American White Shepherd Association

CLUB BYLAWS

ARTICLE I -- MEMBERSHIP
The Club encourages membership by all persons having a sincere desire to advance and promote the welfare of the White Shepherd and to see its ultimate recognition by all nations of the world as a distinct breed of purebred dog. All new members will have their names published in the Club Newsletter. New members will also have their names and data published to the AWSA online list and will automatically become approved pending a thirty (30) day waiting period following the posting of the online list unless a written objection is filed with the Club Corresponding Secretary by a current Club member.

 

Section 1.  Conditions of Membership Conditions of membership in the Club are as follows:
(a) All members need not own a White Shepherd but all members are required to read both the Club Constitution and Code of Ethics and sign that they have read and understand the implications of both on the application form and will abide by them.
(b) Every American member must be and remain in good standing with the American Kennel Club; any foreign member must be and remain in good standing with the FCI and/or their national kennel club. A member whose dues are in arrears is not considered in good standing.
(c) A prospective new member’s approval is pending during a thirty (30) day period after his name is posted to AWSA’s online list. If, in that thirty (30) day period, a current member objects in writing to the approval of a prospective member, and if just cause is found, that prospective member’s application will be canceled and his membership dues will be returned.

 

Section 2.  Classes of Membership. There will be three classes of membership.
(a) Individual Member.  Any person 18 years of age and over who subscribes to the Club conditions of membership and the Constitution of the Club.  An individual member is entitled to 1 vote.
(b) Family Membership.  Two adults residing together at the same address.  Children are included in family memberships until they reach the age of 18 years at which point they must apply as individual members if they wish to continue membership in the Club.  Family members are entitled to 2 votes per household.
(c) Honorary Member.  This class of membership is very seldom used.  It is to be reserved for those few people who have made extraordinary contributions to the White Shepherd breed.  Any Club member who is in good standing may present the name of a prospective honorary member to the President who shall present the candidate for a vote at the next available meeting of the Club.  Votes cast by at least forty percent (40%) of the entire voting membership, with seventy five percent (75%) affirmative vote of those returning their ballot is required to choose an honorary member. Honorary membership may be so designated either for lifetime (indefinite) or for a certain period of time.  Such a member may also be designated posthumously.  A living honorary member is entitled to receive the Club Newsletter but is not be entitled to vote or to register their dogs or puppies except in the case that an existing Club member in good standing is also designated as an honorary member.

 

Section 3.  Application For Membership.
A prospective member must apply on an official membership application form provided by the Club. (Prospective members need only download the membership application form from the AWSA website or write to the Club’s Membership Chair to receive an application). The prospective member must fill out the application form in total, sign (in ink), and submit it to the Membership Chair along with a check made out to AWSA for the yearly dues. The Membership Chair will sign the application and date it as to the day received and make two (2) copies thereof. One copy shall be sent to the Treasurer along with the check for the new applicant’s dues. The original application form shall be kept on file by the Membership Chair. The Membership Chair will post the list of new applicants on the first day of each month to the AWSA online list. (The newsletter editor will get the new members from this list to go in the next newsletter).  A new member’s application may not be considered approved until the new member’s name has been posted to the AWSA online list and until a period of thirty (30) days passes after this posting. If any current member protests the application in writing and if just cause is found, the new member’s application will automatically be canceled and his dues check will be returned to him. If no current member objects within thirty (30) days of the posting of the new member’s name to the AWSA online list, the new member will automatically be approved.

(a)     Written Objections To A Prospective Member.  In the event that a written objection to a prospective member is received, the Board of Directors shall, no later than sixty (60) days following receipt of such objection --by written mail vote -- pass judgment on the applicant.  Affirmative votes of two-thirds of the Board members voting shall be required to accept such applicant for membership.  An application which has failed acceptance by the Board will be automatically canceled and the applicant’s dues check shall be returned to him as above. In the event that the applicant still desires membership in the Club after failing acceptance by the Board, a current member in good standing may present a new application at the next available meeting of the Club and the Club may elect such applicant by favorable vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the members present at the meeting.

