Constitution
Constitution
ARTICLE I
Name and Objects
Section 1
The name of the organization shall be Armenian Gampr Club of America.
Section 2
The objectives of the Club shall be:
(a) To encourage and promote quality in the breeding and welfare of the Armenian Gampr and everything possible
to bring their natural qualities to perfection;
(b) To encourage the participation of interested organizations and individuals in Armenia;
(c) To urge members and breeders to accept the standard of the breed as approved by the Armenian Gampr Club of
America as the primary standard of excellence by which Armenian Gamprs shall be judged;
(d) To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breed and to encourage sportsmanlike
competition at dog shows, performance trials, and companion events;
(e) To conduct sanctioned matches, specialty shows, performance trials, and companion events under the Rules and
Regulations of The Armenian Gampr Club of America;
(f) To rescue abandoned, abused or displaced Armenian Gamprs and place them in permanent new homes.
(g) To educate members and non-members alike about ownership of the Armenian Gampr breed.
Section 3
The Club shall not be conducted or operated for profit; no part of any profits or remainder or residue from dues or
donations to the Club shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other
private persons, except that the Club shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for
services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Section 3
hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise
attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the
publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for
public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other
activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation,
contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding
section of any future federal tax code
Section 4
The names and addresses of the persons who are the initial trustees of the corporation are as follows:
Name: Rohana Mayer Address: 3000 Live Oak Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446
Name : Hamlik Parsanian Address:
Name: Arthur Barsegyan Address_______________________
Section 5
The place in this state where the principal office of the Corporation is to be located is the City of Paso Robles, San
Luis Obispo County. The county and city of the Club’s principal office can be changed by an amendment of these
bylaws.
Section 6
The members of the Club shall adopt bylaws, and from time to time, may revise such bylaws as may be required to
carry out these objectives.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Section 1. Membership
There shall be five types of membership open to persons in good standing with the AGCA and who subscribe to the
purposes of this club.
(a) Regular Membership is open to all persons eighteen years and older: who are and remain in good standing with
the AGCA, who are interested in the breed, and who subscribe to the purposes of the Club. This type of
membership pays full dues of $20 per yr and offers all Club benefits and participation. Regular members may vote
and hold office.
(b) Household Membership is open to a family whose members reside at the same address, in which the adults
would otherwise qualify for Regular Membership. This type of membership pays full dues of $35 per yr. and offers
all Club benefits and participation. Household Membership entitles the two primary adults to cast votes and hold
office.
(c) International Membership is open to all persons eighteen years and older: who reside outside of the U.S., who are
interested in the breed, and who subscribe to the purposes of the Club. This type of membership pays $15 US per yr.
Persons living outside of the US may not hold a board position. They will receive the newsletter and be able to
participate on committees, and vote.
(d) Junior Membership is open to all persons under eighteen years of age who are interested in the breed and
subscribe to the purposes of the Club. Reduced fees and dues of $6 per yr. are provided for this type of membership,
which offers all Club benefits and participation, except that Junior Members may not vote or hold office.
(e) Lifetime Membership is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the breed or club.
They pay no dues. To qualify, a person must have been a member of the AGCA for 10 years, or have made significant
relevant efforts on behalf of the breed. These are granted by the majority vote of the BOD.
(f) All voting memberships must complete a 6-month probationary term and may not vote or hold office until they
have been a member more than 6 months.
No membership shall exceed $50. 15% of each membership, rounded to the nearest dollar, will go into the rescue
fund.
Section 2 - Dues
Membership dues shall be paid on or before the 1st day of January of each year.
New members that join after the first quarter will have their membership fees pro-rated, on a quarterly basis.
No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of November, the Treasurer
shall send to each member a statement of his dues for the ensuing year.
Section 3 - Election to Membership
Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors and which shall provide
that the applicant agrees to abide by this constitution, the bylaws, and the rules of The Armenian Gampr Club of
America. The application shall state the name, address, telephone number and email address of the applicant,
together with such other information as may be required by the Board of Directors. Dues will accompany
Application (either electronically or by mail). Each application will then be sent to the Membership/ Welcoming
committee presided over by Director #5 for a vote regarding acceptance. At least once a month the committee will
convene electronically, in person, or via phone to vote on membership applications, a majority vote is required for
membership approval. All new memberships will then be sent a packet with club information from the welcoming
committee. The committee can only deny Membership in the cases that there is proof that the applicant will cause
harm to the club, the goals of the club, or to the breed. If an application for membership is denied by the committee,
an applicant may petition the club officers/directors directly for a vote on his or her membership request. Again, a
majority vote is required for membership approval. In the event membership is turned down, applicant may not
reapply for a full calendar year.
Section 4 - Termination of Membership
Memberships may be terminated:
(a) By resignation. Any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Secretary; but
no member may resign when in debt to the Club. Obligations other than dues are considered a debt to the Club; and
they become incurred on the first day of each fiscal year.
(b) By lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues
remain unpaid 60 days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional 30 days of
grace to such delinquent members in meritorious cases. In no case may a person be entitled to vote at any Club
meeting or by ballot whose dues are unpaid as of the date of that meeting/ballot is sent.
(c) By expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these bylaws. Dues are
forfeit.
ARTICLE II
Meetings
Section 1 - Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Club shall be held in conjunction with the Club's National Show, which will be held in
April of every year. The place, date, and hour will be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of the
annual meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary to each member at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting. The
quorum for the annual meeting shall be 10% of the members in good standing.
Section 2 - Special Club Meetings
Special Club meetings may be called by the President, by a majority vote of the Board who are present at a meeting,
by a majority vote of the Board taken by phone or electronically, or by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed
by 10% of the members of the Club who are in good standing. Such a meeting shall be held at such place, date and
hour as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary
at least 14 days prior to the meeting. The notice of the meeting shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other
Club business may be transacted. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20% of the members in good standing.
Section 3 - Board Meetings
The first meeting of the Board shall be held immediately following such Board taking office. Other meetings of the
Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as are designated by the President or by a majority vote of
the (entire) Board. Notice of each such meeting shall be provided to each member of the Board at least 14 days prior
to the date of the meeting. The quorum for a Board meeting shall be a majority of the Board.
