CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

NAME OF SOCIETY: NANAIMO KENNEL CLUB

Filed Date and Time:    Febuary 27 2022 01:53 PM Pacific Time

Constitution

The purposes of the Society are:

a. promoting the development of purebred dogs;
b. collecting and providing information and documents relating to purebred dogs;
c. promoting the welfare of dogs in general;
d. assisting dog owners by providing training classes for all dogs and information on the care and training
of dogs;
e. holding shows, trials and other disciplines for dogs under the Canadian Kennel Club or other rules.

NKC Bylaws – Societies Act 2021 (complete in pdf)

Part 1 - Interpretation and Administration

1.1 The definitions in the Societies Act apply to these Bylaws.

1.2 In these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires:

  • “AGM” means Annual General Meeting held once a year for the purpose of the elections and business
  •  “Board of Directors” consists of the president, vice president, club secretary, treasurer, membership secretary, and 4 directors-at-large
  •  “CKC” means Canadian Kennel Club
  •  “Club” means Nanaimo Kennel Club
  •  “Directors” make up the governing body of the club
  •  “Directors-at-Large” are directors who are elected or appointed to positions on the Board in addition to the Executive Directors
  •  “Executive Directors” are President, Vice President, Club Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Secretary
  •   “General Meeting” means a general meeting of the members of the NKC for the transaction of corporate business, excluding informal gatherings
  •   “In writing” means a hand-written or typed letter with an original signature
  •   “NKC” means Nanaimo Kennel Club; and
  • “Societies Act” means the Societies Act of British Columbia in force and all amendments to it.
  •   Member not in good standing - owes the club money for more than 3 months, and/or has not paid their dues for the current year.
1.3 If there is a conflict between these Bylaws and the Societies Act or the regulations under the Societies Act, the Societies Act or the regulations, as the case may be, prevail.
    • (a) If the NKC bylaws do not address a specific subject, the Societies Act and/or its’ Model Bylaws will be the default.

1.4 Words imparting the singular include the plural and vice versa, and words imparting a male person include a female person and a corporation.

1.5 To settle procedural disputes, the club shall consult he latest version of Robert's Rules of Order, provided the issue is not addressed in our bylaws and policies.

Canadian Kennel Club and Dog Breeding

1.6 The club is a CKC member club and will follow their rules and regulations as they apply to clubs

  • (a) Members who own registered purebred dogs will only breed them to registered purebred dogs of the same breed.
  • (b) Club members will not breed to produce crossbreds

Club Communication

1.7 Written club communication is primarily by electronic means.

Area of Operations

1.8 The area of operations of the club shall be within the Regional District of Nanaimo, or nearby.

Record-keeping and Access to Records

1.9 The club shall restrict access to the official records required to be kept under Section 20 of the Societies Act.

  • (a) Directors have the right to inspect all records.
  • (b) Members have the right to inspect all records except the accounting records.
  • (c) Non-members may inspect the constitution, bylaws, register of directors, financial statements, and general meeting minutes.
  • (d) Access to the 'Register of Members' shall be confined to requests in compliance with the Societies Act, Section 25 (3, 4, 7). The application must be in writing, state the purpose for the request and that the list will only be used for that purpose.
  • (e) The club shall charge a fee for the disclosure of all records, whether electronically or by paper copy.
  • (f) Members are entitled to receive, without charge, one copy of the current constitution and bylaws and the most recent financial statements.
  • (g) A fee will be charged to non-members for inspection of the records.
  • (h) Details regarding access, timing and fees will be provided in the Record Keeping Policy and Procedures.

Privacy and the Club

1.10 The club’s actions and decisions shall conform to the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

Part 2 - Membership

Membership Criteria

2.1 A person may apply for membership in the club and, on acceptance by a majority of the directors, is a member.

  • (a) A person whose application for membership in the club is declined shall be provided in writing with the reason(s).

2.2 Members and club directors need not reside in the Regional District of Nanaimo but must live within driving distance in order to regularly attend club functions.

2.3 The membership year runs from January 1st through December 31st.

2.4 Every member must uphold the constitution and comply with these bylaws and any rules or policies adopted by the club from time to time, including the Code of Ethics.

2.5 To keep privacy and contact information up to date and to retain their voting privileges, all members, including life members, must complete the renewal form annually.

