REGULATIONS/BY-LAWS
of the
NEW ENGLAND REGION
ARTICLE I
Name
The region of the United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USA) that includes the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire or as may be amended by the United Schutzhund Clubs of America, shall be known as the New England Region.
ARTICLE II
Objectives
The objectives of this Region shall be to preserve the German Shepherd Dog in accordance with the breed standard as a working dog, to promote humane training methods for the working dog, and to support responsible dog ownership and breeding practices. The Region shall promote training and working trials in furtherance of that objective; and shall also promote breeding, breed surveys, and conformation shows for the German Shepherd Dog. The Region shall promote the training and use of working dogs for any purposes for which working dogs are utilized, and shall promote the training of working dogs among the youth.
ARTICLE III
Membership
The membership of the New England Region shall include all USA members and all USA full member clubs and affiliated clubs located within the New England Region. All clubs must have a minimum of five (5) members.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1: Officers
The officers of the Region shall be Regional Director, Assistant Regional Director, Regional Secretary, Regional Treasurer, Regional Breed Warden, and Regional Training Director. The positions of Assistant Regional Director, Regional Secretary and/or Regional Treasurer may be combined if it is not possible to fill the vacancies individually.
Section 2: Duties of the Officers
a. Regional Director. The Regional Director shall preside at all meetings of the Region and have the duties and authority normally pertaining to that office, including the following:
1. Schedule the events of the Region including working trials, conformation shows,
breed surveys, regional championships, regional conformation show and breed
surveys, and those for training and education.
2. Issue trial waivers, if circumstances require it, provided the clubs dues and
membership list are current; and advise all clubs in the Region of the proposed
waiver and the reasons thereof.
3. Schedule at least one regional meeting each calendar year.
4. Prepare quarterly reports on all activities within the Region, which are to be sent to
the USA President and all regional member clubs.
5. Insure that all regional member clubs uphold the objectives of USA and abide by the
USA Constitution and By-Laws.
6. The Regional Director shall perform the duties prescribed by these by-laws, the
parliamentary authority adopted by the Region, the USA Regional Policy and the
b. Assistant Regional Director. The Assistant Regional Director shall have the duties and authority normally pertaining to that office, including the following:
1. The Assistant Regional Director shall assist the Regional Director and perform the
duties assigned to him/her by the Regional Director.
2. The Assistant Regional Director shall learn the duties of the Regional Director, and
shall perform the duties of the Regional Director in his/her absence.
3. If the Regional Director is unable to attend a meeting of either USA Board of
Directors, the Assistant Regional Director may attend in his/her place and shall have
a vote on either Board of Directors.
4. The Assistant Regional Director shall perform the duties prescribed by these
by-laws, the parliamentary authority adopted by the Region, and the USA
Constitution and By-laws.
c. Regional Secretary. The Regional Secretary shall have the duties and authority normally pertaining to that office, including the following:
1. Take the official minutes of all Regional meetings and distribute them to member
clubs within sixty (60) days following the meeting.
2. Maintain the regional minutes and all regional documents and records, with the
exception of the financial records maintained by the Regional Treasurer.
3. Assist the Regional Director with the distribution of information for the benefit
of the Region.
4. Provide written notification to all member clubs of regional electronic votes, if any,
as well as receipt of such votes from the member clubs.
5. Implement a training program for trial secretaries and establish a log of those
members who have been approved as qualified trial secretaries for each club within
the Region, as required by the USA Regional Policy.
6. The Regional Secretary shall perform the duties prescribed by these by-laws, the
parliamentary authority adopted by the Region, the USA Constitution and By-Laws.
d. Regional Treasurer. The Regional Treasurer shall have the duties and authority normally pertaining to that office, including the following:
1. Maintain the financial records of the Region including the collection, custody,
and control of the funds of the Region.
2. Insure that all funds are deposited into the Regional account in a timely manner.
3. Disburse funds for training programs and other Regional needs, as defined in these
by-laws and the USA Regional Policy.
4. Provide a report at every Regional meeting detailing the receipt or payment not
previously reported.
5. Keep the financial records of the Region open at all times to inspection by Regional
officers or Regional member clubs.
6. The Regional Treasurer shall perform the duties prescribed by these by-laws, the
parliamentary authority adopted by the Region, USA Regional Policy, and the USA
e. Regional Breed Warden. The Regional Breed Warden shall have the duties and authority normally pertaining to that office, including the following:
1.Promote the development of breed wardens and tattooers in the Region.
2. Be responsible for the supervision and training of local breed wardens. Local breed
wardens shall report directly to the Regional Breed Warden.
3. Dispense and collect breed registry paperwork and develop Regional breeding
statistics.
4. Act as the local breed warden when none is available.
5. Promote the Regional Universal Champion (Sieger/in) Program. Keep records of
scoring and entries of the program.
