Constitution & By-Laws

1. Name

The name of the club shall be Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Canada
hereinafter referred to as ‘the club’.

2. Area of Operation

The club shall serve the area comprised of:
All of Canada
and shall be a National Club

3. Objectives

The objectives of the club are:

1. Exhibit and encourage respect and ethical sportsmanship to others at all events held under the CKC Rules and Regulations and any other sponsored activity or function of the club.
2. Hold the following CKC approved events including but not limited to conformation specialty events.
3. Require club members to accept the Breed Standards, as approved by The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), as the only standard of excellence by which purebred dogs shall be judged in Canada.
4. Actively promote and participate in training opportunities
5. Actively offer interaction with the community at large
6. Encourage and educate judges or prospective judges
7. Encourage respect and ethical treatment of dogs in general
8. Promote and support responsible dog ownership
9. Mentor new members in the various roles within the club to encourage club growth and foster a sense of community within the club
10. Encourage, protect and advance the quality in the breeding of purebred dogs and to do everything possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection
11. Encourage and promote the Lagotto Romagnolo
12. Liaise with our counterparts from Parent/National Breed clubs of other countries
13. Encourage the organization of independent local Lagotto Romagnolo specialty clubs in those localities where there are sufficient fanciers of the Lagotto Romagnolo to meet the requirements of CKC

4. Principles

4.1 The club shall be a Non-Profit club.

4.2 The club shall take all necessary steps to investigate and comply with Federal and Provincial Guidelines with respect to clubs and corporations.

4.3 The club shall maintain CKC recognition by adhering to the Policy set out by CKC and acknowledge that any changes in such Policy from time to time will supersede contravention within this Constitution & By-Laws.

4.4 The club employs the use of electronic signatures, electronic mail, online bank transfers and virtual meetings as required and any reference to finance, correspondence or meetings in this Constitution and By-Laws shall be deemed to include these methods unless otherwise specified.

5. Membership

5.1 The membership year shall be:  The calendar year from January 1st to December 31st

5.2      Eligibility for Membership

1. No person who has been expelled by the CKC or convicted of cruelty to animals shall be eligible for membership.
2. Membership is open to all persons eighteen years of age or older at the time of joining. Any person who has been deprived, suspended, debarred, expelled from or whose membership has been terminated from the Canadian Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club, the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Canada, the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America or any other national registering body for dogs or any other national Lagotto club shall not be granted membership to this club. Membership consideration may also be provided at the discretion of the Board.
3. Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Canada Membership is available to any individual related or interested in the breed, unless that individual has been found guilty in a court of law of offences related to actions in direct contravention of the Policy, Mission Statement and Code of Ethics of the CKC and/or the club.  Membership will be denied to those who have had CKC membership privileges suspended or terminated, or have been found guilty in a court of law on any charge relating to cruelty of animals.
4. Application for membership in the club shall be received from individuals living in any location in Canada.
5. Each applicant for membership must agree to abide by the Club’s Constitution and/or By-Laws.
6. Application for membership in the club shall be received from individuals that currently own, previously have owned Lagotto Romagnolo or are enthusiasts of the breed.
7. Application for membership will be considered from residents of countries other than Canada at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
8. Application for membership shall be open to all those who are interested in the welfare and responsible ownership of dogs.

5.3      Types of Membership

1. Associate Membership:  New members are automatically designated ‘Associate’ members for 1 year, at the end of which their membership automatically changes to Regular.  Associate members pay dues but are not entitled to vote or hold office.
2. Regular (Individual) Membership:  Individuals over 18 years of age enjoy all club privileges including the right to vote and hold office.
3. Household (Family) Membership:  Two (2) adult members residing in the same household, each eligible to vote and hold office.
4. Non-Resident Membership:  Individuals who are not Canadian residents (or its territories and possessions) shall be entitled to all Club privileges with the exception of voting and holding office.
5. Junior Membership:  Open to children under the age of eighteen (18) years and may automatically convert to a regular membership at the age of eighteen (18) years.  Junior members do not pay dues, but are entitled to all club privileges except for voting or holding office.
6. Lifetime Membership:  May be awarded by a majority vote of the club to individuals from among the membership who have made significant contributions to the club and the Lagotto Romagnolo breed.  Lifetime members do not pay dues, but are eligible to vote and hold office.
7. Honorary Membership:  An individual who has made significant contributions to the sport, breed or club may be designated an Honorary Member by a majority vote of the membership.  Honorary members do not pay dues and are not eligible to vote or hold office.

