WORKING DUTCH SHEPHERD ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

MARCH 1, 2009

(MS-WORD DOC version available here for download)

Preamble

This club is a working and breed organization to promote the Dutch Shepherd as a working dog and to support other organizations promoting working dogs.

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Organization

Name. This Club is called the Working Dutch Shepherd Association (WDSA).

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History

The Dutch Shepherd is a medium-sized, well-proportioned, well-muscled dog, with a powerful, well-balanced structure, an intelligent expression and a lively temperament. He is alert, devoted to his owner, obedient, and eager to please and oblige. He is a good guardian, is very faithful and reliable, undemanding, with plenty of stamina, is vigilant, active and is gifted with a typical shepherd temperament. He may be somewhat reserved and should be well socialized.

The length of the body exceeds the height, at the withers, in a ratio of 10:9.

The breed is divided into three varieties, determined by coat type: short coat, long coat, and rough coat.

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Objectives

The objectives of the Club are to:

Preserve, promote and protect the Dutch Shepherd (DS) as a working dog.

Maintain open dialogue with all clubs and federations sharing similar objectives for Dutch Shepherds and for other breeds while ensuring our autonomy.

Educate the public and our members about our breeds temperament, working ability, health, training, conformation and the need to preserve the breed as a total dog, sound in mind and body.

Maintain a complete registry for the breed, which will acknowledge all earned titles from recognized organizations.

Recognize the registrations issued by recognized registries, national and international.

Conduct events that promote the Dutch Shepherds as a working breed, offer titles for such events, and encourage participation by the breed in working events sponsored by other organizations.

Develop and apply a standard for conformation that focuses not only on appearance but also on health, function, working ability, and the promotion of functional characteristics.

Improve the breed by refusing single registration to any dog of unacceptable temperament or with serious genetic defects.

Conform to internationally acceptable rules and regulations governing dog sports.

License judges and certify evaluators for events and programs established and promoted by the club.

Publish an official publication promoting the objectives of this club.

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BYLAWS

Article I: Membership

Section 1: Categories of Membership

1. Individual Membership. Open to persons 18 years of age and older who subscribe to the purposes and ethics of this club.

2. Family Membership. Open to persons living in a family unit and family members 18 years of age and older who subscribe to the purpose and ethics of this club. Also, open to persons under 18 sponsored by an adult (over 18) family member.

3. Club Membership. Open to all clubs whose members agree to be governed by pertinent articles of these by-laws, and agree to incur no indebtedness on the part of the Club.

4. Honorary Member. The WDSA may nominate a person as an honorary member for special achievement on behalf of the Dutch Shepherd Club. Honorary members may not vote or be elected to any position on the board.

Section 2: Membership Procedures

1. Individual members. A candidate for individual membership must submit a written application on the approved form together with an application fee established by the board. If the applicant is accepted, the fee will be applied to the first full year’s dues. The application fee is nonrefundable.

2. Club members. For a club membership, a candidate must submit to the membership secretary an application in writing together with an application fee established by the board. The application must contain at least a copy of the applicant’s Constitution and by-laws, a list of the names and addresses of its officers and the number of members they represent.

Section 3: Dues
The Board of Directors will establish dues by majority vote for all types of memberships. They will adjust these dues from time to time.

a. All memberships run from JUNE 1st to MAY 31st. Dues for the following year are due on or before the first day of JUNE. By March 31st of each year the Membership secretary will mail each member a statement of dues for the following year.

b. Applicants approved for membership will pay pro-rated dues for the first year, depending on the quarter during which they are approved for membership. The minimum dues for a partial year’s membership will be ¼ of the annual amount.

Section 4: Election to Membership
The board of directors will approve membership application forms containing the information required by the board; the applicant’s agreement to abide by the Club’s Constitution and By-Laws.

1. Applications must be submitted to the Membership Secretary and must be accompanied by payment of the appropriate application fee.

