CONSTITUTION

of the

Mid-Florida Havanese Club

Article I: Name and Objects

Section 1.

The name of the club shall be the Mid-Florida Havanese Club, hereafter referred to as the Club.

Section 2.

The objects of the Club shall be:

(a) To protect and advance the interests of the Havanese by encouraging and promoting quality in the breeding of purebred Havanese and urging 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 Havanese shall be judged;

(b) To initiate and maintain educational programs and activities which will stimulate the public interest and appreciation of the Havanese;

(c) To conduct sanctioned matches, dog shows, and all other AKC events for which the Club is eligible under the rules and regulations of The American Kennel Club; and

(d) To encourage and maintain a warm atmosphere, firm friendship, and the highest sportsmanship at all times.

Section 3.

The Club shall not be conducted or 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:

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 objects.



BYLAWS

of the

Mid-Florida Havanese Club

Article I: Membership

Section 1. Eligibility. There shall be three (3) types of membership:

(a) Regular Membership (Individual and Household). Open to all persons eighteen years of age and older who are in good standing with the American Kennel and who subscribe to the objects of this Club. Regular Members will be eligible to vote and hold office. Household Members will be entitled to two voting members.

(b) Associate Membership. Open to all persons eighteen years of age and older who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the objects of this Club. Associate members will not be able to vote or hold an elected office. Associate members will not require the endorsement of two active members of the Club on their application. They will receive the newsletter, and may identify themselves as affiliated with the Club. In claiming affiliation with the Club, they must state that they are “Associate Members” vs. Members. Associate Members who later wish to apply for regular membership status will need to apply as a new member.

(c) Junior Membership. Open to all persons between the ages of 9 and 18 years of age who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the objects of this Club. Junior Membership will be a non-voting membership, and these members will not pay dues. Junior members must be active in the dog fancy in either a competitive, community service or educational role and must submit an annual report of their activities in lieu of dues. Upon reaching their 18th birthday, Junior Members who have maintained their membership may choose to become Regular Members and need not reapply.

While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club’s primary purpose is to be representative of the breeders and exhibitors in its immediate area.

Section 2. Dues. Membership dues shall not exceed $25.00 per year for an Individual Membership, $35.00 per year for a Household Membership, or $15.00 per year for an Associate Membership. Dues amounts shall be determined by the Board of Directors and approved by the General Membership. Dues are payable by August 1st each year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of July, the Treasurer shall send to each member a statement of dues for the ensuing year. Dues not paid by October 1 shall be considered delinquent, and the member shall be dropped from the rolls.

Section 3. 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 Bylaws and the rules of The American Kennel Club. The application shall state the name, address, and occupation of the applicant, and it shall carry the endorsement of two regular members in good standing. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year.

All applications are to be filed with the Secretary. The applicant must attend two out of three consecutive meetings. Each application is to be read at the first meeting of the club following its receipt. At the next Club meeting attended by the applicant, the application will be voted upon. Affirmative votes of 2/3 of the members present and voting by secret ballot at that meeting shall be required to elect the applicant.

Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not reapply within six months after such rejection.

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

(a) 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. Obligations other than dues are considered a debt to the Club and must be paid in full prior to resignation.

(b) by lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid 90 days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the board may grant an additional 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.

(c) by expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these Bylaws.

Article D: Meetings and Voting

Section 1. Club Meetings. Meetings of the Club shall be held at least six times a year in the Winter Garden, Florida, area (including Ocala, south to Lakeland, east to Melbourne, and north to Ormond Beach) at such date, time and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 20 percent of the members in good standing.

Section 2. 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; and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by five members of the Club who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held in the Winter Garden, Florida, area (including Ocala, south to Lakeland, east to Melbourne, and north to Ormond Beach) at such date, time and place as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least five days and not more than 15 days prior to the date of the meeting, and said notice shall state the purpose of the meeting, and no other Club business may be transacted thereat. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20 percent of the members in good standing.

Section 3. Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at least six times a year in the Winter Garden, Florida, area (including Ocala, south to Lakeland, east to Melbourne, and north to Ormond Beach) at such date, time and place as may be designated by the Board. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least five days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board. Board members who miss three consecutive meetings will be asked to resign their position on the Board.

Section 4. Special Board Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President; and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least three members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held within the Winter Garden, Florida, area (including Ocala, south to Lakeland, east to Melbourne, and north to Ormond Beach) at such date, time and place as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such meeting. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least five days and not more than 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. Any such notice shall state the purpose of the meeting, and no other business shall be transacted thereat. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board.

Section 5. Voting. Each regular member in good standing whose dues are paid for the current year shall be entitled to one vote at any meeting of the Club at which he is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any Club meeting or election.

Article III: Directors and Officers

Section 1. Board of Directors. The Board shall be comprised of the officers and four other persons, all of whom shall be members in good standing, and all of whom shall be elected for two-year terms at the Club’s annual meeting as provided in Article IV. The President and Vice President shall serve no more than two consecutive terms in their position and until their successors are elected. General management of the Club’s affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors.

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

(a) The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and of the Board, and shall have the duties and powers normally appurtenant to the office of President in addition to those particularly specified in these Bylaws. The President will only be allowed to vote in the case of a tie.

(b) The Vice President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President’s death, absence or incapacity.

(c) The Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify new members of their election to membership, notify officers and directors of their election to office, keep a roll of the members of the Club with their addresses, keep a record of all meetings of the club and of the Board and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club and shall perform such other duties as are prescribed in these Bylaws.

