The Pioneer United Dog Club operates under the rules of the United Kennel Club, Inc.

PIONEER UNITED DOG CLUB BYLAWS
(Drafted October, 2021)

ARTICLE I: ORGANIZATION & CLUB OBJECTIVES
Section 1- Organization name:
This Organization will be known as the Pioneer United Dog Club (PUDC). Its membership will be made up of dedicated purebred dog enthusiasts of Wisconsin and surrounding states, or any person duly elected to membership.
Section 2- Club Objectives/Mission Statement:
The purpose of this club will be to promote the United Kennel Club and the future of dog related events in and around the community.
To fulfill this purpose, we promise:

1. To hold licensed UKC events that will be run in accordance with all the rules, policies, and procedures of the United Kennel Club. (This includes, but is not limited to, Breed Standards, and the rules for all Conformation and Performance events.)
2. To dismiss from our membership without hesitation those who violate these by-laws and the principles of good sportsmanship including fair and honest conduct.
3. The club will not hold any other registry’s events on the same day/location as that of any UKC event without the prior approval of UKC.
4. We reserve the right to refuse any entry in our competitions, as well as membership in this Club to any individual, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, and members. However, no person will be refused entry or membership on a basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, or national origin.

Section 3- Non-Profit Status:
The Club shall not be conducted or operated for a 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 II: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1- Obtaining membership in the Club (new members):

1. Each applicant for new membership in the Club will apply on a Board-approved Application for Membership, which will provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the Constitution, Bylaws and Code of Ethics of the Club and the rules and regulations of the United Kennel Club. The prospective member will submit the completed application and dues for the current year to the Secretary.
2. Once the membership application and dues have been turned into the secretary, the club will vote on the applicant at the next club meeting. A simple majority vote is required to accept the applicant.
3. No applicant will be accepted to membership if he or she is not in good standing with UKC.
4. There are three types of membership available with this club:
• Family – Consisting of at least two or more adults.
• Single – Consisting of one adult.
• Junior – A non-voting member under the age of 18 on January 1 of the current year.
  There is no fee for a Junior membership. Once a Junior is no longer eligible for this membership they must submit a new membership application with dues.

Section 2- Continuing membership in the Club (renewals):

1. Attend at least 1 meeting annually. Meetings will be either virtual conferencing or in conjunction with club events.
2. Participate in Club events at least once per annum.
3. The attendance clause 1 of section 2 will be waived due to illness, disability, conflict with employment, excessive distance, or bona-fide previous commitments. Request for waiver must be submitted to the board prior to the meeting date.
4. Any member known to: promote, support, raise dogs for fighting; knowingly sell, give, or trade dogs that will be used for fighting; condone or be associated with the facing off, game testing, rolling or pitting of dogs will have their membership automatically revoked.
   The member will be reported to United Kennel Club for disciplinary action as well.

Section 3- Membership Dues: The dues of this Club will be in the amount decided upon by the membership and will be due and payable on January 1 of the current year.
The current (2022) dues schedule is:

• Single: $20.
• Family: $30.
• Junior: Free

Any member who has not paid their dues by March 1 of the current year will be dropped from the rolls and need to reapply for membership.

ARTICLE III: OFFICERS
Section 1: The Officers and their respective duties:

• PRESIDENT: The President will preside at all meetings of the Club and of the Board of Directors, and will have the duties and powers normally pertaining to the office of the President in addition to those specified in these bylaws.
• VICE-PRESIDENT: The Vice President will assist the President whenever possible. The Vice President will have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President’s death, absence or incapacity.
• SECRETARY: The Secretary will keep a written record of all meetings of the Club and of the Board. The Secretary will have charge of the correspondence, including but not limited to; notifying members of meetings and events, notifying new members of their election to membership, and keeping a roll of the members along with current contact information which is required to be submitted to the United Kennel Club by December 31 of each year. The Secretary is responsible for providing an agenda to the Board and membership at least 10 days prior to each club meeting.
• TREASURER: The Treasurer will collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the Club. Moneys will be deposited in a bank designated by the board, in the name of the Club. The books will at all times be accurate, up to date, and open to inspection by the board. A treasury report will be given at every meeting of the condition of the Club’s finances and every item of receipt or payment that was not previously reported; and at the annual meeting, an accounting will be rendered of all moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year. In the event of the resignation, death or expulsion of the Treasurer, all moneys and account books of the Association will be handed over to the Board until the office of Treasurer is filled by a majority vote of the Board. The President will sign all checks during any interim period.
• The checks on the account(s) of this Club will be signed by the President and or Treasurer.
• The books and accounts of the Treasurer will be audited annually, prior to the annual meeting, by a committee appointed by the President.

Section 2- General:

1. The President and Vice-President will be elected at the annual meeting in opposing years.
2. All officer terms begin on 1 January of the year following election. Any Officer may succeed him- or her- self.
3. All elections will be by secret ballot and decided by a simple majority vote.
4. A member may hold no more than 2 positions in office during their term.

ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

1. The Board of Directors of this Club will be comprised of the officers listed in Article IV and one additional Director whom is elected at large by the membership at the annual meeting of every odd year.
2. The Board will appoint committees as needed to advance the operation of the Club or to aid the Board on particular projects. Committee decisions will be subject to the final authority of the Board and can be dissolved at any time by a simple majority vote of the board.

ARTICLE V: ELECTIONS
Section 1- Nominations:

1. No person may be a candidate for an office or position on the Board who has not been nominated.
2. Nominations of eligible members may be made in writing to the Secretary no later than 60 days prior to the election. All nominations will be accompanied by a written acceptance of the nomination from the nominee.
3. A person will be nominated for only one position.
4. If a nominee goes unopposed, then the person nominated will be elected by the Secretary at the annual meeting. If multiple nominations have been made, the Chairperson of the Election Committee will report the results of the election at the annual meeting.
5. The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office or position on the board will be declared elected.

Section 2- Election Committee:

1. Each election cycle, the Board of Directors will select three current members in good standing, who will be in attendance of the annual meeting, and name one as Chairperson. These members will serve as the Election Committee for the current election.
2. Their duty will be to count and tally ballots and report the totals to the Board for any issues voted by secret ballot, such as holding elections or proposed amendments to this Constitution and/or Bylaws.
3. In the case of a paper ballot, the Election Committee Chairperson will receive all ballots.

Section 3- Ballots:

1. The election of Officers and directors will be conducted by secret written or electronic ballot, or in any manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
Section 1a- Annual Meetings:

1. This meeting is to be held each calendar year after the day's events of our fall shows.
2. Board elections are to be held at this meeting.
3. The first meeting of the new Board will be held immediately following the annual meeting and election, and shall consist of both outgoing and incoming board members.

Section 1b- Order of Business, Annual Meetings:
At the Annual Meeting, the order of 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
• Report of Committees
• Election of Officers and Directors
• Membership Application Review
• Unfinished Business
• New Business
• Adjournment

Section 2a- Regular Board Meetings:

• The Regular meetings of this Club are open to all members in good standing and will be held at least once every three months at a location decided upon by the Board, generally electronically or in conjunction with events. Notices of the time, place and location of the meetings will be posted no later than 30 days prior to the meeting, and in any manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin.
• Meetings are defined as gatherings where attendees see and/or hear each other.  This includes meeting (in person) “physically” in the same room or conducting a meeting by video conference or teleconference (including disciplinary hearings) or by any method prescribed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin.  Items voted on by any method other than in person meetings must be confirmed in writing by the Corresponding Secretary within seven (7) days of such meeting.
• For Board business to be conducted by email, video conference or teleconference (including disciplinary hearings);
  
  1. every board member must be provided with the means to participate;
  2. a procedure must be in place to verify the identity of the individuals participating to ensure that they are the eligible board members;
  3. a mechanism must be in place to verify that the eligible board members are “listening”;
  4. all board members must agree to participate in this manner in writing.

Section 2b- Order of Business, Regular Board Meetings:
At regular meetings of the Board, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by a majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:

• Reading of the Minutes of the Last Meeting
• Report of Secretaries
• Report of Treasurer
• Report of President
• Report of Committees
• Unfinished Business
• Election of New Members
• New Business
• Adjournment

Section 3- Special Meetings:

• A Special Meeting of the Club shall be called by the President, or by a majority vote of the Directors who are present at a meeting of the Board, or by a majority of the Board who vote for such meeting by mail and/or email, or in any manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin.
• A Special Meeting of the Club shall be called by the Corresponding Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by 40% of the Club members who are in good standing, such meeting to be held within forty-five (45) days of the receipt of the petition.
• Special meetings of the Club called by the President or by a majority vote of the Board shall be held within forty-five (45) days of such call.  
• Notice of such meeting shall be delivered by mail and/or email, or in any manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin, by the Secretary to the membership at least fourteen (14) days, and no more than twenty-five (25) days, prior to the meeting. The notice of such meeting shall state the purpose or purposes of the meeting, and no other Club business may be transacted.
• All such meetings shall be held at a time and place designated by the Board.
• The quorum for any such meeting will be a majority of the Board plus 25% of the club membership in good standing.

Section 4- Minutes of the Meetings:
The proceedings of meetings (annual, special, regular) shall be recorded and the Minutes published in the club newsletter, which is electronically delivered. Such Minutes shall include the yeas and nays of all votes.

ARTICLE XI: PARLIMENTARY AUTHORITY
  The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, 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 rules of order the Club may adopt from time to time or at any time.

The above By Laws are agreed to by the Board and Membership on: 11/12/2021
Board Signatures agreeing to the above By-Laws:
President: Jen Proud
Vice President: Kristin Summerville
Secretary/Treasurer: Kayla Summerville