2. Applicants may be approved by the Membership Secretary or at any meeting of the Board of Directors (in questionable circumstances), on a conference phone call or by

3. written vote of the directors by US mail, Internet, or via email. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the board is required under such circumstances to accept a new member.

Members will receive a membership card and the official publication of the Club.

Section 5: Termination of Membership
The Board of Directors may expel a member by a 2/3 vote. Members who do not pay dues for the next year by Sept. 1 are considered terminated and will have to reapply to have their membership reinstated.

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Article II: Meetings & Quorums

Section 1: Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the WDSA will be held in conjunction with the annual national event, by conference phone call, or on line. The Board of Directors will set the date and location. The Recording Secretary will mail the annual meeting notice to each member at least 60 days before the meeting. The annual meeting will include the following written reports to the membership:

1. A report from the President on the general state and activities of the club in the preceding year.

2. Treasurer’s report, including an income statement and balance sheet;

c. A report by the Membership Secretary

d. A report by the Recording Secretary

Section 2. Regular Board Meetings
The Board will hold at least two meetings a year. One will be held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the membership and the annual national event. The location and date of other meetings will be decided by majority vote of the board, or by a meeting committee if authorized by a majority vote of the board.

Section 3: Special Board Meetings
Board members may call a special meeting of the Board. Whoever calls the meeting will notify the recording secretary in writing at least 15 days before the meeting. Dates should be coordinated so that all required attendees could participate

Section 4: Quorums
A quorum must be present at the annual meeting for any business to be conducted. A quorum requires at least ½ of the Board members, including the President or Vice President, and 1/3 of the members in good standing, or 25 members in good standing, which ever is less.

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Article III Governance

Section 1
The Board of Directors includes the President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Membership Secretary, and Treasurer. Regional directors may also be elected as liaisons to the board in regions with multiple clubs.

Section 2
The four US regions are:

(a) North:
North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Alaska

(b) South:
Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina

(c) East:
Maine. New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia

(c) West:
Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii

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Article IV: Elections

Section 1: Terms
The Regional Directors will hold office for a three-year term. The Board of Directors will hold office for a two-year term.

Section 2:  Rights to Office
To be elected to the board, a member must be a founding member or have been a member for at least 1 year while actively taking part in the titling of dogs in working activities.

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Article V: Miscellaneous Matters

Section 1 Good Standing
The club decides most business by a majority vote of regular members, in good standing. To be in good standing, a member must

a. Pay his or her dues within 30 days of when they are due:

b. Always display good sportsmanship;

Section 2. Participation in illegal activities:
The Club will not condone the use of the Dutch Shepherd in any illegal activity. Convictions resulting from the illegal use of animals will result in immediate termination of membership.

Section 3. Deciding Special Matters:
The club will decide certain special matters by a 2/3 vote of regular members in good standing. These matters include amending these bylaws. The board can also decide that other special matters need a 2/3 vote. For any matter needing a 2/3 vote, the club will accept votes by US mail or email ballot.

Section 4. The business year:
The WDSA will operate on a fiscal year starting on September 1st and ending on August 31st the following year.

Section 5. Governing Rules:
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order--Newly Revised govern the Club whenever they are applicable, and in matters in which they are consistent with these bylaws and with any special rules of order the Club may adopt.

Section 6. Recognized Organizations:
The WDSA will recognize official titles sponsored by organizations promoting and recognizing the working abilities of the Dutch Shepherd. To be recognized, an organization must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the board of directors and have held at least three working events per year over the three years before the vote.

Section 7. Recognized Registries:
The WDSA will recognize the following registries as legitimate holders of Dutch Shepherd ancestry; United Kennel Club (UKC), American Kennel Club (AKC), American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA), and Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI).

Section 8. Single Registration:
Single registration of dogs not already identified by the organizations in section 7 of these bylaws will be determined upon inspection by judging officers deemed qualified by 2/3 vote in the board of directors. These dogs must meet the standards outlined in the WDSA breed standard and meet said judge’s personal scrutiny.