AKCA
By-Laws
AKCA Board
President: Jacque Brown, keuda@yahoo.com
Sec/Treasurer: Barbara Pattist, pattist@earthlink.net
VP: Willard Maier, Bastcats@yahoo.com
Web Site Administrator: June Narber, jnarber@hercurian.com
Jennifer Oaks, jenoaks@advantexmail.net
Marie-Anne Reymond
Constitution
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the association will be The American Keuda Cat Association.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
To preserve, improve, and promote the entire Keuda Cat breed.
ARTICLE III - POLICIES
Members shall strive to improve the breed by:
1. Developing and promoting highest breeding standards, only breeding the best to the best.
2. Utilizing and insuring the continual use of natural cats from the oldest possible locations and sources in breeding programs.
3. Keeping in mind the Keuda breed standard.
4. Serving as a forum for the Keuda Cat owners and breeders.
5. Keeping AKCA a Chartered Member of the International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance.
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
Section I:
Any person interested in the objectives of the Association and agreeing to its Constitution may become a member by paying the dues set by the Board of Directors which entitles the members to all rights, privileges and responsibilities set forth in the Constitution. No person will continue as a member whose dues have not been paid for the applicable year.
Members may be expelled for good cause by a majority vote of Executive Committee after having been given 30 days notice of charges and the right to a hearing.
Dues run from January 1 to December 31 of each year.
Section II:
A lifetime membership can be obtained by paying ten times the yearly dues.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS: TERMS AND ELECTIONS
Section I:
After the first year, there shall be elected annually a President, Vice President and Secretary/ Treasurer.
Terms of office will be from May 1 to April 30 of each year.
Section II:
1/3 of the Directors will be elected each year. There will be "6" Directors with each serving a 3 year term. They can serve two consecutive terms or parts thereof, then must step down for at least one term before they can be eligible again.
Section III:
A nominating committee will be chosen by the President to select and contact candidates for President and Vice President. This committee will not be chosen from the Board of Directors. A nominating committee will be chosen from the Board of Directors to select and contact candidates for Secretary/Treasurer. Candidates must have been or be at the time, on the Board of Directors. These will be presented to the membership no later than March 1st of each year.
Section IV:
The Board of Directors and officers will be elected by the members, from a prepared list of candidates presented by the Nominating Committees. Members should present candidates to the Directors for consideration prior to February 1st of each year. The President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer must each win over 50 percent of the total votes. The Board of Directors need only the most votes.
Example: There are four candidates running for President, when all votes are tallied, not one has more than 50% of the total number of votes. An election for the two candidates with the most votes would be held. The one with the most votes would be the new President.
Section V:
The following requirements must be met to be elected to an office:
1. All nominated candidates must be willing to accept the position if elected.
2.They must have been a member in good standing for the past three consecutive years (after the third full year) to be eligible for a position.
Authorās definitions:
"Good Standing"; for a member to be in good standing;
a. They must keep their membership current without interruption.
b. They must remain an ethical and reputable member.
"Consecutive"; Following in order without interruption.
3. They must also have owned and cared for early uncolonized Keudas (F1, F2, or F3) for three years prior and currently at the time of election.
ARTICLE VI - DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section I:
The President shall preside at all meetings of the association and the Executive Committee. At regular meetings, the President shall vote only in case of a tie, but shall have the right of voting in the Executive Committee. The President shall appoint committees as necessary.
Section II:
The Vice President shall act as an aide to the President and perform the duties in the absence of the President when not presiding. The Vice President shall have the right to vote at any time. The Vice President will maintain the Keuda On-line List and will notify all list members when and where an on-line membership meeting is being held.
Section III:
Secretary/ Treasurer office shall be combined. The Secretary/Treasurer will keep all records, carry on all necessary correspondence, will be the membership's chairperson, be in charge of the association's funds and responsible for said funds and spending thereof as directed by the Association and the Executive Committee as necessary to help with their responsibilities.
Section IV:
Executive Committee will consist of President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and the Board of Directors. They shall transact necessary business as may be referred to them by the membership. They will be responsible for the official web site, quarterly Newsletter, and to look after the general welfare of the Association.
Section V:
Directors. They will see to the running of the Association and be a voice and an intermediary between the membership and the workings of the Association. Before all regularly called meetings, the Executive Committee will meet and prepare an agenda to be followed at the meeting.
Section VI:
All meetings will be held on-line in open session in the presence of the whole on-line membership with a prepared agenda. Input from the whole membership is encouraged, but only the Directors will vote on operational issues (amendments). In order to amend issues of organizational or structural importance, the issue(s) must be presented to the Directors and passed by a 2/3 vote of the Directors present at two consecutive meetings before it would be put on the agenda. The membership would then vote by a 2/3 majority before it would pass and become part of the
Constitution. If the issue is not on the agenda and arises from the floor, the first vote of the Directors is to put the item on the agenda for the next Directors' meeting.
Section VII:
A Director will be removed from office automatically by failing to attend two (2) consecutive on-line meetings, unless excused by a vote of the Executive Committee at those meetings. If the failure is not excused and is at the end of their term of office, they will not be eligible to run for a new term. The Executive Committee will appoint a new Director to complete the term of any Director who does not fulfill his/her term.
ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS
Section I: See Article VI - Section VI.
ARTICLE VIII - MEETING, PUBLICATIONS AND FINANCES
Section I:
Annual Meetings will be held on-line and will be open to all Keuda on-line members. At each annual meeting, the Executive Committee will choose the time and date for the next year's on-line meeting.
Section II:
The Executive Committee will be responsible for the quarterly Newsletter and web site.
