Vantastix Constitution
A CFA Turkish Van Breed Club
Constitution of Vantastix Cat Club
ARTICLE I, NAME. This organization shall be known as Vantastix Cat Club.
ARTICLE II, AFFILIATION. This organization shall be a nonprofit club affiliated with the Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc (CFA). No part of any profit, dues, or donations to the organization shall be used to the benefit of any member or individual.
ARTICLE III, OBJECTIVES. The objectives of this organization shall be:
1. To promote the traditional, van patterned native Turkish longhaired cat known worldwide since 1955 as the Turkish Van at cat shows and other public events, on the Internet and in the media.
2. To encourage the selective breeding to the CFA standard of purebred Turkish Van cats, the use of CFA-allowable Turkish Van imports, and the accurate registration of all Turkish Vans.
3. To actively participate in CFA sanctioned events and shows, and to sponsor rosettes, rings and rallies to promote interest in and knowledge of Turkish Vans through breed literature, slide or video shows, or breed booths at CFA sponsored shows.
4. To cultivate friendship, common interest, and international understanding among the members, clubs with similar goals and purposes, and Turkish Van breeders, owners, and fanciers worldwide.
5. To publish a quarterly newsletter printing news, views, issues, answers, and proposals as dictated or submitted by members or other interested parties.
6. To advance in any way possible the interests of breeders and exhibitors and to promote the welfare of all cats.
7. To promote the health, welfare, and humane treatment of the Turkish Vans through responsible pet ownership and breeding, and through support to groups that assist or rescue Turkish Vans in need.
8. To mentor new breeders, exhibitors, and others interested in the cat fancy.
ARTICLE IV, MEMBERSHIP. 1. Persons of good character willing to support the objectives and goals of the organization may apply for membership by submitting a formal application to the Secretary along with one year's associate dues and a non-refundable $5.00 application fee. All new members must serve as non-voting associate members for one full year before applying for regular membership. All new members, and associates applying to renew as regular members, will be instated or advanced by vote of the general membership as outlined in Article I of the Bylaws.
2. Applicants for regular membership, to include qualifying family members, in addition to having been associate members in good standing for one entire year immediately prior to the date of the application for regular membership, must also provide proof of current or previous ownership of a CFA registered or registerable purebred Turkish Van. Breeders who apply for regular membership must uphold the objectives of this club in their personal breeding programs and must breed to a standard as accepted by CFA.
3. Any other interested persons or those not otherwise meeting the requirements for regular membership may join the club as associates, and remain as associates.
4. The two categories of membership are outlined as follows:
a. Regular Members. Regular members must pay dues and are entitled to hold office and to vote on club officers and club business, to include CFA business in which club input is solicited. Regular members receive the club newsletter and may advertise cattery-related information in it. Regular members must be at least 18 years of age.
b. Associate Members. Associate members must pay dues. They are not entitled to vote or hold elective office, but are welcome to participate on committees. They receive the newsletter and may participate in club discussion and attend meetings. Associate members who meet all other requirements for regular membership may apply for regular membership after one year.
5. Requirements for attaining membership are delineated in Article IV.2 above and grounds for termination of membership are in Articles I and V of the Bylaws.
6. Any member who quits the club or allows membership to lapse beyond the final delinquency date must reapply as an associate member and follow the course to become a regular member as if applying as a new member.
7. No person may be a regular member of this club who is an officer, judge or in the employ of another organization with purposes and goals similar to those of CFA, as defined by that association's constitution and bylaws or by CFA's.
ARTICLE V, OFFICERS. 1. The officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Member-at-Large. The officers shall constitute the Board of Directors, of which the Chairperson shall be the President. All offices shall be held by separate individuals and shall not be combined.
2. The Board shall be empowered to conduct all routine business of the club except as otherwise delineated in or restricted by the Constitution and Bylaws. All Board business will be decided by majority vote, with the Chairperson voting only in the event of a tie, except on amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws as outlined in Article VIII. Three (3) Board members present, in fact or by online group or telephone conference call, shall constitute a quorum for transaction of Board business.
3. The Board is empowered to commit funds from the treasury as long as the authorized amount does not exceed $250, with the exception of CFA club dues owed to CFA in excess of $250. All authorizations in excess of that amount, including committee budgets, require a majority vote of the full regular membership.
4. Club officers are expected to be active participants in club activities, and with the exception of the President/Chairperson, are required to vote on at least 80% of the issues presented during their time in office. Officers must remain members in good standing during their entire time of office. Officers must maintain a valid email address and phone number during their entire term of office.
5. By electronic or regular mail vote, the club membership shall choose a delegate to the CFA Annual Meeting prior to the CFA-specified date. Candidates for delegate must meet CFA's eligibility requirements in order to be considered.
ARTICLE VI, DUES. 1. The dues for regular members shall be: $25 for an individual regular membership, and $10 for up to one additional qualifying voting family member residing at the same address ($35 total per regular family membership). The dues for associates shall be: $20 for a non-voting associate member, and $5 for up to one non-voting associate member residing at the same address ($25 per associate family membership). All dues are per annum, payable on or before December 31st of each year to remain current. Changes in dues may be made in accordance with Article VIII of the Constitution.
2. Members will have a final deadline of 1 March to pay dues before fully losing membership rights. However, voting rights will be temporarily suspended in the period between the due date (31 December) and the final delinquency date (1 March) for those whose dues have lapsed. Members will be sent a dues notice in early December, and those who do not pay by December 31st will receive a second reminder in early February.
3. Members whose dues remain unpaid after March 1 will be considered delinquent and all membership rights will terminate. Any member who pays dues after the delinquency date must reapply as a new member, at the associate level, and be approved by a club vote just as any new member would be. Dues will not be prorated.
4. Members may pay multiple years' dues at once. This will be tracked by both the Secretary and the Treasurer.
5. The Treasurer will provide members with an electronic or written dues receipt within 30 days of receiving payment. A PayPal payment receipt suffices for this requirement.
6. International dues are the same as domestic dues, but international members who elect to receive mailed newsletters will also be assessed postage fees at the going rate, which will be annotated in their dues solicitation.
ARTICLE VII, MEETINGS. Regular and annual meetings shall be held as provided in the Bylaws. The Board may meet and remain in regular session by online group, telephone conference, or in person at any other times when regular or annual meetings are not in session. Club discussion may also take place via the Internet.
ARTICLE VIII, AMENDMENTS. This Constitution and the accompanying Bylaws may be amended by a sixty percent approval vote of the regular membership by mail and a three-fifths vote of the entire Board by regular mail or email, either occurring first, but both occurring within 30 days of each other. The ballot for and text of any proposed amendment shall be mailed or emailed to each voting member at least 30 days before the day specified for the completed and signed ballots to be received by the club secretary.
ARTICLE IX, DISSOLUTION.
1. This club shall not disband so long as five regular members in good standing vote to continue.
2. In the event of dissolution, the Board of Directors shall meet and after paying any outstanding bills shall audit the accounts and inventory club property. Any property or credit balance shall be donated by the Board as deemed in the best interest of the Turkish Van and/or the cat fancy in general. In no event shall any such property or assets be distributed to any member of the organization, or to any private individual.