Section 4 - Board Business
The Board of Directors may conduct business by telephone conference call, mail, fax, or electronically, provided that
it does not conflict with any other provision of these bylaws. Items voted upon by telephone conference call must be
confirmed in writing by the Secretary either by mail or electronically within seven days.
ARTICLE III
Directors and Officers
Section 1 - Board of Directors
The Board shall be comprised of the officers and eight (8) Directors all of whom shall be members in good standing.
Additional requirements for each position are included in Sections 2. Two members of the same household may not
serve concurrently. They shall be elected for two-year terms as provided in Article IV, and shall serve until their
successors are elected. General management of the Club's affairs shall be entrusted to the entire Board of Directors,
all of whom have equal authority and one vote. No member of the Board may make unilateral decisions regarding
club policy. Board Members will conduct themselves as ethical, proper representatives of the Club/Breed in all
situations concerning the same Failure to carry out one’s duties as set forth in Section 2 or failure to participate fully
in Board discussions, meetings, and voting may be grounds for a charge of dereliction of duty and action may be
taken as described in section 4. Election of Officers shall take place in even years. Election of the odd number
Directors shall take place in odd years. Election of the even number Directors shall take place in even years.
Section 2 - Officers
The Club's Officers, consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and PR delegate shall serve in
their respective capacities both with regard to the Club and its meetings and the Board and its meetings
(a) The President’s main function is to facilitate the cohesive inner workings of the club, preside at all meetings of the
Club and of the Board, to be a suitable figure head, carry out the requirements and powers normally appurtenant to
the office of the President in addition to the duties set forth in this document.
(b) The Vice President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President's death,
absence, incapacity, resignation, or expulsion. The VP is to preside over and manage the regional VPs and affiliated
clubs and organizations should they exist, take an accounting of their activities, help them properly represent the
breed and present a written report to the BOD in the first quarter of each yr. regarding such.
(c) The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club, of the Board, of all votes taken by mail or
electronically (on the occasion that secret ballots are not required by this document), and of all matters of which a
record shall be ordered by the Club; Additional responsibilities are as follows: having charge of the correspondence,
notifying members of meetings, notifying officers and directors of their election to office, working with Director #5
to keep a role of the membership, keeping a copy on file of all the Directors and committee reports for a period no
less then two years, and carrying out such other duties as are prescribed in these bylaws. Position requirements are
the minimum listed above.
(d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the Club. Moneys shall be deposited in a
bank approved by the Board, in the name of the Club. The books shall at all times be open to inspection by the
Board; a report shall be given quarterly of the condition of the Club's finances, including every item of receipt or
payment not before reported; In the first quarter chronicle, an accounting shall be rendered of all moneys received
and expended during the previous fiscal year. Treasurer will work in cooperation with Director #5 to ensure dues are
processed efficiently. Position requirements: Position requirements are the minimum listed above.
(e) Armenian Delegate. Among other duties, the Delegate shall present to the Board of Directors all issues and up
dates regarding AGCA business and interests in the country of Armenia. Additionally, the Armenian delegate shall
be available as much as possible for the assistance of locating dogs and/or puppies for importation to the United
States of America, shall determine to the best of his/her ability the actual lineage of dogs of interest to the Club, and
to assist in communication among interested parties in regards to the business of the Club in Armenia.
Section 2 (b)
Each Director shall be responsible for certain areas in addition to their respective capacities both with regard to the
Club and its meetings and the Board and its meetings.
(a) Director #1 is responsible for breed education, strictly over-seeing committees pertaining to Judges Seminars,
breeder certification, public breed seminars, and breed manuals. #1 is to train and ensure that anyone giving
seminars for the AGCA is properly versed in the standard and certified with the AGCA. Position requirements in
addition to the minimal stated above: Director #1 must have notable and significant experience with the breed, must
have studied dog structure and be able to demonstrate a solid grasp of the standard/breed. Experience in breed
education or judging is preferred.
(b) Director #2 will preside over the ethics and grievance committee and bring to the attention of the BOD any
grievances that the committee cannot resolve through mediation; and will have the duty to cultivate and encourage
AGCA members and breeders to uphold the Club’s code of ethics. #2 will preside over the monitors of the club
forum.
(c) Director #3 is responsible for accumulating and maintaining a record of conformation points earned by club
member’s dogs associated with club titles (Awards and Standing) and is responsible for acquiring the certificates and
awards for such club titles.
(d) Director #4 will preside over the committees that regulate, organize, and promote the AGCA’s conformation
events. 4# will preside over the committees that regulate, organize, and promote the AGCA’s companion events,
working events, and temperament evaluations. #4 is to ensure the proper calculation of the club points for each
respective Gampr evaluation and present to the BOD a full accounting at the end of the year, so that the BOD may
confirm who each venues award is to be given to by the Club.
(e) Director #5. Director #5 will ensure that monthly meetings to vet out applicants for membership into the club are
held promptly and that new members are contacted within one (1) month of induction; this includes: informing
them of their new membership status and giving them info about the club. Each month director #5 will submit to
the Board a roster of applicants compiled for final vote and approval of membership. #5 will immediately inform the
Treasurer of the new member’s acceptance, so that the Treasurer may pull the dues paid by said member out of the
holding account and deposit them into the general fund. #5 will keep a current membership role and provide a
quarterly copy to the Secretary, which will make it public record of such role annually. #5 may delegate tasks to his
committee members but is ultimately responsible in ensuring the duties assigned this office are carried out forth
with.
(f) Director #6 will preside over the Public Relation(s) Committee, merchandise and the Fund Raising Committee. #6
will ensure that the respective committees are on task and fully functional. Position requirements in addition to
those stated above: Must have good organization and people skills.
(g) Director # 7 will oversee the AGCA breeder’s: organizations, advocates and education
committees. #7 will preside over the Health and Genetics committees. Position requirements in addition to those
stated above: An Armenian Gampr Breeder of notable accomplishments and experience.
(h) Director #8 will oversee the rescue committee; helping them coordinate and communicate with other
organizations and keeping apprised of surrenders and dogs in need as well as to the number of successful adoptions.
