ARTICLE I.  Name and objects. 

Section 1.  The name of the Club shall be BEARDED COLLIE CLUB OF AMERICA. 

Section 2.  The objects of the Club shall be: 
 a.  to encourage and promote the quality and ethical breeding of purebred Bearded Collies and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection; 

 b.  to encourage the organization of affiliated local Bearded Collie Clubs in those areas where there are sufficient fanciers of the breed to support Club activities; 

 c.  to urge members and breeders to accept the breed Standard as established by the Club and approved by the American Kennel Club as the only standard of excellence by which Bearded Collies shall be judged; 

 d.  to do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breed and to encourage sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, obedience trials and herding trials and events; and, 

 e.  to conduct specialty shows and matches, obedience trials and herding trials and events under the rules of the American Kennel Club and the Bearded Collie Club of America. 

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, except for the legal defense of a club official carrying out the duties of his/her position. 

Section 4.  The members of the Club shall adopt and may from time to time revise such by-laws as may be required to carry out these objects. 

   ADOPTED:    July 19, 1969 
   AMENDED:    July 8, 1978 January 1, 1981 June 15, 1986 May 31, 1992 
 
 
The By-Laws of the Bearded Collie Club of America, Inc. 

ARTICLE I.  MEMBERSHIP. 
Section 1.  There shall be four (4) types of membership which shall be open to all persons eighteen (18) years of age and older who subscribe to the purposes of the Club and are in good standing with the American Kennel Club.  Single Membership: will enjoy all the privileges of the Club including voting and holding office. 

Joint Membership: Open to a husband and wife or to two persons living in the same household who will enjoy all the privileges of the Club. Each member of the joint membership is entitled to a separate vote. 

Honorary Membership: May be awarded from time to time by the Board of Directors to persons who have done meritorious service for the Bearded Collie or the Club.  Such Honorary members shall be eligible to vote or to hold office only if they have been elected to regular membership in accordance with Section 4 of this Article. 

Foreign Membership: Open to all non-U.S. residents who will enjoy all the privileges of membership  except holding office and voting on the official Standard of the Bearded Collie. 

Section 2.  Rights and Privileges.  A member shall be considered in good standing if his/her dues for the current year shall have been paid and if he/she shall not have been suspended in accordance with Article VI.  All members in good standing shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Club except as specified in these By-laws. 

Section 3.  Dues.  Membership dues shall be established by the Board of Directors and shall include rates for single membership and joint membership for a husband and wife or two persons living in the same household, but in no case shall the annual dues exceed $45 for a single membership of $55 for a joint membership.  Dues for foreign members shall not exceed $55.  There shall be no dues for honorary membership.  Dues are payable on or before the first day of July of each year.  No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year.  During the month of May, the Treasurer shall send to each member a statement of his/her dues for the ensuing year.  Year, as used in this section, shall mean fiscal year as defined in Article IV, Section 1. 

Section 4.  Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form approved by the Board of Directors which shall carry the endorsement of one member in good standing.  The prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year with the application.  Applicants may be elected by secret ballot at a meeting of the Board of Directors or by secret vote of the Directors by mail.  Affirmative votes of not less than two-thirds of the Board present and voting upon the applicant shall be required to elect an applicant.  An application which has received a negative vote by the Board may be presented by the applicant's endorser at the next annual meeting of the Club and the Club may elect such applicant by a favorable vote of three-fourths of the members present and voting.  Any applicant whose application has been rejected by the Board or at the annual meeting of the Club following a Board rejection may not re-apply for six months after the latest such action. 

Section 5.  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 Recording 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 on the first date of each fiscal year. 

 b.  By Lapsing.  A membership will be considered lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid 90 days after the first of the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional 90 days of grace to such delinquent members in meritorious cases.  In no case may a person be entitled to vote while his/her dues remain unpaid. 

 c.  By expulsion.  A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these By-laws. 

