Election to Life Membership status is at the discretion of the Board of Directors, and is awarded for meritorious service to the Club.  Life Members shall enjoy all the privileges of the Club, including the right to vote and hold office.  A Life Member shall not be assessed dues from the point of award forward. 

SECTION 2.           Dues.      The dues for each class of member shall be established by a Standing Rule, as defined in Article VII.  Any changes in the dues for the ensuing year shall be published in the Club Newsletter (presently Tally-Ho) at least 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting.  All dues are payable on or before the 31st day of August each year.  No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current fiscal year.  On or before the 30th day of June, the Treasurer shall send to each member a statement of dues for the ensuing 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 agrees to abide by these Constitution and By-Laws, the BHCA Guidelines for Ethical Conduct,  and the Rules of the American Kennel Club.  The application shall state the name, address and occupation of the applicant and it shall carry the endorsement of two separate voting unit members in good standing.  Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year.

The names of new applicants will be published in the Club newsletter (presently Tally-Ho), and if no unfavorable replies are received by the Corresponding Secretary within sixty (60) days, the Board of Directors will proceed as stated.  Any unfavorable replies received shall require further consideration of the applicant by the Board.  Applicants may be elected at any meeting of the Board of Directors or by written vote of the Directors by mail.  Favorable votes of two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors present at a meeting or two-thirds of the entire Board voting by mail, fax, or e-mail, shall be required to elect an applicant.

An application which has received an unfavorable vote by the Board may be presented by one of the applicant's endorsers at the next Annual Meeting of the Club, and the members may elect such applicant by secret ballot and a favorable vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the members present.

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 Corresponding 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 each fiscal year.

(b)           by lapsing.  A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid 90 days after the first day of the fiscal year;  however, the Board may grant an additional 90 days of grace to such 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 VIII of these By-Laws..

  ARTICLE III

MEETINGS

SECTION 1.           Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting of the Club shall be held during the month of October at a place, date, and hour designated by the Board of Directors.  If possible, it shall be held in conjunction with the Club’s  specialty show, field trial, and other AKC licensed events.  Written notice of the Annual Meeting shall be mailed by the Recording Secretary to each member at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting.  The quorum for the Annual Meeting shall be ten percent (10%) of the voting membership 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 percent (10%) of the voting membership, who are in good standing.  Such meetings shall be held at a place and time as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.  Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Recording Secretary at least 14 days, and not more than 30 days, prior to the meeting.  The notice of the meeting shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other Club business shall be transacted.  The quorum for such a meeting shall be ten percent (10%) of the voting membership in good standing

SECTION 3.           Board Meetings. The first meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held within one day of the election.  Other meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as are designated by the President or by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Recording Secretary to each member of the Board at least thirty  (30) days prior to the date of the meeting.  The quorum for a Board Meeting shall be a majority of the existing Board voting in person, by mail, fax, e-mail, or telephone conference call.

SECTION 4.           The Board of Directors may conduct its business by Mail, Fax, E-Mail, or Telephone Conference Call through the Recording Secretary.  Items voted upon by telephone conference call must be confirmed in writing within seven (7) days.

ARTICLE IV

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

SECTION 1.           Board of Directors.             The Board shall  be comprised of the President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice- President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and five other persons.  All Board Members shall be residents of the United States of America and members in good standing.  They shall be elected for two year terms at the Club's Annual Meeting as provided for in Article V 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.           Sectional Representation. Except when a vacancy exists, the membership of the Board of Directors shall at all times include at least two persons, and no more than five persons, who are residents of each of the three sections described below:

(a)           Eastern Section consisting of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida

.(b)          Central Section consisting of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

(c)           Western Section consisting of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Alaska, and Hawaii.

SECTION 3.           Officers. The Club's Officers, consisting of the President, 1st and 2nd Vice-Presidents, Recording and Corresponding Secretaries, 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 President, in addition to those particularly specified in these By-Laws.

(b)           The 1st Vice-President shall have the powers and exercise the duties of the President in case of the President's death, absence or incapacity, and carry out such other duties as may be prescribed in these By-Laws

.(c)          The 2nd Vice-President shall assume the duties of the 1st Vice-President when deemed necessary, and carry out such other duties as may be prescribed in these By-Laws

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

(e)           The Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence, notify new members of their election to membership, keep a roll of the members of the Club with their addresses and carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these By-Laws.

(f)            The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Club and receipt therefore.  He shall deposit the same in a bank satisfactory to 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; and at the Annual Meeting he shall render an account of all monies received and expended during the immediately preceding fiscal year.  The Treasurer shall be bonded in such sum as the Board of Directors shall determine.  The Treasurer shall submit to the Board a complete financial report within 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, to be audited by auditors appointed by the Board.   Following audit, this financial report shall be mailed to all members or published in the Club's newsletter.

