Club Info

2023-25 MCFTC Officers
President: Ann Joondeph
Vice President: Vicki Sherry
Secretary: Sylvia Murray
Treasurer: Carolanne Killmer

Board of directors
Lea Eagleson
Jean Finn
Shellie Magraw
Gregg Schickling
Eric Sobocinski

Constitution and By Laws
as amended February, 1994

Constitution
ARTICLE I
NAME AND OBJECTIVES
Section 1. The name of the club shall be MOTOR CITIES FOX TERRIER CLUB, but shall be identified herein as the Club.
Section 2. The objectives of the Club shall be:
(a) to encourage and promote quality in the breeding of purebred Smooth and Wire Fox Terriers and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection.
(b) to urge members and breeders to accept the standard of the breeds as approved by the American Fox Terrier Club and the American Kennel Club as the only standard of excellence by which Smooth and Wire Fox Terriers shall be judged.
(c) to do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breeds by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at all events sponsored by the Club.
(d) to act as a support group for the breeds in our general geographic area; to educate the public on responsible dog ownership; to offer grooming seminars and other necessary training to novice owners; to offer rescue services for abandoned Fox Terriers; to offer any other activity advantageous to the welfare of the Fox Terrier.
Section 3. The Club shall not be conducted or operated for profit and no part of any profits or remainder or residue from the 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 by laws as may be required to carry out these objectives.
By Laws
ARTICLE 1
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Eligibility. There shall be three types of membership: Regular, Junior and Honorary. Regular membership is open to all persons eighteen years of age or older, and who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club and who subscribe to the purposes of this Club. Junior membership is open to all persons under the age of eighteen years, with the same provisions. Honorary membership is awarded to individuals upon merit. While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the Club’s primary purpose is to be representative of the breeders, exhibitors and owners in its immediate area.
Section 2. Dues. Membership dues shall be $20.00 per year, per family, payable on or before the first day of May of each year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of April, the treasurer shall send each member a statement of his dues for the ensuing year.
Section 3. Election to membership. Each applicant to 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 by laws and the rules of the American Kennel Club. The application shall carry the endorsement of two members. All applications are to be filed with the treasurer. If, at the next full membership meeting, no negative votes are cast by the membership, the applicant will be notified by the secretary that his membership will begin upon receipt of dues for the year.
Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Club may not reapply within six months after such rejection.
Section 4. Probationary Membership. An individual who purchases a fox terrier from a fox terrier breeder who is also a member in good standing of the MCFTC, receives a free probationary membership for one year from the date of purchase of the terrier. At the end of the probationary year, that individual will be required to complete an application for regular membership. The application must be endorsed by two members of the MCFTC and will be subject to a vote of the membership.
Section 5. Termination of Membership. Membership 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. Dues obligations are considered a debt to the Club and they become incurred on the first day of the fiscal year.
(b) by lapsing. A membership shall be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid for ninety days after the first day of the fiscal year. However, the board may grant an additional ninety day 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 by laws.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS AND VOTING
Section 1. Club Meetings. No regular monthly meetings will be held.
Written notice of each meeting shall be mailed or e-mailed by the secretary or the president at least five (5) days and not more than ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. Any such notice shall state the purpose of the meeting. A quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the board.
Section 2 Special Club Meetings. Special Club meetings may be called by the president, or by the majority 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 and signed by five (5) members of the Club who are in good standing. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed or e-mailed by the secretary or the president at least five (5) days and not more than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the meeting. 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% of the members in good standing.
Section 3. Two Board Meetings will be held each year.
Section 4. Voting. Each 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
DIRECTOR AND OFFICERS
Section 1. Board of Directors. The board shall be comprised of the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and five (5) 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 lV and shall serve until their successors are elected. General management of the Club’s affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of directors.
Section 2. Officers. The Clubs 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 the board, and shall have the duties and powers normally appurtenant to the office of the president in addition to those particularly 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 secretary shall keep a record of all the meetings of the Club and of the board and of all matters which a record shall be ordered by the Club. He shall have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, keep a roll of members of the Club with their addresses, and carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these by laws.
(d) The treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the Club. He shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the board, in the name of the Club. His books shall at all times be open to inspection of the board and he shall report to them at every meeting the condition of the Club’s finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported during the previous 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 officers during the year shall be filled 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 the president shall be automatically filled by the vice president. The resulting vacancy in the office of vice president shall be filled by the board.
ARTICLE IV
THE CLUB YEAR, ANNUAL MEETING, ELECTION
Section 1. The Club year. The Club’s fiscal year shall begin on the 1st day of May and end on the 30th day of April.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in the month of April or May at which officers and directors for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret, written ballot by 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 his successor in office all properties and records relating to that office within thirty (30) days after elections.
Section 3. Elections. The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. The five (5) 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 December, the board shall select a nominating committee consisting of three (3) and one (1) alternate, not more than one of whom may be a member of the board. The secretary shall immediately notify the committeemen and alternates of their selection. The board shall name a chairman of the committee and it shall be his duty to call a committee meeting which shall be held on or before December 15.
(a) The committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and five (5) candidates for the other five (5) positions on the board. 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 January 15, notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.
(c) Additional nominations may be made at the annual meeting by any member in attendance provided that person so nominated does not decline when his name is proposed, and provided further that if proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, his proposer shall present to the secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying his willingness to be a candidate. No person may be a candidate for more than one position.
(d) Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than as provided in this section.
(e) An audit of the treasurer’s books and records will be done and presented at the annual meeting. Audits may be done by two (2) members of the Club not to include the present treasurer.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing Committees. The board may each year appoint standing committees to advance work of the Club in such matters as specialty shows, obedience trials, field trials, agility trials, trophies, annual prizes, membership and other fields which may be served by committees. Such committees shall always be subject to the final authority of the board. Special committees may also be appointed by the board to aid it on particular project.
Section 2. Any committee appointed may be determined 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.
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 interest of the Club or the breeds. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the secretary together with a deposit of $10.00 which shall be forfeited if the 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. 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 of a hearing by the board not less than three (3) weeks nor more than six (6) 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 and bring witnesses if he wishes.
Section 3. Board Hearing. The board shall have the 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 suspend the defendant from all privileges of the Club for not more than six (6) months from the date of the hearing. And, if it deems that punishment insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that penalty be expulsion. In such case, the suspension shall not restrict he 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 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 sixty (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 on his own behalf, though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. The president shall read the charges and the board’s findings and recommendations; and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak on his own behalf if he wishes. The meeting shall then vote by secret written ballot on the proposed expulsion. two thirds (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 the by laws may be proposed by the board of directors or by written petition addressed to the 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 to the secretary for a vote within three (3) months of the date when the petition was received by the secretary.
SECTION 2. The constitution and by laws may be amended by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting at any regular meeting, 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 (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
DISSOLUTION
SECTION 1. Dissolution. The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the members. In the event of a 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, it’s 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 THE PRESIDENT
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD (ANNUAL MEETING)
ELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT
This document entered 2/28/07
MCFTC constitution doc
The terms he, him, his relate to all members, both male and female, and are used strictly for brevity and are not meant to imply an all male membership.
(Revised and voted on November 2007)