Membership Fees and Payment Timing

2.6 Membership fees will be determined by the Board with input from club members, and may be revised from time to time.

  • (a) Anyone who has not renewed by February 1st will become a ‘member not in good standing’.
  •       i) A ‘member not in good standing’ loses their right to vote, will not receive the ‘member discount’ for classes, and may be restricted from participating in other club events.
  • (b) To change their status, a ‘member not in good standing’ must pay the previous years’ membership fee (if applicable) plus the current years’ fee and any other outstanding debts to the club, and, on no account, shall be more than one year in arrears.

Ceasing to Be a Member

2.7 A person ceases to be a member of the club:

  • (a) Who has not paid their membership dues and any other outstanding debt owed to the club for more than one consecutive year
  • (b) By delivering his or her resignation in writing to the club secretary or by mailing or delivering it to the address of the club,
  • (c) Upon their death, or
  • (d) Upon being expelled.

Membership Categories

2.8 Membership Categories:

Voting Members
  • (a) Voting Members:
  •       i) Single Members – have all the rights and benefits of a member and one vote in any and all cases, subject to meeting the Voting Privileges (below).
  •     ii) Family Members – includes up to two adults living in the same household and all children less than 18 years of age. The adults will each have a vote, subject to meeting the Voting Privileges.
  •     iii) Life Members – Must have been a member with Voting Privileges for 25 consecutive years.
Members With Voting Privileges
  • (b) A member with Voting Privileges must meet the following requirements:
  •     i) Is a member in good standing,
  •     ii) Who is not being disciplined for being in violation of the Constitution, Bylaws or Code of Ethics.
Non-Voting Members
  • (c) Non-voting Members:
  •     i) Juniors – have all the rights and benefits of club membership except the right to vote or to hold office.
  •     Note: For the purposes of membership, Juniors and children in family memberships refer to children under the age of 18. When the child turns 18, they will remain a Junior or child in a family membership until December 31st of the year in which they turned 18.
  •     ii) Associate Members – those who become members between September and December of the current calendar year. They have all the rights and benefits of club membership except the right to vote. On January 1st they will become Voting Members.
  •     iii) Members from 2.7 (a) (i) or (ii) who do not meet the Voting Privileges.

AGM Requirements

2.9 All members must have attended at least 3 meetings within the past year in order to vote at the AGM.

  • (a) Notwithstanding the above, the Board may exempt members from this clause on an annual basis, based on special circumstances including work schedules and mobility issues.

Part 3 - Complaints and Disciplinary Action Process

Privacy

3.1 Federal and provincial legislation require that the Complaint and Disciplinary process shall remain strictly confidential to protect all parties involved.

Process to Submit a Complaint

3.2 Any member including those on the board may deliver to a board member, in writing, a complaint against another member for alleged breach of the constitution, bylaws, policies or any other rules adopted from time to time, including the Code of Ethics.

  • (a) The complaint must be submitted on the Nanaimo Kennel Club complaint form.
  • (b) A non-member may also deliver a complaint against a member.
  • (c) A fee, as established from time to time by the Board, must accompany the complaint form.

Complaint Review Process

3.3 The board will follow the steps outlined in the Complaint and Disciplinary Action Policy in their review of the complaint; including, but not limited to, ensuring the complaint is sound and that the review process is fair and respectful.

Committee Members

3.4 The complaints committee will consist of all members of the Board, except those involved with the complaint or who have a conflict or perceived conflict of interest, or where a personality conflict exists.

  • (a) A minimum of 5 committee members will adjudicate the complaint. If there are fewer than five directors available due to conflicts or reasonable absence, other members will be appointed as needed.

Reviewing the Complaint

3.5 Upon receiving a written complaint, the board shall promptly take any steps necessary to establish. If the complaint is valid; this may include interviews with any witnesses to the alleged infraction.

3.6 Should the complaints committee decide to go forward with the complaint, they shall promptly send a letter and a copy of the original complaint to the person(s) named in the complaint.

3.7 The person(s) named in the complaint may deliver to the committee, in writing and/or in person, a response to the complaint and may have other witnesses also provide information.

3.8 Once all responses have been received and adjudicated, the committee members will vote on appropriate disciplinary action, if any, and for a period of time befitting the infraction.

  • (a) Disciplinary action may range from a warning, to a suspension of privileges, or to expulsion from the club.
  • (b) A member who is the subject of a proposed resolution for expulsion must be given an opportunity to be interviewed at a Complaints Committee meeting.

Notifying The Person Named in The Complaint

3.9 Following the decision, the committee will promptly forward a letter to the person(s) named in the complaint explaining the outcome of the vote and disciplinary action taken.

Expulsion Options

3.10 If the member to be expelled wishes to appeal the decision, they may do so through an independent arbitration committee organized by the Board.

