Savannah Cat Club

International Breed Club of the Savannah Cat

 By-Laws

 updated May 31, 2003

Article I – Name

The name of this club shall be the Savannah Cat Club.

Article II – Purposes

It shall be the purpose of this club:

a. To Develop and Promote High Breeding Standards;

b. To Serve as a Forum for Savannah Cat Owners;

c. To Promote Interest in and Knowledge of Savannah Cats;

d. To Encourage Breeding Toward the TICA Standard;

e. To Distribute and Share Information on the Savannah Cat;

f. To Create Friendships Among Those Who Are Interested in Savannahs;

g. To Insure the Future of the Savannah Cat;

h. To sponsor and promote the welfare of all breeds of cats, including household pets.

i. To sponsor cat shows and special programs and otherwise promote the interest in and knowledge of domestic cats;

j. To cultivate friendship among and promote the interest of owners, fanciers, and breeders of cats;

k. To encourage breeding toward the TICA Standards and encourage the registration of cats within TICA;

l. To promote and encourage kindness to all animals and to assist in the prevention of cruelty and maltreatment of animals;

m. To encourage the spaying and neutering of any and all cats not specifically being used as part of a viable breeding program in order to reduce the excessive trend to over-population of, and tragedy among, unwanted domestic cats.

Article III – Membership and Dues 

Persons interested in becoming members of the Savannah Cat Club must submit an application for membership to the secretary, along with applicable dues, and must sign a copy of the Code of Ethics of the club.  Names of new members shall be published in the newsletter, and breeder members may also list their information on the Savannah Cat Club website. 

Membership dues shall be set and adjusted as necessary by the Executive Board.  Dues are to be mailed to the Secretary, who will record them and forward them to the Treasurer.  Renewal dues are payable annually.   It shall be the duty of each member to uphold the purposes of the Savannah Cat Club by carefully fulfilling the terms of all transactions concerned with cats, such as sales, stud fees and pedigrees, whether such business is carried on with other club members or breeders or with the public at large.  Upon receipt of written complaint from any injured party, the member will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with Article IX of these By-Laws.

Article IV – Location

This club is intended to primarily serve the interests of the owners, fanciers and breeders of the Savannah Cat.   

Article V – Meetings

Annual meetings may be scheduled by the President, or business may be conducted by email/mail.  Informal meetings of the club may be held when there are at least five members and three officers present.  Special meetings may be called from time to time if necessary for the transaction of important business and may be called by the President, Board of Directors, or upon written demand of five members.  The business at this meeting shall be limited to that mentioned in the call. 

Article VI – Officers and Directors

The officers of this club shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Councilor, with no person holding more than one elected office at one time.  Officers must remain voting members in good standing during their term of office.

Officers and Directors shall be elected at the September meeting and shall take office on January 1 to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly elected.  No officer shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

The Society’s year shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of December. 

Elected Officers shall take office the first day of January.

Newly elected Officers shall have access on the day post election to all properties and documents pertinent to their office. Each retiring Officer shall begin transfer of all documents and property upon completion of the election. All properties and documents shall be in possession of the new Officers by the first day of January. The only exception will be funds and documents held necessary for completion of year-end business, to be determined by the Executive Board.

The term of office for the officer is two years, and expires December 31, after the two-year period.  The President and Treasurer are elected in even-numbered years, and begin their terms in odd numbered years.  The Vice President and Secretary are elected in odd-numbered years and begin their terms in even-numbered years.  A nominating committee is appointed by the President July 15th.  The nominating committee shall report the results of the ballot to the membership online and in the newsletter.   New officers assume their Duties January 1 of the applicable year.

Vacancies in offices or on the club’s Board of Directors shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the remaining members of the Board of Directors.

The club’s Board of Directors shall elect annually any committees deemed advisable.

Duties of Officers

The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as are incidental to her office.  She shall be ex-officio member of all committees.

The Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President in the absence of that officer.

The Secretary shall be the recording and corresponding officer, formally representing the club.  The secretary shall keep a roll of members with their addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses, shall receive applications for the membership, shall inform the membership of the results of all elections via the newsletters, shall assist the President in organizing meetings, and shall report to the membership on such meetings.

The Treasurer shall have custody of all moneys of the club and shall be responsible for receiving and disbursing same.  The treasurer shall keep a record of dues payments, and keep an account of receipts and expenditures, a report of which is to be made in each newsletter.  Funds shall be kept in a special bank account for the Savannah Cat Club.

The Councilor shall be a member who is familiar with the Association, club, and show procedures and be able to guide and advise the club whenever assistance is needed or whenever the councilor feels that the club is not acting in the best interest of the fancy as a whole or is failing in some obligation to TICA.

The voting members of the Executive Board shall consist of the above named officers.  The Executive Board shall function as the executive body of the society.  As such, it has the power to reject any membership application or to expel any member if that person has acted in a manner contrary to the best interests of the club or the breed, or has violated the By-Laws or Code of Ethics of the Savannah Cat Club.  Action shall be taken after review of all available facts and a majority vote by the Executive Board.  Complaints offered for the consideration of the Executive Board must be received in writing; the person charged must be notified in writing and may offer a written rebuttal before a vote is called.

Article VII – Discipline

The Board of Directors may reprimand, fine, suspend, or expel from the membership, any person who, after a fair and impartial hearing, shall be found guilty of violating any rules of this club or TICA or of conduct detrimental to this club or cat fancy.