The Northern New Jersey Great Dane Club

      
  

CONSTITUTION
AND
BY LAWS
 
 
 
 
 

CONSTITUTION

Article I

Name and Objects 

Section 1. The name of the Club shall be the “Great Dane Club of Northern New Jersey.” 

Section 2. The objectives of the Club shall be:  

1. To encourage and promote the quality in breeding of purebred Great Danes and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection.  
2. To encourage the membership to a lifetime responsibility for their Great Danes, their Dane's offspring and to the education of others as all are necessary for the protection and advancement of the breed  
3. 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 Great Danes shall be Judged. . 
4. To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breed and to encourage sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, rally and obedience trials.  
5. To conduct sanctioned matches, specialty shows, obedience trials and other events for which the Club is eligible under the Rules and Regulations of the American Kennel Club.  
6. To encourage dedication to the health and welfare of the breed.  
7. To encourage the membership to participate in, promote and support Great Dane rescue.  
8. To disseminate and promote the ideals and objectives of the GDCA Charitable Trust.  

Section 3. The Club shall not be conducted or operated for profit and no part of any profit 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 bylaws as may be required to carry out these objectives. 

BYLAWS

Article I

Membership 

Section 1. Eligibility and Types.  There shall be four (4) types of membership open to persons who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of the Club. 

Regular (Individual) membership:   Open to persons eighteen (18) years of age and older who enjoy all the privileges of the Club including the right to vote and hold office. 

Lifemembership:   Open to persons who have been members for twenty (20) years. Life members do not pay dues but are eligible to vote and hold office. 

Junior membership:  Open to persons under eighteen (18) years of age. Junior members cannot vote or hold office. A junior member shall automatically convert to single membership upon reaching his/her eighteenth (18th) birthday with the approval of the Club's Board of Directors. If he/she is not approved by the Board, he/she may re-apply as an adult. 

Household membership:  Open to two (2) persons eighteen (18) years of age or older Residing in the same household. They enjoy all the privileges of the Club. Each is entitled to a vote. 

1. While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club's primary purpose is to be representative of the breeders, exhibitors and owners in its immediate area. The club is on AKC records as serving a focal point of Fairfield and all New Jersey communities located north of I-80 including the following limited communities south of I-80; Fairfield, Saddle Brook, Madison, South Orange, North Arlington, and Cedar Grove

Section 2. Dues and Fees. 

1. The annual dues of a Single Member shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per year, payable on or before January 1st. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current fiscal year, with the exception of Life Members.
2. The combined dues for two (2) members of an immediate Household Membership, shall not exceed eighty dollars ($80.00) . No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current fiscal year, with the exception of Life Members.
3. The annual dues for a Junior member shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00) payable on or before January 1st.
4. All persons admitted to a type of membership during the last half (1/2) of the fiscal year (after July 1st ) shall pay one-half (1/2) of the annual dues, for the remainder of that fiscal year.
5. ) At the eighteenth (18th) birthday, a Junior member shall automatically become an active member upon the approval of the Club's Board of Directors. If the birthday occurs during the first half of the fiscal year, an additional ten dollars ($10.00) shall become due and payable.
6. Life members are exempt from dues.
7. On or before October 1st, the Treasurer shall send to each member, via mail or e-mail, a statement of his/hers dues for the ensuing fiscal year.
8. A ten dollar ($10.00) application fee shall accompany each preliminary application for membership in the Club. This fee shall not be returnable if the applicant is subsequently elected to membership. Upon notification of election to membership, each new member shall be requested to remit the appropriate dues payment within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice. In the event of disapproval of an applicant for membership, the application fee shall be promptly refunded. In the event of failure of a newly elected member to respond within sixty (60) days of such notification, the election of the applicant shall be deemed void.