(g)           The Delegate to the AKC is a non-voting BHCA Board position.   The Delegate is expected to attend Delegate Meetings at the American Kennel Club and report back to the BHCA Board following each meeting.  The Delegate shall advise the Board of any items to be voted on, especially those matters which would directly effect Basset Hounds and/or the Basset Hound Club of America, Inc.

SECTION 4.           Vacancies.            Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the Officers during the year shall be filled until the next election by a majority vote of all the then members of the Board; except that a vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the 1st Vice-President.

SECTION 5.           Term of Office.     The term of office for the President, Vice-Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurer and Directors shall be two years, except for the first year which shall be as follows:

(a)           At the next election following the adoption of these By-Law revisions, the membership shall elect a President, 1st Vice-President, and Corresponding Secretary for a one-year term.  The membership shall also elect a 2nd Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and Delegate to the AKC for a two-year term.  The membership shall also elect five Directors, three of whom shall serve a two year term and two of whom will serve a one year term

.(b)          No Officer or Director of the Board may serve more than two consecutive two-year terms of office in the same position.  The Delegate to the AKC shall not be limited to the number of consecutive terms he may serve.

(c)           The term of office for all Officers, Directors, and the Delegate to the AKC shall commence upon their election.

ARTICLE V

THE CLUB YEAR, NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, VOTING

SECTION 1.           Club Year.             The Club’s Fiscal Year shall begin on the 1st day of September and end on the 31st day of August.  The Club’s Official year shall begin immediately upon the conclusion of the Annual Meeting and shall continue through the next Annual Meeting   The elected Officers and Directors shall take office immediately upon the conclusion of the Annual Meeting and shall serve as provided for in  Article IV, Section 5.  Each retiring Officer shall turn over to his successor in the office all properties and records relating to that office within 30 days after 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 a the meeting, except for election of Officers, Directors, and Delegate to the American Kennel Club, and except for amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws and to the Standard for the breed, which shall be decided by written ballot cast by mail.  Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.  The Board of Directors may decide to submit other specific questions for decision of the members by written ballots cast by mail.

SECTION 3.           Annual Election. At the Annual Meeting for the Election of  Officers, Directors, and Delegate to the American Kennel Club (who may, but need not be a Director or Officer of the Club), the vote shall be conducted by ballot.  Ballots, to be valid, must be received by the Recording Secretary at the address shown on the return envelope eight days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting, or may be delivered to the Recording Secretary in person before midnight on the day preceding the Annual Meeting.  Ballots shall be counted on the day of the meeting by four inspectors of election appointed by the Board, who are members in good standing and neither members of the current Board or their immediate family, nor candidates on the ballot or their immediate family.  The votes for President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer shall be counted first in that order.  The person receiving the largest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected and the persons receiving the largest number of votes for each of the other positions on the Board shall also be declared elected, except for any persons who are ineligible for election under Article IV, Section 2.  If any nominee, at the time of the Meeting, is unable to serve for any reason, such nominee shall not be elected and the vacancy so created shall be filled by the new Board of Directors in the manner provided in Article IV, Section 4.  In the case of a tie vote for any position, the Board of Directors at the time of the election will decide by ballot which of the two candidates will be elected

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 and three alternates, one member and one alternate chosen from each of the three sections defined in Article IV, Section 2; each alternate to serve only in case the Nominating Committee member chosen from his section should be unable to serve.  All members of the committee are to be in good standing, no more than one of whom shall be a member of the current Board of Directors.  The Board shall name a chairperson for the committee.  The Nominating Committee may conduct its business by mail, fax, e-mail, or telephone conference call.

(a)           The Nominating Committee shall nominate from among the eligible members of the Club for at least the three preceding years, who are residents of the United States of America and who meet the residence requirements described in Article IV, Section 2, one candidate for each office and for each other position on the Board of Directors and a candidate for the Delegate to the American Kennel Club.  The Committee shall procure the acceptance of each nominee chosen and shall then submit its slate of candidates to the Secretary, who will cause the list to be published in the March-April issue of the Club's newsletter without comment and/or prior Board approval

.(b)          Additional nominations may be made by written petition addressed to the Recording Secretary and received at his regular address on or before July 15th, signed by at least twenty-five (25) voting members and accompanied by the written acceptance of each such additional nominee, signifying his willingness to be a candidate.  Except for the position of Delegate to the American Kennel Club, no person shall be a candidate for more than one position, and the additional nominations which are provided for herein may be made only from among those who have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating Committee.  Those persons who are nominated by written petition shall meet the same requirements as those nominated by the Nominating Committee, as specified in Article V, Section 4(a).

(c)           If no valid additional nominations by written petition are received by the Recording Secretary at his regular address on or before July 15th, the Nominating Committee’s slate shall be considered to have been elected unanimously and no balloting will be necessary.

