By Law: Membership - Berger Picard Club of America

By-Laws: Article I - Membership

Section 1. Eligibility.

Membership to the Berger Picard Club of America (“BPCA” or “Club”) shall be open only to persons who are in good standing with the American Kennel Club (“AKC”) and to any other registry that recognizes the Picard breed, but not to those not in good standing with the AKC, and who subscribe and adhere to the purposes of this Club. All memberships include a subscription to the newsletter, yearly directory and membership into all pertinent club designated social media. There shall be four (4) types of membership as set forth below.

(a) Active Membership

Open to persons 18 years of age and older who reside in the United States, have been an Associate Member for two (2) years and certify in their application for membership that they subscribe to and agree with the objects of the Berger Picard Club of America. Active Membership shall enjoy all privileges of the Club including the right to vote and hold office without remuneration.

(b) Associate Membership

Open to persons any of age and certify in their application for membership that they subscribe to and agree with the objects of the Berger Picard Club of America.. Associate Members cannot vote or hold office and are limited to persons residing in the United States. An Associate Member may convert their membership to Active Membership after having been an Associate member for two (2) consecutive years. Conversion of the Associate Membership to an Active Membership shall require the person holding the Associate Membership to apply to the BPCA for the conversion, and such conversion shall require a vote of approval by a 2/3rds majority of the Board of the BPCA (“Board”). Associate Members shall not be counted in the determination of a quorum.

Open to persons who are (1) nine to seventeen years of age, and (2) certify in their application for membership that they subscribe to and agree with the objects of the Berger Picard Club of America. Junior Members shall not be eligible to vote, to hold office or to be listed on the PBCA Breeder directory, but shall enjoy limited privileges of Associate membership, including membership into all pertinent club designated social media, invitation to Club events, attendance at the Annual Meeting and Special Club Meetings, and eligibility to compete for membership awards. This membership may automatically convert to an Associate membership at age 18, upon paying the difference in dues, if any.

(d) Foreign Membership

For those individuals who are not U.S. residents (or its territories and possessions). Shall be entitled to all club privileges except voting and office holding.

(e) Charter Membership

This membership was only available in year 2007. The Charter Membership was a one-time double fee to help in the initial formation of the Club. In addition to regular club benefits, including the right to vote and to hold office without remuneration, this entitles Charter Members to be listed as such in the club history book, and if space permits on the website.

Section 2. Dues

Membership dues shall be set by the Board of Directors by September 15th of each year for the following calendar year, but such amount shall not be changed by more than 25% annually. Such change may only become effective and applicable to the dues owed for membership for the following year, that is, for the memberships for the year beginning with the January 1st renewal date following the vote to implement such change. In any year when the Board has not changed the dues by September 15th, the dues from the previous year shall continue in effect. Membership dues for Active Members shall initially be set at $30.00 per year, Associate Members at $15.00 per year and Junior Members at $10.00 per year. Only one copy of any printed communication shall be sent to each address whether an Active, Associate, Charter or Junior Membership.

(a) During the month of November, the Treasurer shall send all members a statement of their dues for the ensuing year. The dues must be returned to the Treasurer and received on or before January 1st of the dues year.

(b) No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year.

(c) Persons having their membership approved in October, November or December are considered fully paid members for the following year. In the period between their membership approval and January 1, they may exercise all privileges of membership except that of voting.

Section 3. Election to Membership.

Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form approved by the Board of Directors and which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of the American Kennel Club and the Bylaws and the Code of Ethics of the Berger Picard Club of America. The Associate application shall, at a minimum, state the name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and occupation of the applicant, and it shall carry the endorsement of one Active Member Sponsor. The application for Active Membership shall carry the endorsement of two (2) Active Member Sponsors. Such Sponsors shall be current members in good standing having been Active Members for a minimum of two (2) consecutive years, have known the applicant for at least two (2) years and not reside within the same household as the applicant or other Sponsor. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit an application fee for the current year in the amount appropriate for the membership category to which the prospective member is applying. This fee will be returned if application for membership fails acceptance.

Applicants may be elected to membership via secret ballot at any meeting of the Board of Directors or by written vote of the Board by mail or electronic recording. Affirmative votes of two thirds (2/3) of the Board present at a meeting of the Board where a quorum of the Board attends the meeting, or of two thirds (2/3) of the entire Board voting by mail or electronic recording, shall be required to elect an applicant to membership.

An application which has received a negative vote by the Board may be presented by a Club member at the next annual meeting of the Club and the members may approve such applicant by a favorable vote of seventy five (75) percent of the members present and voting, provided a quorum as specified in Article II, Section 1, of these Bylaws is present. In the event the application is not approved by the membership at that time, all fees shall be returned to the applicant and the applicant may not reapply for membership for a period of one (1) calendar year (365 days) from the date of rejection by the membership. If the applicant decides not to appeal to the membership to reverse the Board’s negative vote, that applicant may request the return of his/her/their application fee. However, such request shall mean that the applicant may not reapply for membership for a period of one (1) calendar year from the date of rejection by the Board.

Conversion of an Associate Membership to Active Membership, or a former member reapplying for membership of any type shall follow the same procedure as prescribed for a new applicant.

Section 4. Termination of Membership.

Memberships may be terminated, with no fees or monies refunded, in the following ways:

(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. Obligations other than dues are considered a debt to the Club and must be paid in full prior to resignation; and/or,

(b) by lapsing. A membership shall be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid thirty (30) days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the board may grant an additional 30 day of grace to such delinquent members in meritorious cases. In no case may a person be entitled to vote whose dues are unpaid; and/or,

Section 5. Member in Good Standing.

A Member in Good Standing is one whose dues payments are current, are not in financial arrears to the club and who is not currently under disciplinary action by the BPCA or the AKC.