5.4      Application for Membership

1. Each applicant for membership shall submit a Membership Application form via either mail or electronically
2. Membership applications shall be made easily accessible to the public by way of www.lagottoromagnoloclubofcanada.ca, and the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Canada Facebook group
3. Members may contact any club member for other information, alternate ways to submit an application, and/or alternative payment methods
4. The application shall state the name and address of the applicant and their relationship with the Lagotto Romagnolo breed

5.5      Membership Fees

1. Membership fees will be reviewed and set annually by the Board of Directors at the AGM
2. Membership fees are payable by the first day of the Club year.  Any member who has not paid their membership fee sixty (60) days past the renewal date of the current year will be removed from the rolls and be ineligible to vote regardless of their previous membership type
3. The Treasurer shall collect and record the fees submitted
4. At the beginning of October, the Treasurer shall send each Member a statement of fees for the next year

5.6      Approval of Membership

1. The applicant must agree to and abide by the club’s Constitution, By Laws, Code of Ethics and the rules of the Canadian Kennel Club.
2. Accompanying the application, the prospective member shall submit dues for payment for the current year.
3. Applicant names shall be posted to the private social media group for member comment for a period of fifteen (15) days.  If no objections are raised, the application will be deemed accepted provided the applicant has paid membership dues
4. If a valid objection is received, the application must be reviewed by the Board within 30 days of receipt of objection by the Membership Chairperson and the applicant notified of the result.
5. New members without immediate member objection shall be accepted but have a one-year probationary period.  If the Board finds the applicant to be in violation of the Constitution and/or By-Laws of the club, or the rules, regulations and Policy of Canadian Kennel Club, or conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the club or breed, their membership shall not be renewed
6. An applicant whose membership application has been rejected/denied will be provided with a reason for such rejection/denial, in writing, within thirty (30) days of the decision.
7. An applicant whose membership application has been rejected or denied may not reapply for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the rejection.

5.7      Termination or Suspension of Membership

a) Any member suspended, debarred, expelled or deprived from the privileges of The Canadian Kennel Club, The American Kennel Club or any other national registering body for animals shall, without notice, be suspended from the privileges of this Club for a like period.

b) Upon termination or suspension of membership, all records, property and related paraphernalia of the club shall be returned to a current Club Officer immediately.

1. Resignation:  Any member in good standing may resign from the club upon verifiable written notice to the Secretary, but no member may resign when in debt to the club.  All materials belonging to the club must be surrendered in proper condition to the Secretary no later than ten (10) days after resignation of membership.  Obligations other than membership fees are considered a debt to the club and must be paid in full prior to resignation
2. Lapsing:  A membership shall be considered lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid sixty (60) days after the first day of the club year. In no case may a person be entitled to vote or hold office whose fees are unpaid.
3. Suspension:  Membership may be suspended as a result of discipline, as outlined in section 6 of this document.  Membership fees shall not be refunded in such cases.
4. Expulsion: A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in these By-Laws
5. Deceased:  Any member who passes away shall be so recorded by the Secretary immediately and no further correspondence shall be forwarded to the address of record.
6. In the event that the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Canada is dissolved.

5.8      Voting Privileges

1. Regular (Individual), Household (Family), or Lifetime Members in good standing are entitled to vote.
2. The absence of a voting member from three (3) consecutive meetings, unless excused by the Board, shall result in a membership status change from voting to non-voting.  The Board shall consider all written requests for excusal with confirmed delivery receipts.  There shall be no reduction in membership fees in such cases.
3. Non-resident memberships are not entitled to vote.

9. Meetings

9.1         Annual General Meeting

a) The AGM shall be held during the month of November on a date and time agreed upon by the Board of Directors during the prior quarters general meeting.

b) Notice of the AGM shall be emailed to all members by the Secretary a minimum 30 days in advance of the date

9.2         Special General Meetings

1. Special Meetings may be called by the President or by the majority vote of the Board who are at a meeting of the Board
2. Special Meetings may be called upon receipt, by the Secretary, of a petition signed by 3 Club members who are in good standing.
3. Special Meetings shall be held at such times and places or via teleconference or videoconference as designated by the Board.
4. Notice of Special Meetings, once approved by the President, shall be sent by the Secretary in advance of the date. The notice of the meeting shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business may be transacted

