Contact Us

Constitution & Bylaws as last amended on April 11, 2006

Constitution

Article 1. Name and Objectives
Section 1. The name of the club shall be Alamo Retriever Club and it shall be incorporated under that name in the State of
Texas.
Section2. The objectives of the club shall be:
(a.) to encourage and promote quality breeding in all types of purebred retrievers and to do all possible to bring their natural
qualities to perfection;
(b.) to urge members and breeders to accept the standard of the various retriever breeds as approved by The American Kennel
Club and The United Kennel Club as the only standard of excellence by which retriever breeds shall be judged;
(c.) to do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the retriever breed by encouraging sportsmanlike competition
at dog shows, obedience trials, tracking tests, agility tests, field trials and hunt tests;
(d.) to conduct field trials and hunt tests sanctioned under the rules and regulations of The American Kennel Club and the
Hunting Retriever Club/United Kennel Club.
(e) "All HRC and UKC rules and policies will be followed at all UKC licensed, HRC Hunts sponsored by this Club. HRC Club Officers
must be members in good standing with HRC, Inc.”
Section 3. The club shall not conduct business nor operate for profit; and no part of any profits, remainder or residue from
dues, or donations to the club, shall accrue to the benefit of any member or individual.
Section 4. The members of the club shall adopt bylaws and may periodically revise such by-laws as required to carry out these
objectives.

Bylaws
Article I - Membership
Section 1. Eligibility. Membership will be open to all persons 18 years of age and older who are in good standing with the
American Kennel Club, The United Kennel Club, and The Hunting Retriever Club, Inc., and who subscribe to the purposes of this
club. While membership is to be unrestricted as to residence, the club's primary purpose is to be representative of the breeders
and exhibitors in the area in and around San Antonio, TX.
Section 2. Dues. Membership dues shall not exceed $25. per fiscal year, payable on or before the 1st day of June each year. No
member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of April, the Treasurer shall send each
member a statement of dues for the ensuing year. There shall be no prorating of dues and all annual membership shall expire on
the last day of May.
Section 3. Election to Membership.
(a.) Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors and which shall state that the
applicant agrees to abide by the constitution, bylaws and the rules of The Alamo Retriever Club. The application shall state the
name, address and occupation of the applicant, as will as information about the applicant's activities, and experience with
retrievers. The prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year along with the application form.
(b.) All applications are to be filed with the club Secretary. Applicants may be approved for membership by the Board of
Directors, but are subject to ratification by the members present at the first meeting of the club following such ratification. New
members approved by the Board of Directors will be announced at the first meeting of the club following such approval. Any
current member present may call for a vote, to be by secret ballot, on the acceptance of any or all new members approved by
the Board of Directors. If such a vote occurs, a simple majority of voting members present shall be sufficient for final approval of
new members. If no vote is called, the new membership approval is also final. Applicants for membership who have been
rejected by the club may not reapply within six months after such rejection.
Section 4. Termination of Membership. Memberships may be terminated:
(a.) by resignation. Any member in good standing may resign from the club upon written notice to the Secretary; but no
member may resign when in debt to the club.
(b.) by lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid 90
days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional 30 days of grace to such delinquent
members in meritorious cases. In no case may a person be entitled to vote at any club meeting whose dues are unpaid as of
the date of that meeting.
(c.) by expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these bylaws.