Section 4.  Rights and Privileges of Club Membership.  A member in good standing has the following basic rights and privileges:

1.   To be sent notices
2.   To attend meetings
3.   To present motions
4.   To speak on debatable questions
5.   To vote
6.   To nominate
7.   To be a candidate for office
8.   To inspect official records of the organization
9.   To insist on the enforcement of the rules of the organization and of parliamentary law
10. To resign from an office or from the organization itself
11. To be treated with fairness and equality by other members of the organization
12. To have a fair hearing before expulsion or other penalties are applied
13. To receive or have the right to inspect an up-to-date copy of the constitution, bylaws, charter, rules, and minutes of the organization
14. To participate in Club functions, especially dog shows put on by the Club and/or any local specialty club chartered by The American White Shepherd Association; to register dogs and litters with the Club’s official registry following the rules set forth by these Bylaws as per Article III; and to put Championship titles on dogs through competition at Club-sanctioned specialties.
15. To receive the Club Newsletter and to have the right to submit articles, letters to the editor and other personal opinions without prejudice or censorship, so long as any comments so made are not intentionally defamatory toward another fellow member or that member’s dogs.
16. To join the AWSA on-line discussion group, have access to the ‘members only’ section of the AWSA website.
17. To exercise any other rights or privileges given to members by the law, by the bylaws, or by the rules of the organization.

Section 5.  Termination of Membership.  A membership may be terminated in the following ways:
(a) Resignation.  A member in good standing may voluntarily terminate his membership in the Club at any time by submitting his resignation in writing to the Club’s Membership Chair.  The Membership Chair shall submit a copy of the resignation to the Club’s Corresponding Secretary and shall keep the original for his files.
(b) In Arrears.  A member who has failed to pay his dues in a timely manner, (as per Article II), shall be considered lapsed and will be immediately terminated.  Such a member is not considered to be in good standing with the Club.
(c) Expulsion.  As provided in Article XII. A member who has either resigned or been terminated by lapsing may reapply for membership as a new member, by following the procedures outlined in Article I, Sections 1 through 3.  A member who has been expelled may not reapply as a new member but must reapply through the procedures outlined in Article XI of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE II -- CLUB DUES

   The Club’s membership dues shall be determined by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Club’s Board of Directors. Dues are payable on or before January 1st of the new year. A membership renewal notice shall be sent out by mail or email and printed in any newsletter published after the Nationals and before January 1 of the next year and members may pay their dues for the coming year during those months if they wish.  Also, because the annual Club meeting and National Specialty shall occur during the months of September, October or November, members may pay their dues for the coming year at the National Specialty, even if such Specialty shall occur in the month of September.  Membership shall be considered lapsed and terminated on January 30^th. All club dues are to be sent directly to the Membership Chair. It shall be the responsibility of the Membership Chair to forward these funds on to the Treasurer and to send a complete membership list to the Treasurer and Newsletter Editor each month.  A new member who has joined the Club during the months of September, October, November or December shall be considered automatically paid up for the next year.  Any member whose dues have not been received by the Membership Chair on or before the 30th day of January will be in arrears and will be terminated.  If such a member wishes to continue his membership in the Club, he must then reapply to the Club as a new member by following the procedures outlined in Article I, Sections 1 through 3.

ARTICLE III -- CLUB REGISTRY

Section 1. Conditions of Registrations
Full members in good standing have the right and privilege to use and have access to the club registry. Said dogs/bitches are to have registrations with the American Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club or any official registry that would be acceptable to the American Kennel Club, including but not limited to the Kennel Clubs of Australia, UK and Mexico. This use/access consists of registering any personally owned White (German) Shepherd Dog(s) and any puppies resulting from the mating of said owned White Shepherd Dog(s). Though the Club registry is a closed registry, i.e. for Club member use only, puppy buyers who do not wish to join AWSA will be allowed as an owner of an AWSA puppy. An AWSA puppy is one that has resulted from the mating of at least one AWSA registered White Shepherd Dog and is from the ownership of an AWSA (full) member involved in breeding.

Section 2. Certificate Changes
Every owner of a registered dog in the Club registry is allowed one (1) free change to the certificate without incurring any cost, as well as any certificate with any errors due to an AWSA generated mistake. After this allowed change, any changes desired to the registration certificate will incur a $5.00 administrative charge each time a change is requested. This fee may be changed as club expenses demand without a required bylaws change. All certificates requiring a change must be returned with any funds due in order to have any changes made. No registration may be changed without this return.

