To encourage and promote all dog-related sports;
To protect and advance the interest of all dogs by encouraging responsible dog ownership;
To educate students through classes, seminars, guest speakers, meetings, run-throughs, trials and matches;
To encourage sportsmanlike competition and conduct sanctioned canine sporting events, in accordance with the posted and published Code of Conduct;
To educate instructors in the interest of providing students with top quality dog training experiences in the classes offered. The Club will provide comprehensive and ongoing instructor training through both intramural and extramural courses and seminars;
To educate the general public, through onsite and offsite demonstrations.

Section 3. Non-profit status and Membership Eligibility.

The Club shall be operated as a non-profit organization; eligibility and requirements for membership are set forth in Article II, Section 1 of these Bylaws.

Section 4. Equipment and Property.

All equipment used by members, students, and others who may use the Club is owned and maintained by Splash ‘n Dash K9 Sports, Inc. Personal items brought to the Club shall not be left unattended and are brought at the owners' expense.

Article II – Membership

Section 1. Eligibility.

Membership is open to any person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older, subscribes to the objectives of the Club, agrees to abide by its Bylaws, and is engaged in dog-related sports. Individuals under eighteen (18) years old are eligible for a Junior Membership, provided they are in the same household as a regular Member. Members must agree to abide by the requirements and obligations of membership established by the Club, outlined in Article I, Section 2. Benefits, requirements, and obligations of membership will be determined, adapted, and enforced by the Membership Committee (see Article VII, Section 2) with the approval of the Board. A copy of the current benefits and requirements will be posted on the Club website and a written copy will be available at the Club training facility. The types of Membership are listed below:

Individual Memberships are for 1 person aged eighteen (18) or above.
Family Memberships are for up to three (3) individuals living in the same household. This category includes a junior handler who must have adult supervision. All Family Members who are aged eighteen (18) and above have voting rights.
Memberships on Hold are for members who are unable to complete membership requirements due to special circumstances such as disability, family needs, job demands, etc. The Member may petition the Board to become a Member on Hold. Dues will not be refunded, but completion of membership requirements will be paused. The status change will be active until the Member requests a change or to the end of the fi scal year (December 31). Members on Hold do not enjoy membership privileges and cannot vote. There may be requirements to fulfill before they return to Members in Good Standing, at the Boards’ discretion.
Members under Suspension or Extended Suspension are considered to be Suspended Members. Suspended Members must complete the requirements of a New Member, listed in Section 2, to be reinstated as a Member in Good Standing.
Lifetime memberships may, at the discretion of the Board, be bestowed on any individual who the Board agrees is befitting and approved by a two-thirds majority vote of members voting electronically. Lifetime memberships are exempt from all membership requirements and are non-transferable. The roster of Lifetime Members will be maintained by the Membership Committee.

Section 2. New Members.

The Membership Committee will review membership applications and nominate new Members, circulating their names among the membership prior to a vote for acceptance. To be accepted for new membership, nominations require approval of a majority of the Voting Members (see Article II, Section 3 below) via electronic response. New Member requirements are published on the Club website and are subject to change. Any applicant whose membership application is denied shall be ineligible to reapply for a period of six (6) months from the date of denial.

Section 3. Voting Members.

All Members whose dues are paid by February 1st of the current year and are in good standing according to the provisions of the Membership Committee are hereby defined interchangeably as “Voting Members”, "Members", or “Members in Good Standing”.

Section 4. Dues.

Annual dues are determined by the Membership Committee with the approval of the Board of Directors.
Dues for the current calendar year are payable in full annually on or before February 1st.
New Members. Members elected throughout the year shall pay dues for the full year at a prorated rate from when they are instated.
Non-Payment. No payment by the required date will result in loss of membership status and will require reapplication as a new Member.

Section 5. Termination.

Any Member in Good Standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Board.
A membership may be terminated by suspension, extended suspension, and expulsion as provided in Article VIII of these Bylaws.
1. Members who have had their membership terminated by suspension or extended suspension are eligible for reapplication of membership, according to Article II, Section 2. Reapplication does not apply to Expulsion.
In the event a membership is terminated, all Member rights and privileges terminate contemporaneously.
Members who have had their membership terminated are eligible for reapplication of Membership, according to Article II, Section 2.

Section 6. Membership Privileges.

Club meeting voting rights. Junior Members do not have voting rights.
Discount on all Club classes.
Discount on all Club sponsored trials, where possible.
Discount on select seminars and/or workshops.
Special invitations to free Member-only events.
Holiday parties that include Members' dogs.
Annual Awards Banquet.
Notification of select events before non-members with the ability to register early.
Building rental and usage of Club equipment for personal dog training when building is otherwise not in use.