6. Assist the host club of the Regional Conformation Show and Breed Survey and
serve as the Regional Conformation Chairperson.
7. Attend and assist with the USA Sieger Show.
8. The Regional Breed Warden shall perform the duties prescribed by these by-laws
parliamentary authority adopted by the Region, the USA Regional Policy, and
the USA Constitution and By-laws.
f. Regional Training Director. The Regional Training Director shall have the duties and authority normally pertaining to the office, including the following:
1. Promote proper and safe training for all aspects of working dog training, especially
as it applies to the training of schutzhund.
2. Promote proper and safe training for trial helpers, training helpers, and handlers by
the use of educational seminars and helpers evaluation/classification events and
organized fun matches.
3. Receive direction from the National Helper Committee regarding the required
Teaching Helper Committee.
4. Work directly with the National Youth Director to help implement all youth
training programs on a regional and local level.
5. Assist current and new clubs and their training directors.
6. Regional Training Directors shall not advertise their office for personal or
professional gain.
7. The Regional Training Director shall perform the duties prescribed by these
by-laws, the parliamentary authority adopted by the Region, the USA Regional
Policy and the USA Constitution and By-laws.
Section 3. Election of Officers
a. Term of Office. The officers of the Region shall be elected by ballot and serve a term
of office of two (2) years or until their successors are elected. Their term of office shall
begin at the close of elections at the annual regional meeting at which they are elected,
or when the election results are announced in the case of a mail ballot.
b. Election Schedule. Elections shall be held in odd- numbered years at the annual
Regional meeting held in conjunction with the New England Regional SchH
Championship.
c. Nominations. Delegates from full member clubs may nominate candidates for
Regional officer positions. Nominations need not be seconded. A candidate need not
be nominated to receive ballots, and write-in balloting is permitting.
d. Vote Required to Elect. To be elected, a candidate must receive a majority of the
ballots cast by the delegates from full-member clubs in good standing in attendance
at the Regional meeting. In the event of a mail ballot election, a candidate must receive
a majority of the timely ballots received by the Regional Secretary.
e. Election Result Notification. The Regional Secretary shall notify the USA Secretary
and the USA Office of election results within ten (10) days.
Section 4. Vacancies of Officer Position
a. Regional Director. In the event of a vacancy in the position of Regional Director, the
Assistant Regional Director shall assume the position of regional Director and shall
serve the remainder of the term.
b. Assistant Regional Director. In the event of a vacancy in the position of Assistant
Regional Director, an election to fill the office shall be held within forty-five (45)
days. An election may be held at a Regional meeting providing all the full-member
clubs in the Region are notified in writing not less than thirty (30) days prior to said
election; or alternatively by mail, with ballots to be sent to the Regional Secretary. The
elected officer shall the serve the remainder of the term.
c. Regional Breed Warden. In the event of a vacancy in the position of Regional Breed
Warden, an election to fill the office shall be held within forty-five (45) days. An
election may be held at a Regional meeting provided all the full-member clubs in the
Region are notified writing not less than thirty (30) days prior to said election; or
alternatively by mail, with ballots sent to the Regional Secretary. The elected officer
shall then serve the remainder of the term of office.
d. Other Officers. In the event of a vacancy in the position of Regional Secretary,
Regional Treasurer, or Regional Training Director, the Regional Director shall appoint
a member from the Region to fill the vacancy until an election can be held at the next
Regional meeting. The elected officer shall then serve the remainder of the term
of office.
Section 5. Removal of Officers
Any officer may be removed, with cause, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates from full-member clubs in good standing at any Regional meeting at which a quorum is present.
ARTICLE V
Meetings
Section 1. Meeting Schedule
a. Meeting Schedule. There shall be a minimum of one (1) Regional meeting
annually. The Regional meeting shall be held in conjunction with the New England
Regional Schutzhund Championship.
b. Annual Meeting. The Regional meeting held in conjunction with the New England
Regional SchH Championship shall be known as the annual Regional meeting and
shall be for the purpose of electing officers, electing committee members, receiving
bids to host regional events, and any other business that may arise.
c. Special Meetings. Special Regional meetings may be called by the Regional Director
and shall be called upon the written request of two (2) full member clubs in good
standing.
d. Meeting Notices. The Regional Director shall notify all full-member and
affiliated clubs at least thirty (30) days prior to any regular meeting. Notification
may be by electronic mail or regular mail and shall contain the time, date, location,
and purpose of the meeting.
e. Mail Ballots. In lieu of calling a special Regional meeting, the Regional Director
may have an electronic mail ballot conducted by the Regional Secretary with respect
to specific and/or time sensitive issues. Two (2) weeks shall be allowed for the
return of ballots. Complete and factual information on the subject of the vote must
be supplied with each ballot. Electronic mail balloting shall not be use to amend
these Regional By laws. The Regional Secretary shall include all electronic mail
addresses on the ballot. Open discussion on the subject shall be sent to all
addressees. To be eligible to vote on electronic mail ballot issues, each full-member
club in good standing must provide the Regional Secretary with a current electronic
mail address for such ballots. Ballots shall be returned to the Regional Secretary for
tabulation, who will then advise all Regional officers and clubs of the election
results. Balloting by telephone is prohibited.
f. Meeting Attendees. Regional meetings shall be open to all USA members and all
USA full-member clubs and affiliated clubs.