Section 3. Method of Election to Membership.  
Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors and which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Club and the rules of the Great Dane Club of America and the American Kennel Club. The application shall state the name and address of the applicant and it shall carry the endorsement of two (2) members in good standing. The applicant must have known the sponsors for a minimum of six (6) months. If applicant does not know anyone from the Club, he/she must attend a minimum of six (6) Club meetings. Such preliminary application Shall be submitted to the Membership Committee accompanied by the proper application fee and letters of recommendation from two (2) members in good standing. Whereupon a sequential number shall be assigned to the application and shall be transmitted to the Recording Secretary by the Membership Committee. The following procedure shall then apply:

1. At the first regular scheduled Club meeting following receipt of a preliminary application, the Recording Secretary or Membership Committee Chairperson shall report to the membership the application number, name, address, activity of interest and names of sponsors.
2. Notice to all members that application for membership is pending shall be published in the next newsletter including application number, name, address, activity of interest and names of sponsors. The notice shall state that any objections to the proposed new member must be forwarded in writing within ten (10) days to the Recording Secretary.
3. At the next regular Board of Directors meeting following the time limit stated, the Board shall act independently on all pending applications and make a decision to recommend: (1) acceptance to membership, (2) rejection of the application, (3) holding for further investigation until the next regular meeting of the Board, when final decision should be made to recommend election or rejection.
4. All such recommendations of the Board of Directors shall be reported to the membership at the next regular Club meeting following the Board of Directors meeting. If holding for further investigation is recommended more than once, the Recording Secretary shall call attention to this fact, with suitable explanation.
5. The membership shall act on the Board of Directors recommendations. At the next Club meeting, the application will be voted upon by secret ballot and affirmative votes of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present and voting at the meeting shall be required to: (1) elect to membership, (2) reject the application. If two-thirds (2/3) of the membership disapproves such recommendations of the Board of Directors, the application shall be considered rejected; (3) approve the recommendation to hold application until the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors for their decision to recommend election or rejection. If two-thirds (2/3) of the membership disapproves, a vote must be taken at the next regular Club meeting to accept or reject the applicant for membership.
6. For all such applications approved by the membership at a regular Club meeting, the Recording Secretary shall, within two (2) weeks, transmit to the newly elected member, a formal final application on a form prescribed by the Board of Directors. In accepting the election to membership, the applicant shall agree to abide by the Constitution, By- Laws and Code of Ethics of the Northern New Jersey Great Dane Club, the American Kennel Club and the Great Dane Club of America.
7. An applicant for membership whose preliminary application is disapproved may not re- apply until six (6) months have elapsed from the time the preliminary application was submitted by the Membership Committee to the Recording Secretary.

Section 4. Termination of Membership.  Membership may be terminated:

1. By resignation.  Any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written Notice to the Corresponding Secretary. Such resignation shall be immediately effective, 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 (1st) day of the fiscal year.
2. By lapsing. A membership shall be considered lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid thirty (30) days after the first day of the fiscal year; however the Board may grant additional thirty (30) 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.
3. By expulsion.  A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in ARTICLE VI of these Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 5. Termination of Interest.  
The interest of any member in the Club ceases with the termination of membership. 

Section 6. Reinstatement.
Membership lost due to unpaid dues may be regained only upon reapplication for membership as provided in ARTICLE 1, Section 2 and 3 of these Constitution and By-Laws and payment of any indebtedness to the Club. 
 

Article II

Meetings, Notices, Quorum 

Section 1. Meeting Locations. 
All Club meetings, Special Club Meetings, Board Meetings and Special Board Meetings shall be held in Fairfield and or a New Jersey communities located north of I-80 including the following limited communities south of I-80; Fairfield, Saddle Brook, Madison, South Orange, North Arlington, and Cedar Grove.  

Section 2.  Club Meetings. 
Regular meetings of the Club shall be held each month, except during July and August, as set by the Board, at such hour and place as may be designated by the President. Written notice of each such meeting shall be published in the Club newsletter at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting or notification may be given to members via e-mail, if each member has signed an authorization agreeing to this method of communication. Such authorization, which is revocable, will also release the Club from any liability should the notification be received late or not received by the member due to circumstances beyond the Club's control. The quorum for such meetings shall be twenty percent (20%) of the active members in good standing, present and voting. 

