Constitution and By-Laws
This Constitution and By-Laws were amended at the Annual Meeting of English Days on June 11, 2022.
Preamble
The Breeders, Owners and Fanciers of the English Coonhound breed have organized themselves and affiliated with the United Kennel Club, Inc., for the express purpose of advancing the principles of the United Kennel Club, Inc., for the betterment of the English Coonhound breed as a whole and to influence the breeding of a better and finer English Coonhound.
Article I – Name
This Organization shall be known as the United English Breeders and Fanciers Association, Inc., whose home office shall be the residence of the President of said organization.
Article II – Purpose
Section A: To create a closer relationship and to instill confidence between breeder, owner and fancier of the English Coonhound breed that we may be able to improve the breed beneficial to all concerned, in accordance with the standard set forth by the United Kennel Club, Inc., Registering Office Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Section B: In Fulfillment of the above, the United English Breeders and Fanciers Association, Inc., is formed for the following purposes:
To negotiate collectively with United Kennel Club, Inc, regarding matters of breed standards and all Registered Events including Bench Shows, Nite Hunts, etc., that are licensed by the United Kennel Club, Inc., and the United English Breeders and Fanciers Association, Inc., relative to the English Coonhound breed.
To secure and protect all legal rights, benefits and privileges conferred upon said Association, relative to the English Coonhound breed.
To maintain, safeguard and further the principles of the English Coonhound standard. The principles of the American Democracy and to prevent its members from being subjected to restraint or coercion on the part of any individuals or group.
To guard against any separation of dogs from this breed for registration in any other breed.
Article III – Membership
Section A: Any or all breeders, owners, and/or English fanciers of the English Coonhound breed regardless of sex, race, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, veteran’s status and familial status may be eligible for membership in said organization subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
Section B: The dues shall be determined by the general membership at the annual English meeting with the approval of the Board. Dues will run from June 1st to May 31st of each year.
Section C: Any member of the United English Breeders & Fanciers Association, Inc., who becomes delinquent in dues shall be dropped from the membership rolls.
Article IV – Officers
The officers of the Association, all of whom must be members in good standing, shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. All officers to be elected to a term of two(2) years staggering president and Secretary on even year Elections and Vice president and Treasure on odd year elections. Nominations for positions to be taken the previous voting year at English days (EX. Pres. And Sec. nominated in 2021 Voted on 2022). The out-going President will serve a one (1) year term on the Board of Directors as an advisor. The President and Vice-President shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms of office.
A Board of Directors consisting of six (6) members in good standing, elected as follows: Two (2) for a term of three (3) years, two (2) for a term of two (2) years, and two (2) for a term of one (1) year each. Two (2) directors will be elected at each annual meeting thereafter for a term of three (3) years.
The membership chairman shall serve as a director until replaced by the President.
The Board of Directors shall control the monies of the Association. In the event of the demise, resignation or ex- pulsion of the Treasurer, all monies of the Association shall automatically go into the hands of the Board of Directors where it shall remain until a new Treasurer is appointed by the Executive Board, during the interim checks on the Association shall be counter signed with the President, by a member of the Board of Directors; furthermore, in the event of legal collection of Association monies, the Board of Directors shall be the receivers of said monies.
4.The Board of Directors shall have the power to impeach any officer/director for failure to perform their duties. The officer/director in question will receive notification by email or mail, 30 days prior to an Executive Session, at which time, he/she may state reasons why he/she should remain in office. The removal shall take a 2/3 majority of the Board of Directors. In the case of such a removal, with the exception of the Presidency, the Board shall appoint a member in good standing to serve the remainder of the office. In the case of President, the Vice-President shall take over the duties of the President. The Board would then appoint the new Vice-President.
Article V - Elections of Officers
The office of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected by absentee ballot. The nomination of two candidates for each office shall be made at the Annual Meeting, In the event that only one nomination remains active before ballots are printed, a second nomination will be placed on the ballot by a majority of the Nominating Committee. The nominee receiving the third most votes shall be an alternate candidate for the office to which he/she was nominated. Provided the alternate is eligible for office, the alternate shall become a candidate should one of the original candidates withdraw or be ruled ineligible. A space shall be provided for a write-in candidate. A person can be a candidate for only one office. Candidates for the offices of President, Vice-President, Director, Secretary or Treasurer, shall not be officers or directors in UKC, ACHA, NKC, NCA, AKC, CHKC or any registering club competing for the registry of tree hounds. The two candidates for an office shall be nominees with the most votes.
No members shall be eligible for nomination for officer of the United English Breeders & Fanciers Association, Inc., until after he/she has been a member in good standing for a period of one (1) year in the Association. The Secretary shall POST THE yearly newsletter on UEBFA website and FACEBOOK PAGE by MARCH 1ST. If a member shall prefer a hard copy of the yearly newsletter they must request it from the secretary on or before FEBRUARY 1ST BY EMAIL OR MAIL IF A HARD COPY OF THE NEWSLETTER IS NOT REQUESTED MEMBERS SHALL NOT RECEIVE A HARD COPY. The outgoing officers shall serve on the Board of Directors for one (1) year.