9.3         Board Meetings

1. Board Meetings shall be held in February, May, August and November at such times and places or via teleconference or videoconference as designated by the President or by a majority of the Board.
2. A Board Meeting shall be held immediately after any election.
3. Notice of other Board Meetings shall be sent by the Secretary via email a minimum of fourteen (14) days in advance of the date.
4. Members of the Board may also conduct other business, including disciplinary hearings, in person or by teleconference or videoconference or electronic messaging
5. Items requiring a vote shall be put on the agenda of the next Board Meeting. If the President and Vice-President determine that a vote is needed before the next Board Meeting, it shall be voted on using an electronic form
6. If a situation requires an immediate decision before a meeting of the Board is possible and the President is not available, an explanation must be communicated to the Secretary and President within seven (7) days

9.4         General Membership Meetings

1. General Membership Meetings will be held virtually as may be needed. The Secretary will send a reminder email to all members, the previous meeting’s minutes, and a request for agenda items 1 week prior to the meeting.

9.5         Quorum

1. A quorum at any meeting of the board shall be 50% of the board members.
2. The quorum for the AGM shall be 50% of the members in good standing
3. The quorum for Special Meetings shall be 50% of the members in good standing
4. The quorum for General Membership Meetings shall be 50% of the members in good standing.

10. Finances

10.1 The financial year or Club year shall be the calendar year from January 1st to December 31st

10.2 Financial signing authorities for the Club account shall be the President and Treasurer.  Financial signing authorities must not reside in the same household.

10.3 No Officer, Director, or member of the Club shall receive remuneration for service

6. Board of Directors

6.1         Officers

1. The Officers of the Club shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.  The Secretary and Treasurer may be combined into one role.
2. The President and Vice-President and either the Secretary or Treasurer must be members of The Canadian Kennel Club in good standing.
3. The Club’s Officers shall serve in their respective roles at both club meetings and Board meetings
4. A Club Officer must not also be a Club Director
5. Club Officers must be residents of Canada.

6.2         Directors

1. The Club’s Directors shall serve in their respective roles at both Club meetings and Board meetings.
2. A Club Director must not also be a Club Officer.
3. The Club shall maintain 4 or more Director positions.  A Regional Director shall be a resident in each of the 3 regions outlined in CKC Club Policy (Ontario, East of Ontario, and West of Ontario (to include Nunavut, Yukon and NWT)

 6.3         Board of Directors

1. The Board of Directors shall hereinafter be referred to as ‘the Board’, which shall be composed of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and a minimum of 4 regional Directors.

6.4         Duties and Responsibilities

a) The President shall
1. Preside at all club meetings and call Special Meetings of the Board. The President shall ensure the club’s Constitution and By-Laws are current and adhered to by all members of the club. Any other duties that the Club deems applicable to the office of the President shall be assigned to the President. The President may delegate duties to the Vice-President and/or other members of the Board as required

b) The Vice-President shall
1. Attend all Club meetings. The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President and exercise the powers of the President in case of absence, resignation, vacancy, or incapacity. The Vice-President is responsible for coordinating all official Club events

c) The Secretary shall
1. Attend all Club meetings and be responsible for the Club’s correspondence as directed by the President and/or Board of Directors. The Secretary shall:

(i) notify the membership of meetings;
(ii) keep a record of all meetings of the club and board;(iii) record all votes taken, by mail or electronically;
(iv) notify new members of their membership status;
(v) notify Officers and Directors of their election to office;
(vi) keep a roll of the members of the club who are in good standing with their contact information and CKC membership numbers where applicable;
(vii) keep a record of all matters ordered by the Club;(viii) have charge of correspondence; and
(ix) issue notices regarding discipline proceedings

d) The Treasurer shall
1. Attend all Club meetings, collect and receive all monies paid to the Club and be responsible for deposits to the designated bank account in the name of the Club. The financial records shall, at all times, be open to inspection by the Board.  A report shall be given at every meeting regarding the finances of the Club and every item of receipt or payment not previously reported.  At the AGM, an accounting shall be rendered of all monies received and expended during the previous fiscal year

e) The Directors shall
1. The Directors are members of the Board and shall attend all Club meetings. The Directors shall make recommendations to the Club as directed by their members and transact the business of the Club as provided for in this document

6.5         Execution of Documents

1. The President or Vice-President, together with the Secretary, shall sign contracts, documents or instruments in writing requiring the signature of the Club
2. All contracts, documents, or instruments in writing so signed shall be binding upon the Club without any further authorization or formality.
3. Electronic signatures by the same combination of authorized signing authorities herein will be considered the same as if written signatures were provided in person