ARTICLE II.  MEETINGS. 
Section 1.  Annual Meeting.  The annual meeting of the Club shall be held in either September or October at a place, date and hour designated by the Board of Directors.  Written notice of the annual meeting shall be made by the Recording Secretary at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for the annual meeting shall be 10 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 at a meeting of the Board or who vote by mail, and shall be called by the Recording Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by ten (10) percent of the members of the Club who are in good standing.  Such meeting shall be held at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the Board of Directors or the person calling the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this section.  Written notice of such meeting shall be made by the Recording Secretary at least fourteen (14) days and not more than thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.  The notice of the meeting shall state the purpose for the meeting and no other Club business shall be transacted.  The quorum for such a meeting shall be ten (10) percent of the members in good standing. 

Section 3.  Board of Directors Meetings.  The first meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held during the month of July.  Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and places as are designated by a majority vote of the entire Board.  Special meetings of the Board shall be called by the Recording Secretary when requested by the President or upon receipt of a petition signed by three Directors.  Written notice of each meeting except the first shall be mailed by the Recording Secretary to each Board member at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the meeting.  The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board. 

Section 4.  The Board of Directors may conduct its business by mail, telephone or fax through the Recording Secretary.  All ballots, to be valid, must be received by the Recording Secretary before the ballot deadline which shall be at least fourteen (14) days from the date of the mailing.  Telephone or fax ballots, to be valid, must be confirmed by written ballot received by the Recording Secretary within seven days.  Membership applicants shall be elected only by written secret ballot.   The quorum for a meeting shall be a majority of the Board. 

ARTICLE III.  DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND AKC DELEGATE. 
Section 1.  Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, the Immediate Past President, as set forth below, and six (6) other persons, all of whom shall be members in good standing and residents of the United States.  Not more than one member of a household may serve on the Board at one time.  Further, no member, nor members of the same household, may hold consecutive Board positions which would exceed four (4) years of cumulative service, except when serving as Immediate Past President.  The members of the Board of Directors, except the Past President, shall be elected and serve as provided in Article IV.  The Officers shall be elected for one (1) year terms.  Following the election of a new Club President, the former Club President shall assume the office of Immediate Past President and shall serve on the Board as a voting member during the initial year of his/her immediate successor's term of office. The AKC Delegate shall be elected for a three (3) year term.  The other Directors shall be divided into two classes which shall be elected in alternating years for two (2) year terms.  General management of the Club's affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors. 

Section 2.  Officers.  The Club's officers, consisting of President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding 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 the President in addition to those specified in these By-laws. 

 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 Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club and of the Board of Directors and of all votes taken by mail and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club or by the Board of Directors.  He/She shall notify the members of meetings of the Club and Officers and Directors of their election to office, and shall carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these By-laws or directed by the Board of Directors. 

 d.  The Corresponding Secretary shall be the principal contact for requests from outside the Club for information about the Club and Bearded Collies and shall carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these By-laws or directed by the Board of Directors. 

 e.  The Treasurer shall collect, receive, and disburse all moneys due or belonging to the Club; he/she shall deposit the same in a bank approved by the Board of Directors, in the name of the Club;  he/she shall report to the Board at every meeting the condition of the Club's finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported; at the annual meeting he/she shall render an account of all the moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year; and he/she shall carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these By-laws or directed by the Board of Directors.  The Treasurer shall prepare and file all reports required by Federal, State and local laws.  His/Her books shall at all times be open to inspection of the Board.  The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine. 

Section 3. AKC Delegate.  The AKC Delegate shall represent the Bearded Collie Club of America at all meetings of the delegate body of the American Kennel Club, and shall vote thereat in accordance with the best interests of the Club and as instructed by the Board of Directors of the Bearded Collie Club of America. 

Section 4.  Vacancies.  Any vacancies except for the Immediate Past President may be filled for the unexpired term of office by majority vote of the current Board with the following exceptions: 

 a.  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, and the resulting vacancy in the office of Vice-President,  shall be filled by the Board; 

 b.  should the office of President become vacant, the office of Immediate Past President shall be vacant during the succeeding President's term of office; and 

 c.  unless an election is to be held shortly, all vacancies should be filled. 

ARTICLE IV.  THE CLUB YEARS, VOTING, NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS.  Section 1.  Club Years.  The Club's official and fiscal years shall begin on the first day of July and continue until the thirtieth day of June of each year.  The elected Officers and Directors shall take office to coincide with the official year.  Each retiring Officer shall turn over to his/her successor in office all properties and records relating to that office within 30 days of the election. 

