Constitution and By-laws

The Northwest Arkansas Kennel Club is governed by its constitution and by-laws, adopted by the membership and filed with the American Kennel Club. The full text is available as a PDF. The summary below is here so you know what the document contains before you open it.

What the document covers

Name, objects and offices. The club’s legal name, its purpose, and the territory it serves. The stated objects are the advancement and preservation of purebred dogs, the conduct of AKC events, and the encouragement of responsible ownership and breeding.

Membership. The classes of membership the club offers and who is eligible for each, the application process, dues, resignation, and the grounds on which membership ends. This is the section that sets the requirement to attend three meetings before an application may be filed and the vote of the membership that follows a favorable report from the Board.

Meetings. Regular meetings of the membership, meetings of the Board of Directors, the annual meeting and election, notice requirements, and the quorum needed for business to be transacted at each.

Officers and directors. The offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, the Board of Directors, what each is responsible for, terms of office, nomination and election procedure, and how vacancies are filled.

Committees. How standing and special committees are appointed and what authority they hold.

Discipline. AKC suspension, charges brought against a member, the conduct of a hearing, and the right of appeal.

Amendment. The procedure for amending the constitution and by-laws, including the notice the membership must be given and the vote required to adopt a change.

Dissolution. What happens to the club’s assets if it dissolves.

If you need a specific article

Members with a question about a particular article should read the PDF and, if anything is unclear, contact the Secretary. Questions of interpretation are settled against the adopted text, not against this page.