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MAINE COON BREEDERS AND
FANCIERS ASSOCIATION, INC. BY-LAWS
(Updated: December, 2004)
Article 1. Membership
A. |
There shall be two divisions: the Breeder Division and the
Fancier Division.
XX |
B. |
Membership in the Fanciers Division is obtained by sending the
annual dues to the Fancier Division Secretary. Fancier Members
receive The Scratch Sheet and are encouraged to contribute articles,
letters, and pictures to the magazine. Fanciers may attend meetings
and participate in discussions. The President may appoint them to
committees and their expertise is valued.
XX |
C. |
Breeder Division membership is composed of member catteries in
the following subdivisions:
XX |
XX1.X |
Provisional Breeder Members
XX |
XX2.X |
Breeder Members:
XX |
XXXa.X |
Active
XX |
XXXb. |
Inactive
XX |
XX3. |
Associate Breeder
members
XX |
D. |
Provisional Breeder Members
XX |
XX1. |
Persons wishing to join the Breeder Division must either write to
the Provisional Breeder Member Secretary for an application form or
use the online application form (http://www.mcbfa.org). The form
sets forth the requirements that:
XX |
XXXa.X |
The applicant must own,
co-own, or lease a female cat/kitten capable of reproduction, and
must house said female, supervise the pregnancy and birth, and raise
and register two litters;
XX |
XXXb. |
Persons who are not planning to
become active breeders are ineligible for Provisional Breeder
status;
XX |
XXXc. |
Shadow ownership violates the spirit of MCBFA;
XX |
XXXd. |
Falsification of the application or of records is grounds for
expulsion.
XX |
XX2.X |
Along with the completed application form and a
signed copy of the Code of Ethics, applicants must submit a
photocopy of the registration of the cattery with at least one major
recognized cat registration association. (Note: ACA is not a
registry recognized by MCBFA.)
XX |
XX3.X |
A Letter of Intent must also be
submitted, to include reasons for the applicant’s wishing to join
MCBFA, a short resume about the applicant, how the cattery began,
what goals are being sought in a breeding program, who the sponsor
is, and other such information as deemed important by the applicant.
XX |
X
4.X |
The first year’s dues shall be submitted at this time to the
Provisional Breeder Member Secretary.
XX |
XX5.X |
The application shall
contain an agreement to be signed by the applicant stating: “I
have read and do promise to abide by the Constitution and By-laws
and all MCBFA Codes, and, if I am in violation thereof, I will
resign or may be expelled in the sole judgment of the Complaints
Committee or as otherwise provided.” MCBFA recognizes that some
Breeder Members may not be able to follow all MCBFA Codes since laws
in their own states or countries may supersede requirements in the
codes.
XX |
XX6.X |
The application must be signed by the sponsor of the
applicant; the sponsor shall be an MCBFA Breeder Member in good
standing, who has held full Breeder Membership for at least two
years, and whose sponsorship shall not result in the Breeder Member’s
concurrent sponsoring of more than two pending Provisional Members.
The sponsor will also send directly to the Provisional Breeder
Member Secretary a narrative evaluation of the applicant. Associate
Members and Inactive Breeder Members may act as sponsors. (See Role
of Sponsors under Active Breeder, Section E 2)
XX |
XX7.X |
Upon receipt of
the completed forms, the Letter of Intent, the dues, and an initial
written evaluation by the sponsoring Breeder Member, the applicant
shall become a Provisional Breeder Member. The membership shall be
advised of all new Provisional Breeder Members in the Minutes of the
next quarterly meeting, listing the name, address, telephone number,
cattery name, cat’s (cats’) name(s), and the name of the
sponsor.
XX |
XX8.X |
Provisional Breeder Members may attend meetings and
will receive Minutes, but they may not vote, be on the Breeders
List, advertise in The Scratch Sheet, list in any of MCBFA’s
services, or use the name or the abbreviation of MCBFA in any
advertising or on business cards or stationery. They may list
kittens with the Kitten Bank, but all persons contacting the Bank
must be advised of listings that belong to Provisional Breeder
Members.
XX |
XX9.X |
Provisional Breeder status will last at least two
years after the notice is published in the Minutes.
XX |
X10.X |
During
the two years of provisional status, the Provisional Member shall
provide to the Provisional Breeder Member Secretary proof of showing
an owned Maine Coon in at least six shows of major registering
associations. Such proof shall be photocopies of the catalog page
showing the name, date, place, and judges for the show, and the
catalog pages for the cat, to be signed and dated by a Breeder
Member attending that show, or by the Show Manager, Master Clerk,
and/or Entry Clerk for the show.