Section 2. Delegates.
A club delegate who is a bona fide member of the club and is a USA member in good standing may represent full-member clubs in good standing at Regional meetings.
Section 3. Quorum
A quorum must be present in order for business to be conducted. A quorum shall be declared if at least one officer and delegates from at least one-third (1/3) of the full-member clubs in good standing are present.
Section 4. Voting
Voting shall be limited to club delegates in attendance at the Regional meeting, and such delegates shall be entitled to cast a single vote. If an electronic mail ballot is conducted, voting shall be limited to full-member clubs in good standing, and such clubs shall be entitled to cast a single vote.
Section 5. Order of Business
The order of business at all Regional meetings shall be as follows, but may be suspended by a majority vote:
Roll Call Regional Training Director Report
Approval of Minutes Committee Reports
Regional Director Report Elections
Assistant Regional Director Report Unfinished Business
Regional Secretary Report New Business
Regional Treasurer Report Announcements
Regional Breed Warden Report Adjournment
ARTICLE VI
Committees
Section 1. Standing Committees
Standing committees are permanent committees. The members shall be elected by a majority vote by ballot at the annual Regional meeting in odd-numbered years, and they shall serve a term of office of two (2) years or until their successors are elected. Their term of office shall begin at the close of elections at the annual Regional meeting at which they are elected, or when the election results are announced in the case of a mail ballot. Vacancies may be filled by an election at a Regional meeting or by mail ballot. The Regional Director shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees.
a. Auditing Committee. This committee shall consist of the Regional Director and two (2) Regional members who are USA members in good standing. The Auditing Committee shall conduct an audit of the Regional Fund annually, and shall provide a report at the annual Regional meeting.
Section 2. Special Committees
Special committees may be appointed by the Regional Director to aid in particular projects for the Region. The Regional Director shall appoint the committee chair. The Regional Director shall be an ex-officio member of all special committees.
ARTICLE VII
Regional Events
Section 1. New England Regional SchH and/or FH Championship
a. Schedule. The Region shall hold a Regional SchH & FH (FH optional) Championship
annually in the months of September and October, care should be taken that there is at
least a six (6) week window before the USA National Championship.
b. Host Bid Process. Full-member regional clubs in good standing may bid to host the
Regional SchH and FH Championship for the following year at the annual Regional
meeting held in conjunction with the Regional SchH and FH Championship. Bids shall
be in writing and shall include the proposed dates, judge, and location for each phase,
as well as any other pertinent information, that will assist member clubs in determining
which bid to accept. In the event there is more than one bid to host the Regional SchH
and FH Championship, there shall be a vote to determine the winning bid at the
Regional meeting where bids are submitted or thereafter through vote ballot.
The Championship need not be held in a stadium, although neutral venue other than the
hosting clubs training field is preferred.
c. Conflicting Events. No other trial or seminar may be scheduled for the weekend of the
Regional SchH Championship. It is preferred that the hosting club is not to hold a club
trial in conjunction with the New England Regional SchH 3 Championship.
d. Regional Schh 3 Champion. The New England Regional SchH 3 Champion Cup is to
be awarded to the highest scoring SchH 3 dog/handler team residing in New England
Region. The dog must be owned by the New England Region member. The handler
must be in good standing with the New England Region and United Schutzhund Clubs
of America.
The original cup is to stay with the Regional SchH 3 Champion until the next Regional
Championship where it will be replaced by a similar cup. The original New England
Regional SchH 3 Champion Cup is NOT to leave the New England Region and must
be turned in to the Regional Director prior to moving to another Region.
The highest scoring dog/handler team in trial is to be awarded the High in Trial
regardless of affiliation of the New England Region.
There will also be a Regional SchH 1 Champion and a Regional SchH 2 Champion. To
be deemed a champion, a passing score must be achieved. If no dog achieves a passing
score, no Regional Champion will be declared. Dogs shown at a Regional SchH
Championship may enter for a new title or compete for the title currently held, but may
not compete for a lower title.
e. Regional FH Champion. Dogs shown at a Regional FH Championship may enter for
a new title, compete for the title currently held, or compete for a lower title. Dogs must
reside in New England to obtain New England Regional FH Champion.
f. Regional Universal Champion. Dogs must be SchH 3 and have a breed survey in
order to obtain the Regional Universal Champion title. In addition, the must be
presented in the working class at the Regional Conformation Show and must enter the
SchH 3 category at the Regional Schutzhund Championship. Only dogs residing in the
Region are eligible to obtain New England Regional Universal Champion. The
Regional Breed Warden is to be contacted by the handler to declare his/her dog for the
Universal competition before the first event.