Article III – Meetings

Section 1. Club Meetings.

Meetings shall be held regularly or at the Board's discretion at a time and place designated by the Board for the convenience of the membership.
Membership meeting notices, including prior meeting minutes, will be sent to all Voting Members prior to a scheduled meeting. Notices of meetings for the purpose of elections or changes in the Bylaws will be sent to all Voting Members with sufficient time for review in advance of such meeting.

Section 2. Quorum.

Membership Meetings – A quorum is not required for votes of the membership.
Board Meetings – For the purposes of Article III, a quorum at a Board meeting shall consist of no less than 50% of the Board and shall include at least two (2) officers. A quorum is required for all votes of the Board.

Section 3. Voting.

Voting can be conducted at a regular or special meeting of the Club, via in-person voting, electronic vote or electronic meeting platform, at the discretion of the Board, unless otherwise noted in these Bylaws.
Each Voting Member is entitled to one (1) vote. For family memberships, each adult Member of the family membership is entitled to one (1) vote.
With the exception of expulsion of a Member, extended suspension of a Member, or dissolution of the Club, by bylaw amendment, an affirmative vote shall be a simple majority of those present or responding electronically.
Financial: At the first meeting of the year, the Board will set the limit on non-recurring expenditures that do not require prior approval of the membership, followed by a majority vote from the members in attendance. Non-recurring financial expenditures in excess of the limit approved by the Board at its discretion will be voted on at regular or special meetings, or by electronic vote.
1. For any non-recurring expenditures in excess of the previously defined limit set by the Board which are requested by a Member, approval will be done via electronic voting.
2. Emergency financial expenditures made by the Board or Members must be authorized by the Treasurer and reported at the next regular meeting. Members making exigent purchases must make every reasonable effort to get Board approval prior to making the purchase.
Major changes in Club policy can be introduced at a Member meeting and will require discussion and electronic voting.

Article IV – Board of Directors

Section 1. Board of Directors.

The Board shall be comprised of four (4) officers (as stated in Article IV, Section 2) and three (3) Members at Large.

Section 2. Officers.

The Officers of the Board shall be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 3. Responsibilities of the Club Officers.

The Board shall have general charge of the affairs, funds, and property of the Club and it shall carry out the objectives and purposes thereof in accordance with the policies and directions of the membership.

Section 4. Qualifications.

All members of the Board must be Club Members in Good Standing and be willing to carry out the functions of their offices in a timely manner as determined by the Board and the membership.

Section 5. Compensation.

No compensation shall be paid to the members of the Board of Directors for their services as Directors, but at the discretion of the Board, may be reimbursed for travel and actual expenses necessarily incurred by them in the performance of duties on behalf of the Club.

Section 6. Election and Terms of Officers.

The terms for all Board members will be as set forth below:

Each officer of the Board shall serve for two (2) years.
Terms of the Board commence on the first day of the calendar year.
There is no limit on the amount of terms that each Board member may serve.
Board terms will be staggered in order to maintain appropriate expertise and consistency in leadership.
Officers and Members at Large shall be elected by a vote of the Members in Good Standing via an anonymous electronic voting method prior to the end of the year. Deadlines and procedures for the election shall be determined by the Nominating Committee (see Article VII, Section 2).
If the election is delayed for reasons beyond the control of the Club, elections will take place as soon as practical thereafter.

Section 7. Duties of the Officers and Members at Large.

The President shall be the presiding officer at all regular and special meetings of the Club and the Board of Directors and will have the duties and powers normally appurtenant to the office. The President will give such supervision to the Group as may be necessary to affect its purpose. The president shall also function as the resident agent for the Club as an artifact of its existence as a non-profit corporation residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Vice President shall have duties as may be assigned by the President or the Board and shall carry out the duties of the President when the President is unable to carry out those duties.
The Secretary will keep a record of all meetings of the Club, of all votes and all matters of which a record will be ordered by the Club. The Secretary will have charge of the correspondence, notification of members of the Club meetings, notification of new members, notification to the Board of their election to office, keep a roll of the membership and their addresses, and carry out such other duties as are presented in these Bylaws.
The Treasurer will receive and disburse all funds of the Club in a timely manner; will deposit same in an account in the name of the Club in a bank insured by the FDIC and satisfactory to the Board, maintain the financial records of the Club and make them available for review, and independent audit as directed by the Board or government agency. The books will at times be open to inspection by the Board. The Treasurer will provide a financial report at every general membership and Board meeting of the Club. The Treasurer shall make available year-end financials to the appropriate individual for the purpose of filing taxes.

