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ARCTIC SLED DOG RACING ASSOCIATION INC.

DRAFT BY-LAWS

19 DECEMBER 2012

  1. NAME
    1. The name of this club shall be the Arctic Sled Dog Racing Association, Inc. and shall here-after be referred to as the Club.
  2. PURPOSE
    1. The purpose of the Club is to conduct high quality and humane sled dog races, to promote and educate mushers in the safe and humane racing, training and care of sled dogs, with an emphasis on the novice, purebred and all-breed musher.
  3. DURATION
    1. The Club shall have perpetual existence as a nonprofit corporation under its corporation name.
  4. BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS
    1. The fiscal year of the Club shall be June 1st to May 31st.
    2. All Club business decisions shall be decided by a simple majority of the members in good standing present at the time of vote.
    3. Immediate action may be taken by the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant at Arms (hereafter referred to as the Board of Directors) at any time provided a majority of the Board of Directors vote in favor of said action.
  5. MEMBERSHIP
    1. All participants in Club race events must be club members.
    2. Prospective members (other than Associate Members) shall be "sponsored" by an already existing Club member.
    3. A prospective member is any reputable person in favor of the Club's purpose as outlined above.
    4. Sponsorship of prospective members requires the sponsor to vouch for the sincerity of that prospective member to uphold the Club's purpose as well as act as a mentor to that prospective member in terms of dog care, training, racing and general husbandry concerns and questions.
    5. Current members may sponsor prospective members after either 2 years consecutive membership in the Club (as either a Family Member or an Individual Member, but NOT an Associate Member) and 2 years documented racing / training experience, OR if they were a founding club member (listed below).
    6. Once a prospective member retains a Club sponsor the sponsor's name shall be recorded upon the membership form submitted to the treasurer along with the correct funds for the level of membership desired.
    7. Membership shall be denied to any person who has been convicted in a recognized court of law in, any country, of animal abuse, cruelty, or neglect.
    8. No prospective member or member shall be discriminated against. Membership and sponsorship decisions shall not be influenced by race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
    9. Membership Categories and Privileges
      1. Family Membership - shall include all family members living in the same household, receives 2 votes during Club elections (to any persons of that family over the age of 15). This membership requires a sponsor, can sponsor new members after 2 years, can be considered for elected office (see VIII,I). Annual dues for Family Memberships shall be $25
      2. Individual Membership - shall include that member solely and receive 1 vote (if the member is over the age of 15). This membership requires a sponsor, can sponsor new members after 2 years, can be considered for elected office (see VIII,I). Annual dues for Individual Memberships shall be $15.
      3. Associate Membership - shall include that member solely and shall not have any voting rights. Annual dues for Associate Members shall be $10. This membership does not require a sponsor, cannot be considered for elected offices, cannot sponsor new members, and cannot cast any votes in meetings. This membership shall solely suffice to fulfill the requirement that all participants in Club races and or events must be Club members.
    10. Members in good standing shall be defined as...
      1. Members who own a team or who have driven a team in at least one race in the preceding race season, and have paid their dues for the current season in full. OR
      2. Members who have held an official position (or a volunteer position within the club in at least one race) in the preceding race season, and have paid their dues for the current season in full.
    11. Dues
      1. Dues shall be set by the Board of Directors.
      2. Membership shall run the course of the fiscal year.
      3. Dues received at any time during the current fiscal year shall be applied to that current membership year.
      4. Dues are payable to the Treasurer on or before June 1st. If dues remain unpaid by August 1st (60 days past the end of the fiscal year) the membership shall lapse.
    12. Member Responsibilities
      1. Members shall at all times uphold the purpose of the Club.
      2. Members shall work to promote dog powered sports in a positive manner by enlightening all interested parties, inviting them to club activities and offering further educational opportunity resources to those parties.
      3. Members shall attempt to remain informed of Club business so as to cast informed votes.
  6. RACING EVENT RULES
    1. Current International Sled Dog Racing Association (here after referred to as ISDRA) Speed Race Rules will be followed at all sledding snow racing events unless otherwise denoted by the Board of Directors.
    2. Current ISDRA Skijoring Rules will be followed at all skijor events unless otherwise denoted by the Board of Directors.
    3. Current ISDRA Dry Land Race Rules will be followed at all dry land racing events unless otherwise denoted by the Board of Directors.
    4. The Club shall reserve the right to enforce rules in addition to ISDRA rules (yet not in conflict with ISDRA rules) at any racing events it sees fit for reasons of safety or welfare of dogs and / or drivers.
  7. MEETINGS
    1. Meetings shall be held twice annually (this may include but not be limited to electronic or conference call meetings), spring and fall at such place, hour and date as may be designated by the Board of Directors.
    2. Notice of all meetings shall be sent to all current members (in either written or electronic form) in a reasonable amount of time prior to the scheduled meeting.
