Constitution& By-laws for the ASCRBA
Article I: Name

The name of this Non-Profit Organization shall be the American Standard Chinchilla Rabbit Breeders Association.

Article II: Objects

Section 1. The object of this Association shall be to promote, maintain, develop and improve the breeding of the Standard Chinchilla rabbit. To advance and protect the interests of the breeders and the public by disseminating correct information concerning the said rabbit as to it’s value for food, fur, show and laboratory uses and to encourage the breeding and selling thereof.

Section 2. To provide a center of information and advice on all matters pertaining to the Standard Chinchilla rabbit.

Section 3. To promote the welfare of each other and to advance and protect the interests of the association. Also to cooperate with the officers and to carry out the principles for which the association stands pledged, as well as to encourage increased membership.

Article III: Membership

Section 1. All members of the association shall be active members.

Section 2. Any person of good moral character and reputation may become a member by written application to the Secretary-Treasurer and upon payment of yearly dues as provided for in the “Bylaws”

Section 3. Membership shall be acknowledged by the association and signed by the Secretary and shall terminate at the end of one year from the date of issue.

Section 4. The Secretary shall notify each member 30 days before expiration of the membership and if same is not renewed within sixty (60) days, the member failing to renew shall be dropped.

Section 5. Complaints and also charges for misconduct of a member shall be made in writing to the Secretary. They shall be considered with the defense of the member by the Executive Committee 7 this committee may on a majority vote, suspend or expel the member.

Section 6. A suspended or expelled member may appeal from the decision of the Executive Committee & the matter shall then be submitted to the vote of the association members. A two-thirds majority vote of ten (10) members, either for or against the decision of the Executive Committee shall be considered as final.

Article IV: Officers

Section 1. The officers of the association shall consist of a President, Vice-President,

Secretary/Treasurer and five (5) Directors.

Section 2. The officers shall be elected by mail ballot.

Section 3. The term of all officers shall be two (2) years, the President & three (3) Directors shall be elected to begin their terms on even numbered years. The Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer & two (2) Directors shall be elected to begin their terms on odd numbered years.

Section 4. All official terms are to begin with new business at the annual meetings.

Section 5. The Executive Committee shall consist of all officers and directors of this association.

Section 6. Vacancies in office during term, shall be filled by the Executive Committee.

Section 7. The Executive Committee shall carry out the instructions of the association, shall authorize expenditures (but no expenses shall be incurred or authorized beyond the assets of the association), shall make rules as deemed necessary during the year for the conduct of the association, the awarding of prizes & shall perform such other duties as pertain to the office.

Section 8. The President shall preside at all meetings of the association, act as Chairman of the Executive Committee, appoint all committees not otherwise provided for, an election commissioner, who will in turn select two (2) assistants to count the ballots, call special meeting of the association or of the Executive Committee and perform such other duties as pertain to that office.

Section 9. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in his absence or in case of inability to act.

Section 10. The Secretary/Treasurer shall, as Secretary, conduct the general correspondence of the association and of the Executive Committee, shall act as Secretary of the Executive Committee, shall act as Secretary of the Executive Committee shall keep the minutes of all such meetings. He or she shall, as Treasurer, collect all monies due & shall pay from the funds of the Association such claims as are properly authorized and approved. He or she shall perform all duties that pertain to the office of Secretary/Treasurer.

Article V: Amendments

The constitution and by-laws may be amended according to the following procedures.

Section 1. An amendment must be endorsed by five (5) members in good standing.

Section 2. It must be sent to the Secretary by July 1st of any year in order to be voted on in that year’s election.

Section 3. A copy of the amendment shall be sent out with the election ballot and the members shall be asked to vote on the amendment.

Section 4. A two-thirds majority of votes cast is required for adoption.

Article VI: Elections

Section 1. The election of all officers and directors shall be by mail ballot

Section 2. Any member wishing to run for office shall secure a petition from the Secretary. The petition to be fille out and signed by five (5) members in good standing and returned to the Secretary to be received no later than July 1st for the candidates name to be placed on the ballot.