#8 will work closely with the Treasurer in regards to funding the club has available to the rescue committee. #8 will
coordinate the production of the chronicle, making sure each party that is supposed to contribute does.
Section 3 - Vacancies
The duties of any vacant positions on the board shall be temporarily carried out by the President and Vice President
until position(s) are filled. Any vacancies occurring on the Board during the year shall be open until the next annual
election, or a special election may be called. The President will choose a candidate for the Board to consider. The
candidate must have a majority vote of all the then members of the Board to be approved. A vacancy in the office of
President shall be filled automatically by the Vice President and the resulting vacancy in the office of Vice President
shall be filled by the Board in the manner stated above. Any Board member that resigns twice from his/her elected
position will be deemed ineligible to hold a position on the Club’s Board for a period of not less than 7 years.
Section 4 - Removal of Officers and Directors
A). An Officer or Director may be removed by the Board for failure to comply with the provisions set forth in Section
2 and/or dereliction of his or her duties as described in Section 1 of this Article by a 2/3 vote of the entire Board of
Directors. B). An Officer or Director may be removed by the members on grounds listed above only by the vote of
those members eligible to vote for the Officer or Director. This procedure may be initiated by a written petition
addressed to the Secretary and signed by 25% of the membership in good standing. Such election shall be conducted
within three weeks of the date when the petition was received by the Secretary and conducted by the guidelines
outlined in Article 4, section 4, part (d). Vote counting must be witnessed by three members in good standing that
are not members of the BOD and that are approved of by a vote of 2/3 of the BOD (less the member in question). If
the Secretary is the officer in question, votes will go to Director #2 for tally (votes may also be sent to an independent
firm for counting).
Section 5 – Non-liability of Officers and Directors
The Directors and/or Officers shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the
corporation.
ARTICLE IV
The Club Year, Voting, Nominations, Elections
Section 1 - Club Year
The Club's fiscal and official year shall begin on the 1st day of January and end on the last day of December. The
elected Officers and Directors shall take office on the first day of January following the election and each retiring
officer shall turn over to his successor in office all properties and records relating to that office on or before January
15. Any officer who resigns or is removed shall turn over to his successor all properties and records relating to that
office within fifteen (15) days of such resignation or removal.
Section 2 - Voting
At the Annual Meeting or at a Special Meeting of the Club, voting shall be limited to those members in good
standing who are present at the meeting, except for the annual election of Officers (delegate) and Directors,
amendments to the constitution and bylaws, and the Standard for the Breed, which shall be decided by written
secret ballot cast by mail. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted. The Board of Directors may decide to submit other
specific questions at any time for decision of the members by written ballot cast by mail or electronically.
Section 3 - Annual Election
The election of Officers and Directors shall be conducted by secret ballot. Ballots, to be valid, must be received by the
Election oversight committee (or an independent professional firm designated by the Board) by December 1. Ballots
shall be counted by three inspectors of the election, and if possible they should be members of the oversight
committee. They must be members in good standing. They cannot be members of the current Board, candidates on
the ballot or their family members participate. These inspectors must be approved by 75% majority of the BOD. The
Board may designate an independent professional firm to send, receive, and count the ballots. The nominated
candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. If any nominee, at the time
of the election, is unable to serve for any reason, such nominee shall not be elected, and the vacancy so created shall
be filled by the new Board of Directors in the manner provided by Article III, Section 3.
Section 4 - Nominations and Ballots
No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated in accordance with these bylaws. A
Nominating Committee shall be chosen by the Board of Directors before August 15th. The committee shall consist
of: five members; one from each region and one additional, all members in good standing, no more than one of
whom may be a member of the current Board of Directors, and none that are up for re-election. The Board shall
name a chairman for the committee if it so chooses. The Nominating Committee may conduct its business
electronically or by phone.
(a) The Election Oversight Committee shall receive nominations of candidates from eligible members of the Club.
The Committee will vet out the nominees and confirm that they wish to run for the position. In order to qualify to
be a candidate as an Officer or Director, the person must be a member in good standing for at least three (3) years
and able to meet that office’s requirements The committee shall then submit its slate of candidates to the Secretary,
who shall publicly post the list, including the full name of each candidate and the name of the state in which he or
she resides, to allow each member of the Club to view it on or before September 1st, so that additional nominations
may be made by the members if they so desire.
(b) Additional nominations of eligible members may be made by written petition addressed to the Chair of the
oversight committee and postmarked on or before September 30th, signed by two members and accompanied by the
written acceptance of each such additional nominee signifying his willingness to be a candidate
(c) If no valid additional nominations are submitted for a position, the Election Oversight Committee's slate shall be
declared elected and no balloting will be required.
(d) If one or more valid additional nominations are postmarked on or before September 30th, the Secretary (or an
independent professional firm designated by the Board) shall, on or before October 15th, mail to each member in
good standing a ballot listing all of the nominees for each position in alphabetical order, with the names of the states
in which they reside, and a résumé (500 words or less) submitted by the candidate, together with a blank envelope
and a return envelope addressed to the Secretary (or designated professional firm) marked "Ballot" and bearing the
name of the member to whom it was sent. So that the ballots may remain secret, each voter, after marking their
ballot, shall seal it in the blank envelope, which in turn shall be placed in the second envelope addressed to the Chair
of the Oversight Committee (or designated professional firm) and mailed in, post marked on or before December 1st.
The inspectors of election (or designated professional firm) shall check the returns against the list of members whose
dues are paid for the current year prior to opening the outer envelopes, remove the blank envelopes, and shall certify
the eligibility of the voters as well as the results of the voting, which shall be announced no later than December 15.
In the event that the Secretary position is up for election, the ballots may not be sent out by this office, but from a
member of the Oversight committee.
(e) Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than as provided above.
