Constitution in pdf file

NSSDC Constitution

PREAMBLE

The object and purpose of the North Star Sled Dog Club, Inc. shall be to promote the sport of sled dog racing and to familiarize the general public with the work of the sled dog.

The club will encourage mutual cooperation among members in the training and use of sled dogs, sleds, harnesses, and other equipment.

ARTICLE I

NAME

Section 1. The name of the club shall be North Star Sled Dog Club, Inc. (NSSDC).

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. There shall be four (4) types of membership:

1. Individual: racing and active members who shall have voting and office-holding privileges and shall receive the TUGLINE. Includes participation in the Minnesota Championship Program. No age limit.

2. Family: All household members and dependent children up to the age of twenty-two (22). Includes voting and office-holding privileges for those over the age of sixteen (16), the TUGLINE, and participation in the Minnesota Championship Program. Limited to two (2) votes per household.

3. Junior: For children under the age of sixteen by October 1st. Includes a voice in the club but no voting or office-holding privileges. Includes the TUGLINE and participation in the Minnesota Championship Program.

4. Honorary: Given to racing or nonracing persons who have been voted on by the membership. Has no voting or office-holding privileges and is not liable for the payment of dues. Includes the TUGLINE and participation in the Minnesota Championship Program.

Section 2. All new members shall receive a current copy of the Club's Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 3. In order to be eligible for participation in NSSDC's Championship Program, a NSSDC member is required to attend at least one meeting in the year (January 1-December 31) preceding the race season in which member wishes to compete.

ARTICLE III

DUES AND DELINQUENCIES

Section 1. The amount of dues will be determined in the Bylaws.

Section 2. No candidate for membership is entered on the rolls of the Club until his/her membership dues are paid

Section 3. A member in arrears of dues is suspended from membership and is dropped if all dues then owed have not been paid.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers are: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Junior Committee Chair.

Section 2. Official duties are those usually associated with those titles unless otherwise stated in the Bylaws.

Section 3. Each successful candidate assumes office upon conclusion of the election and will serve until his/her successor is installed.

Section 4. In the case of death or incapacity of the President, the Vice President will undertake all duties of the presidency. Any other vacancies shall be filled by majority vote of the membership for the unexpired term of that office or by a majority vote of the Executive Committee until such a time as a vote of the membership can be taken. This is to be done within one (1) month of such vacancy.

ARTICLE V

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The executive committee shall consist of all the officers plus the editor of the TUGLINE, the Junior Representative, and the immediate past president, whose term shall be strictly for advisory purposes and shall extend for one year from the end of his/her term as president.

Section 2. For the purposes of meetings, a quorum shall consist of four members of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall have full power and authority over the affairs of the Club between its membership meetings. The Executive Committee shall be subject to the orders of the Club and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the Club.

Section 4. The minutes of all Executive Committee meetings shall be presented to the membership for approval.

Section 5. The Junior Representative shall not be a voting member of the Executive Committee.

Section 6. The Junior Representative shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as all other officers except that s/he shall be elected by the junior membership only.

Section 7. The Junior Representative must be under the age of 16 at the time of his/her election.

ARTICLE VI

ELECTION

Section 1. Election will be held at a meeting as set in the Bylaws.

Section 2. Candidates will be nominated by a nominating committee, appointed by the President two months prior to the election.

Section 3. The nominating committee will submit a written list of the candidates to the TUGLINE editor to be published in the TUGLINE issued immediately prior to the election meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the election meeting.

Section 4. Officers shall be elected by secret written ballot, and only members in good standing with dues paid shall be entitled to vote or hold office.

Section 5. The President will appoint two tellers. The tellers will distribute the ballots to members eligible to vote and then will record the votes and present the tally to the President for reading.

Section 6. The tellers will submit to the TUGLINE editor an absentee ballot to be published in the TUGLINE issued immediately prior to the election meeting. The ballots must be received by the tellers before the election. There will be no proxy votes.

ARTICLE VII

MEETINGS

Section 1. Official meetings will be held in April, July, and October at such times and places as set up under the provisions of the Bylaws. A meeting shall consist of a simple majority of officers and any voting members present. Any meeting other than the three meetings shall be a special meeting.

Section 2. Special meetings will be held on request by a majority of the executive committee.