6.6         Vacancies

1. The office of a member of the Board shall automatically be vacated if:

(i) an Officer or Director sends a written resignation to the Secretary;
(ii) a resolution is passed by a majority vote of voting members that they be removed from office;
(iii) they are found by a court of law to be of unsound mind; or
(iv) they pass away

1. The Vice-President shall automatically become the Acting President should the position of the President become vacant during the year
2. Any Board vacancy, other than that of the President, occurring during the year shall be filled for the remainder of the position’s term by a majority vote of the Board
3. An office shall automatically become vacant if the Board member is absent for more than two (2) meetings in a year, unless excused by the President
4. Each retiring Board member shall turn over all properties and records relating to that office to their successor within 30 days after the election or on the date designated by the current Board

6.7         Term of Office

1. All Board roles shall have a term of 2 years
2. Directors shall be elected by members in the regions in which they reside for a term of 2 years, or appointed by the Executive until such election can occur
3. Individuals may not hold office in perpetuity
4. Executive members may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms
5. Terms shall begin on January 1st

7. Nominations and Elections

7.1         Nominations

1. A Nomination Committee shall be chosen by Board of Directors a minimum of 3 months before the election. The Nomination Committee shall consist of 3 voting members, all in good standing. The Nomination Committee shall designate one (1) member of the committee as Chair. The Nomination Committee Chair will serve as the Election Officer
2. The Election Officer shall be the Past President unless he/she is unable to fulfill this role in which case a resigning board member not standing for re-election or another competent club member will be appointed by the Executive.
3. The Nomination Committee shall send to the General Membership, a request for nominations by September 1st of the election year. The Committee may also make nominations. All nominations must be received by October 15th of the election year.
4. The Nomination Committee shall ensure that all nominees accept the nomination for positions they have been nominated for, before submitting their name to the LRCC membership as part of the “Slate of Nominees”.
5. It is the responsibility of the LRCC member to contact the Nomination Committee if they have not received a “Request for Nomination” communication within 7 days of the deadline for requests to be sent so that this can be investigated and remedied.

7.2         Eligibility

5. Regular Voting Members as defined in Section 5.3
6. Only one member per immediate family or household will be allowed to be nominated for the Executive positions of President and Secretary.
7. No person shall hold an elected position on the Executive for more than two (2) consecutive terms.
8. The Past President may not stand for election to the executive for a period of two (2) years after relinquishing this position.
9. Regional Directors must live in the region in which they are running.

7.3         Election

1. Voting shall be conducted electronically.
2. Ballots of the Slate of Nominees shall be emailed to all eligible members by November 1st of the election year. It is the responsibility of the LRCC member to contact the Election Officer if they have not received a “Slate of Nominees & Voting Ballot” communication within 7 days of the deadline for this communication to be sent so that this can be investigated and remedied.
3. Voting results will be closed until the deadline for voting is reached.
4. A recognized voting service will be used for all electronic ballots (ie Survey Monkey). Tabulation will be witnessed by a CKC member in good standing who is not a Club member.
5. Ballots must be received no later than December 1st of the election year.

7.4         Tenure

1. All elected positions will be held for a term of two (2) consecutive years.
2. If the Presidency is vacated during the term of office, the Vice-President will assume that position for the remainder of the term. The Board of Directors will appoint a suitable representative for any other office that is vacated. This individual will hold the position until the next election year.

8. Voting

8.1 A voting platform or method shall be defined by the Board of Directors. The club may employ an online platform for such purposes.

8.2 Only those members with voting privileges and in good standing with the club are eligible to vote.

8.3 Candidates with the majority of votes on the ballots returned shall be declared the winners.

8.4 If no valid additional nominations are received by the Nomination/Election Committee by the nomination deadline, the Independent 3^rd Party Verifier shall declare the slate of the Nomination Committee elected and no ballot shall be required.  An email will be sent to the Board and Members to inform them that the slate of the Nomination Committee is elected and no election will be required. This email also includes the results of the election.

8.5 If one or more nominations of members in good standing are received by the Nomination Committee a minimum of 30 days before the election and the Nomination Committee deems that accepting a nomination shall still fulfill the requirements of Article 3.2, the Nomination Committee shall provide a ballot to any member eligible to vote, listing all of the nominees for each position with the names of the provinces in which they reside if applicable. Members must complete the electronic ballots by the election deadline. Members must return the ballots, via electronic survey, to the Independent 3^rd Party Verifier & Election Officer. Regional Directors may only be voted on by members living within their Region. In the event there are not enough members in a Region to successfully hold a vote, the position will be voted on by all members.  National positions are voted on by all members.