 Section 3. Litter Registration Costs
 AWSA breeders wishing to personally register whole litters, or puppies from their litters, may do so at a cost of $5.00 per puppy with a maximum of $25.00 per litter. The purpose of this action is to ensure that said puppies get registered with AWSA and providing a price break to our breeders encourages this. All other individual registrations will be $8.00 per animal. This cost may change at a future time without requiring a bylaws change.

 Section 4. Future Registrations for Non-Members
Any puppy or adult dog with an AWSA registration number owned by a non-member will not be allowed to have future litters registered with AWSA unless said owner becomes a member of AWSA, having read and signed the Code of Ethics and Club Constitution, and remains in good standing.

Section 5. Documents Required with Registrations
All health issues, awards and titles, and outside club registrations will be tracked by the AWSA registry and copies of the above must be included with the registration application or sent in at a later time, upon completion and receipt of certificates. A three (3) generation pedigree and a copy of the official registration certificate with AKC/CKC or other acceptable registries (see Article III, Section 1) must also accompany the registration application for any dog being registered with AWSA whose lines do not already exist in the Club registry records.

ARTICLE IV -- OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    The officers of The American White Shepherd Association shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary and a Treasurer.  The Board of Directors shall consist of the Club officers together with the Regional Vice-Presidents.  All Club officers and Board members MUST at the time of their elections to office and throughout their entire terms, BE AND REMAIN IN GOOD STANDING with AWSA as well as with the American Kennel Club.  The officers shall perform the duties described in the parliamentary authority and in these Bylaws.  No person shall hold office if he is not a member (in good standing) and no member shall hold more than one office at a time.  At the end of his term(s) of office, each officer shall immediately turn over to his successor, all records, moneys, or other items whatsoever belonging to the Club.  If no successor is immediately named, said records, moneys or items are to be sent to the Club Recording Secretary.  No officer or regular member may seek to profit from transferring items belonging to the Club at any time.

Section 1.  Club officers.

