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AMERICAN POLICE CANINE ASSOCIATION

SECTION 1 – The American Police Canine Association, a not for profit corporation

This Association shall be known as the American Police Canine Association (A.P.C.A.)

A.  The American Police Canine Association will be incorporated as a 501c3 non-profit        organization. 

B.  In the event the American Police Canine Association is dissolved by a majority vote of the Associations Executive Board, the assets of the A.P.C.A. will be donated to an approved 501c3 non-profit association.  A majority vote by the A.P.C.A. general membership will determine the 501c3 non-profit association, to receive the assets of the American Police Canine Association.

SECTION 2 – Organizational Purpose

 A. To strive to enhance the knowledge of all members of the Association through training      seminars, website mediums, and written publications.

 B. To establish and maintain a minimum working standard and certification program for the police service dog team.

 C. To establish and maintain an accreditation program for all Master Trainers, Trainers, and Applicants.    

 D. To strive to enhance public awareness as to the positive roles in which the police service dog provides in protecting and serving society.

SECTION 3 – Membership

 A. Incorporators.  The membership of the Association shall consist of those persons who have signed the certificate of incorporation as incorporators, together with all persons who are hereinafter received under the articles of incorporation.

 B. Regular Members.  This Association defines a regular member and recognizes as such, any active or retired law enforcement officer, military police or corrections officer of either federal, state, county or municipal, who is, or was a canine handler, canine trainer, or canine administrator.  Regular members of this Association shall be of proper persons and have no crimes against his/her country, or conduct that may bring discredit upon themselves or to the American Police Canine Association.

 C. Associate Members.  This Association defines an associate member and recognizes as such, any proper person that supports the efforts of the American Police Canine Association.  An associate member of this association shall have no crimes against his/her state or country, or conduct that may bring discredit upon themselves or the American Police Canine Association. 

     Associate members shall have the same privileges as afforded to a regular member, with the only exceptions being, that he/she shall not vote in any A.P.C.A. elections and are not entitled to serve on the Executive Board of Directors.

 D. Life Members.  Regular members of this Association, which are nominated by another     regular member are eligible for consideration for a life membership.  Those members being nominated must have exhibited outstanding service, above and beyond of that normally exhibited.  Nominations are to be submitted to the Executive Board, which will conduct any necessary investigation.  Life memberships must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board and confirmed by a majority vote at a general membership meeting.  This membership title will remain enforce unless revoked for just cause by the Executive Board.  Approved life members are exempt from paying annual membership dues.

 E. Honorary Members.  Persons nominated for this membership title must be made in their behalf by a regular member and approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board.  This membership title will remain enforce unless revoked for just cause by the Executive Board.  Honorary members shall not be allowed to vote or hold any office.

 Approved honorary members are exempt from paying annual membership dues.

 F. Retired Members.  To qualify as a retired member:

1.      Must have been a regular paid member.

2.      Must apply to the Executive Board to be recognized as a retired member.

3.      Must provide proof of retirement from his/her former law enforcement, military, and or Department of Corrections employer.                                                                      Retired members having paid membership dues for at least ten (10) years will not be required to pay dues, and will retain all privileges of regular members.  In addition, the member shall retain his/her title of Master Trainer or Trainer, so long as the member remains in good standing as a proper person.

      Retired members with less than ten (10), but more than five (5) consecutive years of      service to the Association, will be only required to pay one half (1/2) of the regular member’s dues, which are applicable for that year, and will retain all privileges of regular members.  In addition, the member shall retain his/her title of Master Trainer or Trainer, so long as the member remains in good standing as a proper person.

 SECTION 4 -  Duties of Board Officers, Directors & Members

No officer, director, or member serving on the Association’s boards or committees as such shall receive any salary or compensation for services rendered to the American Police Canine Association.  Officers, directors, or members may however, be reimbursed for their out of pocket expenses incurred reasonably and necessarily in conducting the affairs of the Association.  No elected member may hold an elected office with another national or international police canine organization.