ARTICLE V
Committees
Section 1
Each year the Board will appoint standing committees and their chairs to advance the work of the Club in such
matters as are listed above. The Board may at anytime commission additional committees to progress the
advancement of the Club and breed or reassign current, secondary committees. All committees will be overseen and
governed by a Director, which are in charge of day-to-day decisions. The Committee Chair is to keep its overseeing
Director fully apprised of the committees’ inner workings and direction. Such committees shall always be subject to
the final authority of the Board. Committees are required to present a written, quarterly report to its respective
Director who in turn will present it to the full BOD for discussion and approval. After which, the report will be filed
with the Secretary. No committee may create or carry new policy without the full BOD approval by majority vote.
Special committees may also be appointed by the Board to aid it on particular projects. Appointees must be
members in good standing.
Section 2
Any committee appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the full Board, and the Board may appoint
successors to those persons whose services have been terminated. Committee appointees are to thoroughly engage
their assignment, as it is a privilege to serve the club. Appointees may be terminated from their assigned committee
for dereliction of duties or for being overly contentious Teamwork is essential for a committee to function, and
committees are invaluable to the running of the Club.
ARTICLE VI
Discipline
Section 1 - Charges
Any member may bring charges against a follow member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of
the Club or the Breed Written charges with specifications must be filed with the Secretary, together with a deposit
of $50, which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board or a committee following a hearing.
The Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to the Director assigned as #2 and the grievance/ethics
committee. The committee will attempt to arbitrate a solution between the two parties. If after 20 days of the receipt
of the charges there is no resolution, the Member that is bringing the charges may request that the BOD consider
whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the
Club or the Breed. If the Board considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the
best interests of the Club or of the Breed, it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the Board entertains jurisdiction
for the charges, it shall fix a date of a hearing by the Board or a committee of not less than three members of the
Board, not less than three weeks or more that six weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall promptly send one copy of
the charges to the accused member by certified mail, together with a notice of the hearing, an assurance that the
defendant may personally appear in his own defense, and an acceptance for bringing witnesses on his or her behalf.
Section 2 - Board Hearing
The Board of Directors or Board committee, of not less than 6 directors shall have complete authority to decide
whether counsel may attend the hearing, but both complainant and defendant shall be treated uniformly in that
regard. Should the charges be sustained after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by complainant and
defendant, the Board or Board committee may by a majority vote of those present reprimand or suspend the
defendant from all privileges of the Club. Suspension may not last longer than a calendar year. If the BOD feels that
a permanent expulsion is deserved, they must submit it to the membership for a vote. Immediately after the Board
or Board committee has reached a decision; it’s finding shall be put in written form and filed with the Secretary. The
Secretary, in turn, shall notify each of the parties of the decision and penalty, if any.
ARTICLE VII
Amendments
Section 1
Amendments to the constitution and bylaws (and to the standard for the breed) may be proposed by the Board of
Directors or by written petition addressed to the Secretary signed by 20% of the membership in good standing.
Amendments proposed by such petition shall be promptly considered by the Board of Directors and must be
submitted to the members with recommendations
of the Board by the Secretary for a vote within three months of the date when the petition was received by the
Secretary.
Section 2
The constitution and bylaws (or the standard for the breed) may be amended at any time, provided a copy of the
proposed amendment has been mailed by the Secretary to each member in good standing on the date of mailing,
accompanied by a ballot on which a choice for or against the action to be taken shall be indicated. Dual-envelope
procedures described in Article IV, Section 4(d) shall be followed in handling such ballots, to assure secrecy of the
vote. Notice with such ballot shall specify a date not less than 30 days after the date postmarked, by which date the
ballots must be returned to the Secretary to be counted. The favorable vote of 2/3 of the members in good standing
who return valid ballots within the time limit shall be required to effect any such amendment.
ARTICLE VIII
Dissolution
Section 1
The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than 3/4 of the members. In the event of the
dissolution of the Club, other than for purposes of reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation
of law, none of the property of the Club nor any proceeds thereof nor any assets of the Club shall be distributed to
any members of the Club, but after payment of the debts of the Club its property and assets shall be given to a
charitable organization for the benefit of dogs selected by the Board of Directors
ARTICLE IX
Order of Business
Section 1
At meetings of the Club, the order of business so far as
the character and nature of the meeting may permit shall be as
follows:
Roll Call
Minutes of the last Meeting
Report of President
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of Committees
Unfinished Business
Election of Officers and Board (annual meeting)
New Business
Adjournment
Section 2. At meetings of the Board, the order of business; unless
otherwise directed by a majority vote of those present; shall be as
follows:
Reading of Minutes of last meeting
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of Committees
Unfinished Business
Election of new members
New Business
Adjournment
ARTICLE X
Section 1
All meetings and parliamentary procedures shall be
conducted in accordance with the latest edition of "Robert Rules of
Order", unless this is in conflict with the requirements of this
Constitution and By-Laws or applicable law, in which case the
Constitution and By-Laws or applicable law shall take precedence.
Section 2
In the event that any performance is required by the By-Laws to occur on a weekend or legal holiday, such
performance shall be deemed in compliance if it occurs on or before the next date that is not a weekend or legal
holiday.
Constitution
ARTICLE I
Name and Objects
Section 1
The name of the organization shall be Armenian Gampr Club of America.
Section 2
The objectives of the Club shall be:
(a) To encourage and promote quality in the breeding and welfare of the Armenian Gampr and everything possible
to bring their natural qualities to perfection;
(b) To encourage the participation of interested organizations and individuals in Armenia;
(c) To urge members and breeders to accept the standard of the breed as approved by the Armenian Gampr Club of
America as the primary standard of excellence by which Armenian Gamprs shall be judged;
(d) To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breed and to encourage sportsmanlike
competition at dog shows, performance trials, and companion events;
(e) To conduct sanctioned matches, specialty shows, performance trials, and companion events under the Rules and
Regulations of The Armenian Gampr Club of America;
(f) To rescue abandoned, abused or displaced Armenian Gamprs and place them in permanent new homes.
(g) To educate members and non-members alike about ownership of the Armenian Gampr breed.