(a) President.  The President, also known simply as the “Chair,” shall be the chief officer and shall open and preside over all meetings of the Club.  The President shall take the chair and call all members to order at the appointed time of the meeting(s).  He shall ascertain that a quorum is present at the beginning of and throughout all meetings, though he need not announce such.  He shall announce the business before the assembly in the correct order; state and put all questions to vote, make sure that all motions are in order; assign the floor to members by announcing their names before the assembly, (that is, by “recognizing” them); enforce all rules and regulations of the assembly including the rules of debate; maintain order and decorum, respond to parliamentary inquiries, points of order, and any other motions that require action by the chair; maintain his impartiality; and declare the assembly recessed or adjourned.  The President shall have at hand the Bylaws, the parliamentary authority, the rules of order, standing rules and any other documents necessary to facilitate the transaction of Club business.  The President shall, when necessary, authenticate by his signature any documents relevant to the assembly.  He shall represent the assembly, declaring its will and obeying its command in all matters and regards.  The President does not normally participate in debate and, if he wishes to do so, shall relinquish the chair to the Vice-President.  The President has the right to vote in Club matters, as does every other member and officer.  However, he does not usually exercise the vote unless it is by secret ballot or when one more vote will alter the outcome.  The President shall appoint an auditing committee at least once annually, to examine the Treasurer’s books and vouchers for veracity.
(b) Vice-President.  The Vice-President shall assume all responsibilities of the President in the event of the death, incapacitation, resignation, expulsion or absence of the President.  In these instances, he cannot decline -- he becomes the President.  If the President must relinquish the chair for personal reasons or because he wishes to participate in debate, the Vice-President takes the chair until the President can return.  When the Vice-President is presiding in place of the President, he is addressed as President and is assigned all the powers, duties and responsibilities of the President.  If the President is going to be absent from a meeting, the Vice-President takes the chair and the President cannot designate otherwise.  The Vice-President may have further authority as granted by these Bylaws and by the Board.  He may also be a member of and/or preside over all committees.
(c) Recording Secretary. The duties of the Recording Secretary are many and varied.  At meetings, the Recording Secretary sits next to the President and takes the roll of the members.  In the absence of both the President and the Vice-President, the Recording Secretary presides over meetings or calls the roll and then conducts an election of a chairman pro tem to preside.  The Recording Secretary is required to keep current, accurate copies of all organizational documents, (including the Bylaws, rules of order and standing rules); file reports noting date of presentation and disposition; issue written notices of meetings and certain motions, including motions to amend the Bylaws and send them to the Corresponding Secretary for distribution to the membership; prepare a written agenda for the presiding officer, provide and sign copies (originals are kept by the President) of organizational documents; record and keep the meeting minutes; and make the meeting minutes and all organizational documents available for the inspection of the membership during meetings and at other such reasonable times.  The Recording Secretary keeps and provides the President with lists of all committees and their chairs.  In the absence of the Recording Secretary, a secretary pro tem should be elected from the available members.  The Recording Secretary is responsible for reading the minutes at the start of all meetings.  When the minutes are approved, he signs the minutes, marking them as approved.  If there are any changes or corrections, the Recording Secretary makes the necessary adjustments, signs them, and marks them as approved with corrections.  The minutes must be published in the Club Newsletter and should be signed by both the Recording Secretary and the President.  The Recording Secretary shall check in, verify and count all proxies at the annual meeting.  At the close of this meeting, he shall take possession of all ballots and proxies and file them in the official Club records.
(d) Corresponding Secretary. The duties of the Corresponding Secretary are varied and important. The Corresponding Secretary is usually the first contact between the organization and inquiries from outside entities or persons. In this respect, the Corresponding Secretary acts as a switchboard operator, hooking up the inquirer with the correct Club officer, committee chair or other Club entity. In addition, the Corresponding Secretary is responsible for conducting or carrying out all official correspondence on behalf of the Club as directed by the President and/or the Board. He shall receive and answer all official letters to the organization and shall keep and maintain a file of all such correspondence. This file shall be made available for the inspection of the membership during meetings and at other such reasonable times. The Corresponding Secretary shall keep an accurate and up-to-date list of all members and their mailing and email addresses as well as their phone and fax numbers as necessary for conducting Club business. The Corresponding Secretary receives the proxies and all necessary ballots for the annual meeting from the Recording Secretary and is responsible for mailing these proxies and ballots to the membership at the appointed time before the annual meeting and election.
(e) Treasurer.  The Treasurer is much like a banker -- holding and keeping track of Club funds deposited with him and paying them out on the orders of the organization signed by the Recording Secretary.  He keeps a bank account for both savings and checking in the name of the Club and promptly pays all bills on behalf of the Club.  The Treasurer should give periodic (at least quarterly) written reports on the financial state of the Club.  These should be published in the Club Newsletter.  Reports usually consist of the beginning balance for a given period, the sources and amounts of income during the period, the purposes or payees and amounts of the disbursements during the period, and the balance on hand.  At the annual meeting, the Treasurer may assist the Recording Secretary in counting and verifying proxies.  His books must be open to inspection by the membership and by the Board at all times during meetings and at other such times as deemed reasonable.  The Treasurer gives a report on the state of the Club’s finances at every general meeting or Board meeting.  The Treasurer should be careful to get a receipt whenever he makes a payment.  He should insist on at least a once yearly audit of the books and receipts.  All receipts should be kept in order to facilitate audits.  Once the auditor or auditing committee has examined the receipts, records and bank statements and has approved them as complete and correct, the Treasurer is relieved from the responsibility of the past.

Section 2.  Board of Directors.

    The Board shall consist of the elected Club officers together with the elected representatives from each region (the Regional Vice-Presidents).  The Board is empowered by the membership to act for the organization.  It shall, at all times, attempt to further the objects and purposes of the Constitution and of the membership.  The Board shall further have the power to appoint such committees as is deemed necessary or desirable in order to maintain efficiency in carrying out Club matters.  The Club President shall have no vote in Board proceedings or matters unless it is to break a tie vote amongst the other members of the Board.  The Board of Directors must meet at least once yearly, at the annual Club meeting, for the purposes of carrying out the business of the Club.  The Board must submit a detailed written report of its proceedings to the Club Newsletter to be published for the perusal of the membership.
    The Board has the power to act in the best interest of the membership and of the Club.  It may, by two-thirds affirmative vote of the entire Board, decide on matters of importance within the Club or put to rest any unfinished business remaining ninety (90) days after the annual Club meeting.  In this capacity, the Board may conduct its business by conference call, email, fax or by US Postal Service, through the Corresponding Secretary.  Any and all business conducted outside the constraints of the annual business meeting MUST be well-documented and submitted to the Newsletter for publication.  Although the Board has the authority to make decisions on behalf of the Club, it must always be remembered that the members of the Club have the final say in any and all matters.  Any decision made by the Board may be overturned by a seventy-five percent (75%) affirmative vote of the members who cast a vote, providing at least forty percent (40%) of the eligible members cast a vote -- this vote to be taken by secret ballot at the next annual meeting.  If the annual meeting is just passed and if the matter is too pressing to wait until the next annual meeting, a vote may be taken by means of a mail-in ballot placed in the Newsletter as described in Article V, Section 3., of these Bylaws.