Section 8. Nominations/Elections and Voting.

No person may be a candidate who has not been nominated in accordance with these Bylaws. A Nominating Committee will be formed to facilitate the election process. Members of the Nominating Committee will not be eligible for nomination to any office.

From among the Members in Good Standing of the Club, including current Board Members, the Nominating Committee will nominate one or more candidate(s) for each open office and for Board Members at Large (as needed). Persons so nominated, that accept the nomination, will be added to the ballot.
Additional nominations may be made directly to the Nominating Committee, the Board, or at any regular meeting by any Member in Good Standing prior to the publication of the slate of nominees.

Section 9. Vacancies.

Any vacancies occurring in the Board during the term (except for the President) shall be filled at the earliest opportunity by special election, exercising all reasonable efforts to do so. Qualifications for candidates to fill vacancies are the same as described in Article IV, Section 8.
In the event the office of President is vacated, the Vice President shall automatically fill the role of President until the vacancy is filled.
In the event the office of Treasurer is vacated, the President shall automatically fill the role of Treasurer until the vacancy is filled.
In the event the office of Secretary is vacated, the Treasurer shall automatically fill the role of Secretary until the vacancy is filled.

Section 10. Board Transition.

It is the responsibility of all outgoing Board members to ensure a smooth transition of the Club management. To that end, all Club property, records, and information held by outgoing Board members shall be forwarded to the newly elected officers by January 1, or as soon as reasonably possible.

Article V – Director Conflict of Interest and Fiduciary Duty

Section 1. Conflict of Interest.

The Club shall not be precluded from conducting business with any partnership, firm or company with which one or more Directors are associated, provided any business relationship is established and maintained on an arm’s length basis and subsequent provisions of this Section are met. Each Director shall disclose any actual or potential conflict between the Director’s personal interests and their duty to the Club. Any Director deemed by the Board to be disqualified because of an actual or apparent conflict of interest on any matter shall not vote or use his/her personal influence on the matter, and, for the purpose of voting on the matter that is subject to a conflict, shall not be counted in determining the quorum. This disqualification shall apply even when permitted by law. The minutes of the meeting shall reflect that a disclosure was made, the abstention from voting and the effect on the quorum.

Section 2. Standard of Care and Fiduciary Duty.

Each Board member shall stand in a fiduciary relation to this Club and shall perform their duties in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the Club. This includes duties performed as a member of any committee of the Board on which the Board member may serve. Each Board member shall exercise the care, skill, diligence and reasonable inquiry that a person of ordinary prudence would use under similar circumstances. Absent breach of fiduciary duty, lack of good faith or self-dealing, actions taken as a Board member or failure to take action shall be presumed to be in the best interests of this Club. In performing their duties, each Board member shall be entitled to rely in good faith on information, opinions, reports or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, in each case prepared or presented by any of the following:

One or more officers or employees of this Club whom the Board member reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented;
Counsel, public accountants or other persons as to matters which the Board member reasonably believes to be within the professional or expert competence of such persons;
A committee of the Board of the Club upon which the Board member does not serve, as to matters within its designated authority, which committee the Director reasonably believes to merit confidence.

Board members shall not be acting in good faith if they have knowledge concerning the matter in question that would cause such Board member's reliance to be unwarranted.

Section 3. Factors Which May Be Considered by Directors.

In discharging the duties of their respective positions, the Board, committees of the Board and individual Board members may, in considering the best interests of the Club, consider the effects of any action upon employees, beneficiaries and others having dealings with the Club and all other pertinent factors.

Article VI – Club Year

Section 1. Club Year.

The Club’s fiscal year shall coincide with the calendar year commencing on the 1st day of January and ending on December 31st.

Article VII – Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees and Task Forces.

The Club will charter committees as needed. Committee chairpersons shall be sanctioned by the Board and chairperson changes shall be documented in the Board meeting minutes. Special Task Forces may also be appointed by the Board to aid in carrying out specific projects. The duration of a Task Force shall coincide with the duration of the project the Task Force was developed to complete.

Section 2. Representative Committee Roles and Responsibilities.