Section 3.  Special Club Meetings. 
Special Club meetings may be called by the President or by a majority vote of the members of the Board who are present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the Board, or shall be called by the Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by ten (10) members of the Club who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held at such an hour and place as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed or e-mailed by the Corresponding Secretary at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting at which no other Club business may be transacted. The quorum for such a meeting shall be twenty percent (20%) of members in good standing, present and voting.  

Section 4.  Regular Board Meetings. 
There shall be at least six (6) Regular Board of Directors Meetings annually One to be held in each of the following months: January, February March, June, September and December. The January, February March, June, and September Board Meetings may be held before or after the membership meetings or at the discretion of the President, may be held via teleconference or videoconference among all the available members of the Board. The December meeting, which will take place after elections, must be held in person. Written notice by the Corresponding Secretary shall be mailed or e-mailed at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting provided each Board Member has signed an authorization agreeing to the method of communication. Such authorization, which is revocable, will also release the Club from any liability should the notification be received late or not received by the Board Member due to circumstances beyond the Club's control. The quorum for the Board Meeting is a majority of the Board.  

Section 5.  Special Board Meetings. 
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President or shall be called by the Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of a written request by at least three (3) members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held at such hour and place as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call a meeting or at the discretion of the President. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed or e-mailed by the Corresponding Secretary or President The notice of said meeting shall state the issues to be discussed and resolved and the meeting shall commence at the time the issues are presented. The President shall specify the time for which the matter (issue) shall be open for discussion and within that discussion period a motion, second and vote must occur. If there is no vote within the discussion and vote period, the issue shall be moot. The quorum for Special Board Meetings is a majority of the Board.  

Section 6.  Voting. 
Each member in good standing whose dues are paid for the current year shall be entitled to one (1) vote at any meeting of the Club at which he/she is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any Club meeting or election.   

Article III

Directors, Officers and Delegates to the Great Dane Club of America

Section 1. Board of Directors. 
The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, six (6) Directors, the immediate Past President and the Delegate to the Great Dane Club of America all of whom shall be members in good standing. The Officers shall serve for one (1) year terms; Directors shall be elected in three (3) classes each class serves for a three (3) year term and the Delegate to the Great Dane Club of America shall serve a three (3) year term, all of whom shall be elected at the Club's annual meeting and shall serve until their successors are elected. The immediate Past President shall serve as a voting member of the Board for one (1) year. General management of the Club's affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors. Any Officer, Director or Delegate to the Great Dane Club of America who is absent from three (3) consecutive Board meetings without just cause, as determined by the Board, will be deemed to have vacated the position.  

Section 2. Officers. 
The Club's Officers, consisting of the President, Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer, shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the Club and its meetings and the Board and its meetings.  

1. The President shall preside at all the meetings of the Club and 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.
2. The Vice President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President's death, absence or incapacity.
3. The Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of all correspondence, the issuance of all notices of all meetings of the Club and of the Board, and shall promptly notify all members of all matters as directed. In his/her absence, the President may appoint a temporary substitute.
4. The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club, Board and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club. He/she shall notify each new member of his election to the Club. He/she shall notify Officers, Board Members, Directors and Delegate to the Great Dane Club of America of their nomination and election. He/she shall keep a roll of the members of the Club and carry out such other duties as prescribed. He/she shall have charge of corporate papers and the Seal of the Club. In his/her absence, the President may appoint a temporary substitute.
5. The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club. Monies shall be deposited in a bank, designated by the Board, in the name of the Club. The books shall at all times be open to inspection by the Board and a report shall be given at every meeting on the condition of the Club's finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported; and at the annual meeting an accounting shall be rendered 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.
6. The Past President shall serve for only the year after his/her Presidency. After which the position becomes vacant until the next Past President.
7. The GDCA Delegate shall not be considered an Officer of the Club unless already serving in that capacity. Upon election, he/she shall automatically become a member of the Board of Directors, unless already serving in the capacity. He/she shall attend meetings of the Delegates to the GDCA and shall advise the membership of all matters pertaining to the Club and the membership. He/she shall serve as liaison between the Club and the GDCA in all matters authorized by the Board and shall act upon the Board's instructions.