Section 3.  Executive Committee.

There shall be an Executive Committee, which shall consist of the President and two other members of the Board -- these two members to be chosen by the rest of the Board of Directors.  The Executive Committee shall act only in cases of emergency when a regular Board meeting cannot immediately take place.  If it becomes necessary to invoke the powers of the Executive Committee, this Committee must give a complete written report of its findings or rulings to the Board of Directors at the next available meeting of the Board.  These minutes may or may not be published in the Club Newsletter, at the discretion of the Board.

 

Section 4.  Election of Officers and Terms of Office.
The Club officers shall be elected by secret ballot vote at the annual meeting of the Club.  The following Club officers shall be elected in the even-numbered years and shall serve a term of two years: President, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer.  The following Club officers shall be elected in the odd-numbered years and shall serve a term of two years: Recording Secretary and Vice-President. No officer shall hold more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office.  The Regional Vice-Presidents shall be elected by ballot within six (6) months after a region reaches 15 members in good standing.  Each region is responsible for nominating and electing its own representative.  The term of office for Regional Vice-Presidents is two years, with half the Regional Vice-Presidents elected in the even-numbered years and the other half elected in the odd-numbered years, as explained in Article VI.  There is no limit on the number of consecutive terms a given Regional Vice-President may serve.  In all cases, elected officials continue to serve until their successors are duly elected and installed.  Upon election of his successor, each retiring officer shall turn over all Club property, moneys records and related documents pertaining to the office to the newly elected officer either immediately or within thirty (30) days after the election.  Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action or even dismissal from the Club.