Finance Committee – Oversees the financial operations of the Club including Budget and general accounting. The Treasurer will serve as the Chair of this committee and will report all committee activity to the Board.
Outreach Committee – Develops and facilitates the public relations activities which will enhance and attract participation in the Club and further public awareness of the Club and its activities within the community.
Curriculum Committee – Oversees the development of course materials for all educational activities of the Club. This committee is also responsible for the appointment and development of course instructors with the Board's approval..
Membership Committee – Reviews all membership applications and maintains a roster of all current, delinquent, Members-on-Hold, lifetime, suspended, extended suspension, expelled and pending memberships. Determines, adapts and enforces membership benefits and requirements with the approval of the Board.
Facilities – Oversees and manages the building and physical equipment owned and maintained by the Club.
Trial Committee(s) – Plans, supervises and executes competitions/trials hosted by the Club. Separate committees will be formed for each venue and committee chairpersons will coordinate activities and resources.
Scheduling Committee – Oversees the scheduling of classes and maintains a schedule of building use for classes, run-thrus, meetings, seminars, events, and private lessons.
Website – Oversees and maintains the Club’s official electronic media.
Nominating Committee - Oversees the nomination and publication of candidate(s) for each open and for Board Members at Large. The committee shall be composed of one or more Member(s) in Good Standing.
Fundraising Committee - Oversees the organization and management of activities related to raising funds.
Librarian Committee - Oversees the collection and management of digital resources for use by the Club.
Any other committee authorized by the Board.

Section 3. Committee Member Requirements.

To serve as a committee member, at a minimum individuals must be Members in Good Standing of the Club and have special expertise or interest in the subject of the committee on which they serve.
Interested members must express intent to join a committee to the Board or current committee chairperson of the committee they are interested in.
Committee member terms are renewed yearly by members and/or committee chairperson, unless notice is given to the committee chairperson and the Board.
Committee Members are expected to be forthcoming about any relationships they may have that could create a conflict of interest or the perception thereof. It is understood that this Member will abstain from votes or activities relative to the conflict (or may be instructed by the Board to do so).

Section 4. Committees Transition.

It is the responsibility of all outgoing Committee Members to ensure a smooth transition of the committee management. To that end, all records, and information held by outgoing Committee Members shall be forwarded to the rest of the Committee Members by January 1, or as soon as reasonably possible.

Article VIII – Discipline

Section 1. Grounds.

Grounds for discipline shall include any action by a Member which is prejudicial to the purposes and interests of the Club as outlined in Article I.

Section 2. Charges.

Charges may be brought by any Member in Good Standing against any other Member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Club. Charges must be written and state the specific actions of the offending member, the consequences to the Club of those actions, the evidence, and names of witnesses who can confirm or refute the facts as alleged. The Complainant's written statement of charges shall be delivered to a Board Member. The Board Member will review the charges with the Board to determine what, if any, action will be taken against the offending Member.

The Board, at its discretion, may take immediate and appopriate actions for conduct or safety violations.
1. Possible actions may include, but are not limited to, a loss of teaching privileges, prevention of entry to the building, or restriction of usage of Club equipment or information.
The statue of limitations for any charges brought to the Board shall not exceed six (6) months from the date of the alleged misconduct.

Section 3. Investigation of Charges.

The Board may, at its discretion, conduct an investigation to obtain and evaluate evidence to assess the truth of the allegations presented. Both Complainant and Defendant will be treated uniformly in that regard. Should the allegations of misconduct be sustained by a majority vote of the Board, the Board may suspend the defendant from all privileges of the Club for not more than six (6) months from the date of the suspension.

If the Board deems suspension insufficient, it may recommend to the membership that the penalty for misconduct be extended suspension or expulsion, as defined in Article VIII, Section 5. Within a reasonable time after the Board investigation concludes, the Board's findings will be put into written form and filed with a Board Member. The Board will then notify each of the parties of the investigation's findings, Board's decision, and recommended penalty, if any, in writing.

Section 4. Suspension of Membership

Suspension. Suspension will be defined as a provisional loss of all member privileges for up to six (6) months from the date of suspension.

The matter of suspension of a Member from the Club will be on the agenda for a special meeting of the Board. Such suspension will begin on the date of the Board decision after investigation. Such suspension will require a majority vote by the Board.

After the suspension period, the Suspended Member will complete all New Member requirements and submit a New Member application.
The New Member application shall be reviewed by the Membership Committee and requires approval by a majority vote of the membership for reinstatement.
If the membership does not approve reinstatement, the Suspended Member will proceed as a non-member.
1. Any denied application for reinstatement shall be subject to the reapplication waiting period outlined in Article II, Section 2.

Extended Suspension. Extended suspension will be defined as a provisional loss of all member privileges and access to the building for up to eighteen (18) months from the date of extended suspension. Individuals who were previously expelled from membership before the ratification of these current Bylaws will fall under the extended suspension definition; additional limitations will not be retroactively enforced.