All outgoing officers shall surrender all records of said position held in their possession to the incoming officer in person, at English Days.
Voting shall be held online through the Associations official website: http://uebfa.org.
Article VI – Meetings
Section A: The annual meeting of the Association shall be the regular meeting held during the Annual English Days. The location is to be determined by the Executive Board. Special meetings shall be called by the President or the Board of Directors as deemed necessary and advisable. The officers and the Board of Directors shall meet as often as is necessary.
Section B: The Executive Board shall meet a minimum of three (3) times annually. One of those meetings is to be at the annual United English Breeders & Fanciers Association’s English Days Hunt. Any Director or Officer missing more than two meetings in any fiscal year has the option to be removed and that position filled by appointment of a majority of the Board of Directors. Each Board member and officer shall receive an invitation via United States Mail, email, text or other means of communication to all meetings set by the President or by the Board of Directors, stating dates, times and locations.
Article VII – Affiliation
The United English Breeders & Fanciers Association, Inc., shall be affiliated with the United Kennel Club, Inc. There shall be no other affiliation with any other Registering Office, Association or groups. This Article of these Constitution and By-Laws shall not be subject to change at present or in the future.
Article VIII - Officers
Section A: The President shall be responsible to the Executive Committee for the implementation of the objective of the United English Breeders & Fanciers Association, Inc., and will be responsible to the membership for the operation of the Organization in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws. He/She shall preside at all meetings of the Organization. He/She shall form special committees when needed and appoint Committee members. He/She shall countersign with the Secretary all written documents and contracts of the Organization. He/She is a member of all committees.
The President shall appoint the Sectional Hunt Chairman and coordinate the Sectional Hunts, including gathering the results and pictures of the Sectional Hunts to the Yearbook Editor.
The President shall oversee the administration of the Association official website and Face Book page. The President shall appoint or engage other administrators with the approval of the Board of Directors to assist in administration of the website and Face Book page for such purposes as necessary.
The President shall annually appoint the Columnists, UKC Rules Committee attendees, Membership Chairman and the Yearbook Editor with the approval of the Executive Board.
Section B: The Vice-President’s duties include:
Chairman of the Annual English Days Hunt.
Other duties assigned by the President.
Assume the duties of the President in his absence.
Section C: The Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings of the Organization. He/She shall promulgate “Newsletter” to the membership after the President’s approval by signature. He/She shall keep current and valid records of memberships and suspensions. He/She conducts all official correspondence of the organization. He/She assumes all duties in the absence of the President and Vice-President.
Section D: The Treasurer shall write and sign all checks, disburse such funds as authorized by the Organization and have custody of all funds. United English Breeders & Fanciers Association, Inc. funds shall be audited by the Executive Committee at least once annually, preferably prior to the annual meeting. The Treasurer shall furnish a security bond equivalent or in surplus of Associations funds as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. If a bond is deemed necessary it shall be in favor of the United English Breeders & Fanciers Association, Inc., and paid by said organization.
Section E: The Directors are responsible for the membership. They will observe the operation of the Organization and assure that the Executive Committee policies are followed. They shall make immediate and long-term plans acting as advisors in the execution of the business legislated by the membership at the annual meeting.
Section F: The Columnist(s) shall be responsible for drafting and submitting newsletters to all sanctioned publications in a timely fashion.
Section G: The Membership Chairman shall be responsible for acceptance of memberships, distribution of membership cards, maintaining a membership list and ensure that said list is current and available to all officers as needed.
Section H: The Yearbook Editor shall be responsible for layout, editing and compilation of all sanctioned events and advertisements for publication in the Organizations annual yearbook. He/She shall gather the results and pictures of English Days. He/She shall gather the results and pictures from English Sectionals.
Section I: The Association shall maintain an official website: https://uebfa.org and official Face Book page for effective communication with the membership and operation of the Organization.
Article IX – Amendments
This Constitution and By-laws may be amended (with the exception of Article VII) at any regular meeting by a two- thirds majority vote of the members present in favor of said amendment after being duly informed of the change in the “Newsletter” or by a two-thirds majority vote at any regular meeting of the membership. This Constitution and By-laws shall be reviewed every four years by the Officers and Directors for the drafting of any amendments necessary for the effectual operation of the Organization’s business and well-being.
Article X - Proceedings
Robert’s Rule of Order shall be accepted as a basis of Parliamentary procedure in all meetings of the United English Breeders & Fanciers Association, Inc.
Article XI - Order of Business
The following Order of Business shall prevail at meetings of the United English Breeders & Fanciers Association, Inc:.
Call to Order
Roll Call of Officers
Reading and Approval of Minutes
Report of Committees
Report of President
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Old Business
Installation of New Officers
New Business
Adjournment
This Constitution and By-Laws were amended at the Annual Meeting of English Days on June 11, 2022