Section 3
The Club shall not be conducted or operated for profit; no part of any profits or remainder or residue from dues or
donations to the Club shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other
private persons, except that the Club shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for
services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Section 3
hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise
attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the
publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for
public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other
activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation,
contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding
section of any future federal tax code
Section 4
The names and addresses of the persons who are the initial trustees of the corporation are as follows:
Name: Rohana Mayer Address: 3000 Live Oak Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446
Name : Hamlik Parsanian Address:
Name: Arthur Barsegyan Address_______________________
Section 5
The place in this state where the principal office of the Corporation is to be located is the City of Paso Robles, San
Luis Obispo County. The county and city of the Club’s principal office can be changed by an amendment of these
bylaws.
Section 6
The members of the Club shall adopt bylaws, and from time to time, may revise such bylaws as may be required to
carry out these objectives.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Section 1. Membership
There shall be five types of membership open to persons in good standing with the AGCA and who subscribe to the
purposes of this club.
(a) Regular Membership is open to all persons eighteen years and older: who are and remain in good standing with
the AGCA, who are interested in the breed, and who subscribe to the purposes of the Club. This type of
membership pays full dues of $20 per yr and offers all Club benefits and participation. Regular members may vote
and hold office.
(b) Household Membership is open to a family whose members reside at the same address, in which the adults
would otherwise qualify for Regular Membership. This type of membership pays full dues of $35 per yr. and offers
all Club benefits and participation. Household Membership entitles the two primary adults to cast votes and hold
office.
(c) International Membership is open to all persons eighteen years and older: who reside outside of the U.S., who are
interested in the breed, and who subscribe to the purposes of the Club. This type of membership pays $15 US per yr.
Persons living outside of the US may not hold a board position. They will receive the newsletter and be able to
participate on committees, and vote.
(d) Junior Membership is open to all persons under eighteen years of age who are interested in the breed and
subscribe to the purposes of the Club. Reduced fees and dues of $6 per yr. are provided for this type of membership,
which offers all Club benefits and participation, except that Junior Members may not vote or hold office.
(e) Lifetime Membership is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the breed or club.
They pay no dues. To qualify, a person must have been a member of the AGCA for 10 years, or have made significant
relevant efforts on behalf of the breed. These are granted by the majority vote of the BOD.
(f) All voting memberships must complete a 6-month probationary term and may not vote or hold office until they
have been a member more than 6 months.
No membership shall exceed $50. 15% of each membership, rounded to the nearest dollar, will go into the rescue
fund.
Section 2 - Dues
Membership dues shall be paid on or before the 1st day of January of each year.
New members that join after the first quarter will have their membership fees pro-rated, on a quarterly basis.
No member may vote whose dues are not paid for the current year. During the month of November, the Treasurer
shall send to each member a statement of his dues for the ensuing year.
Section 3 - Election to Membership
Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors and which shall provide
that the applicant agrees to abide by this constitution, the bylaws, and the rules of The Armenian Gampr Club of
America. The application shall state the name, address, telephone number and email address of the applicant,
together with such other information as may be required by the Board of Directors. Dues will accompany
Application (either electronically or by mail). Each application will then be sent to the Membership/ Welcoming
committee presided over by Director #5 for a vote regarding acceptance. At least once a month the committee will
convene electronically, in person, or via phone to vote on membership applications, a majority vote is required for
membership approval. All new memberships will then be sent a packet with club information from the welcoming
committee. The committee can only deny Membership in the cases that there is proof that the applicant will cause
harm to the club, the goals of the club, or to the breed. If an application for membership is denied by the committee,
an applicant may petition the club officers/directors directly for a vote on his or her membership request. Again, a
majority vote is required for membership approval. In the event membership is turned down, applicant may not
reapply for a full calendar year.
Section 4 - Termination of Membership
Memberships may be terminated:
(a) By resignation. Any member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Secretary; but
no member may resign when in debt to the Club. Obligations other than dues are considered a debt to the Club; and
they become incurred on the first day of each fiscal year.
(b) By lapsing. A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues
remain unpaid 60 days after the first day of the fiscal year; however, the Board may grant an additional 30 days of
grace to such delinquent members in meritorious cases. In no case may a person be entitled to vote at any Club
meeting or by ballot whose dues are unpaid as of the date of that meeting/ballot is sent.
(c) By expulsion. A membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article VI of these bylaws. Dues are
forfeit.
ARTICLE II
Meetings
Section 1 - Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Club shall be held in conjunction with the Club's National Show, which will be held in
April of every year. The place, date, and hour will be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of the
annual meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary to each member at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting. The
quorum for the annual meeting shall be 10% of the members in good standing.
Section 2 - Special Club Meetings
Special Club meetings may be called by the President, by a majority vote of the Board who are present at a meeting,
by a majority vote of the Board taken by phone or electronically, or by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed
by 10% of the members of the Club who are in good standing. Such a meeting shall be held at such place, date and
hour as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary
at least 14 days prior to the meeting. The notice of the meeting shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other
Club business may be transacted. The quorum for such a meeting shall be 20% of the members in good standing.
Section 3 - Board Meetings
The first meeting of the Board shall be held immediately following such Board taking office. Other meetings of the
Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as are designated by the President or by a majority vote of
the (entire) Board. Notice of each such meeting shall be provided to each member of the Board at least 14 days prior
to the date of the meeting. The quorum for a Board meeting shall be a majority of the Board.
Section 4 - Board Business
The Board of Directors may conduct business by telephone conference call, mail, fax, or electronically, provided that
it does not conflict with any other provision of these bylaws. Items voted upon by telephone conference call must be
confirmed in writing by the Secretary either by mail or electronically within seven days.
ARTICLE III
Directors and Officers
Section 1 - Board of Directors
The Board shall be comprised of the officers and eight (8) Directors all of whom shall be members in good standing.
Additional requirements for each position are included in Sections 2. Two members of the same household may not
serve concurrently. They shall be elected for two-year terms as provided in Article IV, and shall serve until their
successors are elected. General management of the Club's affairs shall be entrusted to the entire Board of Directors,
all of whom have equal authority and one vote. No member of the Board may make unilateral decisions regarding
club policy. Board Members will conduct themselves as ethical, proper representatives of the Club/Breed in all
situations concerning the same Failure to carry out one’s duties as set forth in Section 2 or failure to participate fully
in Board discussions, meetings, and voting may be grounds for a charge of dereliction of duty and action may be
taken as described in section 4. Election of Officers shall take place in even years. Election of the odd number
Directors shall take place in odd years. Election of the even number Directors shall take place in even years.