  • (a) A fee will be charged, as established by the Board.
  • (b) Any expulsion from the Nanaimo Kennel Club is permanent.

Discipline Ramifications

3.11 Any member who is suspended or deprived of privileges from the club shall not be entitled to vote or hold office as a director during the period of the suspension.

  • (a) A suspended director shall resume their office for the remainder of their term, if any, at the end of their suspension or discipline but the Board may appoint another member to hold that office during the suspension or discipline.

Compliance With CKC Process

3.12 Any member who is suspended, deprived of privileges, or expelled from The Canadian Kennel Club may be suspended from the privileges of this club for a like period, and during this period shall not be entitled to vote or hold office.

3.13 The decision of the Complaints Committee shall be considered a decision of the Board of Directors.

Part 4 - Proceedings at General Meetings

Calling a General Meeting

4.1 The directors must call a general meeting upon the secretary receiving a written request.

Voting at Meetings

4.2 A member with Voting Privileges present at a meeting of members is entitled to one vote.

4.3 Voting is by a show of hands with the exception of the election of directors, which is done by ballot. Proxy or electronic voting is not permitted.

Quorum for General Meetings

4.4 Business, other than the election of the chair of the meeting and the adjournment or termination of the meeting, must not be transacted at a general meeting unless a quorum of voting members is present.

4.5 The quorum for the transaction of business at a general meeting is 15% of the voting members.

4.6 If a quorum of voting members is not present, the general meeting becomes a social gathering with no further formal club business.

Notice of Special Business

4.7 A notice of a general meeting must state the nature of any business other than ordinary business.

Special Resolution

4.8 A Special Resolution must be signed by 10% of the members with Voting Privileges (Part 2.7(b)).

  • (a) The notice must be made in writing and submitted to the secretary 60 days before the meeting in which the special resolution will be addressed.
  • (b) The written special resolution may not exceed 200 words.
  • (c) The special resolution must be sent to members at least 14 days prior to the meeting at which it will be addressed.
  • (d) A resolution must be approved by at least 2/3 of the votes cast by voting members at the meeting.

Part 5 - Board of Directors

Election or appointment of directors

5.1 Directors will be elected for two year terms – in even numbered years, the president, club secretary, and 2 directors-at-large will be elected. In odd numbered years, the vice president, treasurer, membership secretary and 2 other directors at-large will be elected.

5.2 Separate elections must be held for each office to be filled.

5.3 Election will be by secret ballot or by acclamation if there is only one candidate.

5.4 In order to run for a director, a member must meet the requirements of the Societies Act (Part 5 Sections 44 and 45) and be a member with Voting Privileges.

Election or appointment to Board positions

5.5 Nominations for the Board positions must be received a minimum of two weeks before the AGM.

  • (a) Nominations from the floor at the AGM will only be allowed for positions with no nominees.

5.6 Directors must be elected or appointed to the following executive positions:

  • (a) President
  • (b) Vice-President
  • (c) Secretary
  • (d) Treasurer
  • (e) Membership Secretary

5.7 Directors who are elected or appointed to positions on the Board, in addition to the positions described above, are elected or appointed as directors-at-large.

5.8 Any director, other than the president, may hold more than one position until such time as another person is elected or appointed to the vacated position, as per Section 5.9.

5.9 As a requirement of the CKC, a minimum of 3 executive directors, including the president, must be CKC members.

Vacancies on the Board of Directors

5.10 The directors may appoint another director to fill a vacant executive position. A director or any member may fill any other vacancy.

  • (a) A person so appointed holds office only until the next annual general meeting of the club, but may put their name forward for election. Their term of office when elected will be in accordance with the rotation schedule (see Section 5.1).

5.11 The members may, by special resolution, remove a director before the expiration of his or her term of office, and may elect a successor to complete the term of office.

Proceedings of Directors

Calling a directors’ meeting

5.12 A directors’ meeting may be called by the president or by any 2 other directors.

Conduct of directors’ meetings

5.13 The directors may meet at any location, on any notice and in any manner convenient to the directors.

Quorum of directors

5.14 A quorum is a majority of the directors in office.

Resolutions

5.15 A resolution proposed at a meeting of directors or committee of directors need not be seconded, and the chair of a meeting may move or propose a resolution.

5.16 A resolution in writing, signed by all the directors and placed with the minutes of the directors, is as valid and effective as if regularly passed at a meeting of directors.