Section 2.  Voting.  At the annual meeting or at a special meeting of the Club voting shall be limited to those members in good standing who are present at the meeting.  Voting by proxy shall not be permitted. The election of Officers, Directors and Delegate to the American Kennel Club, amendments to the Constitution and By-laws, and the establishment of or amendments to the Breed Standard shall be decided by written ballot cast by mail.  The Board of Directors may decide to submit other specific questions for decision of the members by written ballot cast by mail. 

Section 3.  Annual Election.  The election of Officers and Directors shall be conducted by mail ballot. Ballots, to be valid, must be received by the Treasurer at his/her regular address before June 1st.  Ballots shall be counted as provided for in Section 4 of this article. The person receiving the largest number of votes for each position shall be declared elected. In case of a tie vote for any office, the newly elected Board of Directors shall determine which candidate shall be elected from among the candidates which tied.  If any person is unable to serve for any reason, the vacancy so created shall be filled by the new Board of Directors as provided in ARTICLE III, Section 3. 

Section 4.  Nominations and Ballots.  No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated in accordance with these By-laws.  A Nominating Committee shall be chosen by the Board of Directors before February 1st.  The Committee shall consist of three members but not more than one current Board member.  The Board shall name a Chairman for the Committee. The Nominating Committee may conduct its business by mail. 

 a.  The Nominating Committee shall nominate from among the eligible members of the Club, one candidate for each office, for Delegate who may, but need not be, an officer or Director of the Club and for each other position on the Board of Directors which shall be open for the next official year and shall procure the acceptance of each nominee so chosen.  The Committee shall then submit its slate of candidates to the Recording Secretary who shall notify each member of the Club on or before March 15th. 

 b.  Additional nominations of eligible members may be made by written petition addressed to the Recording Secretary and received at his/her regular address on or before April 15th, signed by five (5) percent of the members in good standing and accompanied by the written acceptance of each such additional nominee signifying his/her willingness to be a candidate.  Except for Delegate, no person shall be a candidate for more than one position and the additional nominations which are provided herein may be made only from among those members who have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating Committee. 

 c.  If no valid additional nominations are received by the Recording Secretary on or before April 15th for any office, the nominee of the Nominating Committee for that office shall be declared elected and no balloting for that office shall be required. 

 d.  If one or more valid additional nominations are received by the Recording Secretary on or before April 15th, he/she shall, on or before May 1st, mail to each member in good standing a ballot listing in alphabetical order, all of the nominees for each position for which there have been additional nominations, together with  a blank envelope and a return envelope addressed to the Treasurer marked "Ballot" and bearing the name of the member to whom it was sent.   So that the ballots may remain secret, each voter, after marking his/her ballot, shall seal it in the blank envelope which in turn shall be placed in the second envelope addressed to the Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall check the returns against the list of members whose dues are paid for the current year and shall forward unopened the blank envelopes from such eligible members to the Recording Secretary.  The Recording Secretary and one other member of the Club appointed by the Board of Directors shall then immediately report the results of the election to the members of the Board and to each nominee.  Alternately, the Board of Directors shall have the option to employ the services of an independent professional firm to mail, receive, and count the ballots and report the results of the election to the members of the Board and the candidates.  After the ballots are counted, the Recording Secretary shall keep the ballots for ninety (90) days after which they may be destroyed. 

ARTICLE V.  COMMITTEES. 
Section 1.  The Board of Directors shall each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as dog shows, obedience trials, trophies, annual prizes, membership, Club periodicals, educational material and other such fields which may well be served by committees.  Such committees shall serve until their successors are appointed and shall always be subject to the final authority of the board.  Special committees shall also be appointed by the Board to aid it on particular projects.  Such committees shall serve until either completion of their assigned projects or until dissolved by Board action.  The Board shall appoint a chairman to each such standing and special committee. 

Section 2. Executive Committee.  The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee consisting of the President as chairman, the Recording Secretary, an done other member of the Board. The Executive Committee may act with the authority of the Board in matters in which time is of the essence.  It shall report its actions at the next meeting of the Board which may modify or reverse such actions. 