XX |
X11.X |
At the end of two years, the
Provisional Breeder Member Secretary shall request: XX |
XXXa.X |
proof of
registration of two Maine Coon litters that are at least six weeks
old, which litters must be from two females, or if from one female,
no closer than eight months apart;
XX |
XXXb.X |
proof of cattery visits and
evaluations made by two full Breeder Members in the United States
and Canada, or one such evaluation for International Region
Provisional Breeder members. These evaluations should validate that
the cats are healthy and well-socialized and that the cattery is
clean and sufficiently roomy; should point out things that are being
done correctly and give advice on ways to improve; should indicate
specifics such as provisions for safety, well-being, and happiness
of the queen and kittens; should indicate what is being done to deal
with any concerns the evaluator might have had. Provisional Breeder
members, domestic or international, may petition to the Executive
Council to approve by majority vote the acceptance of an evaluation
report by a reputable breeder of another breed or a veterinarian, or
to modify otherwise this requirement in a reasonable fashion;
XX |
XXXc.X |
a re-evaluation and recommendation by the sponsor sent directly to
the Provisional Breeder Member Secretary, which shall. contain
information on such factors as continued showing, increasing
education about the breed, current knowledge about feline welfare
and health, use of sales contracts, and an appraisal of the
Provisional Breeder member’s integrity, ethics, and intent.
XX |
X12.X |
Should a sponsor withdraw or cease sponsorship, in order to retain
Provisional Membership, the affected Provisional Breeder Member must
replace the sponsor, as evidenced by a new letter of sponsorship by
the replacement sponsor, within thirty days after notification by
the Provisional Breeder Member Secretary of the withdrawal or
cessation.
XX |
X13.X |
The sponsorship requirement may be waived, on a
case-by-case basis by a majority vote of the Executive Council upon
petition by an applicant from outside the United States, Canada, or
Europe, provided the Provisional Breeder Member Secretary submits a
report recommending Executive Council approval on the basis of only
letters of recommendation and other information deemed relevant.
XX |
X14.X |
At the end of the initial two years, a Provisional Breeder Member
who has not fulfilled the requirements for advancing shall provide
to the Provisional Breeder Member Secretary a written statement
detailing the reason(s) for not meeting the requirements in a timely
fashion and shall provide a revised plan for fulfilling the
requirements within the next year.
XX |
X15.X |
When time, cattery
evaluations, sponsor’s re-evaluation and recommendation, and
litter registration requirements are met, the Minutes of the next
meeting shall contain a ballot with the names of Provisional Breeder
Members to be voted on for full Breeder Member status. Breeder
Members shall be given not less than four weeks to return the
ballots. A Provisional Breeder Member must receive a total of eight
votes (yes or no) on a ballot before advancing to Breeder Member
status. A majority vote is necessary. Members not receiving the
minimum number of votes will be notified and will appear on the next
appropriate ballot. A tie vote is thus regarded as a “No” vote.
Should all votes be “Abstains,” then Provisional Breeder Member
status is extended for another nine months. The Provisional Breeder
Member Secretary shall notify the Provisional Breeder Members
immediately about the results (but not the actual vote count), and
the results (but not the actual vote count) shall be published in
the Minutes of the next meeting.
XX |
X16.X |
If a Provisional Breeder
member is not accepted for Breeder Member status, the Provisional
Breeder Member’s status will revert to Fancier status for the
remainder of the dues year. That cattery may reapply in one year.
Dues paid with the application are non-refundable.
XX |
X17.X |
Notwithstanding the above requirements, exceptions may be made upon
recommendation of the Provisional Breeder Member Secretary and
approval by the Executive Council for applicants who have been
established and respected breeders of Maine Coons or of another
breed for more than five years, who are judges in the recognized
registering associations domestically or abroad, or who, for any
other reason deemed admissible by the Provisional Breeder Member
Secretary, would qualify under this proviso. One year’s status as
a Provisional Breeder Member would suffice to educate the applicant
about the mission of MCBFA and would allow sufficient time for the
applicant to meet as many MCBFA members as possible. The
requirements for breeding should call for one litter of Maine Coon
kittens to be registered, or in countries that do not use the litter
registration format, allow the substitution of a photocopy of an
individual kitten registration from the litter.
XX |
E. |
Breeder Members
XX |
XX1.X |
Active Breeder Members are defined as
those who are current on dues, who have on file with the Breeder
Member Secretary a signed copy of a current Code of Ethics and a
current litter registration, who may be listed on all Breeder Lists,
who have the right to vote on all ballots, who, if they have been
full Breeder members for two years, are qualified to hold office and
may sponsor applicants for Provisional Breeder Membership, who may
advertise that they are MCBFA members in magazines, on websites, in
show catalogs, on business cards and stationery, and in any other
place or publication. * An Active Breeder Member with more than five
years as such who has no current litter registration to submit may,
in lieu of such, submit a photocopy of a litter registration showing
a stud male owned by the cattery as the designated sire of the
litter.