Section III:
The checking account will bear the signature of the Secretary/Treasurer and the President with either signature sufficient to draft checks. A third signature will be on the checking account, which will be chosen by the Secretary/Treasurer.
ARTICLE IX - MEETINGS
Whenever possible, all annual meetings will be held on the on-line Keuda List chat room and will be open to all Keuda members. Robert's Rules of Order will govern the proceedings.
CODE OF ETHICS
1. PURPOSE
In breeding of Keuda cats, emphasis shall be placed on good health, stable temperament, intelligence, and confirmation consistent with Keuda Breed Standards. I agree to breed with discrimination and with the best interest of AKCA and the Keuda breed in mind.
2. RECORDS
I agree to keep accurate records of all matings and pedigrees and to register breeding stock and litters with at least one recognized cat association preferably the International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance (IPCBA).
3. BREEDING
I shall use for breeding only healthy cats, free from disease or hereditary deformity, keeping the Keuda Standard in mind. If I discover subsequent hereditary defects, I shall advise previous buyers.
Recommendations:
a. Females should not be bred until at least one year old, unless there have been two heat cycles or medical indications.
b. Females shall not be bred unless they are in optimum breeding condition.
c. When breeding for Keudas, Stud service should only be offered to owners of pedigreed Keuda Cats, also pedigreed Keuda queens may be offered to owners of pedigreed Keuda studs, preferably who are AKCA members.
d. Agreement should be reached before breeding on options to be taken should the female have further complications with resorbing kittens or failure to conceive.
e. Any breeder should refrain from further breeding if having difficulty placing kittens.
4. HEALTH
I agree to maintain a good standard of health and care including adequate room for exercise, clean quarters, adequate food and water, regular worming, parasite controls, and adequate immunizations when needed.
5. SALES
I shall refuse to sell to, buy from, or to recommend breeders who sell to cat wholesalers or retailers, to donate a Keuda for raffle purposes, or to buy or sell in litter lots. Before selling a kitten as a breeder, I shall ascertain that the buyer is fully aware of all the ramifications of breeding, such as expenses, time involved in care, necessary facilities, and good placement of kittens, and responsibilities to buyers and other breeders. I shall encourage the breeder buyer to join AKCA. I
shall ascertain that all buyers know how to care for a cat or kitten properly, and make myself available to give advice. I will give buyers an honest appraisal of a kitten's potential as a pet, breeder, or show cat. All breeder and show kittens should be sold with a written guarantee stating the seller's responsibility should the kitten prove to be sterile or develop a genetic defect that prevents breeding or showing. The course of action to be taken is a matter for each breeder to specify in his guarantee.
I shall provide a receipt for all deposits received, which states what happens if the buyer changes his mind. A pedigree may be provided with pet kittens but registration forms will be withheld until the breeder receives a veterinarian's certification of altering. If a breeder does not want to provide registration or pedigree papers for a pet kitten, the buyer must be informed of that fact before purchase. All breeder and show kittens will have pedigrees and registration forms provided with them. Before a kitten is sold, it must receive immunizations appropriate to age. Kittens should be free of all external and internal parasites (worms, fleas, ear mites, fungus, etc.) Breeders should supply written instructions on care, feeding, and accommodations with each kitten sold.
6. ADVERTISING
Advertising, oral or written, shall be factual. I shall represent AKCA members, with the utmost respect and highest regard. I will price my kittens and cats reasonably, but high enough to reflect the high
quality and years of hard work behind their breeding and not to undermine other AKCA breeders.
7. SPORTSMANSHIP
I shall conduct myself always in a manner that reflects credit upon AKCA, the Keuda breed and me, especially when attending shows as an exhibitor or spectator. I shall abide by the various registries and clubs rules and customs. I shall be a good loser and a gracious winner, remembering that having happy, healthy Keudas is much more important than winning trophies and titles.
8. AGREEMENTS
The AKCA strongly recommends that all transactions be in writing. This includes stud service agreements, breeding rights, breederās or sellerās guarantees on kittens, cats, deposits for kittens, etc. The AKCA also recommends that receipts be issued for all payments and deposits. If problems arise later, it is difficult to determine a fair course of action when agreements were verbal and cash changed hands without receipts.
9. SHIPMENT
Shipping can be a frightening experience for any animal; consequently the AKCA recommends that, if possible, the kitten be picked up by its new owner. If this is not possible, the only method of shipping that we recommend is air freight arranged directly with the airline, preferably counter-to-counter. This will specify exact routing and arrival time. Kittens Under four months will not be shipped unless carried on with a passenger.
10. ENFORCEMENT AND AMENDMENT
Upon sufficient proof of violations of the AKCA Code of Ethics, the AKCA Executive Board will take proper action, which may result in the removal of membership. This Code of Ethics may be amended by the Executive Board with prior notification.
This code of ethics must be signed by the applicant, before they can join AKCA.
I, THE UNDERSIGNED, HAVE READ AND AGREE TO UPHOLD THE CODE OF ETHICS AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL KEUDA BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION. I REALIZE THAT MY RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AS A MEMBER OF AKCA MAY BE REVOKED IF I DO NOT ABIDE BY MY WORD.
To submit your application to become an AKCA Breeder member, click the printable form APPLICATION for MEMBERSHIP.
Complete the form and make check payable to the AKCA or The American Keuda Cat Association
For
more information, contact us at:
The American
Keuda Cat Association
Post Office Box 636
Palmer, Texas 75125
Toll free: (866)841-2813
keuda@yahoo.com
Charter member of the International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance
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