Section 2. New England Regional Conformation Show and Breed Survey
a. Schedule. The Region shall hold a Regional Conformation Show and Breed Survey for
German Shepherd Dogs annually.
b. Host Bid Process. Full-member Regional clubs in good standing may bid to host the
Regional Conformation Show and Breed Survey for the following year at the annual
Regional meeting held in conjunction with the Regional SchH and FH Championship.
Bids shall be in writing and shall include the proposed dates, judge, and location as
well as any other pertinent information that will assist member clubs in determining
which bid to accept, In the event there is more than one (1) bid to host the Regional
Conformation Show and Breed Survey, there shall be a vote to determine the winning
bid at the Regional meeting where the bids are submitted.
c. Conflicting Events. No other conformation show or breed survey may be scheduled
two (2) weeks prior to or after the weekend of the Regional Conformation Show and
Breed Survey. It is preferred that the hosting club does not hold a club show and
breed survey in conjunction with Regional Conformation Show and Breed Survey. An
exception may be granted for a trial or seminar to be held the same weekend of the
Regional Conformation Show and Breed Survey.
Section 3. New England Regional Helper Seminar
a.Schedule. The Region shall hold a regional Helper Seminar annually that offers trial helper evaluation/certification by a USA Teaching Helper.
b.Host Bid Process. Full member Regional clubs in good standing may bid to host
the Regional Helper Seminar for the following year at the regional meeting held
in conjunction with the Regional SchH and FH Championship. Bids shall be in
writing and shall include proposed dates, teaching helper/instructor and location as
well as any other pertinent information that will help assist member clubs in
determining which bid to accept. In the event there is more than one (1) bid to host
the Regional Helper seminar, there shall be a vote to determine the winning bid at
the regional meeting where the bids are submitted or on a later date in a mail ballot.
c.Conflicting Events. No other helper seminar may be scheduled for the weekend of
the Regional Helper Seminar. An exception may be granted for a trial, conformation show, breed survey scheduled the weekend of the Regional Helper seminar.
ARTCLE VIII
Regional Fund
Section 1. Administration
The Regional Treasurer shall maintain the Regional Fund in an FDIC-insured bank account. The Regional Director shall also be a signatory on the account.
Section 2. Expenditures
a. Payment of Expenses. Receipts must support all expense, no bill shall be paid in
advance, and no bill shall be paid without prior authorization from the Region.
Authorization shall consist of a majority vote to approve the expenditure of funds for a
specific event, purpose, and/or item.
b. Regional Director Reimbursement. The Region will reimburse the Regional Director
for airfare or mileage and hotel expenses for a maximum of two (2) nights lodging, or
Five Hundred dollars ($500), whichever amount is less and which exceeds the amount
reimbursed by USA, for attending each USA General Board meeting or Executive
Board meeting providing the Regional Director all meetings pertinent to Regional and
National business.
c. Seminar Expenses. The cost of preparing and presenting the Regions official seminars
may be paid entirely from the Regional Fund. Entry fees may be charged for
participants and spectators; however these funds shall only be used to replenish the
Regional Fund.
d. The Region is to pay the club hosting the Regional Championship and Regional
Conformation event a start-up fee of Two Hundred and Fifty dollars ($250).
ARTICLE IX
Standing Rules
In addition to these by-laws, the Region shall maintain a list of standing rules. Standing rules shall not conflict with the by-laws of the Region or USA; and may be adopted, amended, or rescinded at any Regional meeting by a majority vote.
ARTICLE X
Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Sturgis The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure shall govern the Region in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Region may adopt. In matters in which these bylaws are silent, the parliamentary authority shall govern.
ARTICLE XI
Amendment of By-laws
These by-laws may be amended at any Regional meeting by two-thirds (2/3) vote, provided a copy of the proposed amendment has been mailed by the Regional Director or Regional Secretary by electronic mail or regular mail to each full-member and affiliate club at least thirty (30) days prior to the Regional meeting. Alternatively, an amendment may be submitted in writing at a Regional meeting, but shall not be voted on until the following Regional meeting.
ARTICLE XII
Dissolution
In the event of dissolution, after payment of all debts and liabilities, the Regions assets and property shall be contributed to a non-profit fund, foundation, or corporation which organized and operated exclusively for dog training purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under Section 501 ( c ) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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Regional By Laws