XX |
XX2.X |
Sponsors of Provisional Breeder Members have a dual obligation
- to MCBFA and to the Provisional. The period of Provisional status
is a time for sponsors to educate Provisionals about the mission and
goals of MCBFA as regards the promotion and protection of the Maine
Coon. Sponsors shall:
XX |
XXXa.X |
be prompt in signing the application
form and in providing to the Provisional Breeder Member Secretary
the initial narrative evaluation of Provisionals being
sponsored;
XX |
XXXb.X |
encourage Provisionals to start out small and build
slowly, being selective with breeding stock;
XX |
XXXc.X |
make an active
commitment to help sponsored establish the best breeding program and
cattery environment possible, indicating to the Provisional what is
being done correctly and offering guidance to help provide for the
safety, well-being, and happiness of the cats and kittens, making
recommendations and suggestions rather than dictating exact
behavior, allowing sponsored opportunity to learn for
themselves;
XX |
XXXd.X |
provide advice about health issues,
characteristics in certain lines, answers to pedigree
questions;
XX |
XXXe.X |
be available whenever sponsored have questions or
problems, having not only the knowledge but the patience, time, and
communication skills to mentor them;
XX |
XXXf.X |
assure that Provisionals
meet other breeders, encouraging showing as a means to achieve this
aim as well as to learn more about the breed itself;
XX |
XXXg.X |
be active
in seeing that sponsrees in remote areas are furnished with names
and addresses off MCBFA breeders who can also serve as advisors,
counselors, and mentors by mail, email, or phone, as well as by
personal contact;
XX |
XXXh.X |
keep themselves informed about the progress
of sponsored and be prompt in providing the required narrative
re-evaluation when Provisionals have completed requirements for
being placed on the ballot to advance.
XX |
F. |
Inactive Breeder
Members are defined as those who have not supplied a current litter
registration and thus will not be listed on the Active Breeder
Member List. Inactive Breeder members retain all other privileges
such as voting, holding office, and sponsoring applicants for
Provisional Breeder membership. They can be restored to official
Active Breeder Member status upon submission of the required litter
registration.
XX |
G. |
Associate Breeder Members
XX |
XX1.X |
Associate Breeder Members shall be member catteries that have
retired from actively breeding Maine Coons. They shall retain all
privileges of Breeder Members except the right to vote and hold
office.
XX |
XX2.X |
Associate Breeder members shall not be listed on a
breeder’s list.
XX |
H. |
Reinstatement of Breeder Member Catteries which have been
dropped:
XX |
XX1.X |
For one year: Breeder Member Catteries which have
been dropped for non-payment of dues must, in order to be reinstated
to active membership, supply to the Breeder Member Secretary a
letter seeking reinstatement, accompanied by full back dues payment
for the one year in addition to current dues;
XX |
XX2.X |
For more than
one year: Reinstatement of Breeder Member Catteries dropped for
more than one year must be sought by sending to the Breeder Member
Secretary
XX |
XXXa.X |
a letter of intent to resume breeder
membership,
XX |
XXXb.X |
a current litter registration,
XX |
XXXc.X |
a signed copy
of the current Code of Ethics,
XX |
XXXd.X |
payment of current
dues. After these requirements are met, the former member will be
placed on the next ballot for a Reinstatement vote.
XX |
I. |
Change in
Cattery Ownership: Any change in the ownership of a cattery
requires reapplication to the Breeder Member Secretary.
XX |
XX1.X |
If the Breeder Member owners of a cattery decide to
split the cattery, membership remains with the cattery name. The
owner who has to register a new cattery name must reapply for
membership; in such cases the waiting period and the ballot to
membership are not required if both owners were voted on when the
cattery attained Breeder Member status. The new cattery receives
Breeder Member status upon receipt of the completed application, a
copy of the registration certificate for the new cattery, and annual
dues.
XX |
XX2.X |
If the change in ownership involves the addition of a
person not previously approved as a Breeder Member, that person must
undergo the Provisional process for a shortened period of one year,
at the end of which time a copy of a litter registration showing the
name of the person as breeder or co-breeder of a litter shall be
furnished to the Breeder Member Secretary. During this period, the
Breeder Member owner of the cattery retains all rights of full
Breeder Membership.