ARTICLE VI.  Discipline. 
Section 1.  Any member who is suspended from the privileges of the American Kennel Club automatically shall be suspended form the privileges of the Club for a like period. 

Section 2.  Any member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Club or breed.  Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Recording Secretary together with a deposit of $10 which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board or a committee 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, 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 or the breed.  If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges, it shall fix a date of a hearing, by the Board or a committee of not less than three (3) members of the Board, not less than three (3) weeks nor more than six (6) weeks thereafter. 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 own defense and bring witnesses if he/she wishes. 

Section 3.  Board Hearing.  The Board or Committee 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 a hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by the complainant and defendant, the Board or committee may be majority vote of those present and voting suspend the defendant from all privileges of the Club for not more than six (6) months from the date of the hearing, or until the next annual meeting if that will occur after six (6) months.  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/her fellow members at the ensuing Club meeting which considers the recommendation of the Board or committee.  Immediately after the Board or committee 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 decision and penalty, if any. 

Section 4.  Expulsion.  Expulsion of a member from the Club may be accomplished only at the annual meeting of the Club following a hearing and upon recommendation of the Board or Committee as provided in Section 3 of this Article.  The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in his/her own behalf though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting.  The President shall read the charges and invite the defendant, if present, to speak on his/her own behalf.  The meeting shall then vote by secret written ballot on the proposed expulsion.  A two-thirds vote of those present and voting at the annual meeting shall be necessary for expulsion.  If the expulsion is not so voted, the suspension shall stand. 

ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS. 
Section 1.  Amendments to the Constitution and By-laws and to the Standard for the Breed may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition addressed to the Recording Secretary signed by twenty (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 for a vote within three (3) months of the date when the petition was received by the Recording Secretary. 

Section 2.  The Constitution and By-laws and the Breed Standard may be amended at any time provided a copy of the proposed amendment has been mailed to each member accompanied by a ballot on which he/she may indicate his/her choice for or against the action to be taken.  The notice shall specify a date not less than thirty (30) days after the date of mailing by which date the ballots must be returned to the Treasurer.  To be valid and so that the ballots remain secret, each voter, after marking his/her ballot, shall seal it in a blank envelope which in turn shall be placed in a second envelope addressed to the Treasurer and bearing the member's address of record.  The Treasurer shall check the returns against  the list of members whose dues are paid for the current year and shall forward unopened the blank envelopes from such eligible members to the Recording Secretary.  The Recording Secretary and at least one other member of the Club appointed by the Board of Directors shall count the ballots and immediately report the results to the Board of Directors.  The  favorable vote of two-thirds of the members in good standing whose ballots are returned shall be required to effect any such amendment. 

The Recording Secretary shall keep the ballots for ninety (90) days after which they may be destroyed. 

Section 3.  No amendment to the Constitution and By-laws that is adopted shall become effective until it is approved by the Boar d of Directors of the American Kennel Club. 

ARTICLE VIII.  DISSOLUTION. 
Section 1.  The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two-thirds of the members in good standing.  In the event of 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 member 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.  The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the BCCA in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution and By-laws and any special Rules of Order the BCCA may adopt. 

Section 2.  Meetings of the Club.  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 the last Club meeting 
 Minutes of the Board of Directors Meetings 
 Report of the President 
 Report of the Recording Secretary 
 Report of the Corresponding Secretary 
 Report of the  Treasurer 
 Report of the AKC Delegate 
 Reports of Committees 
 Unfinished Business  
 Election of New Members 
 New Business 
 Adjournment 

Section 3.  Meetings of the Board of Directors.  At meetings of the Board, the order of business unless otherwise directed by a majority of those present, shall be as follows: 
 Reading of the minutes of the last meeting  Report of the Recording Secretary (including results  of mail ballots) 
 Report of the Corresponding Secretary 
 Report of the  Treasurer 
 Report of the AKC Delegate 
 Reports of Committees 
 Unfinished Business 
 Election of New Members 
 New Business 
 Adjournment 
ADOPTED:   July 19, 1969 
AMENDED:  7/8/78,   8/6/80, 6/15/86, 5/31/92, 9/19/94, 3/3/96 

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