 A.     President.  It shall be the duty of the President to call and preside at all regular and

special meetings.  The President shall see that the Association’s bylaw and all rules and regulations are respected and obeyed.  The President shall cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie.  The President shall have the authority to appoint committees and may designate their chairperson.  The President shall appoint the following committees: Accreditation, Bylaws, Grievance, Election, Awards, and any committees necessary to conduct the affairs of the Association.  The President shall appoint protempore officers in the event of absences.  The President shall perform such other duties as are usual and incidental to the office of President.  The President is a member ex-officio of all committees except the Election Committee.

 B.     Vice President.  The Vice President shall assist and support the President in The

Vice President’s duties and shall be the President protempore in the absence of the President, during which time the Vice President shall assume all the duties and responsibilities of that office.  The Vice President shall be required to attend, with the President, conferences, etc., to which the President is required or expected to attend, in the interest of and/or on behalf of the membership of this Association in order that the Vice President may be as informed of all matters concerning the Association as is the President.  The Vice President shall act as liaison between the President and the chairpersons of committees.  In the event of a vacancy in the office of President during the elective term, he/she shall succeed to that office for the remainder of the unexpired term                                                                                                                            

C.     Secretary.  The Secretary shall accurately record the proceedings at all meetings. 

The Secretary will read the minutes of previous meetings and all communications.

The Secretary shall conduct a roll call of officers and shall note absentees.  The Secretary shall communicate and correspond, per the direction of the President, with persons and organizations both within and outside the Association relative to Executive Boards business.  The Secretary shall receive all monies in the absence of the Treasurer. 

 D.     Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall collect all monies, including the payments of all

benefits.  The account books as well as all papers in the Treasurer’s custody shall be open for inspection and examination by the Board of Trustees.  The Treasurer shall have the authority to designate the bank(s) and or other financial institutions

in which the Association shall deposit monies.  The Treasurer shall not lend or invest any of the funds except when duly authorized by the Executive Board.  The Treasurer will be responsible for issuing payments for all debts incurred by the Association, which are required to conduct the Association’s business.  It will be the responsibility of the Treasurer to have an annual audit of the Association’s books.

 E.      Membership Chairman.  The Membership Chairman shall keep a record of all

members, the standing of each and their date of admission or termination.  The Membership Chairman shall be responsible for the mailing of membership cards, membership certificates, dues notices, and election ballots.  The Membership Chairman shall also be responsible in the receipt and documentation of all membership dues monies and the forwarding of all dues monies to the Association’s Treasurer for deposit.

           F.      Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees shall act as agents of the Executive

Board in all financial transactions between the Board and all other institutions and individuals.  The Board of Trustees shall consist of five (5) Regular members; all members to be elected every three (3) years by ballot.  They shall, in conjunction with the Treasurer have custody of all bonds and other securities, which shall be deposited in a safety deposit box in a reliable institution and shall not be withdrawn there from except in the presence of the Treasurer and at least one (1) member of the Board of Trustees.  The Trustees shall be the custodians of all annual audits of the assets and liabilities of the Executive Board for the year ending December 31^st and submit the financial statement at a regular meeting.  They are hereby authorized to employ the services of a Certified Public Accountant, at a reasonable fee to prepare this annual audit and report.  They shall cause to be made an audit of all books, accounts, funds, etc., of any and all officers, committees, or members who collect and or disburse funds of the association, not less than once each year or at any time said Board has given just cause to believe such audit should be made.

           G.     Grievance Chairman.  The Grievance Chairman shall accept written grievances

from regular members.  The Grievance Chairman shall investigate and convene the Grievance Committee.  The Grievance Chairman will follow the process outlined in Section 11 and Section 12 and make a recommendation to the Executive Board for disposition of the complaint.

            H.     Accreditation Chairman.  The Accreditation Chairman shall accept applications

for Trainers and Master Trainers.  The Accreditation Chairman will convene the appropriate committees to, evaluate, and interview the applicants.  The Accreditation Committee will act as  Committee chair, with three (3) additional regular members assigned by the President as Committee members.  The Accreditation Chairman is also responsible for recommending any disciplinary action against Trainers and Master Trainers for violations of the A.P.C.A. bylaws and certification standards.  