XX |
XX3.X |
Simple name change of a cattery not
involving a change in ownership requires only written notification
to the Breeder Member Secretary of the name change, along with a
photocopy of the cattery registration from recognized registering
association. |
Article 2. Dues
A. |
Breeder Division
XX |
XX1.X |
Annual dues of the Provisional Breeder Members and Breeder Members
shall be set by the Executive Council. For the first year of
membership only, entering Provisional Breeder Members shall pay five
dollars ($5.00) above Breeder Division dues to cover the cost of a
copy of “Caring For, Breeding and Showing Your Maine Coon Cat.”
Although all owners of a cattery are members, each member cattery is
entitled to only one (1) vote. Founding members of MCBFA who are
still members shall have honorary free life memberships.
XX |
XX2.X |
Annual dues of Associate Breeder Members shall be set by the
Executive Council.
XX |
XX3.X |
Breeder Members shall be notified of their
dues expiration date via a notice from the Breeder Member Secretary
sent by mail, email, and/or a notice in The Scratch Sheet during the
anniversary month. A reminder notice may be sent at the discretion
of the Breeder Member Secretary after 60 days. Dues not paid within
90 days of the first day of the anniversary month shall cause the
member to be dropped from the rolls.
XX |
XX4.X |
Breeder Member owners of
catteries that have been dropped shall refer to Article 1-H for
instructions concerning rejoining.
XX |
XX5.X |
Provisional Breeder Members
shall be notified of their dues expiration date via a notice from
the Provisional Breeder Member Secretary sent by mail, email, and/or
a notice in The Scratch Sheet during the anniversary month. A
reminder notice may be sent at the discretion of the Provisional
Breeder Member Secretary after 60 days. Dues not paid within 90 days
of the first of the anniversary month shall cause the member to be
dropped from the rolls.
XX |
B. |
Fanciers Division
XX |
XX1.X |
Annual dues of the Fanciers Division
shall be set by the Executive Council. After each ten-(10)
consecutive years of membership, the following year shall be
free.
XX |
XX2.X |
The Fancier Member Secretary via a notice in The Scratch
Sheet shall notify members of their dues expiration. These notices
shall appear in two consecutive issues. Dues not paid within 90 days
after the first of the anniversary month shall cause the member to
be dropped from the rolls.
XX |
It shall be the responsibility of each of the above-named
officers to report promptly to the Mailing List Director current
members and those dropped.
XX |
C. |
Any member who is officially suspended by MCBFA remains
responsible for all dues during the period of suspension. |
Article 3. Meetings
A. |
Meetings of the Breeder Division shall be held at least four
times a year.
XX |
B. |
The President is solely responsible for scheduling all
meetings.
XX |
C. |
Breeder Division members shall be notified by announcement in
The Scratch Sheet and on the MCBFA List of the date and location for
all meetings. The person to contact for exact information must be
included in the notice.
XX |
D. |
The quorum for the transaction of business is one officer and
five individual Breeder Members.
XX |
E. |
Any member of the Breeder Division may attend meetings. Only
Breeder Members of the Breeder Division may vote at the meeting or
on ballots mailed with the Minutes of a meeting. Fancier Members and
guests may attend meetings and join in discussions.
XX |
F. |
Any Breeder member may present a motion by mail if unable to
attend the meeting in person. New motions brought up at a meeting
shall not be placed on the ballot following that meeting but may be
brought up at a subsequent meeting and, if felt to be necessary, may
be placed on a ballot following favorable action at the second
meeting within a year. Any motion passed at a meeting must be put to
a vote of the Breeder Division if a petition to that effect is sent
to the President signed by seven Breeder Member catteries within 60
days of the mailing of the Minutes. No proxy votes are allowed.
XX |
G. |
Robert’s Rules of Order
shall be the authority guiding all matters of procedure not
otherwise provided for in these By-Laws. |
Article 4. Officers
A. |
The elected officers of this
association shall be President, Vice-President, Treasurer,
Corresponding Secretary, Breeder Member Secretary, Provisional
Breeder Member Secretary, Fancier Member Secretary, Recording
Secretary, and Regional Directors. The above-named officers shall be
known as the Executive Council. The management of the business and
affairs of the Association shall be under the direction of the
Executive Council.
XX |
B. |
Appointed officers shall be the Editor of The Scratch Sheet
and the Archivist. There is no set term for these appointed
officers. A two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Council shall
appoint or remove any appointed officer.
XX |
C. |
Elected officers shall take office on the first of May for a
two-year term.
XX |
D. |
Vacancies in office shall be filled for the unexpired term by
appointment of the President.
XX |
E. |
No person shall serve as President or Vice-President for more
than two consecutive terms.
XX |
F. |
At least one region shall be established to represent areas
outside of the United States and Canada. Regional Directors shall
receive votes only from Breeder members residing in that region.
