Bylaws

Midwest International Agility Club
Constitution and ByLaws

Last Revised:  January 2022

CONSTITUTION

These bylaws are subject to and governed by the State of Wisconsin Not For Profit Corporation Laws. In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of these bylaws and the mandatory provisions of the Wisconsin State Not-For-Profit Corporation Laws, the Wisconsin State Not-For-Profit Corporation Act will be controlling

ARTICLE I – Names and Objectives 

SECTION 1. The name of the Club shall be the Midwest International Agility Club, Inc. (MIAC)

SECTION 2. The objective of the Club shall be: 

a) To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the sport of agility and agility trials, with focus on International Sweepstakes Classes (ISC). To promote advancement of agility in the Midwest with the goal of preparing teams to succeed at the international level, representing the United States of America. To encourage young handlers to participate in the sport of agility at the ISC level.

SECTION 3. The Club shall not be conducted or operated for profit and no part of any profits or remainder of 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 by‐laws as may be required to carry out these objects.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I Membership 

SECTION 1. Eligibility. There shall be three types of membership, single, family, and 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 objectives of this Club. Single and family members shall enjoy all club privileges including the right to vote and hold office. Associate members are entitled to all club privileges, except voting and holding office. 

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

SECTION 2. Dues. Membership dues shall be $15.00 single, $20.00 family, and $10.00 associate, per year. Payments are payable on or before the 30th day of January of each year. No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. Notification of dues renewal shall be conveyed to all members no later than January 10th for the ensuing Club year. 

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 has agreed to abide by the constitution and these by‐laws and the rules of the American Kennel Club. The application shall state the name and address of the applicant. The application will be submitted to the membership chairperson and applicants will be published within the club’s private Facebook page. Comments on applicants shall be submitted for review by the Board of Directors. The applicant will be voted on by the Board of Directors at the next Board meeting, with affirmation coming from the majority of Board members in attendance. Dues shall be payable at the time of application and yearly thereafter. All members of the MIAC shall enjoy all the rights and privileges accorded to the members of the MIAC, except for associate members, as described in Section 1.

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. Dues obligations are considered a debt to the Club and they become incurred on the first of July. 

b) By lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid 90 days after July 1; 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 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 Meeting. Meetings of the Club shall be held virtually, by Zoom or similar video conferencing system, where all participants may simultaneously hear or read each other’s communications during the meeting, on a quarterly basis, based in the calendar year, at such date, time and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Notification of each such meeting shall be emailed and/or posted on the private Facebook group  at least 7days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be 15% of the members in good standing including a majority of the Board of Directors. 

SECTION 2. Special Club Meeting. 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 virtually, by Zoom or similar video conferencing system,  date and hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings. Written notice of such a meeting shall be emailed by the Secretary at least 5 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 a majority of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3. Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on a quarterly basis, virtually, by Zoom or similar video conferencing system at such date, hour and place as may be designated by the Board. Written notice of each such meeting shall be emailed at least 5 days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board of Directors. 

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 emailed by at least three members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held virtually, by Zoom or similar video conferencing system, date and hour as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such meeting. Written notice of such meeting shall be at least 5 days and not more than 10 days prior to the date of the meeting, via email. Any such notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted thereat. A quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board of Directors. 

SECTION 5. 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 they are present.  Single membership will be allowed 1 vote, family membership allowed 2 votes.   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 composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer and three other persons, all of whom shall be members in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for one‐year terms and shall serve for a maximum of three terms or 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, 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 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 meetings of the Club and of the Board and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club. The Secretary shall keep a roll of the club, notify officers and directors of their election to office and notify new members of their election to membership.  The Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, and carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these by‐laws. 

d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club. The Treasurer shall deposit the same in a bank designated by the Board, in the name of the Club. The books shall be open to inspection by the Board. The Treasurer 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, the Treasurer shall render an account of all monies received and expended during the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine. 

e) The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person in which case the Board shall be composed of the officer and six other persons. 

SECTION 3. Vacancies. Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the offices 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 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 1st day of July and end on the 30th day of June.

SECTION 2. Annual Meeting.

The annual meeting shall be held in May

SECTION 3. Elections. The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. The five nominated candidates for other positions on the Board who receive the greatest number of votes for such positions shall be declared elected. Ballots shall be emailed by the Secretary to all club members with each nominee for office listed as well as voting instructions by April 15. Votes shall be cast by email to the Secretary no later than April 30. The Secretary shall notify all candidates for office of the outcome of the election within two (2) weeks of the last day that a ballot can be cast. General membership shall be notified of the results of the election at the Annual Meeting. The Secretary shall retain the cast ballots until the Annual Meeting, after which they will be destroyed. Officers shall take office effective July 1, and each retiring officer shall turn over to their successor in office all properties and records relating to that office by August 1.

SECTION 4. Nominations. No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated. No later than January, the Board shall select a Nominating Committee composed of three members, not more than one of whom may be a member of the Board. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committee persons of their selection. The Board shall name a Chairperson for the Committee and it shall be their duty to call a committee meeting. 

a) The Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and three candidates for the three other positions on the Board. The Nominating Committee should not nominate more than one of themselves for a position as an Officer or Board Member. After securing the consent of each person so nominated, the Nominating Committee shall immediately report their nominations to the Secretary in writing. 

b) Additional nominations may be made at the first quarter meeting of the calendar year 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, their nominator shall present to the Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying their willingness to be a candidate. No person may be a candidate for more than one position unless the Board has decided that the office of Secretary and Treasurer shall be one office. 

c) Candidates for office can volunteer to be on the ballot provided there are no objections to self‐ nominated candidates.

ARTICLE V Committees 

SECTION 1 The Board may each year appoint standing Chairs/committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as, agility trials, annual prizes, membership and other fields which may well 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 projects. 

SECTION 2 Any committee appointed 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 These standing Chairs will contribute toward a quorum of a general membership meeting but will not have voting rights at any Board meeting.

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 breed. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary together with a deposit of $10 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 to 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 of a hearing by the Board not less than 3 weeks nor more than 6 weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall promptly send one copy of the charges to the accused member by email together with a notice of the hearing and an assurance that the defendant may virtually appear in their own defense and bring witness if they wish. 

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 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 proceeding 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 their 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 in their own behalf if they wish. The meeting shall then vote by secret written 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. Proposal 

SECTION 2.  Approval The constitution and by‐laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting at any regular or special meeting called for the purpose, provided notification of the proposal to change the constitution and by‐laws has been included in the notice of the meeting and the proposed changes notified electronically to each member or posted in the club’s private Facebook group at least two 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 2/3 of the members. 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 VI II Order of Business 

SECTION 1.  Club Meetings 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: 

  • Taking of Roll   
  • Accepting of minutes of last meeting as published in Google Documents
  • Report of President 
  • Report of Secretary
  • Report of Treasurer 
  • Reports of Committees 
  • Announcement of new Officers and Board Members (at May Annual Meeting) 
  • Announcement of new members Unfinished business New business Adjournment 

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

  • Accepting of minutes of last meeting as published in the club Google Documents
  • Report of Secretary 
  • Report of Treasurer 
  • Reports of Committees 
  • Unfinished business 
  • New business Adjournment