(d)           If one or more valid additional nominations are received by the Recording Secretary, he shall, on or before September 1, mail to each member in good standing a ballot listing all of the nominees for each position, in alphabetical order under headings for each of the three geographical sections according to their residence, together with a blank envelope and a return envelope addressed to the Recording Secretary 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 ballot shall seal it in the blank envelope which, in turn, shall be placed in the second envelope addressed to the Recording Secretary.  The Inspectors of Election shall check the returns against the list of members in good standing prior to opening the outer envelopes and removing the blank envelopes.  After all ballots have been counted, the Inspectors of Election shall submit to the Recording Secretary the list of members in good standing, with check marks against the names of all those whose ballots have been opened, and shall also submit all the outer envelopes which shall be retained for 30 days along with the ballots.  The Inspectors of Election shall certify the eligibility of the voters as well as the results of the voting, which shall be announced at the Annual Meeting.

(e)           Nominations cannot be made at the Annual Meeting or in any manner other than as provided above.

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEES

SECTION 1.           The Board may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as dog shows, field trials, obedience trials, trophies, publicity, annual prizes, membership, and other fields which may well be served by committees. All committee members must be BHCA voting members in good standing.  Such committees shall be established by a Standing Rule, as defined in Article VII, and 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 appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the membership of the Board upon written notice to the appointee; and the Board may appoint successors to those persons whose service has been terminated..

SECTION 3.           Committee appointments shall be considered terminated at the conclusion of the Club year, unless reappointed by the new Board.          

ARTICLE VII

  STANDING RULES

SECTION 1.           Standing Rules shall contain operational procedures, policies, and practices of the Club not otherwise specified in its Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws, and shall be binding upon its membership.  In no case shall a Standing Rule conflict with the Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, or other Standing Rules of the Club

SECTION 2.           Standing Rules may be proposed by any member in good standing at any regular meeting of the Club

SECTION 3.           The Club's Recording Secretary shall, each year, prepare a list of all policy matters instituted by the Board during the previous Club year for enacting, amending, or rescinding by the Club membership at its Annual Meeting.  Prior to such action by the membership, Board policy will be binding upon the Club

SECTION 4.           The Board shall cause to be circulated to the membership, prior to the Annual Meeting, all Standing Rules which it intends to submit for action at that meeting.

SECTION 5.           Standing Rules may be adopted by a majority vote of the membership present and voting at any regular business meeting of the Club, provided that prior notice has been given; in the absence of such notice, a two-thirds vote shall be required.  A Standing Rule may be amended or rescinded by majority vote of the membership present and voting at such meetings provided prior notice has been given; in the absence of prior notice, a two-thirds vote shall be required.

SECTION 6.           Standing Rules shall be kept by the Recording Secretary, or other person so designated by the Board, in a book specifically adopted for this purpose.       

ARTICLE VIII

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 interests of the Club or the breed.  Written charges, with specifications, must be filed in duplicate with the Corresponding Secretary, together with a deposit of $10 which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained.  The Corresponding Secretary shall promptly notify the Board 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 of the breed.  If the Board considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the Club or the breed, 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 or of 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 Corresponding 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 in his own defense and bring witnesses if he 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 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, or until the next Annual Meeting if that will occur after six 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 fellow members at the ensuing Club meeting which considers the Board’s recommendation.  Immediately after the Board has reached a decision, its findings shall be put in written form and filed with the Corresponding Secretary.  The Corresponding Secretary, in turn, shall notify each party of the Board’s 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 the recommendation of the Board or Committee as provided in Section 3 of this Article.  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 findings and recommendations, and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his own behalf.  The meeting shall then vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion.  A two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting at the Annual Meeting shall be necessary for expulsion.  If expulsion is not so voted, the suspension shall stand.      

  ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1.          Amendments to the By-Laws and/or 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 percent (20%) 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 by the Recording Secretary for a vote within three months of the date when the petition was received by the Recording Secretary.

SECTION 2.          The By-Laws, or the Standard for the Breed, may be amended at any time, provided a copy of the proposed amendment has been mailed by the Recording Secretary to each member in good standing, accompanied by a ballot on which a choice for or against the action to be taken shall be indicated.  Dual-envelope procedures described in Article V, Section 4(d) shall be followed in handling such ballots, to ensure secrecy of the vote.  Notice with such ballot shall specify a date not less than 30 days after the date postmarked, by which date the ballots must be returned to the Recording Secretary to be counted.  The favorable vote of two-thirds of the members in good standing who return valid ballots within the time limit shall be required to effect any such amendment

SECTION 3.          No amendment to the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, or to the Basset Hound Standard,  that is adopted by the Club shall become effective until it has been approved by the Board of Directors of the American Kennel Club.

ARTICLE X

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 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 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.