From the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Canada

Constitution and By-laws

Section 3.  MEMBERSHIP

3.1  Application for membership in the Club shall be received from any location in Canada and from other countries at the discretion of the Board of Directors and is open to any person who supports the objects of the Club, agrees to and abides by the Code of Ethics, and meets the requirements for application and approval as outlined in this section.

3.2  Membership year shall start on 1 January and finish on 31 December.

3.3  Types of memberships

                        3.3.1    There shall be four classes of members as follows:

·        Ordinary Member: An Ordinary member has all the privileges of Club membership, including eligibility to vote and hold office.

·        Junior Member: A person who is between ten and eighteen years of age. Such members are entitled to all privileges of the Club except those of voting and holding elected office.

·        Life Member: A member who has been honoured by the Club for outstanding and long time service to the breed or the Club. Life members have all the privileges and rights of ordinary membership, and are exempt from membership dues.

·        Non-resident Member: Persons residing outside of Canada shall apply for "Non-resident" membership. Such members are entitled to all privileges of the Club except those of voting and holding elected office.

Membership fees will be reviewed and revised, as necessary, at the Annual General Meeting.

3.4  Application for Membership

Note: Any individual rejected by the club must be provided with a written explanation.

3.4.1    Application for membership in the BMDCC shall be made only on form approved by the Board and supplied by the Club for that purpose. The Club Code of Ethics must be attached to and returned with each membership form. Each applicant will supply complete information as required by the membership application form which will include:

·        an agreement to abide by the Club Code of Ethics, signed by the applicant(s).

·        the signature of one (1) sponsoring member who has current voting privileges in the BMDCC

·        the name(s) of any Bernese Mountain Dog(s) owned by the applicant or the applicant’s immediate family.

The completed application form, Code of Ethics together with payment in the correct amount for the first year’s membership dues must be sent to the Membership Chairperson.

3.4.2    Sponsors of all applicants (Ordinary and Junior) must be members in good standing, have current voting privileges in the Club and have personal knowledge of the applicant(s). They must also be willing to supply a letter of recommendation to the Board regarding the application if requested by the Board.

3.4.3    Each newly approved member shall receive a package of breed and club information from the Membership Chairperson, which will include a copy of the Club Constitution and Bylaws, the Bernese Mountain Dog Standard (Canadian), a Breed information booklet and a subscription to Club Newsletters and any other information which may be added from time to time.

3.4.4    Memberships for which application is received after September 15th will begin in the next membership year.

3.4.5    A member shall be considered delinquent (not in good standing) when annual dues are not paid within thirty (30) days of the due date (January 31st).  

3.5  Approval of membership

The names and particulars of applicants, including sponsors, shall appear in the Club Newsletter for consideration by the membership and they shall have thirty (30) days from the date of publication to raise in writing any objections with the Membership Chairman. If any objection is received, the Membership Chairman shall immediately advise both the Club Secretary and the applicant(s) as to the nature of the objection(s), and request that sponsors supply letters of recommendation to the Board via the Club Secretary.

The Board shall have thirty (30) days from the time the Secretary is in receipt of the objection to consider and either uphold or dismiss the objection. A two-thirds (2/3) majority by the Board is required to uphold the objection. The applicant’s fees will be returned with a letter of explanation from the Secretary. A rejected applicant may file an appeal with the Secretary to present his or her application at the next general meeting of the Club where the application will be accepted or rejected by a simple majority vote.

 3.6  Termination of membership

Note: Termination of membership may occur as a result of termination of Canadian Kennel Club Membership as imposed by the Canadian Kennel Club's Discipline Committee.

Membership termination may also occur in three (3) additional ways:

·        Resignation - any member in good standing may resign from the club upon written notice to the Membership Chairman but no member may resign while in debt to the Club.

·        Lapsing - membership will be automatically terminated if annual dues remain unpaid sixty (60) days after the due date.

·        Expulsion - membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided for in Section 9.

3.7 Voting privileges

Unpaid membership dues constitute denial of voting privileges. Only ordinary and life members are entitled to vote.