Article II - Meetings and Voting
Section 1. Club Meetings. Meeting of the club shall be held each month within the greater San Antonio, Texas area at such
hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the
Secretary at last 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.
Section 2. Special Club Meetings. Special club meetings my be called by the President, or by a majority vote of the members of
the Board who are present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the Board; and shall be called by the Secretary upon
receipt of a petition signed by five members of the club who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held within
the greater San Antonio, TX area at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein
to call such meetings. Written notice of such a meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 5 days and not more than 15
days prior to the date of the meeting, and said notice shall state the purpose of the meetings, and no other club business may
be transacted thereat. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 10 percent of the members in good standing.
Section 3. Board Meetings. Meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held each month within the greater San Antonio, TX area
at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board. Written notice of each such meeting shall be mailed by the
Secretary at least five days prior to the date of the meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the board.
Section 4. Special Board Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President; and shall be called by the
Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least three members of the Board. Such special meeting shall be held
within the greater San Antonio area at such place, date, and hour as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call
such meeting. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary at least five days and not more than 10 days
prior to the date of the meeting. Any such notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be
transacted thereat. The quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the board. Subject to the above requirements, the
Special Board Meeting maybe held by E-mail, Fax or Telephone conference call.
Section 5. Voting. Each member in good standing whose dues are paid for the current year shall be entitled to one vote at any
meeting of the club at which said member is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any club meeting or election.
Article III - Directors and Officers
Section 1. Board of Directors. The Board shall be comprised of the officers defined in Article III, Section 2 and two (2) other
persons, all of whom shall be in good standing and all of whom shall be elected for one-year terms at the club's annual meeting
as provided in Article IV and shall serve until their successors are elected. General management of the club's affairs shall be
entrusted to the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Officers. Club officers, consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Field Trial Secretary, and
Hunt Test Secretary, shall serve in their respective capacities, both with regard to the club and it's meetings and the Board and
it's meetings.
(a) The President shall preside at all meetings of the club and of the board, and shall have the duties and powers normally
commensurate with the office of President, in addition to those particularly specified in these bylaws.
(b) The Vice President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President's death, absence
or incapacity.
(c) The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the club and the Board; and of all matters of which a record shall be
ordered by the club; shall have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meeting, notify new members of their election
to membership, notify officers and directors of their election to office, keep a roll of the members of the club with their
addresses, and carry out other duties as are prescribed in these bylaws.
(d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the club. Monies shall be deposited in a bank
designated by the Board, in the name of the club. The books shall at all times be open to inspection by the Board, and a report
shall be given at every meeting of the conditions of the club's finances and every item of receipt or payment not before
reported; and at the annual meeting an accounting shall be rendered of all monies received and expended during the previous
fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine.
(e) The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person, in which case the Board shall be comprised of one
less person.
(f) The AKC Hunt Test Secretary shall be responsible for matters pertaining to the record keeping necessary for the conduct of
the club's AKC sanctioned Hunt Tests.
(g) The HRC Hunt Test Secretary shall be responsible for matters pertaining to the record keeping necessary for the conduct of
the club’s HRC sanctioned Hunt Tests.
(h) The offices of AKC Hunt Test Secretary and HRC Hunt Test Secretary may be held by the same person, in which case the
board shall be comprised of one less person.
(i) The Field Trial Secretary shall be responsible for matters pertaining to the record keeping necessary for the conduct of the
club's AKC sanctioned Field Trials.
(j) Members filling the office of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and HRC Hunt Test Secretary must be members
of and in good standing with The Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. at the time of their election.
Section 3 Vacancies. Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among officers during the year shall be filled until the next annual
election by a majority vote of all the then members of the Board at it's first regular meeting following the creation of such
vacancy, or at a special board meeting called for that purpose; except that a vacancy in the office of President shall be filled
automatically by the Vice President and resulting vacancy in the office of Vice President shall be filled by the Board.
Article IV - The Club Year, Annual Meeting, Elections
Section 1. Club Year. The club's fiscal year shall begin on the 1st day of June and the end of the last day of May. The club's
official year shall begin immediately at the conclusion of the election at the annual meeting and shall continue through the
election at the next annual meeting.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in the month of June, at which officers and directors for the
ensuing year shall be elected by secret ballot from among those nominated in accordance with Section 4 of this Article. They
shall take office immediately upon the conclusion of the election and each retiring officer shall turn over to the successor in office