Section 3. Any twenty members may, by signed petition, instruct the President to call a special meeting, indicating the reason therefore. On receipt of such a petition, the President will call the meeting.

Section 4. The chairperson of a committee may call a committee meeting whenever necessary.

Section 5. The Executive Committee shall meet whenever necessary.

ARTICLE VIII

AFFILIATION

Section 1. The Club shall not affiliate in membership, or renew membership, with another organization unless that affiliation or renewal is approved by a two-thirds vote of those voting members responding to a mailed ballot.

ARTICLE IX

PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1. Roberts 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 the rules regularly adopted by the Club.

Section 2. A member by any act to discredit the Club or injure the purpose for which it was formed shall be subject to expulsion. A two-thirds vote shall be required for expulsion.

Section 3. Such charges shall be made in writing by a member or members to the NSSDC. A member so charged shall be notified at least two weeks in advance of the date of the meeting at which charges will be heard. This notice shall state the charges against said member.

Section 4. Any member expelled from the Club may not apply for membership for one year from the date of expulsion.

ARTICLE X

ASSESSMENTS AND LIABILITIES

Section 1. As necessary, an assessment of a specified amount may be made if approved by two-thirds of the voting membership present and provided that there has been a one month's notice of such assessment.

Section 2. The Club will not be responsible for individual bills turned in that were not first authorized by the President or Treasurer.

Section 3. No member or members shall undertake a project to involve liabilities on behalf of the NSSDC except when authorized by the majority vote of the membership.

ARTICLE XI

DISSOLUTION

Section 1. The Club may be dissolved at any time by written consent of not less than two-thirds of the voting members. After payment of all debts of the Club, its property and assets shall be donated to a nonprofit organization.

ARTICLE XII

AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION OR BYLAWS

Section 1. The constitution shall be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at the meeting at which the amendment is being voted on.

Section 2 The Bylaws may be amended, adopted, or repealed by a majority vote.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Voting memberships will be open to all persons.

Section 2. Only members in attendance at a meeting may vote on business before the Club. There shall be no absentee ballots.

Section 3. Upon payment of dues, membership applicants will receive all the privileges of the membership applied for.

ARTICLE II

DUES AND DELINQUENCIES

Section 1. The annul dues for membership shall be as follows:

Individual : $20 per

Family: $25 per year

Junior: $8 per year.

All are due by the July meeting.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

Section 1. All officers shall be elected for a two year term.

Section 2. The retiring officer shall turn over to his/her successor all properties and records relating to that office within thirty days after election.

Section 3. The President, Vice President, and Junior Representative are to be elected in odd-numbered calendar years. The Secretary, Treasurer, and Adult Junior Committee Chair are to be elected in even-numbered calendar years.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1. Committees shall be named as needed.

Section 2. The Junior Program Committee shall be a standing committee.

ARTICLE V

ELECTION

Section 1. The election meeting shall be the July meeting.

ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS

Section 1. The Club meeting location will be determined by the members at the meeting prior to the forthcoming meeting.

Section 2. The Club year will run from May to the following April meeting.

ARTICLE VII

TUGLINE

Section 1. The TUGLINE is the official newsletter of NSSDC. It is published at least 5 times per year.

Section 2. The editorship of the TUGLINE shall be a voluntary position subject to a majority vote of the members present. The editor shall be a member of the Club in good standing.

Section 3. Resignation of the editorship of the TUGLINE shall be made in writing to the President.

Section 4. Upon receipt of resignation from the TUGLINE editor, the President shall immediately send to all voting members notification of the editorship position vacancy and shall solicit volunteers for the position.

Section 5. Except in cases of emergency, the newly appointed editor shall assume duties after the next issue of the TUGLINE is published.

Section 6. In cases of emergency the President may appoint a temporary editor subject to a majority vote of all the officers. The temporary editor shall assume duties immediately after the vote of the officers. The temporary editor shall act in such capacity only until such time as the procedures in Sections 4 and 5 above are completed.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OR BYLAWS

Section 1. All proposed amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws must be submitted to the editor of the TUGLINE to be published in the TUGLINE to allow for ample notice before the meeting at which the amendment will be voted on.

Section 2. At the following meeting, a vote will be taken on the proposed amendment as per Article XII, Sections 1-2 of the Constitution.