Constitution

I. Name

The name of the Club shall be: THE SWAMP DOG CLUB.

II. Purpose

1. The purpose of the Club shall be to encourage the members to perfect, by selective breeding and training, the type of nonslip Retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels most suitable for work as gun dogs.

2. The Club shall do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of retrievers in the Field and on the Bench, by encouraging the holding of Field Trials and Bench shows under the rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club.

BY - LAWS

1. Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall consist of five members chosen at large plus the four elected officers for a total of nine directors. They shall direct the affairs of the Club pursuant to the Constitution and By-laws. Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by the Board of Directors. A vacancy in a Club office shall be filled by the Board of Directors.

2. Elections
Election of the Board of Directors and Officers shall be by ballot at the annual meeting of the Club. Each member in good standing shall be entitled to vote. Proxy voting is not allowed. Officers shall be elected for one year terms. Directors shall serve two year terms. In even years three directors will be chosen, in odd years, two directors will be chosen.

3. Officers
The officers of the Club shall be President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Secretary and Treasurer may be one and the same person. If one person is elected Secretary-Treasurer, then the membership shall elect an additional director to serve during the period of time that one person holds the office of Secretary-Treasurer. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Club, preside at all meetings, and administer the affairs of the Club under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Vice President shall act in the absence or incapacity of the President with full powers of the President.

The Secretary shall be responsible for the safekeeping of all Club records, shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

The Treasurer shall have the custody of the Club's funds and shall keep and disburse the same as directed by the Board of Directors. He/she shall keep account of all receipts and disbursements and shall prepare an annual statement for presentation to the members of the Club at their annual meeting and at such other times as the Board of Directors may direct. Any Club officer shall have the right to sign club checks and communications. The Treasurer's account shall be audited annually by a committee appointed by the President.

4. Committees
The President shall appoint a Field Trial Committee of five or more members to manage licensed and sanctioned trials; a Judges Committee of three members whose responsibility it shall be to obtain qualified judges for the Club's trials, and such other committees as the President deems appropriate from time to time.

5. Membership
Any person interested in the breeding and training of Retrievers in good standing with the American Kennel Club may apply for membership on application forms supplied by the Club. One member in good standing must be named as Sponsor. Applications will be reviewed by the four Club officers and new membership extended at their pleasure.

There shall be three classes of membership;

(a) Life - a duly elected member who pays a lump sum payment of $500.00.

(b) Active - a duly elected member, including spouse and minor children.

(c) Honorary - a person elected an Honorary member of the Club by unanimous vote of the Board of Directors. Honorary members shall be exempt from dues and assessments.

6. Dues
The annual dues for Active membership shall be $25.00. Annual dues shall be payable upon being elected a Club member and in January of each year thereafter. The Treasurer shall mail a notice to each member each January stating that dues are to be paid. If dues are unpaid ninety days after notice has been given, that person shall cease to be a member. Reinstatement of delinquent members shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

7. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Club shall commence on the first day of January.

8. Meetings

(a) An annual meeting of the Club shall be held within three months of the close of each fiscal year.

(b) Special meetings of the Club may be called by the President Notice of the time and place of meetings shall be mailed to each member five days in advance of said meeting. Ten members of the Club shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.

9. Insignia
The insignia of the Club shall be a pin or medal, have a Retriever head carrying a duck with Swamp Dog Club inscribed thereon.

10. Amendments
These by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the Club, provided that written notice of proposed change is given with notice of meeting.