8.6 In the event of a tie, a re-vote shall be cast until such time as there is a declared winner. The re-vote must be held in the same manner as the original vote.

8.7 If a declared winner does not accept the position and more than one other candidate was nominated for the position, there shall be a revote cast until such time there is a declared winner. If there was only one other nominee for the position, that person shall be declared elected. If there were no other nominees for the position, then additional nominees shall be accepted from those members in attendance.  If only one person is nominated, that person shall be declared elected.  If there is more than one person nominated, a vote will be cast until such time there is a declared winner.

8.8 All documentation pertaining to elections, including ballots, shall be retained and stored for a period of two (2) years

11. Committees

11.1       At its discretion, the Board of Directors may appoint Standing or Ad Hoc Committees by a majority vote to further the interests of the Club in the areas of, but not limited to, elections, events, discipline, membership, procurement and any other project that may require the resources of a committee.

11.2       At its discretion, the Board of Directors may terminate any Ad Hoc Committee by a majority vote when it is deemed that the Ad Hoc Committee has fulfilled its original purpose.

12. Conflict Resolution

Any member who is suspended or terminated from the privileges of The CKC shall, without notice, be suspended from the privileges of this Club for a like period.

12.1       Complaints – Members

1. Any club member(s) may bring a complaint against another member for an alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of the club or in contravention of this Constitution and By-Laws, or the Policy, By-Laws and Code of Ethics of CKC or LRCC.
2. Complaints must be filed in writing to the Secretary and accompanied by a deposit of $100, which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by an appointed Committee following a hearing.
   1. The Committee shall be comprised of 3 members.
   2. All names of eligible LRCC members shall be put into an electronic draw (ie wheel of names draw), and randomly chosen.
3. The Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each Committee member and/or present them at a Committee meeting.
4. The Secretary shall notify the defendant of the complaint and the procedures within forty-five (45) days of receipt of the complaint.
5. The Committee shall meet in person or by teleconference or videoconference to first consider whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the club
6. If the Committee determines that the charges do not allege conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the club, it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. The Secretary shall inform the complainant and defendant of the Committee’s decision.
7. If the Committee entertains jurisdiction of the charges, both the complainant and defendant shall be provided with a date and time of hearing of the complaint a minimum of thirty (30) days before the complaint shall be heard/considered. The Secretary shall promptly send one copy of the charges to the defendant by registered mail together with a notice of the hearing and an assurance that the defendant may personally or virtually appear in their defense and bring witnesses if they wish.
8. A member who resigns while charges have been preferred against them or allows their membership to lapse during the fiscal year in which the charges were sustained may not apply for membership for a minimum period of five (5) years from the time of resignation or lapse or the end of any suspension, after which they may reapply for admission to membership according to the process outlined in Article 2.6, but with five (5) Club members in good standing as sponsors.

12.2               Hearing

1. Disciplinary hearing may be conducted in person, teleconference or videoconference.
2. The 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.
3. Both the complainant and defendant shall be treated fairly and without prejudice and have the right to attend the hearing and to present any evidence.
4. The meeting procedures shall be Call to Order, Chair Opening Remarks, Complainant, Defendant, Questions, and Deliberations.
5. Should the charges be sustained after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by complainant and defendant, the appointed Committee may, by a majority vote of those present, reprimand or suspend the defendant from all privileges of the Club for six (6) months from the date of the hearing.

12.3               Decision

1. Immediately after the Committee has reached its decision, its findings shall be put in written form and filed with the Secretary.
2. The Secretary, in turn, shall notify the complainant and defendant in writing of the decision, the reasons for the decision, who was involved in the decision, and any penalty. This must be provided to the complainant by way of registered letter and delivered within thirty (30) days of the decision being made.

