Viking Cats By-Laws

Revised May 17, 2008.

ARTICLE I – Name 

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be:  Viking Cats.

Section 2. The club was founded on February 16, 2008. TICA Charter No. 683 was received on March 25, 2008.

ARTICLE II - Purposes

The purpose of this club shall be:

a. To sponsor and promote the welfare of all breeds of cats, including household pets;

b. To sponsor cat shows and special programs and otherwise promote the interest in and knowledge of all domestic cats;

c. To cultivate  friendship among and promote the interest of the owners, fanciers, and breeders of cats;

d. To encourage breeding toward the TICA Standards and encourage the registration of cats within TICA;

e. To promote and encourage kindness to all animals and to assist in the prevention of cruelty and maltreatment of animals;

f. To encourage the spaying and neutering of any and all cats not specifically being used as part of a viable breeding program in order to reduce the excessive trend to over-population of, and tragedy among, unwanted domestic cats.

 

ARTICLE III - Membership

Section 1. Qualifications.  Membership shall be open to any individual person who is interested in owning, breeding or exhibiting domesticated cats.  New members must complete the application which includes an agreement to abide by the Code of Ethics and By-Laws of the club, and pay the required fee for membership dues. Anyone who has been convicted of animal cruelty or been banned or suspended from keeping animals by a court of law shall not be eligible for membership. The Board may refuse membership to any person. Such refusals shall be confirmed by simple majority vote on the next General Assembly.

Section 2. Membership Types. Regular Membership is open for any individual over the age of 18 years. Regular Members are entitled to one vote per member. No more than two Regular Members may reside at the same address. Supporter Membership is open for any individual over the age of 18. Supporter Members may not hold office or vote, but shall have all other privileges of regular members. Junior Membership is open for any individual under the age of 18 years and interested in the purposes of this club. Junior Members Members may not hold office or vote, but shall have all other privileges of regular members. 

Section 3. Responsibilities. It shall be the duty of each member to uphold the purposes of the club by carefully fulfilling the terms of all transactions concerned with cats, such as sales, stud fees, registrations and pedigrees, whether such business is carried on with other club members or breeders or with the public at large.  Upon receipt of written complaint from any injured party, the member will be subject to disciplinary action. The Board may reprimand, suspend or expel from membership, any person who, after a fair and impartial hearing, shall be found guilty of violating any rules of this club or of conduct derimental to the club or to the cat fancy.

 

ARTICLE IV - Dues

Section 1. Dues. Membership dues shall be established by the General Assembly and shall be due and payable on or before January 1 each year for the ensuing year. Upon failure to pay dues within 2 months after the due date, the delinquent member shall be automatically dropped from membership. Membership dues 2008:

Regular Membership (voting):	DKK 250,-
Supporter membership (non-voting):	DKK 200,-
Junior Membership (non-voting):	DKK 150,-

 

ARTICLE V - Power to Bind

Section 1. The joint signatures of the President plus one additional Board Member shall bind the Club.

 

Article VI - Affiliation

Section 1. Viking Cats shall be affiliated with The International Cat Association (TICA).  All officers of the club must be TICA members in good standing and Regular Members of the club; there must be at least five members of the club who are members of TICA in good standing (including the officers). Subject to approval of The International Cat Association, this club may adopt and amend by-laws not inconsistent with the by-laws, rules, and regulations of The International Cat Association.

 

ARTICLE VII - Location 

Section 1. Viking Cats is intended primarily to serve the interests of the owners, fanciers and breeders of cats residing in Denmark (and environs).

 

ARTICLE VIII - Meetings

Section 1. Regular Quarterly Meetings shall be held, preferably in February, May, August and November and at such time and place as the Board of Directors shall designate.

Section 2. Additional meetings may be called from time to time if necessary for the transaction of important business, and may be called by the President, Board of Directors or upon written demand of five Regular Members. 

 

ARTICLE IX - General Assembly 

Section 1. The General Assembly shall be held every year in February. Notice shall be given in writing at least three weeks in advance. The invitation shall be accompagnied by an agenda, budget reports, proposals from the Board and from members and reports from the Board and the Committees.

Section 2. Each regular member is entitled to one vote. A household may have a maximum of two votes.

Section 3. Candidates may declare their intention to run for office at the General Assembly. 

Section 4. To be eligible for office, candidates must be Regular Members of Viking Cats and be members of TICA in good standing.

Section 5. Proposals from members shall be sent to the President no later than 6 weeks before the General Assembly, marked "Proposal for GA". A receipt shall be sent. Proposals to change the By-Laws of this Club require 2/3 majority of the votes. Other proposals are determined by regular majority vote.

Section 6. Changes in the By-Laws shall be effective immediately after the General Assembly, unless the records show a different decision.

Section 7. An extraordinary General Assembly may be called if necessary for the transaction of important business, and may be called by the majority of the Board of Directors or upon written demand of 1/3 of the club's members. Such event shall be called in writing at least two weeks in advance. The invitation shall be accompagnied by an agenda, and the business at this meeting shall be limited to that mentioned in the call. 

 

ARTICLE X - Officers and Directors 

Section 1. The officers of this club shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Councilor. The management of the business and affairs of this club shall be under the direction of a Board of Directors consisting of the elected officers (and two additional elected directors). 

Section 2. Officers and Directors shall be elected at the General Assembly and shall take office on  immediately to serve for the ensuing term or until their successors are duly elected. President and Officers shall be elected for two-year terms, Directors for one-year terms, with the President and one Officer on election in even years (starting 2008) and three Officers on election in odd years (starting 2009).

Section 3. Vacancies in offices or on the club's Board of Directors shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the remaining members of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. The club's Board of Directors shall elect annually a Membership Committee, a Publicity Committee, a Show Committee, a Health Committee and any other committees deemed advisable.

Section 5. The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as are incidental to his office.  He shall be ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 6. The Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President in the absence of that officer.

Section 7. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the members and the Board of Directors, and shall present them at ensuing meetings when requested. The Secretary shall keep an attendence record and a list of all members in good standing with their names, mailing addresses and telephone numbers. 

Section 8. The Treasurer shall receive and have custody of all monies and shall deposit same in a bank account in the name of the club. He shal keep an account of all receipts and expenditures and shall render a financial report at each regular meeting. He shal furnish names and addresses to the Corresponding Secretary of all membership dues paid.

Section 9. The Councilor shall be a member who is familiar with the Association, club, and show procedures and be able to guide and advise the club whenever assostance is needed or whenever the councilor feels that the club is not acting in the best interest of the fancy as a whole or is failing in some obligation to TICA.

Section 10. On or before April 1 of each year the President, Secretary and Treasurer shall make an annual report to TICA which report shall include a list of members of the club with their adresses, a report of any shows held during the year, a copy of the financial report of the club for the year and such other information as may be required by TICA.