I.        The Executive Board.  The A.P.C.A. Executive Board shall consist of the

President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chairman, Accreditation Chairman, Grievance Chairman, and Five (5) Board of Trustees members.   This Board shall recommend, such rules, regulations, amendments, or deletions as may be deemed necessary for the government of the American Police Canine Association.  In an emergency situation, the Executive Board by quorum of seven (7) or more Executive Board Members vote may act for the entire Executive Board.  Vacancies which occur in any of the Association’s offices, through resignation, death, impeachment, or other reasons (with the exception of the President) shall be filled by appointment made by the President and approved by the Executive Board.  The approved appointment shall expire at the next elective term.

 SECTION 5 – Election of Officers 

All candidates for elected office shall be nominated at the first general membership meeting in the year of the election.  Mail in nominations will be accepted by the Membership Chairman and read at the general membership meeting.  Mail in nominations must be accompanied by written permission bearing the signature of the nominee and the printed name and signature of the regular member making the nomination.

The Membership Chairman will mail an appropriate ballot to every regular member eligible to vote.  A lined security envelope that is properly marked “Official Ballot” will be included in the mailing and used by the regular member to return the ballot to the Elections Committee Chairman.  Only ballots returned in the issued lined security envelope will be counted.  Any signature or written notation on the ballot that would identify the voter will cause that ballot to be considered invalid.  Any envelope that is opened before being received by the Elections Committee will be declared invalid. 

Official ballot envelopes will contain a serial number, starting at #001 through the total number of regular members eligible to vote as determined by the Membership Chairman’s list at the time of the mailing.  Each serial number will be placed on the ballot being returned and affixed to the outside of the return security envelope.  Both serial numbers must match in order for the returned ballot to be declared valid.  The names of nominees on the election ballots shall be placed in alphabetical order for each office. 

The “Official Ballot” in the return security envelope will be mailed back to the Election Committee Chairman postmarked no later than thirty (30) days after the nominations for offices are made.  The “Official Ballot” will state the date in which all ballots must be postmarked returned by to be counted as a valid election ballot.  Any ballots postmarked after this stated date will be ineligible to be counted and declared invalid. 

The Election Committee will consist of three (3) regular members.  The President will appoint the three-member election committee.  He will also appoint one (1) of these members as the Election Committee Chairman.  No person of these three (3) appointed members shall be a nominee running for elected office in the given election. 

The Election Committee will hold all “Official Ballot” envelopes unopened until the next meeting of the Election Committee, which will be held at the next Association Executive Board meeting.  The Election Committee will open the envelopes.  The Election Committee Chairman shall check the serial number on the ballot and envelope to ensure they match.  The Election Committee Chairman shall also ensure that only one (1) envelope and one (1) ballot with the same number is received. 

The envelopes will be discarded and the ballots will then be counted, the committee will attest to the correct total.  Upon counting the ballots, they will be kept by the Election Chairman for a reasonable length of time.  A majority of votes cast shall elect.  Association members are to be notified as soon as possible regarding the outcome of the election.  If present, newly elected officers shall take office at this Association meeting following the counting of the ballots.  If not present, elected officers shall take office at the next Association meeting.  The newly elected officer must be present to take the oath of office either at the conclusion of the counting of the ballots or at the next Association meeting. 

If any office is unopposed the presiding officer shall retain his/her office for an additional term.  Election of officers will be held every three (3) years for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chairman, Accreditation Chairman,  Grievance Chairman, and all Board of Trustees officers. 

SECTION 6 - The Oath of Office 

“I, (Officer Elect), __________  __________, do hereby and hereon, most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties of the office on which I am about to enter to the best of my abilities and understanding, and that I accept this obligation freely, and without any mental reservation, or purpose of evasion, whatsoever, as a duly elected officer with the American Police Canine Association.” 

By authority of the powers being invested in me, you are hereby declared as officers elect, legally installed and qualified to discharge the official duties of this association for the term ending three (3) years from this date or until their successors are duly elected and installed.

SECTION 7 – Association Meetings 

Three (3) meetings will be held during each calendar year so as to conduct the official business of the American Police Canine Association. 

The three (3) meetings assembled will be for the purposes as follows:

(1)   Spring Executive Board Meeting

(2)   Fall Executive Board Meeting

(3)   Annual General Membership Meeting 

The President shall set the dates for these meetings with the approval of a majority vote by the Executive Board. 