XX |
G. |
No person may hold more than one office in the Association at
the same time.
XX |
H. |
Special representatives shall be appointed as deemed necessary
by the Executive Council. The Kitten Bank Representative shall be
appointed or removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive
Council.
XX |
I. |
Should any officer fail to fulfill the duties of office, a
two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Council is required to
approve a recall vote. A two-thirds majority of Breeder Member votes
received is required to remove an officer. |
Article 5. Election of Officers
A. |
All persons wishing to serve as an officer of the association
shall notify the Recording Secretary by February 15th of each
election year. No person may file for more than one office.
XX |
B. |
Candidates for a given office shall be listed on the ballot in
alphabetical order by last name. The Recording Secretary shall mail
ballots to each Breeder Member in good standing. Members shall have
not less than four weeks to return the ballots. Space shall be
provided on the ballots for write-in candidates. Any member who so
desires may cast write-in votes.
XX |
C. |
The results, but not " actual
vote count, shall be reported to the next meeting. The candidate for
a given office, including write-in candidates, who receive the
majority of votes cast, is elected. If a write-in candidate wins and
refuses to serve, the candidate with the majority of the remaining
votes is elected. If no Candidate receives a majority, a run-off
will be held between the two candidates receiving the most votes.XX |
Article 6. Duties of Officers
A. |
A The President shall be the
executive officer of the Association and shall have the authority to
act as its representative and spokesman in all matters not otherwise
specifically delegated by the Constitution and By-Laws. The
President shall preside at meetings whenever possible and, when
unable to attend, shall appoint another officer to preside. The
President shall assure that ballot results are available at each
meeting. The President shall co-ordinate the activities of the
members. The President shall appoint and committee that may be
necessary and shall be a member ex-officio of all committees.
XX |
B. |
The Vice-President shall perform all the duties of the Office of
President in the event of the absence or incapacity of the
President. if the Office of President becomes vacant, the
Vice-President will assume the office and appoint a new
Vice-President to the unexpired term. This officer shall maintain
updated copies of the Constitution, By-Laws, Standing Rules, MCBFA
Codes and any other similar documents of the Association. When
changes occur in any of these documents, an updated copy shall be
sent to each officer as promptly as possible. The Vice-President
shall send ribbons for each ring in every show qualifying for them.
The Vice-President shall assist the Editor in determining the top
five cats in each category in each association for publication in
the Annual Awards issue of The Scratch Sheet.
XX |
C. |
The Treasurer shall receive
all moneys due to the Association, disburse all approved expenses,
and have custody of all funds. The Treasurer shall keep an account
of receipts and expenses and shall render a Quarterly Financial
Report. The fiscal year shall start on May 1. The Treasurer will
notify the appropriate Breeder Division Secretary and the Fancier
Division Secretary of any failure of moneys to be paid by the payer’s
bank for dues. The Treasurer shall deposit all dues payments within
two weeks of receipt of the funds and of the financial report of the
appropriate Breeder Division Secretary and Fancier Division
Secretary. The Treasurer shall obtain a bond in the amount of
$25,000. The Treasurer is responsible for filing any required tax
forms. The Treasurer shall ascertain that the signature card at the
bank carries the signatures of both the Treasurer and the President,
or of one other person approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the
Executive Council.
XX |
D. |
The Corresponding Secretary shall receive all correspondence
for the Association and answer promptly. Answers to all inquiries
shall include such material as specified in the Standing Rules. This
officer is authorized to reproduce written material when necessary
for distribution.
XX |
E. |
The Breeder Division
Secretaries shall, for their respective Breeder and Provisional
Breeder sections, receive and forward all dues to the Treasurer
within two weeks of receipt. The Provisional Breeder Member
Secretary shall, for new Provisional Breeder Members, receive all
completed applications and make certain that agreements are signed.
The Breeder Member Secretary shall receive applications from Breeder
members in the event of a cattery split. The Provisional Breeder
Member Secretary shall request proof of litter registrations from
Provisional Breeder Members and notify the Recording Secretary to
send out ballots with the minutes of the next meeting when
Provisional Breeder Members have met all requirements. The
Provisional Breeder Member Secretary shall notify the Provisional
Breeder Members of the results of the membership vote, and transfer
the files of those members to the Breeder Member Secretary upon
their election to full Breeder Member status. The Breeder Division
Secretaries shall maintain a file for each Breeder Division member
who contains the completed application, signed agreement, and proof
of litter registration. The Provisional Breeder Member Secretary
shall remind newly elected Breeder members to send for MCBFA
information booklets which must be given to all prospective kitten
buyers. The Breeder division secretaries shall send dues renewal
notices to all Breeder Division members in their respective sections
and receive said dues and forward it to the Treasurer. The Breeder
Member Secretary shall prepare an updated Breeders List twice each
year: one to be sent out in the Fall Scratch Sheet and one with the
minutes of a meeting. These officers shall notify the Treasurer of
Breeder Division Members’ address changes.