all properties and records relating to that office within 30 days after the election.
Section 3. Elections. The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared
elected. The nominated candidates for other position on the Board who received the greatest number of votes for such
positions shall be declared elected.
Section 4. Nominations. No person may be a candidate in the club election who has not been nominated. During the month of
April, the board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of three members and two alternates, not more than one of
whom may be a member of the Board. The secretary shall immediately notify the committee members and alternates of their
selection. The Board shall name a chair for the committee whose duty shall be to call a committee meeting, to be held on or
before April 20.
(a) The committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and position on the Board, and after securing the consent of
each person so nominated, shall immediately report, in writing, their nomination to the Secretary.
(b) Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report, the Secretary shall, before the club's May meeting, notify each member
in writing of the candidates so nominated.
(c) Additional nominations may be made at the May meeting by any member in attendance, provided that the person so
nominated does not decline when their name is proposed, and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in
attendance at this meeting, the proposer shall present to the Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate
signifying willingness to be a candidate.
(d) Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than as provided in this Section.
Article V- Committees
Section 1. Each year the Board may appoint standing committees to advance the work of the club in such matters as hunt
tests, field trials, annual awards, programs, membership and other areas which may be will served by committees, Such
committees shall always be subject to final authority of the Board. Special committees may also be appointed by the Board to
assist on particular projects.
Section 2. Any committee appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the full membership of the Board upon written
notice of the appointee; and the Board may appoint successors to those persons whose served have been terminated.
Article VI - Discipline
Section 1. Suspensions. Any member who is suspended from the privileges of The American Kennel Club, The United Kennel
Club, or The Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. shall automatically be suspended from the privileges of this club for a like period.
Section 2. Charges. Any member may prefer charges against another member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best
interests of the club or the retriever breeds. Written charges, with specifications, must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary
together with a deposit of $25. which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board following a hearing. The
secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each member of the Board, or present them at a Board meeting. The
Board shall first consider whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best
interests of the club. It may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges, it shall fix a date
for a hearing by the Board not less than three weeks nor more than six weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall promptly send
one copy of the charges to the accused member by registered mail, together with a notice of the hearing, and an assurance
that the defendant may personally appear in his/her own defense and bring witnesses if he/she wishes.
Section 3. Board Hearing. The Board shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing; but
both complainant and defendant shall be treated uniformly in that regard. Should the charges be sustained after hearing all the
evidence and testimony presented by defendant and the complainant, the Board may, by a majority vote of those present,
suspend the defendant from all privileges of the club for not more than six months from the date of the hearing. And, if it
deems that punishment insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty be expulsion. In such case, the
suspension shall not restrict the defendant's right to appear before this fellow members at the ensuing club meeting which
considers the Board's recommendation. Immediately after the Board has reached a decision, it's finding shall be put in written
form and filed with the Secretary, The Secretary, in turn, shall notify each of the parties of the Board's decision and penalty, if
any.
Section 4. Expulsion. Expulsion of a member from the club may be accomplished only at a meeting of the club following a board
hearing, and upon the Board's recommendation as provided in section 3 of this Article. Such proceeding may occur at a regular
or special meeting of the club, to be held within 60 days but not earlier that 30 days after the date of the board's
recommendation of expulsion. The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in his/her own behalf, though no evidence
shall be taken at this meeting. The President shall read the charges and the Board's finding and recommendation, and shall
invite the defendant, if present, to speak on his/her own behalf if desired the members shall then vote by secret ballot on the
proposed expulsion. A 2/3rds. vote of those present and voting at the meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. If expulsion is
not so voted, the Board's suspension shall stand.
Article VII - Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition
addressed to the Secretary, signed by 20 percent of the membership in good standing. Amendments proposed by such petition
shall be promptly considered by the Board of Directors; and must be submitted to the members, with recommendations of the
Board by the Secretary, for a vote within three months of the date when the petition was received by the Secretary.
Section 2. The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3rds vote of the members present and voting at any regular or
special meeting called for the purpose, provided the proposed amendments have been included in the notice of the meeting
and mailed to each member at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
Article VIII - Dissolution
Section 1. The club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than 2/3rds of the members. In the event
of the dissolution of the club, other than for purposes of reorganization, whether voluntary or by operation of law, none of the
property of the club, nor the proceeds thereof, nor any assets of the club, shall be distributed to any members of the club; but
after payment of the debts of the club, it's property and assets shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefit of dogs
selected by the Board of Directors.