Section 3. Vacancies. 
Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the Officers during the year shall be filled until the next annual election by a majority vote of all the then 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 resulting vacancy in the Office of Vice President shall be filled by the Board.  
 

Article IV

Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections 

Section 1. Club Year. 
The Club's fiscal and official year shall begin the first (1st) day of January and end on the thirty-first (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 December at which Officers and Directors for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret 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 the successor in Office all properties and records relating to the Office within thirty (30) days after the election . 

Section 3. Election. 
The nominated candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for each Office and as Delegate to the Great Dane Club of America shall be declared elected. If there are more nominees for the positions of Directors than there are vacancies, those nominees receiving the greatest number of votes for the respective classes to which they were properly nominated shall be declared elected.  

1. The President shall appoint as tellers three (3) active members in good standing who are not candidates for Office or other positions. Tellers shall receive, verify and tabulate all ballots cast and report the results to the Recording Secretary. All ballots cast shall be given to the Recording Secretary who shall keep them on file for at least one (1) year. Results of the election are to be announced by the Recording Secretary immediately after the report is submitted by the tellers.

Section 4. Nominations. 
No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated. During the month of September, the Board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) members and two (2) alternates, not more than one (1) of whom may be a member of the Board. The Recording Secretary shall immediately notify the committeepersons and alternates of their selection. The Board shall name a Chairperson for the committee meeting to be held on or before October 1st.  

1. The Committee shall nominate one (1) candidate for each Office (and for Delegate to the GDCA, who may, but need not be an Officer or Director of the Club) and positions on the Board and, after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report their nominations, in writing, to the Recording Secretary.
2. Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report, the Recording Secretary shall, at least two (2) weeks before the November meeting, have published in the Club's newsletter the names of the candidates so nominated.
3. The Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of all correspondence, the issuance of all notices of all meetings of the Club and of the Board, and shall promptly notify all members of all matters as directed. In his/her absence, the President may appoint a temporary substitute.
4. Additional nominations may be made at the November meeting by any member in attendance providing that the person so nominated does not decline when his/her name is proposed and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at the meeting, the proposer shall present, to the Recording Secretary, a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying willingness to be a candidate. No person may be a candidate for more than one (1) position (except the position of Delegate to the GDCA.)
5. Nominations cannot be made at the Annual Meeting.

Article V

Committees 

Section 1. General Committees. 
At its first (1st) or second (2nd) meeting of each official year, the Board may, each year, appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club. 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.

1. General committee appointments shall be in effect no longer than for the official year in which the appointments were made.
2. The Auditing Committee shall examine the records of the Treasurer during the last month of each fiscal year and report its findings to the membership at the Annual Meeting.

Section 2. Standing Committees. 
In advance of the January meeting, the President shall prepare a slate of appointees to the Standing Committees for approval by the Board.

1. Membership Committee
2. Material and Property Committee
3. Historian
4. Match Show Committee
5. Judges' Selection Committee
6. Hospitality Committee
7. Publicity/Advertising Committee
8. Events Committee
9. Public Education Committee
10. Pet Therapy Committee
11. Awards Committee
12. Sunshine Committee

Section 3. Committee Appointment Announcement. 
Committee appointments by the President and the Show Chair, after confirmation by the Board, as well as appointments by the Board, shall be announced to the membership and an up-to-date list maintained and exhibited at each regular meeting by the Recording Secretary . 