XX |
F. |
The Fancier Division Secretary send membership cards and a
letter giving the check number and the date of expiration of
membership to all Fancier Members upon receipt of dues; shall send
new members a letter outlining MCBFA policies, particularly those
regarding advertising as an MCBFA member; shall provide for
inclusion in each issue of The Scratch Sheet a list of Fanciers
whose dues are payable within the current and next quarter; shall
forward all dues to the Treasurer promptly. This officer shall also
keep all records of the Fancier Division, including a cardfile, a
ledger book with page for each member, a computer record; and shall
promptly notify the Mailing List Director of changes.
XX |
G. |
The Recording Secretary
shall distribute minutes of all meetings of the Association to all
Breeder Division members within 30 days of said meeting. This
officer shall prepare and send ballots to Breeder Members of the
Breeder Division and tabulate and record the votes. The President
may appoint two other members of the Breeders Division to help
verify the results. All ballots must be retained on file for two
years. This officer must immediately notify the Breeder Division
Secretaries of the results of membership ballots. This officer shall
immediately notify the President of the results of all ballots.
XX |
MCBFA
shall require identification of the source of ballots returned to
the Recording Secretary on the outer envelope (preferably voting
cattery, Breeder Member’s name, and address). Those wishing to
maintain anonymity may place the ballot in an inner envelope without
identification. The Recording Secretary is prohibited from
transferring identifying information from the outer envelope to the
inner envelope, with the exception of origin in the case of regional
elections. Unidentified ballots will not be counted.
XX |
H. |
Regional Directors shall be area
representatives of MCBFA and shall endeavor to use their influence
for the promotion and protection of the breed. They shall be area
sources for information about the breed. They shall provide
information about obtaining MCBFA ribbons for shows. They shall
distribute MCBFA information booklets to members requesting them.
They shall be available to assist the President in the solution of
problems in their regions. Regional Directors are required to hold a
Regional Meeting once per quarter.
XX |
I. |
Appointed Officers
XX |
XX1.X |
The Editor shall gather news,
letters, or other material that is of interest to owners of Maine
Coon cats; shall attempt to secure permission to reprint interesting
articles about Maine Coon cats that appear in other publications;
and shall prepare and assemble for each quarter the newsletter, The
Scratch Sheet. Each issue shall contain a list of officers with
addresses, information on how to join MCBFA, membership renewal
notices. Once each year a list of Breeder Members shall be contained
in The Scratch Sheet. The Editor is authorized to sell advertising
in the newsletter as specified in the Standing Rules.
XX |
XX2.X |
The Archivist is responsible for the safe housing,
organization, and cataloguing of materials and/or memorabilia
pertaining to the history of the Maine Coon cat. The Archivist shall
receive any materials donated to the Archives, and shall determine
their value to the collection. Such materials may include pedigrees,
pictures, published clippings and articles, records of awards, books
and pamphlets about the breed. The Archives shall include all
official MCBFA records: the Scratch Sheet, meeting minutes, etc.
Non-confidential materials in the collection may be copied and made
available to MCBFA members on request.
|
Article 7. Protection of the Breed
A. |
- All Breeder Division Members are required to sign
an agreement to abide by the constitution and By-Laws and
all MCBFA Codes, and to sign and agree to be bound by to
Code of Ethics as amended.
- After amendments to the Code of Ethics are
approved, each member in the Breeder Divisions shall be
sent the amended Code of Ethics for signature by the
members and returned to the appropriate Breeder Division
Secretary. If no signed Code of Ethics is on file for a
member 60 days after both approval of the amendment is
announced at a meeting and notice is published in at
least one issue of The Scratch Sheet, the respective
Secretary shall send a notice of deficiency, and, if the
file is not complete within 90 days after the meeting,
the member shall be dropped from the rolls. If a Breeder
Member cattery that has been dropped wishes to rejoin,
the owners must reapply for membership, as provided in
Article 2, Section A 4.
XX
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B. |
Ethics Committee. MCBFA has an obligation to
protect
the breed as well as potential buyers and breeders of the
Maine Coon Cat. Every two years, after the election of officers, the President
shall appoint a Chairperson, who must be approved by the
Executive Council by 2/3 majority vote. The President
shall be an ex officio member of the Committee. The Chairperson
will select five full Breeder Members and three
alternates. All members must have at least five years
experience as full Breeder Member and have the ability to
work as a team. The name of the Chairperson shall be
published in the minutes of the next meeting and shall be
listed as an Appointed Officer in each issue of The
Scratch Sheet.
