IHCUS Constitution and By-Laws
By-Laws
ARTICLE I - Membership
SECTION 1. Eligibility
There shall be one type of membership, open to all persons eighteen years of age or older who are members of good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club. However, the Board of Directors, hereafter known as the Board, may at their discretion and by a majority vote, bestow Honorary Membership upon any person in recognition of his service to the breed or to the Club. Such an Honorary Member shall be exempt from the payment of an initiation fee and dues. He/she shall not vote or hold office. An Honorary Member may apply for regular membership as provided by Section 3 of this Article.
SECTION 2. Dues
Membership dues, in an amount to be determined by the Board, but not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), shall be payable on or before the first day of November of each year. The newsletter budget shall be one-half the membership dues plus advertising money. Only one newsletter shall be sent to each address. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year.
Each October the Treasurer shall send a statement of dues for the ensuing year, to be printed on the front page of the newsletter, The Third Eye.
SECTION 3. Election to Membership
Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by this Constitution and these Bylaws, the Club's Code of Ethics and the rules of the American Kennel Club. Applications for membership shall carry the endorsement of two members in good standing and be accompanied by dues payment for the current year and an initiation fee of ten dollars ($10.00).
The names of applicants shall be sent to the membership quarterly by the Secretary. The membership then has twenty (20) days to comment. Applications and comments are at that time sent to the Board for vote. An affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board shall be required to elect an applicant. Applicants may be elected at any meeting of the Board or by written vote of the Board by mail. Upon election, members shall be notified by the Secretary and shall receive a Club pin, copy of the Constitution and Bylaws, and a copy of the Standard of the Breed.
An application which has received a negative vote by the Board of Directors may be presented by one of the applicant's endorsers at the next meeting of the Club and the Club may elect such applicant by a favorable vote of ninety (90) percent of the members present.
SECTION 4. Termination of Membership
Memberships may be terminated:
- By resignation. Any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Secretary, but no member may resign when in debt to the Club. Dues obligations are considered a debt to the Club and they become incurred at the first day of each fiscal year.
- By lapsing. A membership shall be considered lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid after the first day of the fiscal year, however, the Board may grant an additional thirty (30) days of grace in meritorious cases. In no case may a person be entitled to vote whose dues are unpaid.
- By expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these Bylaws.
A member in good standing is one whose dues are paid for the current year and who is not under suspension by The Ibizan Hound Club of the United States, Inc. or the American Kennel Club.