Section 4. Special Committees. 
The President may appoint at any time, with the approval of the Board, committees required by the business and activities of the Club. No Special Committee shall be in effect longer than the time required to complete its assigned duties (i.e.: Match Show Committee together with its appropriate sub-committees), and never longer than for the official year in which the appoint- ments were made . 

Section 5. Appointment of Show Committee Chair. 
The Chairperson(s) and Assistant Chairperson(s) of the Show Committee (Conformation and Obedience) shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at least twelve (12) months in advance of the show at which they will serve . 

1. The Chair of the Show Committee shall be permitted to serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms.

Article VI

Discipline 

Section 1.  American Kennel Club Suspension. 
Any member who is suspended from all the privileges of the American Kennel Club shall auto- matically 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 interest of the Club. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Recording Secretary, together with a deposit of fifty dollars ($50.00), which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board following a hearing. The Recording Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each member of the Board or present them at a Board meeting. The Board shall first consider whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Club. If the Board considers the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interest 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, not less than three (3) weeks or more than six (6) weeks thereafter. The Recording Secretary shall promptly send one (1) 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/her defense and bring witnesses if he/she wishes.  

Section 3. Board Hearing. 
The Board shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing, but both complainant and defendant shall be treated uniformly in that regard. Should the charges be sustained after hearing all evidence and testimony presented by complainant and defendant, the Board may, by a majority vote of those present, suspend the defendant from all privileges of the Club for not more than six (6) months from the date of the hearing. If it deems that punishment insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty be expulsion. In such case, the suspension shall not 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 finding shall be put in written form and filed with the Recording Secretary. The Recording 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. Such proceedings may occur at a regular or special meeting of the club to be held within 60 days but not earlier than 30 days after the date of the board’s recommendation of expulsion. 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 finding and recommendation, and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his/her behalf if he/she wishes. The members shall then vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion. A 2/3 vote of those present and voting at the meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. If expulsion is not voted, the board’s suspension shall stand. 

Article VII

Amendments/By-Laws 

Section 1.  Amendments. 
Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition addressed to the Recording Secretary signed by twenty percent (20%) of 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 recommendations of the Board, by the Recording Secretary for a vote within three (3) months of the date the petition was received by the Recording Secretary . 

Section 2. The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a two-third (2/3) secret vote of the Members present and voting at any regular or special meeting called for the purpose, provided the proposed amendment(s) have been included in the notice of the meeting and mailed to each member at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.  

Article VIII

Dissolution 

Section 1.  The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two-thirds (2/3rds) of the members in good standing. In the event of the dissolution of the Club, other than for the purpose of re-organization, whether voluntary or involuntary, or by operation of law, none of the property of the Club or any proceeds thereof or any assets of the Club shall be distributed to any members of the Club. The Club's 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.  Order of Business. 
At meetings of the Club the order of business, so far as the character and nature of the meeting may permit, shall be as follows:  

1. RollCall
2. Minutes of last meeting
3. Report of President
4. Report of Corresponding Secretary
5. Report of Recording Secretary
6. Report of Treasurer
7. Report of Committees
8. Election of Officers, Directors and Delegate to the GDCA (at Annual Meeting)
9. Election of new members
10. Unfinished business
11. New business
12. Guests
13. Adjournment

Section 2. Board of Directors – Order of Business. 
At meetings of the Board the order of business, unless otherwise directed by a majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:  

1. RollCall
2. Minutes of last meeting
3. Report of Corresponding Secretary
4. Report of Recording Secretary
5. Report of Treasurer
6. Report of Committees
7. Unfinished business
8. New business
9. Adjournment

Article X

Parliamentary Authority 

Section 1. Parliamentary Procedures. 
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.  

Presented and approved by the Membership: 
November 19, 2008 

Revised by the Membership: 
October 21, 2009
February 17, 2010
March 24, 2010
June 16, 2010
November 17, 2010  

Approved by the American Kennel Club: 
December 9, 2010 

Approved by the Great Dane Club of America: 
July 2011