Section 3. Ballots are to be mailed by Secretary on or before August 1st of that year. Ballots must be returned to the Election Commissioner to be received by September 1st of that year.

Section 4. The Election Commissioner shall immediately count the ballots and report the results to the President amd to the Secretary.

Section 5. The Secretary shall forward the results of the election to the members of the Executive Committee and to all candidates and announce the results in the newsletter.

Section 6. In the event of a tie, the President shall break the tie.

Article VII: Membership Dues

Section 1. The membership dues shall be as follows:

$5 per annum for Youth Membership or $12 for three (3) years, prior to his/her 19th birthday

$8 per annum for Adult Membership or $22 for three (3) years

$12 per annum Husband and Wife membership or $27 for three (3) years

Any member may become a lifetime member of this association upon payment of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); which sum shall not include any dues already paid

Section 2. A $5 service charge shall be paid by all members residing outside the U.S.A.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall award a free lifetime membership to any member for outstanding service to the club or breed.

Section 4. For services rendered in behalf of the association at the annual meeting, the Secretary shall receive Seventy Five Dollars ($75.00) for expenses. In the absence of the Secretary, the Secretary Protem shall receive the expense allowance, upon approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 5. All Officers shall be provided with uniform Stationery.

Section 6. The Secretary/Treasurer shall receive approximately 25% of monies collected from memberships (according to amounts set forth in Section 7), and $1.00 from all sanction fees, to compensate for expenses incurred and not authorized by the Association.

Section 7. The Secretary/Treasurer’s commission on membership fees shall be as follows:

1 year Youth $1.25…3 year Youth $3.00

1 year Adult $2.00…3 year Adult $5.00

1 year Husband and Wife $2.75…3 year Family $6.75

Lifetime membership $25.00

Section 8. All monies donated and contributed for a specific purpose shall be maintained and used for that purpose only, unless otherwise provided for.

Section 9. Any surplus in funds maintained by monies earned from membership dues and sanction fees shall be converted to the general fund fifteen (15) days prior to the annual meeting, except for the emergency fund and the newsletter fund.

Article VIII: Annual Meetings

Section 1. The annual meeting of the association shall be held at the time and place of the ARBA National Convention. The membership shall be notified of such meeting.

Section 2. At all meetings, five (5) members shall constitute a quorum. No person can act as proxy for any member not present.

Article IX: Rules

Section 1. Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the parliamentary procedure of the Association subject to such special rules that may be adopted.

Article X: Order of Meetings

Section 1. Roll Call

Section 2. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting

Section 3. Report of Executive Committee

Section 4. Report of Secretary/Treasurer

Section 5. Reading of Communications

Section 6. Unfinished business

Section 7. Election and Installation of Officers

Section 8. New Business

Section 9. Discussion for the good of the Association

Section 10. Adjournment

The Resolutions Committee shall consist of members appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Committee.

Article XI:

Section 1. Any state, regional or local Standard Chinchilla Rabbit Specialty Organization may affiliate with this association, providing their objectives are in accord with this association, providing their objectives are in accord with this association, by submitting a written application (available from Secretary), accompanied by a copy of their constitution and by-laws, a complete list of members and a list of officers, directors & a $10.00 membership fee.

Section 2. Renewal of Affiliate club membership must include all the information per Article V, Section 1, including the $10.00 membership fee.

Section 3. The Affiliate Membership fee shall be put into the Show Fund. Half is to be used for the National Standard Chinchilla Rabbit show and the other half to be used for the ARBA National Convention And Show. This fund is to be used for premiums for both shows.

Section 4. All Officers and Directors of the Affiliate Club, must be members of the ARBA & the ASCRBA.

Section 5. Each state, regional or local Standard Chinchilla Rabbit Club must sponsor at least one (1) specialty show during the year.