XX |
C. |
Disqualification's. An alternate shall replace any Committee
member who is either a complainant or the subject of a complaint.
Any Committee member who cannot render an impartial decision due to
circumstances of a pending complaint must be disqualified
by the Chairperson, and shall be replaced by one of the
alternates.
XX |
D. |
Substance of a Complaint. All formal complaints must be filed
in good faith and not for the purpose of harassment, or
embarrassment, or personal animosity. Proper grounds for a complaint
shall be conduct, which constitutes either:
XX |
XX1.X |
A violation of the
spirit or letter of the Code of Ethics,
XX |
XX2.X |
Any other
conduct unbecoming a Breeder
XX |
MCBFA will not be involved in contractual disputes,
which are to be referred to the appropriate court. |
XX |
|
Prior to the activation of the Committee, the
Chairperson will request that the Regional Director (s) of
parties involved, or another MCBFA officer, attempt to
resolve the complaint in a less formal manner.. If these
officers cannot achieve a resolution, the complaint shall
be returned to the Chairperson for processing by the
Committee.
XX |
E. |
Filing Complaints. Review of a formal complaint shall be
initiated upon receipt by the Chairperson, of a written complaint.
XX |
The written complaint shall be signed by
the complainant and shall consist of the following:
XX |
XX1.X |
A brief factual statement of the conduct under complaint.
XX |
XX2.X |
Names, addresses and telephone numbers of all persons
with relevant knowledge of the facts:
XX |
XX3.X |
A list of
relevant evidence documents or photographs that support
the allegations of the complaint.
XX |
XX4.X |
Any other information material to the
substance of the complaint.
XX |
The complainant may withdraw the complaint at any time
before final resolution upon written notice to the
Chairperson.
XX |
F. |
Confidentiality Requirement: The complainant and
defending party, as well as any member providing evidence
in the case, must keep all complaints in strict
confidence. Disclosure to anyone not on the Committee of
the pendency or subject of a formal complaint prior to
final resolution by the Executive Council shall result in
dismissal of the Complaint.
XX |
G. |
Notice and Reply. Within ten (10) days of receipt of
a formal complaint, the Chairperson shall send one copy to
the defending party, by
certified mail, return receipt requested. If the certified envelope
is refused or unclaimed by the defending party, it shall forthwith
be re-mailed by the Chairperson by regular mail. The defending party
shall respond within 30 days of receipt of the certified mail or of
the date of the re-mailing.
XX |
The written reply shall consist of
the following:
XX |
XX1. |
Counter statement of the facts,
XX |
XX2. |
Identification of persons with relevant knowledge of the facts,
XX |
XX3. |
A copy of any relevant evidence, documents or
photographs which defeat the allegations of the
complainant;
XX |
XX4. |
Any
other information material to the substance of the complaint. The
defending party must keep in strict confidence all matters
pertaining to the complaint.
XX |
H. |
Procedure for Review. Each case shall be assigned
a number by the Chairperson. Only the Chairperson and the
Committee members will know the identities of the parties
involved. This procedure is necessary for the
confidential investigation process.
XX
Within ten (10) days of
receipt of the reply, or upon expiration of the reply
period, the Chairperson shall forward a copy of the
formal complaint and reply, if any, to the sitting
Committee members, and shall schedule a time for a
discussion with all Committee members in as expeditious a
manner as possible. The discussion may be conducted in
person, by phone, or by electronic means.
XX |
Committee members shall keep
confidential to the extent possible the pendency and
substance of complaints and the identities of the parties
involved.
XX |
The Provisional Breeder
member Secretary shall be notified when a complaint is
filed against a Provisional Breeder member solely for the
purpose of assuring that such member does not appear on a
ballot for advancement until after the matter is
resolved. The nature of the complaint shall not, however,
be revealed to the Provisional Breeder member Secretary.
XX |
The Chairperson and
Committee members shall review the record of the
investigation and shall decide by a majority vote to
recommend to Executive Council one of the following
courses of action: |
|
XX1. |
Dismissal of the
complaint,
XX |
XX2. |
Private censure of the defending party,
XX |
XX3. |
Public censure of the defending party,
XX |
XX4. |
Suspension of MCBFA membership for a period to be
determined by the Committee, with revocation of Breeder
or Provisional status,
XX |
XX5. |
Permanent expulsion from MCBFA.