(d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the Club. Moneys 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 moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.

Section 3. Vacancies. Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the offices during the year shall be f1lled 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 the resulting vacancy in the office of Vice President shall be filled by the Board.

Article IV: The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections

Section 1. Club Year. The Club’s fiscal year shall begin on the first day of August and end on the last day of July.

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 July, 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 that office within 30 days after the election.

Section 3. Elections. The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. The four nominated candidates for other positions on the board who receive the greatest number of votes for such positions shall be declared elected.

Section 4. Nominations. No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated. During the month of April, the Board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of three members and two alternates. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committeemen and alternates of their selection. The Board shall name a chairman for the committee, and it shall be such person’s duty to call a committee meeting, which shall be held on or before April l5. No member may be a candidate for office until they have been a member for a minimum of six months.

(a) The committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and positions on the Board and, after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report their nominations to the Secretary in writing.

(b) Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee’s report, the Secretary shall, before May 1, notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.

(c) Additional nominations may be made at the May meeting by any member in attendance, provided that the person so nominated does not decline when their name is proposed, and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, the proposer shall present to the Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying willingness to be a candidate. No person may be a candidate for more than one position. Additional nominations, which are provided for therein, may be made only from among those members who have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating Committee. After they are received from the floor, the Secretary shall send out suitable notification to all members at least one (1) week prior to the annual meeting.

(d) Nominations cannot be made at the Annual Meeting or in any manner other than as provided in this Section.

Article V: Committees

Section 1. The Board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as dog shows, obedience trials, trophies, annual prizes, membership, and other fields which may well be served by committees; Such committees shall always be subject to the authority of the Board. Special committees may also be appointed by the Board to aid it on particular projects.

Section 2. Any committee appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the full membership of the Board upon written notice to the appointee; and the Board may appoint successors to those persons whose services have been terminated.

Section 3. All members of the Club must work on a Committee or service project each year in order to remain a member in good standing.

Article VI: Discipline

Section 1. American Kennel Club Suspension. Any member who is suspended from the privileges of The American Kennel Club automatically shall be suspended from the privileges of this Club for a like period.

Section 2. Charges. Any member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Club. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary together with a deposit of $25.00, which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board following a hearing. The Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each member of the Board or present them at a Board meeting, and the Board shall first consider whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Club. If the Board considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interests 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 weeks nor more than six weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall promptly send one 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 own defense and bring witnesses if he 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 the evidence and testimony presented by complainant and defendant, the Board may, by a majority vote of those present, reprimand or suspend the defendant from all privileges of the Club for not more than six months from the date of the hearing. And, 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 Secretary. The 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 own behalf if he 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 so voted, the Board’s suspension shall stand.

Article VII: Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition addressed to the Secretary signed by 20 percent 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 Secretary for a vote within three months of the date when the petition was received by the Secretary.

Section 2. The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3rds secret vote of the regular members present and voting at any regular or special meeting called for the purpose, provided the proposed amendments have been included in the notice of the meeting and mailed to each member at least two 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 2/3 of the members in good standing. In the event of the dissolution of the Club, other than for purposes of reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, none of the property of the Club nor any proceeds thereof nor any assets of the Club shall be distributed to any members of the Club, but after payment of the debts of the Club, its 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. 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:

Roll Call

Minutes of Last Meeting

Report of President

Report of Secretary

Report of Treasurer

Reports of Committees

Election of Officers and Board (at Annual Meeting)

Election of New Members

Unfinished Business

New Business

Adjournment

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

Reading of Minutes of Last Meeting

Report of Secretary

Report of Treasurer

Reports of Committees

Unfinished Business

New Business

Adjournment

Article X: Parliamentary Authority

Section 1. 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 Bylaws and any other special rules of order the Club may adopt.



1. As a breeder, I will strive to improve my breeding program to meet the standard(s) of my breed(s).

2. I will not knowingly breed unregistered dogs, dogs that have disabling, genetic defects, or dogs purchased from pet shops.

3. Any dog I sell that has a known, disabling genetic defect will be sold on a spay/neuter contract. This dog will be sold only under an AKC Limited Registration or the regular AKC Registration Form will be voided and returned to the AKC.

4. I will not misrepresent a dog, nor use misleading or untruthful statements in selling or advertising dogs.

5. I will neither breed dogs nor transfer ownership of dogs with the intent or purpose of selling, donating, or trading to any commercial dog wholesaler or retailer.

6. I will do my best to educate the public on the standards of my breed(s).

7. In accordance with Florida State Law, I will not sell any puppy younger than eight weeks of age. For each sale, I will make available the following: Diet and care information, immunization records, pedigree, and registration forms and records, where applicable (Florida Statutes 828.29 requires a current health certificate issued by a licensed Veterinarian.)

8. I will abide by American Kennel Club rules and regulations as applicable.

9. I will abide by the American Kennel Club Code of Sportsmanlike Conduct.

10. I understand that if I, as a member, or any member of my immediate household, is reported to any municipality (village, town, city, county, or parish) for animal cruelty, including physical abuse or neglect, I will be subject to immediate due process in accordance with the by-laws of the Mid Florida Havanese Club.

I have read and I understand the Mid Florida Havanese Club Code of Ethics as set forth above. I agree to abide by the same. I understand failure to comply with the Code of Ethics as stated above, subjects me to immediate due process in accordance with the by-laws of the Mid Florida Havavese Club.