    3. All matters brought to the general membership by the Board of Directors shall be decided by a simple majority of the general membership in good standing present at that meeting.
    4. No absentee voting shall be permitted.
    5. Special Board of Directors meetings shall be held (in person, electronically, or conference call) as deemed appropriate and necessary by the President and may be carried out via electronic or telephone means.
    6. The majority of the number of Directors on the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors. One more than half of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the general membership.
  8. ELECTED OFFICES
    1. The business and affairs of the Club shall be managed by its Board of Directors, consisting solely of: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant at Arms.
    2. All club officers shall have one vote in the club. All officers must be currently paid members.
    3. President shall oversee all Club racing events and business as well as preside over all club meetings.
    4. Vice-President shall oversee all Club non-racing events and preside over club meetings in the absence of the President and / or perform all Presidential functions at the request of the President.
    5. Secretary shall keep all Club records of meeting minutes and correspondence in an orderly fashion. Secretary shall also keep running tab of all policy decisions voted in by the Board.
    6. Treasurer shall keep record of all incoming and outgoing Club monies in an orderly fashion as well as keep record of all Club members. All Board of Director approved Club expenditures shall be paid in a timely fashion by the Treasurer. Monthly reports of all incoming and outgoing monies shall be provided to the Board of Directors as well as copies of all bank statements, and all other receipts upon request.
    7. Sergeant at Arms shall maintain order at all club events, oversee that all club activities are run in an orderly and reasonable manner and report any members to the Board of Directors that are failing to uphold the purpose of the Club, as well as keep record of current location of all club equipment.
    8. All elected Club offices shall be for the duration of 2 years. President and Sergeant at Arms shall be voted upon in even calendar years, and Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be voted upon in odd calendar years.
    9. Members desiring elected official positions must be members in good standing, be active in the Club for the past 3 years, and have a minimum of 3 years documented racing / training / official /club volunteer experience, and own a team or be a founding member. Family memberships entitle spouses to run for Board of Director positions.
    10. Elected Officials may resign at any point during their term after submission of a letter of resignation to the Board of Directors.
    11. Any vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors shall be filled until the next annual election by a majority vote of all the then members of the Board of Directors.
    12. Unless a resolution of the Board of Directors shall provide otherwise, no director (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, or Sergeant at Arms) shall be compensated for service to the Corporation as a director, except for reimbursement of the director's approved expenses incurred in furthering the business of the Corporation.
    13. Nominations for Board of Director positions must be made to the current Secretary in writing prior to the voting for that Board of Director position.
  9. AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
    1. The Club By-Laws may be amended at either the spring or fall meetings with a majority vote of the general membership in good standing providing that the proposed amendment has previously been approved by the Board of Directors and with the intent to carry out the Club purpose.
  10. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
    1. Any member reported of: disregard of the Club's purpose, general neglect or abuse of animals, or poor representation of dog powered sports in general shall be asked to leave the Club and not rejoin in the future. Reports are to be filed by the member observing the action(s) in question in writing with the Board of Directors within 72 hours of observation of said egregious behavior.
    2. Any member found using any club resources for his/her own personal / financial gain shall be asked to leave the Club and not rejoin in the future.
    3. Specifics and facts / a time line of the above (section 8a and 8b) will be provided to the general membership for review prior to vote of expulsion of the offending member.
    4. Re-instatement after expulsion may occur only after 1 calendar year and a 75% vote in favor of re-instatement by current membership, then the person seeking re-instatement must follow the above outlined process for initial membership to the Club.
  11. EQUIPMENT
    1. All equipment shall be inventoried by the Sergeant at Arms.
    2. Club equipment shall not be lent out to any organization or individual without vote by the Board of Directors with a majority approval.
    3. Any loaned equipment must be inventoried prior to the loan and then again after return.
    4. The organization or individual borrowing any equipment shall be held accountable for its appropriate use, care and return, and be held financially liable for any repair or replacement of that equipment due to neglectful use while in their possession.
  12. DISSOLUTION OF CLUB
    1. The Club can be dissolved at any time.
    2. In the event of dissolution of the Club no Club assets, property or proceeds shall be distributed to any members.
    3. After all payment of debt owed by the Club any remaining assets, property or proceeds shall be donated to a charitable organization at the choice of the current Board of Directors.
  13. AUTHORITY
    1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, New Revised shall govern the Club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Club bylaws and any special rules of order the Club may adopt.
Drafted by:
Christina E. Gates and Len Haring

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Last modified: January 7, 2013