XX |
I. |
Review by the Executive Council. The Executive Council
shall receive the written recommendation of the Committee, together with the complete
summary of the report. This document will list the parties
involved by letter only. Only the Chairperson shall have
the key to the identities of the involved parties,
assuring a neutral approach, based on facts. Within
twenty-one (21) days, the Executive Council shall by a
two-thirds majority vote adopt one of the following courses of action:
XX |
XX1. |
Approval and ratification of the
Committee's recommended action, or
XX |
XX2. |
Any other course
of action listed in Section H, 1-5, above.
XX |
Failure of the Executive Council to agree by a
2/3 vote shall result in automatic ratification of the
Committees recommendation.
XX |
J. |
Resolution. The President shall, in writing, notify
the complainant and the defending party of the final
decision.
XX |
K. |
Without limiting other bases for expulsion
from MCBFA, a member against whom a court of law judgment
has been rendered in a case involving any type of animal
abuse or cruelty may be expelled from membership by a
majority vote of the Executive Council, after the member
is provided the opportunity to submit an explanation.
XX |
L. |
Any member of MCBFA who has 1) been suspended or
expelled from, or 2) has been denied the services of one
of the major registration associations shall, be
suspended or expelled from MCBFA, in conformity with the actions of
the registering association, retroactive to the date of discipline
by the registering association.
XX |
M. |
The names of any members expelled from MCBFA,
receiving suspension, or public censure shall be listed in
each issue of the Scratch Sheet with the effective dates
included.
XX |
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Article 8. Awards
A. |
The Maine Coon Cat and Fanciers
Association, Inc. will donate the following ribbons in every ring at
any cat show held by any recognized cat association. Any Maine Coon
in the show is eligible for the appropriate ribbons (see Standing
Rules for early requirements): Best Maine Coon Cat, Best Maine Coon
Kitten, and Best Maine Coon Alter.
XX |
B. |
Ribbons for any Breeder Division may request a show or Fancier
Member or any show official.
XX |
C. |
Show officials shall be requested to list the Maine Coon
Breeders and Fancier Association, Inc., as the donor does of the
ribbons in the show catalog.
XX |
D. |
MCBFA shall list the top 5 cats, kittens, and alters as score
by each of the cat registering associations.
XX |
E. |
The Vice President shall notify the newsletter Editor of the
top 5 Maine Coons in each association.
XX |
F. |
The Editor shall publish congratulations to the regional and
national winners named in each category.
XX |
Article 9. Advertising
A. |
Only Breeder and Associate Members of the Breeder Division may
advertise that they are MCBFA Breeder Members in magazines, show
catalogs, business cards, cat shows, and any other place or
publication.
XX |
B. |
Provisional Members of the Breeder Division and Fancier
Members shall not use the name or the abbreviation of MCBFA in any
advertising or on their business cards/stationery. They shall not
state in any place or publication that they are MCBFA members.
Violations shall result in a six-month extension of provisional
status.
XX |
C. |
If any member or other interested party discovers an Instance
of incorrect advertising, the appropriate Breeder Division Secretary
will be notified and sent a copy of the false advertisement. The
Secretaries shall verify lack of membership and then notify the
person making the false claims that they are to cease immediately.
XX |
D. |
If the false membership claim continues, the appropriate
Breeder Division Secretary will officially notify the publication
carrying the ad that the membership claim is false and must be
discontinued.
XX |
E. |
If the false claim continues to be made in show catalogs,
etc., the MCBFA Membership shall be notified of the false claim in
the minutes /newsletter.
XX |
F. |
Advertising, written or oral, shall be factual and not
misleading, shall be in conformity with federal, state or local
consumer protection laws and may contain price quotations at the
breeder members' discretion. When referencing MCBFA, an individual
breeder member, group of individual breeder members or a "list",
must limit Internet statements to identifying themselves as MCBFA
breeders, if applicable, and provide a link to the official MCBFA
website. |
Article 10. Amendments
A. |
These By-Laws may
be amended by a majority vote of Breeder Member ballots received
by the Recording Secretary. Suggested admendments may be proposed
in any of the following ways:
XX |
XX1. |
By petition sent
to the President bearing the signatures of seven Breeder Member
catteries.
XX |
XX2. |
By unanimous vote of the Breeder
Members attending the second meeting at which the proposal is
discussed.
XX |
XX3. |
By a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council.
XX |
B. |
The source of all proposed amendments shall be specified on
the ballots. Ballots for proposed amendments shall be sent out with
the minutes of next meeting. Members shall be given not less than
four weeks to return the ballot. The actual vote count will be
published in the minutes of the next meeting. Unless otherwise
stated in the specific amendment, all amendments shall take effect
the date of the meeting at which the results of the voting were
announced.
XX |
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