The matter of extended suspension of a Member from the Club will be on the agenda for a special membership meeting. Such extended suspension will begin on the date of the special meeting after investigation and vote. Such proceedings will be held within sixty (60) days, but not earlier than thirty (30) days after the date of the Board investigation and resulting recommendation for extended suspension. At this meeting, the findings and recommendation of the Board for an extended suspension hearing shall be presented to the Members. The Defendant may choose to present their argument and/or evidence before fellow Members. A decision in favor of extended suspension requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Voting Members who are in attendance in-person or via electronic meeting platform.

Conclusion of extended suspension and process for reinstatement of member privileges
1. The suspended Member must submit a letter of intent to rejoin membership.
2. The Board will perform an impact assessment with original Complainants.
3. If the Board has a majority affirmative vote to conclude the extended suspension, the Suspended Member will complete all New Member requirements and submit a New Member application.
4. The New Member application shall be reviewed by the Membership Committee and requires approval by a majority vote of the membership for reinstatement.
5. If the Board votes to conclude the extended suspension and the membership does not approve reinstatement to the membership, the Suspended Member will no longer be placed on suspension and will continue as a non-member.
  1. Any denied application for reinstatement shall be subject to the reapplication waiting period outlined in Article II, Section 2.
If there is no affirmative vote of the majority of the Board to finalize the termination of the extended suspension, the matter will be discussed in a subsequent special membership meeting.

Section 5. Expulsion.

Expulsion. Expulsion will be defined as a permanent loss of all member privileges, access to the building, attendance at Club sponsored events, and future involvement with the Club from the date of the expulsion. Individuals who have been expelled from the membership are not eligible to reapply for membership.

The matter of Expulsion of a Member from the Club will be placed on the agenda of an in-person special meeting. Such expulsion requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Voting Members present at said in-person special meeting of the Club. Such proceedings will be held within sixty (60) days, but not earlier than thirty (30) days after the date of the Board investigation and resulting recommendation for expulsion. At this meeting, the findings and recommendation of the Board for an expulsion hearing shall be presented to the Members. The defendant may choose to present their argument and/or evidence before fellow Members.

Article IX – Amendments

Section 1. Amendments.

Amendment(s) to Bylaws may be proposed by the Board or proposed to the Board by written Petition addressed to the Board and signed by 50% of the Members in Good Standing. The Board shall promptly consider amendment(s) proposed by such a Petition and must submit its recommendations to the membership within three (3) months of the date that the Petition was received by the Board.

The proposed amendment(s) to these Bylaws and Notices of any meeting whose agenda includes changes in the Bylaws must be provided to all Members in Good Standing fifteen (15) days before the meeting at which the Bylaws ammendment(s) is scheduled for a vote.

Section 2. Required Vote.

Amendment(s) to the Bylaws require an affirmative vote of a majority of the Members in Good Standing who are present at the meeting scheduled to consider amendments, who are present by electronic meeting platform, or by electronic vote.

Article X – Dissolution

Section 1. Proposal to Dissolve.

Dissolution of the Club may be proposed by a majority vote of the Board or by letter to the Board signed by at least 50% of the Members in Good Standing. The proposal shall state the reason(s) for dissolution and the effective date of dissolution. Recommendations for the disposition of Club assets, as required by law, may be included. Notice of the proposal to dissolve shall be emailed to all members at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the vote to dissolve is on the agenda. Announcements of the proposal to dissolve shall be made at all Club activities at times appropriate to be heard by all members.

Section 2. Vote for Dissolution.

A proposal to dissolve shall require an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Members in Good Standing who attend the meeting, or via electronic meeting platform. The motion to dissolve shall specify that Pennsylvania law requires that all of the Club's assets, equipment, and facilities shall be disposed of by contributing them to a charitable organization, or the The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Section 3. Implementation of the Vote for Dissolution.

Before the date on which the dissolution becomes effective, the Treasurer shall endeavor to fulfill the terms of any leases or agreements in effect at the time of dissolution, attempt to collect any money due to the Club, then pay all outstanding debts.. The Secretary, with the assistance of any professionals such as attorneys or accountants, shall cause to be filed any notices required by law with the appropriate agencies of the municipality and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Board, in conformance with Pennsylvania non-profit law, shall dispose of the assets, including equipment, facilities, and remaining funds. All such assets shall be disbursed to a charitable non-profit corporation, as selected by the Board, which corporation has the mission and purpose of benefitting dogs or promoting the health and well-being of dogs. No assets or funds shall inure to the benefit of any Member.

Article XI

Section 1. Order of Business

At all meetings of the Club, the order of business, so far as the character and nature of the meeting may permit will be conducted, where applicable and appropriate, under the guidance of the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

Article XII - Amendments