The First By-Laws of the Russian Wolfhound Club of America

I.
The name of the Club shall be The Russian Wolfhound Club of America.

II.
The Russian Wolfhound Club of America is established with a view to promote the breeding of Russian Wolfhounds; to define precisely and publish a definition of the true type; and to urge the adoption of such type by breeders, judges, dog-show committees, etc., as the only recognized and unvarying standard by with Russian Wolfhounds shall be judged, which may in the future be uniformly accepted as the sole standard of excellence in breeding and in awarding prized of merit to Russian Wolfhounds; and (by giving prizes, supporting shows, and taking other steps) to do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breed.

III.
The officers of the Club shall consist of President, not more than four Vice-Presidents, Secretary-Treasurer, and four Governors.

IV.
The government and management of the Club shall be vested in the Board of Governors, and they shall be elected annually at a general meeting of the Club. The officers shall be ex-officio members of the Board.
All vacancies occurring in the Board shall be filled by a majority vote of the Board.
V.
Such officers, or any of them, and the committees or members thereof may, at any time, for violation of duty, be removed by the Board of Governors, and the vacancies filled.
VI.
The Board of Governors shall, from time to time, make regulations in accordance with the powers herein given or on matters not herein provided for.

VII.
The Board of Governors shall cause to be prepared annually a statement of the financial condition of the Club, showing its receipts and expenditures for the current year, the number of members, and other matters of interest to the Club, and a copy forwarded to each member. The fiscal year shall terminate on the 31st of December of each year.

VIII.
The interpretation of these rules shall be given by the Board of Governors.

IX.
The number of members of this Club shall be limited to 100, but this number may be increased by a majority vote of the Board of Governors.
X.
The President, or, in his absence, one of the Vice-Presidents, in order of office, shall preside at all meetings of the Club, and of the Board of Governors, and shall have power to call special meetings.

XI.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a complete record of all meetings of the Club and Board of Governors, and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Club. He shall have charge of the correspondence of the Club. ON the election of a member he shall send him a written notice of his election, and furnish him with a printed copy of the rules and standard of the Club, and request him to pay his entrance fees and annual dues. He shall notify officers and members of their election or appointment, and shall issue notices to members of all meetings. He shall keep a roll of the members of the Club with their addresses.

XII.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the Club and receipt therefor. He shall deposit the same in such bank as shall be designated by the Board of Governors in the name of the Club. His books shall at all times be open to the inspection of the Board of Governors, and he shall report to them at every meeting the condition of the finances of the Club when requested; and at the annual meeting of the Club he shall render an account of all moneys received and expended during the year previous, which account must be audited by the President of the Club.

XIII.
Every candidate for membership shall be proposed and seconded by two members of the Club.
XIV.
The name, profession and residence of the candidate shall be sent by the proposer to the Secretary.
XV.
Balloting for members shall be held only at stated meetings of the Board of Governors, or by mail vote of the Board of Governors. To elect any candidates three votes must be cast, and one black ball will exclude. Candidates whose names have been laid over two successive meetings of the Board cannot come up again for six months.

XVI.
Every person shall, within thirty days after notification by the Secretary-Treasurer, pay to him his entrance fees and annual dues, and shall then, and not before, be a member of the Club. In case of failure to do this his election shall be void, at the discretion of the Board of Governors.

XVII.
The interest of any member in the property of the Club ceases with the termination of his membership.
XVIII.
The Board of Governors shall have the power, by a two-thirds vote of the whole board, to forfeit the membership of any member of the Club for conduct on his part likely, in the opinion of the Board, to endanger the welfare or character of the Club.
XIX.
Notice shall be mailed to each member when his annual dues are payable, and should his dues remain unpaid for sixty days after the regular notice has been given, he shall cease to be a member of the Club except in case of absence from the country, in which case his retention as a member shall be left to the discretion of the Board of Governors.

XX.
The Club may be dissolved at any time, with the writte4n consent of not less than two-thirds of the members for the time being. After payment of all debts and liabilities of the Club, its property and assets shall be divided equally among the members.
XXI.
The members of the Club shall hold an annual meeting during the month of February each year, and seven shall be a quorum.

XXII.
A Special meeting of the Club shall be called by the President upon a written request of five members of the Club.

XXIII.
These rules can be amended only by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a regular or special meeting.

XXIV.
At the meetings of the Club, the order of business, so far as the character and nature of the meeting may admit, shall be as follows:
1. Calling of Roll and Reading of Minutes.
2. Reading of Secretary-Treasurer’s Report.
3. Reports of Committees.
4. Election.
5. General Business.
6. Adjournment.

XXV.
All special committees shall be appointed by the Chair unless otherwise ordered in the motion.

XXVI.
Every member shall pay an entrance fee of $5.00, and the sum of $5.00 as annual dues, payable on the first day of January of each year. Members joining the Club after the first day of September in any year shall pay $2.50 as annual dues for the balance of the year.

XXVII.
All complaints or suggestions as to the management must b e made in writing to the Board of Governors.

XXVIII.
All resignations must be in writing, addressed to the Secretary. No member can resign while he is in debt to the Club.
XXIX.
The Board of Governors shall hold meetings at the discretion of the President, or at the written request of three of the members of the Board.

XXX.
Three members of the Board of Governors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.