Section 2 - Officers
The Club's Officers, consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and PR delegate shall serve in
their respective capacities both with regard to the Club and its meetings and the Board and its meetings
(a) The President’s main function is to facilitate the cohesive inner workings of the club, preside at all meetings of the
Club and of the Board, to be a suitable figure head, carry out the requirements and powers normally appurtenant to
the office of the President in addition to the duties set forth in this document.
(b) The Vice President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President's death,
absence, incapacity, resignation, or expulsion. The VP is to preside over and manage the regional VPs and affiliated
clubs and organizations should they exist, take an accounting of their activities, help them properly represent the
breed and present a written report to the BOD in the first quarter of each yr. regarding such.
(c) The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Club, of the Board, of all votes taken by mail or
electronically (on the occasion that secret ballots are not required by this document), and of all matters of which a
record shall be ordered by the Club; Additional responsibilities are as follows: having charge of the correspondence,
notifying members of meetings, notifying officers and directors of their election to office, working with Director #5
to keep a role of the membership, keeping a copy on file of all the Directors and committee reports for a period no
less then two years, and carrying out such other duties as are prescribed in these bylaws. Position requirements are
the minimum listed above.
(d) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the Club. Moneys shall be deposited in a
bank approved by the Board, in the name of the Club. The books shall at all times be open to inspection by the
Board; a report shall be given quarterly of the condition of the Club's finances, including every item of receipt or
payment not before reported; In the first quarter chronicle, an accounting shall be rendered of all moneys received
and expended during the previous fiscal year. Treasurer will work in cooperation with Director #5 to ensure dues are
processed efficiently. Position requirements: Position requirements are the minimum listed above.
(e) Armenian Delegate. Among other duties, the Delegate shall present to the Board of Directors all issues and up
dates regarding AGCA business and interests in the country of Armenia. Additionally, the Armenian delegate shall
be available as much as possible for the assistance of locating dogs and/or puppies for importation to the United
States of America, shall determine to the best of his/her ability the actual lineage of dogs of interest to the Club, and
to assist in communication among interested parties in regards to the business of the Club in Armenia.
Section 2 (b)
Each Director shall be responsible for certain areas in addition to their respective capacities both with regard to the
Club and its meetings and the Board and its meetings.
(a) Director #1 is responsible for breed education, strictly over-seeing committees pertaining to Judges Seminars,
breeder certification, public breed seminars, and breed manuals. #1 is to train and ensure that anyone giving
seminars for the AGCA is properly versed in the standard and certified with the AGCA. Position requirements in
addition to the minimal stated above: Director #1 must have notable and significant experience with the breed, must
have studied dog structure and be able to demonstrate a solid grasp of the standard/breed. Experience in breed
education or judging is preferred.
(b) Director #2 will preside over the ethics and grievance committee and bring to the attention of the BOD any
grievances that the committee cannot resolve through mediation; and will have the duty to cultivate and encourage
AGCA members and breeders to uphold the Club’s code of ethics. #2 will preside over the monitors of the club
forum.
(c) Director #3 is responsible for accumulating and maintaining a record of conformation points earned by club
member’s dogs associated with club titles (Awards and Standing) and is responsible for acquiring the certificates and
awards for such club titles.
(d) Director #4 will preside over the committees that regulate, organize, and promote the AGCA’s conformation
events. 4# will preside over the committees that regulate, organize, and promote the AGCA’s companion events,
working events, and temperament evaluations. #4 is to ensure the proper calculation of the club points for each
respective Gampr evaluation and present to the BOD a full accounting at the end of the year, so that the BOD may
confirm who each venues award is to be given to by the Club.
(e) Director #5. Director #5 will ensure that monthly meetings to vet out applicants for membership into the club are
held promptly and that new members are contacted within one (1) month of induction; this includes: informing
them of their new membership status and giving them info about the club. Each month director #5 will submit to
the Board a roster of applicants compiled for final vote and approval of membership. #5 will immediately inform the
Treasurer of the new member’s acceptance, so that the Treasurer may pull the dues paid by said member out of the
holding account and deposit them into the general fund. #5 will keep a current membership role and provide a
quarterly copy to the Secretary, which will make it public record of such role annually. #5 may delegate tasks to his
committee members but is ultimately responsible in ensuring the duties assigned this office are carried out forth
with.
(f) Director #6 will preside over the Public Relation(s) Committee, merchandise and the Fund Raising Committee. #6
will ensure that the respective committees are on task and fully functional. Position requirements in addition to
those stated above: Must have good organization and people skills.
(g) Director # 7 will oversee the AGCA breeder’s: organizations, advocates and education
committees. #7 will preside over the Health and Genetics committees. Position requirements in addition to those
stated above: An Armenian Gampr Breeder of notable accomplishments and experience.
(h) Director #8 will oversee the rescue committee; helping them coordinate and communicate with other
organizations and keeping apprised of surrenders and dogs in need as well as to the number of successful adoptions.
#8 will work closely with the Treasurer in regards to funding the club has available to the rescue committee. #8 will
coordinate the production of the chronicle, making sure each party that is supposed to contribute does.
Section 3 - Vacancies
The duties of any vacant positions on the board shall be temporarily carried out by the President and Vice President
until position(s) are filled. Any vacancies occurring on the Board during the year shall be open until the next annual
election, or a special election may be called. The President will choose a candidate for the Board to consider. The
candidate must have a majority vote of all the then members of the Board to be approved. A vacancy in the office of
President shall be filled automatically by the Vice President and the resulting vacancy in the office of Vice President
shall be filled by the Board in the manner stated above. Any Board member that resigns twice from his/her elected
position will be deemed ineligible to hold a position on the Club’s Board for a period of not less than 7 years.