12.4               Complaints – Executive

1. Where the complaint involves misconduct, misrepresentation or any breach of this Constitution and/or By-Laws by one or more members of the Board of Directors, written notice of the offence together with supporting evidence must be forwarded to the club Secretary by email or registered letter and the club Secretary must immediately provide copies of the complaint to the Board of Directors.
2. The Board of Directors shall respond to the complainant with resolution within thirty (30) days of receipt of the complaint.
3. If the Complainant remains unsatisfied and communicates dissatisfaction in writing to the Club Secretary, a Special General Meeting shall be scheduled by the club Secretary where, by a majority vote of the membership present, the complaint will be deemed justified or disregarded
4. If the complaint is deemed justified, resolution will be presented in the form of a Motion and the majority vote of the membership present shall rule.
5. In the event that the Secretary is involved in the complaint, the President will assume all duties defined above, and the Secretary will not be defined as a member of The Board of Directors for this complaint.

13. Expulsion

13.1 Permanent expulsion of a member requires a Special General Meeting where Section 13 – Conflict Resolution is deemed insufficient.

13.2 Expulsion requires 60% of the members present at the meeting.

13.3 The following are considered grounds for expulsion:

1. Any member found to be mistreating any animal.
2. Any member found to be stealing or falsifying documents of any kind.
3. Any member found guilty of not following the rules of an event put on by other clubs or groups
4. Recommendation as a result of Discipline

13.4 Notification of Expulsion

1. Immediately after the decision has been reached, its findings shall be put in written form and filed with the Secretary.
2. The Secretary shall notify the defendant, in writing, of the decision, and the reasons for the decision. This must be provided to the defendant by way of registered letter within thirty (30) days of the decision being made

14. Appeal Process

14.1 Any person subject to any decision arising out of a complaint filed through the Club’s internal disciplinary process may file an appeal within 30 days. Appeals must be filed in writing, forwarded to the Club Secretary and accompanied by a $100 non-refundable fee. The Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the appeal to each Board member and/or present them at a Board meeting.

1. Upon receipt from either the Complainant or Defendant of their intent to appeal the decision of the Complaint Committee, an Appeal Committee will be formed within 7 days. This Committee shall consist of 3 CKC members in good standing; not necessarily LRCC members. These members must have no connection to the original complaint.

14.2 An appeal hearing shall be scheduled within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the appeal. The complainant and defendant shall be provided with a date and time for the appeal hearing a minimum of thirty (30) days before the appeal shall be considered.

14.3 Both the complainant and defendant have the right to attend the appeal hearing, which may be conducted in person or teleconference or videoconference.

14.4 This shall not be a retrial, but rather a hearing to determine whether there is just cause to overturn the decision. Arguments during the appeal process are limited to this aspect. After hearing the testimony presented by the complainant and defendant, the Board may, by a majority vote of those present, decide to sustain or overturn the expulsion. The Secretary shall inform both the complainant and defendant of any decision in writing within thirty (30) days of the hearing.

15. Amendments

15.1               Constitution and By-Laws

1. The Club shall have the power to add, modify, and/or rescind items in the Constitution & By-Laws according to the process outlined below.
2. Amendments may be proposed by the Board or by written petition addressed to the Secretary signed by 20% of the membership in good standing.
3. All proposals shall be accumulated and included in an agenda for the next AGM.
4. All proposals shall be emailed to each member a minimum of thirty (30) days in advance of the AGM.
5. The Secretary shall prepare ballots to be emailed to the general membership. Ballots must be returned to the Secretary via email by a specified date.
6. Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws require a 2/3 majority vote of eligible members.
7. Amendments shall be forwarded to the CKC Shows & Trials Division within thirty (30) days of being passed.

15.2       Breed Standard

1. Proposals for amendments to the Breed Standard by the Club must meet CKC Procedure RG002 – Proposed Changes to a Breed Standard.
2. Only CKC members in good standing are eligible to vote on any proposed changes to breed standards.

16. Dissolution

16.1       Dissolution of the Club shall take place when there are less than four (4) members in good standing remaining, when there is written consent of no less than 66% of the members in good standing.  No property, assets of the Club, nor any proceeds thereof shall be distributed to any members of the Club.  After all payment of debts of the Club, its property and remaining assets shall be donated to Lagotto Romagnolo Foundation Inc.

16.2       The Secretary will notify The CKC in writing immediately of the decision to dissolve and include a copy of the Minutes from the meeting where dissolution was confirmed.

17. Rules of Order

17.1       The order of business at Club Meetings, so far as the nature of the meeting permits, shall be Robert’s Rules of Order as follows:

1. Roll call
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Reading of Minutes of Last Meeting
4. Reports from Executive
5. Committee Reports
6. Election of New Members
7. Unfinished Business
8. New Business
9. Notice of Next Meeting
10. Adjournment