envelope and a "return" envelope addressed to the Committee, marked "Ballot", bearing the name of the voting member to whom it was sent, shall be distributed to all members in good standing.
  
• To ensure that ballots remain secret, each voter shall seal their marked ballot in the blank envelope, which shall be placed in the second envelope addressed to the Committee. The Committee shall check the returns against the list of members in good standing prior to opening the outer envelope.
  
• The results of the voting shall be announced at the Annual Meeting.