(a) Nominating Committee.  Not less than six (6) months before an election, the President shall appoint a Nominations Committee Chairman.  This Chairman shall, in turn, appoint a committee which shall consist of no fewer than three (3) members in good standing.  Only one member of the Nominating Committee may be a member of the Board of Directors.  The Nominating Committee shall procure at least one candidate for each available office to be filled.  The Committee shall first contact each incumbent officer to ascertain whether that officer would like to run for reelection to his current position or for election to another office.  If the incumbent expresses a willingness to run for reelection (or for election to another office), he shall submit a written notification of such consent to the Nominating Committee.  If the incumbent does not wish to run, he need only verbally decline.  In this case, the Nominating Committee shall be responsible for securing at least one qualified nominee for the available position(s).  Each candidate shall be contacted and advised that he has been nominated to run for office.  The candidate must be fully apprised of the duties of such office and of his responsibilities should he decide to run for and hold (if elected) the office.  All candidates are required to submit a written notice to the Nominating Committee of their intention to run for office, and to hold such office should they be elected.  Nominations close sixty (60) days before the annual meeting at which the election will occur.
    When the Nominating Committee acquires the written consent of all candidates, the Chairman shall compile a complete slate of candidates and the offices for which they are running.   He shall submit the complete slate to the Newsletter editor for publishing in the next available Newsletter.  Candidates may, at their own discretion, submit “job qualifications” to the Newsletter in order to allow the membership to become acquainted with them and with their individual abilities, skills and desire to do a good job.  The complete slate must be published in the Newsletter NO LATER THAN thirty (30) days before the election.
(b) Who May Nominate.  Any member who is in good standing at least ninety (90) days before an election may submit a nomination or nominations for any available office.  A member who desires to serve the Club and who feels confident that he is up to the task may, himself, contact the Nominating Committee before the close of nominations and indicate his willingness to run for (and hold) office.  Such a member must be in good standing at least ninety (90) days before the election.  He must also submit written notification of his intention to run for and hold office in the manner described above.
(c) Single Slates And Open Nominations.  A single slate -- that is, only one fully qualified nominee for each office, is allowed by these Bylaws.  Open nominations are also acceptable; even desirable.  The Nominating Committee may, at their discretion, place an open call for nominations or for candidates in the March, April and May Club Newsletters to assist them in their task of finding qualified candidates for office.
(d) Election Committee.  Before the beginning of the annual meeting at which elections will occur, the President shall appoint tellers who shall be responsible for tabulating all the ballots, both absentee and in person, for the election.  The tellers or election committee shall consist of not less than three (3) members.  At the appointed time, the tellers shall count the ballots and shall then announce the final tally to the Chair.  Toward the close of the meeting, the Chair shall announce the election results to the members present, announcing the individual candidates and the final number of votes accrued by each one.  It is the responsibility of the Chair to then declare the winners duly elected.  It shall be the final duty of the election committee to prepare a brief report for publication in the Club Newsletter immediately following the annual meeting at which the election took place.  This report must account for all ballots cast, both legal and illegal, for each candidate and office.  The report must also give the number of votes necessary to elect along with the actual number received by each candidate.  A copy of this report, along with all ballots and other election material is given to the Recording Secretary for entry into the Club’s official records.
(e) Absentee Ballots.  Every member whose type of membership awards voting privileges and who is in good standing at least ninety (90) days before an election is entitled to vote for Club officers at the annual meeting.  It shall be the responsibility of the Corresponding Secretary to mail absentee ballots, together with any proxy forms to be used in conducting other Club business, to each eligible member of the Club.  An eligible member is one who is entitled to vote and who is in good standing at least ninety (90) days before the elections.  He shall mail such ballots not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the annual meeting at which the elections and other business will occur.  Absentee ballots shall contain the names of all candidates and the offices for which they are running.  Each absentee ballot must be placed into a plain white envelope which is then placed into another envelope that has the member’s name printed or typed clearly on it in the lower left-hand corner of the front of the envelope.  All ballots must be returned to the Corresponding Secretary within a specified time.  When the ballots are received by the Corresponding Secretary, he shall check each ballot in by comparing the name(s) on the outer envelope against a list of all eligible voters.  The Corresponding Secretary shall then deliver the list of names of all eligible members who have submitted ballots together with all the sealed blank inner envelopes containing the ballots to the tellers or election committee for tabulation. No member shall be allowed to vote twice and secrecy must be preserved at all times.
(f) Vote Necessary To Elect.  Election of Club officers is strictly by majority secret ballot vote and the candidate receiving the majority of the legal votes cast for a given office is elected.  In the event of a tie vote or where no candidate receives a majority vote, the requirement for a majority vote may NOT be waived.  In such a case, the assembly may adopt motions to enable it to complete the election in a timely manner, as stated in the parliamentary authority.  If subsequent voting is necessary in order to complete the election, it shall be by secret ballot poll of the members present at the annual meeting.

 ARTICLE V -- COMMITTEES

    The membership or the Board of Directors may appoint standing or ad hoc committees as necessary in order to facilitate business or advance the work of the Club.  All powers, rights and duties of all committees or other Board appointed positions must be delegated to them by the creating or appointing authority.  No committee, including the Executive Committee and the Board itself has any powers other than those delegated to them by these Bylaws or by majority vote of the membership.  Any duty that has been assigned to a committee or other appointed position may by withdrawn at any time and/or assigned to another committee or position.  Any special committee may by dissolved by the authority that created it.  No committee may represent the Club to any outside person or organization except when clearly authorized to do so by these Bylaws or by a vote of the membership.
    All committees are responsible to and under the direction and control of the authority that created them.  Standing committees are responsible to and under the direction and control of the voting membership or the Board of Directors when the Board is acting for the membership.  Special committees may be appointed by the President, the Board or the membership and are responsible to and under the direction and control of the body that created them.
    A committee has the option of appointing a subcommittee of its members to which it may delegate powers or special duties.  Such subcommittees are under the control and direction of the committee that created them.  They report only to the appointing committee and may be dissolved by that body at any time.
    The following positions and standing committees shall be appointed by the Board of Directors under the direction of the voting membership:

• Public Education Coordinator.  The Public Education Coordinator (PEC) shall have his name and address published in any ads placed by this organization.  He may be the first contact between the Club and any potential new members.  He maintains and distributes educational material to any interested parties and is available to answer questions about the organization and the breed.  He refers all potential new members to the Membership Chair.  The PEC will also be responsible for keeping the membership apprised of any anti-dog or other similar legislation that may affect the White Shepherd.  He is the Club’s official delegate to the AKC.  The Public Education Coordinator is an ex officio member of the Breed Education Council and the Judges’ Education Council.
• Breed Education Council.  The Breed Education Council operates in conjunction with the PEC and is responsible for developing and maintaining educational and instructional materials about the breed, especially the breed information packet distributed by the PEC and the Membership Chair.  Such materials are to be used with and distributed to the general public, as well as to AWSA members and/or unaffiliated breeders of the White Shepherd.  The Breed Education Council functions as much for the Club’s membership as it does for the public.  It supplies articles of interest to the Newsletter and may set up programs or schedule speakers at meetings.  It is responsible for developing and keeping current the “welcome packet” sent to all new members by the Membership Chair.  It may set up information booths on the breed at pet fairs as desired.  It may also sponsor seminars about the breed or on matters of general interest to the membership.
• Judges’ Education Council.  The Judges’ Education Council is responsible for distributing educational materials developed by the Breed Education Council to AKC, CKC or other judges wishing to be eligible to judge the White Shepherd breed.  It shall maintain the breed Standard and the illustrated standard as well as any other materials and provide them to judges as necessary.  It may sponsor seminars on the breed and the breed Standard and/or judges’ workshops as necessary.
• Membership Chair.  The Membership Chair maintains the Club’s official membership and mailing lists. The Chair keeps track of all changes in the members’ demographic data and is responsible for forwarding the lists and any changes on to the Recording Secretary, the Newsletter Editor and the Web Master for publication. The Chair is responsible for mailing out “bills” to any members that have not paid their dues at the National Meeting. For those members who have not sent in payment by mid January of the new year, a final reminder post card will be sent notifying members of impending membership termination. The membership Chair also keeps the AWSA official membership application form and distributes same to potential new members, performing his/her duties as described in these bylaws. In addition to these duties, the Chair distributes the Club’s official welcome packet to all new Club members.
• Health and Genetics Chair.  The Health and Genetics Chair is responsible for cataloging and tracking all known illnesses and genetically inheritable diseases that affect the White Shepherd breed.  He shall keep the membership abreast of all recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases, as well as other subjects pertaining to the general health of the breed.  He shall give a report at least once annually, via the Newsletter.  He is also responsible for tracking and recording all certificates and/or official clearances of disease from organizations such as (but not limited to) OFA or PennHIP, OVC. and CERF.  He shall submit a list of all dogs’ names and clearance numbers to the Newsletter at regular intervals.
• Registrar.  The Registrar shall assign registration numbers for and keep accurate records of all White Shepherds registered through The American White Shepherd Association, including individual registrations, litter applications and individual puppy registrations. Whosoever takes on the position of Registrar is required to own a 386 or better IBM-compatible computer and have the ability to maintain a very large database. He should also have access to a program that will generate pedigree forms and registration certificates. The Club will provide the necessary pedigree program but will not provide or help finance the database or certificate making software. The Registrar is to forward funds in excess of $100 to the Treasurer and shall submit a financial report at least once yearly to the Board of Directors and for publication in the Newsletter to coincide with the National Meeting each year.
• Bylaws Committee.  This committee shall consist of three ordinary members in good standing who shall be elected by the membership.  The Recording Secretary shall also serve on this committee as an ex officio member.  This committee shall be responsible for reviewing all potential amendments and/or revisions to these Bylaws and reporting their recommendations to the membership at large.  The President shall convene the Bylaws Committee as necessary.
• Disciplinary Board.  This body shall consist of five ordinary members in good standing who are not members of the Board of Directors.  In essence, this is a “jury of one’s peers”.  The five members of this board shall represent different areas of the country and shall be elected by a majority vote of the entire membership.  In the event that a member(s) of this committee shall be elected to serve on the Board of Directors, the membership shall immediately choose and elect a replacement(s).  This board is invoked by order of the Executive Committee and shall answer to and report all findings to such committee as described in Article XI.  In the event that it becomes necessary to invoke the powers of this body, its ultimate decision is considered final.
• Newsletter Editor.  Publishes the Club’s official Newsletter.
• Historian.  The Historian shall keep an accurate history of the Club from its inception.  He shall be responsible for documenting and publishing important breed developments to the membership through the Newsletter as they occur or at least once annually.
• Conformation Chair.  The Conformation Chair grants member clubs the right to reserve show dates in order to hold AWSA-sanctioned conformation specialties or boosters.  He publishes a list of upcoming events together with all pertinent information as available in the Club Newsletter.  He collects all fees, judges’ books and all other show records and officially records the results of all shows held.  He records all specialty points earned by each dog and signs, records and distributes Championship Certificates to all dogs as they finish the requirements for their AWSA show championships.  The Conformation Chair shall forward all fees collected to the Treasurer and shall provide an annual written report on all dogs completing their titles to the Newsletter.
• Obedience Tabulator.  The Obedience Tabulator tracks and records all Obedience and Tracking titles earned by members and their dogs throughout the year and publishes written reports in the Newsletter.  The Obedience Tabulator may also keep track of those members and dogs who are actively working in pet-related therapy.
• Performance Events Tabulator.  The Performance Events Tabulator tracks and records all other performance-related titles (e.g., Herding, Agility, Schutzhund, Flyball, etc.) earned by members and their dogs throughout the year and publishes written reports on same in the Newsletter.  The Performance Events Tabulator also keeps track of those members who may be working their dogs in search and rescue or whose dogs may be working as police service dogs or as guide dogs for the blind or hearing impaired.