5.17 In certain circumstances, where an issue needs to be addressed before the next scheduled Board meeting, discussion and voting may be done by email or other electronic means.

5.18 The Board may put forward Special Resolutions provided 2/3 of the Board are in favour of the resolution

Directors’ attendance at meetings

5.19 Directors who are absent for 3 consecutive meetings or a total of 5 meetings in a calendar year may be removed from their position.

Duties of Directors

5.20 The president is the chief executive officer of the club, is responsible for the other directors in the execution of their duties, and is responsible for interpreting privacy issues as per the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

5.21 The vice-president is vice-chair of the Board and is responsible for the duties of the president if the president is unable to act.

5.22 The club secretary is responsible for, and makes necessary arrangements for:

  • (a) The correspondence of the club and the board;
  • (b) Notices of, and minutes of, General and Director’s meetings;
  • (c) The Records of the Club in accordance with the Act; and
  • (d) The Annual Reports.

5.23 The treasurer is responsible for, and makes necessary arrangements for:

  • (a) Monies and invoices collected from the members or other sources;
  • (b) Accounting records in respect of the Club’s financial transactions; and
  • (c) The Club’s financial statements.
5.24 The membership secretary is responsible for:
  • (a) The club’s membership files,
  • (b) Membership notifications, and
  • (c) Recording attendance at general meetings.

5.25 The directors-at-large attend Board meetings and assist the executive with decisions.

Part 6 - Committees

6.1 The directors may delegate any, but not all, of their powers to committees consisting of directors and/or members.

  • (a) Authorization of committees will be governed by the Club’s Committee Policy and Procedures.

6.2 A committee must respect the guidelines established by the Board, and must report regularly.

6.3 Any committee or appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the Board, and the Board may appoint a successor to the person whose services have been terminated.

6.4 The Board may appoint the chair of a committee, or if no chair is appointed, the members of the committee may elect the chair.

6.5 The members of a committee may meet and adjourn as necessary.

Part 7 – Financials

7.1 A director must not be remunerated for being or acting as a director but a director must be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by the director while engaging in the affairs of the club.

Contract signing authority

7.2 A contract to be signed by the Club must be signed:

  • (a) By any 2 directors approved by the Board, or
  • (b) For contracts under $500: by one or more members authorized by the Board to sign the contract on behalf of the Club
  • (c) For contracts over $500 (except room booking contracts with the City): by a Board member as well as an authorized club member or a second Board member.

Final disbursement of club funds

7.3 Upon the winding-up or dissolution of the club, the funds and remaining property after payment of all costs, charges and expenses properly incurred in the winding up or dissolution, and after payment of any debts of the club, shall be given to a non-profit charitable dog organization(s) which applies at least 70% of its gross income into the welfare of dogs, and/or a canine health research organization(s) as selected by the Board of Directors.

Appendix Nanaimo Kennel Club Code of Ethics

  • Members hereby pledge to practice good sportsmanship at all times, and to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects well upon the Club.
  • Members will refrain from verbal aggression, insults, derogatory names or language, rumors or gossip, vandalism of personal or club belongings, threats, personal attacks, cyber bullying or any other action that could be construed as harassment.
  • Members will undertake to enhance the place of dogs as essential members of club.
  • Members will encourage and educate members, newcomers and the general public in all matters dog related.
  • Members will recognize that dogs require extensive socialization. As part of the family, dogs should be included in day-to-day activities wherever and whenever possible.
  • Members who breed their dog(s) will ensure that the welfare of the puppies is of prime importance from birth to death. This includes accepting the return of the dog under any circumstances. Care and training of both puppies and owners are essential throughout the dog’s life.
  • Members considering breeding their dogs will be familiar with their breed’s potential health issues and select their breeding stock to minimize inherited problems.
  • Members will encourage the spaying and neutering of dogs not intended for breeding or showing.
  • Members will not sell puppies or dogs through any retail outlet or wholesaler, raffle, auction, or conduct any other third party transaction.
  • Members will ensure that, at all times, dogs under their control are properly housed, fed, watered, exercised, safely transported, and that they receive appropriate veterinary attention when required.
  • Members shall not allow dogs under their care to roam at large, and when in public places shall ensure they are leashed as required and are under control at all times.
  • Members will be expected to “pick up” after their dogs at all times.

Membership Rules

Members of The Nanaimo Kennel Club will volunteer at least 8 hours every calendar year (January 1 To December 31) at activities approved by the board of directors. If a new member joins The Nanaimo Kennel Club between September 1 and December 31 (inclusive), this requirement will be waived until the following year.