Constitution and By-Laws     APPROVED: JANUARY 17, 2002



ARTICLE I. NAME AND LOCATION

The name of this club shall be the CIRNECO dell'ETNA CLUB of AMERICA, encompassing all of the United States of America.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

This Club's objectives shall be:

SECTION 2.1 To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Cirneco dell'Etna with strict adherence to the breed standard while striving to bring their natural qualities to perfection.

SECTION 2.2 To maintain amongst members and breeders the standard of the breed as approved by ENCI and accepted by the Federacion Cynologique Internationale (FCI) as the only standard of excellence by which the Cirneco dell'Etna shall be judged.

SECTION 2.3 To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breed by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, obedience trials, lure coursing and hunting trial events.

SECTION 2.4 To conduct sanctioned and/or specialty shows, obedience trials, lure coursing and hunting trial events under the rules of the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) with the intent of receiving full recognition of the breed by both organizations.

SECTION 2.5 The club shall not be conducted nor 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.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 3.1 ELIGIBILITY: There shall be two types of membership open to all persons 21 years of age and older who are in good standing with the CIRNECO dell'ETNA CLUB of AMERICA, the FCI and/or the American Kennel Club.

    a. Individual: Enjoys all privileges of the club, including voting and holding office. Individual members are entitled to one vote.
    b. Family: Enjoys all privileges of the club, including voting and holding office. Family members are entitled to two votes per household.
SECTION 3.2 DUES: Annual membership dues shall not exceed a maximum of $ 200.00 per year family. The Board of Directors shall set the amount of dues for the ensuing year. Dues are payable on or before the first day of January of each year. Each person joining after July 1st shall pay one-half of the annual dues for the year. No member shall vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. The Secretary/Treasurer shall send to each member a statement of their dues for the ensuing year postmarked no later than December 1st.

SECTION 3.3 ELECTION OF MEMBERSHIP: Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form, as approved by the Board of Directors, which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the Constitution and By-laws and the Code of Ethics of the CIRNECO dell'ETNA CLUB OF AMERICA (CdECA) and the rules of the American Kennel Club. The application shall state the name, address and telephone number of the applicant(s) and it shall carry the endorsement of two members in good standing. Accompanying the application and signed Code of Ethics the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year. All applications and Codes of Ethics are to be filed with the Secretary/Treasurer who will hold the dues payment pending election by the Board of Directors. The names of the applicant(s) and their sponsors will be e-mailed to all members in good standing by the Secretary/Treasurer. Any member objecting to the membership of the applicant(s) shall notify the Board Secretary/Treasurer within seven (7) days of the Secretary/Treasurer's notifying e-mail. The Board shall fully investigate any recommendation to reject an applicant prior to voting on the application.

The Secretary/Treasurer shall inform the applicant of the Board's decision within fourteen (14) days of the vote. Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not re-apply within six (6) six months of such rejection.

SECTION 3.4 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP: Membership may be terminated by:

    a. Resignation: Any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Secretary/Treasurer but no member may resign when in debt to the Club. Dues obligations are considered a debt to the Club and they are incurred on the first day of each calendar year.
    b. Lapsing: A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminate if such member's dues remain unpaid in full on April 1st of the calendar year. In no case is a person entitled to vote at any Club meeting if their dues are in arrears at that time.
    c. Expulsion: A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in these By-laws under Article VIII.


Back | Next