ARTICLE VI -- REGIONS AND REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENTS

    The American White Shepherd Association shall consist of nine (9) national regions to include all fifty states and the country of Canada.  Each region shall be represented by an elected officer (or officers) who shall sit on the Board of Directors and who shall represent his (their) own region in all Board meetings.  Each region is responsible for nominating and electing its own Regional Vice-President(s). The Regional Vice Presidents shall be elected by a ballot within six (6) months after a region has reached at least fifteen (15) members in good standing. The ballot will be sent by regular mail to the members of that region. The term of the newly elected VP will be until the next regularly scheduled election for that region.  Each Regional Vice-President is responsible to and under the direction of the voting majority of the members in his region only.  In all Board matters, he must voice the opinion and concerns of those he represents.  There MUST BE A MINIMUM of fifteen (15) Club members in good standing residing permanently in a given Region before that Region is entitled to elect representation.  Should any region fall below the required number, that region will no longer be entitled to re-elect a Regional Vice President until such time that the number of residing members again reaches fifteen (15). The number of representatives per Region will be commensurate with the number of members permanently residing in that Region and/or, with the amount of White Shepherd activity in the Region.  The term of office for Regional Vice Presidents is two (2) years. If a Regional Vice President is elected less than nine (9) months before that region is scheduled for an election, and they wish to remain in office, that scheduled election will be waived and the person will serve up to thirty-three (33) months until the next scheduled election. Existing Regional Vice Presidential elections will be held as follows: the North Eastern, Mid-Atlantic, South Eastern and Canada regions in even-numbered years; the South Central, North Central, Midwest, North Pacific, and South Pacific regions in odd-numbered years. There shall be no limit on the number of consecutive terms a given Regional Vice President may serve.
The national regions of The American White Shepherd Association are as follows:
 

North Eastern Maine Vermont New Hampshire Massachusetts Connecticut Rhode Island New York Pennsylvania New Jersey Delaware

Mid-Atlantic Michigan Ohio Indiana Kentucky West Virginia

South Eastern Maryland District of Columbia Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia Florida

Canada  South Central Oklahoma Arkansas Tennessee Alabama Mississippi Louisiana

North Central North Dakota South Dakota Minnesota Wisconsin Iowa Illinois Nebraska Missouri

Midwest Montana Idaho Wyoming Utah Colorado Kansas

North Pacific Washington Oregon California Nevada Alaska South Pacific Arizona New Mexico Texas Hawaii