Section 4 - Removal of Officers and Directors
A). An Officer or Director may be removed by the Board for failure to comply with the provisions set forth in Section
2 and/or dereliction of his or her duties as described in Section 1 of this Article by a 2/3 vote of the entire Board of
Directors. B). An Officer or Director may be removed by the members on grounds listed above only by the vote of
those members eligible to vote for the Officer or Director. This procedure may be initiated by a written petition
addressed to the Secretary and signed by 25% of the membership in good standing. Such election shall be conducted
within three weeks of the date when the petition was received by the Secretary and conducted by the guidelines
outlined in Article 4, section 4, part (d). Vote counting must be witnessed by three members in good standing that
are not members of the BOD and that are approved of by a vote of 2/3 of the BOD (less the member in question). If
the Secretary is the officer in question, votes will go to Director #2 for tally (votes may also be sent to an independent
firm for counting).
Section 5 – Non-liability of Officers and Directors
The Directors and/or Officers shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the
corporation.
ARTICLE IV
The Club Year, Voting, Nominations, Elections
Section 1 - Club Year
The Club's fiscal and official year shall begin on the 1st day of January and end on the last day of December. The
elected Officers and Directors shall take office on the first day of January following the election and each retiring
officer shall turn over to his successor in office all properties and records relating to that office on or before January
15. Any officer who resigns or is removed shall turn over to his successor all properties and records relating to that
office within fifteen (15) days of such resignation or removal.
Section 2 - Voting
At the Annual Meeting or at a Special Meeting of the Club, voting shall be limited to those members in good
standing who are present at the meeting, except for the annual election of Officers (delegate) and Directors,
amendments to the constitution and bylaws, and the Standard for the Breed, which shall be decided by written
secret ballot cast by mail. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted. The Board of Directors may decide to submit other
specific questions at any time for decision of the members by written ballot cast by mail or electronically.
Section 3 - Annual Election
The election of Officers and Directors shall be conducted by secret ballot. Ballots, to be valid, must be received by the
Election oversight committee (or an independent professional firm designated by the Board) by December 1. Ballots
shall be counted by three inspectors of the election, and if possible they should be members of the oversight
committee. They must be members in good standing. They cannot be members of the current Board, candidates on
the ballot or their family members participate. These inspectors must be approved by 75% majority of the BOD. The
Board may designate an independent professional firm to send, receive, and count the ballots. The nominated
candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. If any nominee, at the time
of the election, is unable to serve for any reason, such nominee shall not be elected, and the vacancy so created shall
be filled by the new Board of Directors in the manner provided by Article III, Section 3.
Section 4 - Nominations and Ballots
No person may be a candidate in a Club election who has not been nominated in accordance with these bylaws. A
Nominating Committee shall be chosen by the Board of Directors before August 15th. The committee shall consist
of: five members; one from each region and one additional, all members in good standing, no more than one of
whom may be a member of the current Board of Directors, and none that are up for re-election. The Board shall
name a chairman for the committee if it so chooses. The Nominating Committee may conduct its business
electronically or by phone.
(a) The Election Oversight Committee shall receive nominations of candidates from eligible members of the Club.
The Committee will vet out the nominees and confirm that they wish to run for the position. In order to qualify to
be a candidate as an Officer or Director, the person must be a member in good standing for at least three (3) years
and able to meet that office’s requirements The committee shall then submit its slate of candidates to the Secretary,
who shall publicly post the list, including the full name of each candidate and the name of the state in which he or
she resides, to allow each member of the Club to view it on or before September 1st, so that additional nominations
may be made by the members if they so desire.
(b) Additional nominations of eligible members may be made by written petition addressed to the Chair of the
oversight committee and postmarked on or before September 30th, signed by two members and accompanied by the
written acceptance of each such additional nominee signifying his willingness to be a candidate
(c) If no valid additional nominations are submitted for a position, the Election Oversight Committee's slate shall be
declared elected and no balloting will be required.
(d) If one or more valid additional nominations are postmarked on or before September 30th, the Secretary (or an
independent professional firm designated by the Board) shall, on or before October 15th, mail to each member in
good standing a ballot listing all of the nominees for each position in alphabetical order, with the names of the states
in which they reside, and a résumé (500 words or less) submitted by the candidate, together with a blank envelope
and a return envelope addressed to the Secretary (or designated professional firm) marked "Ballot" and bearing the
name of the member to whom it was sent. So that the ballots may remain secret, each voter, after marking their
ballot, shall seal it in the blank envelope, which in turn shall be placed in the second envelope addressed to the Chair
of the Oversight Committee (or designated professional firm) and mailed in, post marked on or before December 1st.
The inspectors of election (or designated professional firm) shall check the returns against the list of members whose
dues are paid for the current year prior to opening the outer envelopes, remove the blank envelopes, and shall certify
the eligibility of the voters as well as the results of the voting, which shall be announced no later than December 15.
In the event that the Secretary position is up for election, the ballots may not be sent out by this office, but from a
member of the Oversight committee.
(e) Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than as provided above.
ARTICLE V
Committees
Section 1
Each year the Board will appoint standing committees and their chairs to advance the work of the Club in such
matters as are listed above. The Board may at anytime commission additional committees to progress the
advancement of the Club and breed or reassign current, secondary committees. All committees will be overseen and
governed by a Director, which are in charge of day-to-day decisions. The Committee Chair is to keep its overseeing
Director fully apprised of the committees’ inner workings and direction. Such committees shall always be subject to
the final authority of the Board. Committees are required to present a written, quarterly report to its respective
Director who in turn will present it to the full BOD for discussion and approval. After which, the report will be filed
with the Secretary. No committee may create or carry new policy without the full BOD approval by majority vote.
Special committees may also be appointed by the Board to aid it on particular projects. Appointees must be
members in good standing.
Section 2
Any committee appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the full Board, and the Board may appoint
successors to those persons whose services have been terminated. Committee appointees are to thoroughly engage
their assignment, as it is a privilege to serve the club. Appointees may be terminated from their assigned committee
for dereliction of duties or for being overly contentious Teamwork is essential for a committee to function, and
committees are invaluable to the running of the Club.
ARTICLE VI
Discipline
Section 1 - Charges
Any member may bring charges against a follow member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of
the Club or the Breed Written charges with specifications must be filed with the Secretary, together with a deposit
of $50, which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board or a committee following a hearing.
The Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to the Director assigned as #2 and the grievance/ethics
committee. The committee will attempt to arbitrate a solution between the two parties. If after 20 days of the receipt
of the charges there is no resolution, the Member that is bringing the charges may request that the BOD consider
whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the
Club or the Breed. If the Board considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the
best interests of the Club or of the Breed, it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the Board entertains jurisdiction
for the charges, it shall fix a date of a hearing by the Board or a committee of not less than three members of the
Board, not less than three weeks or more that six weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall promptly send one copy of
the charges to the accused member by certified mail, together with a notice of the hearing, an assurance that the
defendant may personally appear in his own defense, and an acceptance for bringing witnesses on his or her behalf.
Section 2 - Board Hearing
The Board of Directors or Board committee, of not less than 6 directors shall have complete authority to decide
whether counsel may attend the hearing, but both complainant and defendant shall be treated uniformly in that
regard. Should the charges be sustained after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by complainant and
defendant, the Board or Board committee may by a majority vote of those present reprimand or suspend the
defendant from all privileges of the Club. Suspension may not last longer than a calendar year. If the BOD feels that
a permanent expulsion is deserved, they must submit it to the membership for a vote. Immediately after the Board
or Board committee has reached a decision; it’s finding shall be put in written form and filed with the Secretary. The
Secretary, in turn, shall notify each of the parties of the decision and penalty, if any.
ARTICLE VII
Amendments
Section 1
Amendments to the constitution and bylaws (and to the standard for the breed) may be proposed by the Board of
Directors or by written petition addressed to the Secretary signed by 20% of the membership in good standing.
Amendments proposed by such petition shall be promptly considered by the Board of Directors and must be
submitted to the members with recommendations
of the Board by the Secretary for a vote within three months of the date when the petition was received by the
Secretary.
Section 2
The constitution and bylaws (or the standard for the breed) may be amended at any time, provided a copy of the
proposed amendment has been mailed by the Secretary to each member in good standing on the date of mailing,
accompanied by a ballot on which a choice for or against the action to be taken shall be indicated. Dual-envelope
procedures described in Article IV, Section 4(d) shall be followed in handling such ballots, to assure secrecy of the
vote. Notice with such ballot shall specify a date not less than 30 days after the date postmarked, by which date the
ballots must be returned to the Secretary to be counted. The favorable vote of 2/3 of the members in good standing
who return valid ballots within the time limit shall be required to effect any such amendment.
ARTICLE VIII
Dissolution
Section 1
The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than 3/4 of the members. In the event of the
dissolution of the Club, other than for purposes of reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation
of law, none of the property of the Club nor any proceeds thereof nor any assets of the Club shall be distributed to
any members of the Club, but after payment of the debts of the Club its property and assets shall be given to a
charitable organization for the benefit of dogs selected by the Board of Directors
ARTICLE IX
Order of Business
Section 1
At meetings of the Club, the order of business so far as
the character and nature of the meeting may permit shall be as
follows:
Roll Call
Minutes of the last Meeting
Report of President
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of Committees
Unfinished Business
Election of Officers and Board (annual meeting)
New Business
Adjournment
Section 2. At meetings of the Board, the order of business; unless
otherwise directed by a majority vote of those present; shall be as
follows:
Reading of Minutes of last meeting
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of Committees
Unfinished Business
Election of new members
New Business
Adjournment
ARTICLE X
Section 1
All meetings and parliamentary procedures shall be
conducted in accordance with the latest edition of "Robert Rules of
Order", unless this is in conflict with the requirements of this
Constitution and By-Laws or applicable law, in which case the
Constitution and By-Laws or applicable law shall take precedence.
Section 2
In the event that any performance is required by the By-Laws to occur on a weekend or legal holiday, such
performance shall be deemed in compliance if it occurs on or before the next date that is not a weekend or legal
holiday.
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Armenian Gampr Club of America
Section 1
The following Code of Ethics is attached to
and made a part of the AGCA By-Laws.
Section 2
I, as a member of the AGCA, agree to
abide by the rules set forth before me on
this Code of Ethics and the previously
mentioned By-Laws. First and foremost are
the welfare of the Armenian GAmpr and
the integrity of the Club and its members. I
realize that any violation of the Code of
Ethics or the By-Laws is grounds for
expulsion or suspension from the privileges
of the Club.
(a) I will strive to keep the Armenian
Gampr purebred and will not knowingly
breed the Armenian Gampr to any other
breed of dog.
(b) I will not knowingly falsify any papers
or documents, such as health records and
registration papers, vital to the regulations
records, show records, or other aspects of
the Club.
(c) I will recognize and accept the AGCA as
the official breed club of the Armenian
Gampr in the U.S. If breeding a litter, I
agree to provide proper paperwork in a
timely manner, but no longer than 6
months, unless so stated in the purchase
contract, and to mark each pet quality pup
as limited registration on the puppy
registration form.
(d) I will never breed a bitch that is under
20 months of age, or a dog that is under 18
months of age.
(e) I will provide adequate food and shelter,
proper health care, and companionship for
all of my dogs.
(f) I will give the AGCA the first right of
refusal should buyer decide to place said
dog in a pound or local shelter. The AGCA
will make all efforts to protect and find a
suitable home for said animal.
(g) I will not sell dogs or puppies to pet
shops or dog brokers.
(h) I will not misrepresent my dogs to
anyone.
(i) I will always breed as close to the AGCA
Standard as possible. I will not breed dogs
which have serious faults which would be
detrimental to the health and welfare of the
breed, including temperament flaws.
(j) I will conduct myself in a sportsmanship
manner at all dog shows and functions;
and will act as a true representative for the
breed and the Club.
(k) I will not be involved in or use my dogs
for any illegal activity
(l) I will not make accusations or try to
discredit other breeders, exhibitors or
AGCA members to anyone but the AGCA
Club Officers directly.
(m) If I sell a puppy as sound, but the
puppy is found later to have a genetic
fault, the buyer is entitled to either a
replacement or a refund. The solution will
be mutually agreed upon by the buyer,
myself, and if appropriate by the Board of
the AGCA.