A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Executive Board being physically present for the purposes of conducting an Official Association Meeting. 

The Association’s meetings shall be conducted according to Parliamentary Law, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, which shall be the guide for conducting all meetings. 

SECTION 8 – Association Bylaws

The Bylaws Committee shall consist of five (5) members, appointed by the President. 

The Bylaws Committee shall be charged with the responsibility of overseeing and codifying all amendments, and all proposed changes to amendments pertaining to any additions, or deletions to the Association’s Bylaws. 

The Bylaws Committee must submit in writing all proposed changes in their final form to the Executive Board with the Committees recommendations. 

The General Membership shall vote on any bylaw and certification rule changes at a General Membership meeting. 

Any amendment in direct conflict with the Section’s of incorporation shall be null and void. 

SECTION 9 – Association Membership Dues 

The annual dues of Association shall be $35.00 per member.  The Membership Chairman shall forward annual dues notices no later than December 31^st of each calendar year.  Dues will be collected by January 31^st of each calendar year.  Memberships and or accreditations held will be invalid for those members dues not received by March 1^st of any calendar year.

Accreditations to include Master Trainer, Trainer and Certifications held by any K-9 Team, will remain invalid until such time as these members dues are paid and current to date. 

Those members submitting annual membership dues postmarked after March 1^st will be assessed a $15.00 late fee.  This does not apply to first time new members joining after March 1^st of a calendar year. 

There will be a $50.00 Non Sufficient Funds (NSF) Charge by the Association for any returned check. 

SECTION 10 – Meeting Rules of Order 

(1)    Any member wishing to be recognized for privilege of the floor shall rise, identify him or herself, and address the chair.

(2)    No member shall have privilege of the floor until properly moved, recorded, and declared upon for discussion by the chair.

(3)    No question can come before the meeting unless properly moved, recorded, and declared upon for discussion by the chair.

(4)    Any member may call for a vote on any question, which each member present shall be required to answer his or her name on the roll unless excused by the chair.

(5)    A motion to reconsider must come from a member voting with the majority when the motion to consider was taken.

(6)    When a point of order is raised by any member, a person having the floor shall take his or her seat until the point is decided by the chair.  If proper, he or she may resume his or her remarks.

(7)    No subject discussed shall be readdressed during the same meeting unless it was so understood when disposed of.

(8)    Any member may appeal to the Association from the decision of the chair the question shall be stated as: “Shall the decision of the chair be sustained?”

It shall be decided by a majority vote of the votes cast. 

SECTION 11 - Impeachment 

Any elected officer and or member of the Association may be removed from office and or expelled from the Association as a member for any violation of the Bylaws provisions or personal conduct which through an impartial investigation, is determined as bringing or may bring discredit upon the American Police Canine Association. 

Impeachment charges may be initiated against an elected officer and or member by two (2) members in good standing with the association or the Grievance Committee itself.  Impeachment charges against those alleged member(s) must be submitted in writing to the Grievance Committee Chairman.  The Grievance Committee Chairman will provide the accused member(s) a written copy of the charges against him or her. Upon completion of a thorough investigation, the Grievance Committee believes there is sufficient evidence to warrant a hearing, a hearing date will be established.  The accused member(s) will then be notified in writing by certified registered mail and not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the hearing. 

The accused member shall be given the right to present evidence in his or her behalf at the hearing.  Upon the conclusion of the hearing, the Grievance Committee will determine if the accused member is innocent or guilty of the charges and present its recommendation to the Executive Board.  In the event, the accused member is found guilty of the charge(s) against them, the Executive Board will decide disciplinary action to be taken, which may include, temporary suspension of privileges, expulsion or any other appropriate action.  An impeached Association officer and or member shall never hold any future office in this Association. 

Members found by the Executive Board to have initiated baseless charges against another member(s), with other underlying and or vindictive motives in doing so, may have appropriate disciplinary action initiated against them by the Executive Board. 

No disciplinary action shall be taken against an accused member or the complainant member unless having been afforded the opportunity of a hearing before the Grievance Committee, with the right of appeal to the Executive Board. 

All members are presumed innocent of misconduct unless otherwise found guilty by presented and supported evidence which is irrefutable and convincing.