AMERICAN KUNEKUNE PIG SOCIETY BYLAWS
ARTICLE I NAME, PURPOSE AND MISSION
SECTION 1.1 NAME
The name of the organization shall be American KuneKune Pig Society.
SECTION 1.2 PURPOSE
The purpose of the Society shall be to provide a nonprofit, membership driven registry for KuneKune Pigs in the United States. The Society shall be governed solely by the membership and for the membership.
SECTION 1.3 MISSION
It shall be the mission of the Society to encourage a spirit of collaboration amongst breeders, to promote and improve the breed of KuneKune swine through ownership, breeding, exhibition and education and to protect and preserve the breed and the breed standard by maintaining a permanent and ongoing record of their lineage.
ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 2.1 ELIGIBILITY
Membership in the Society shall be open to all who share the philosophy of the Society's Mission. Membership is not limited to residents or citizens of the United States of America.
SECTION 2.2 MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATION
The Society shall have the following classes of membership: Individual
(*02/16/2018 removed Youth and Family memberships)
SECTION 2.3 DUES
Dues are payable on or before the member's official join date each year.
SECTION 2.4 MEMBERS RIGHTS
Each member in good standing shall have the right to vote on all issues put before the membership. Each member shall have a voice in the future growth, formation and governing of the Society.
SECTION 2.5 REVOCATION OF MEMBERSHIP
A Member who is causing harm or slander towards the AKKPS or any AKKPS member(s) may have their membership revoked by a unanimous vote, less, no greater than two, abstaining votes, of the members of the Board of Directors. The vote shall be conducted in a closed-door session to protect the privacy of the Member. The Member shall be privately notified in advance of a proposed vote to revoke their membership, and privately informed of the result of the vote. The member will have an opportunity to address the Board of Directors before any vote occurs. There shall be no public notification of revocation of membership. Should a membership be revoked, any remaining dues shall be calculated and refunded to the former member.
(ADDED 1/19/2021) Step Program for aid buyers in getting Registrations Completed. 1.1
AKKPS Step Plan – please see details on Buyers Registration Complaint / Step Plan program page on our website.
Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tukVw1IzQTbT_gk9n9W9-Mqv8keRwAIv58EPjSrtM14/edit?usp=sharing
AKKPS reserves the right to register pigs to new owners if an AKKPS Member does not follow through on registrations.
ARTICLE III MEETINGS, ELECTIONS AND BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
SECTION 3.1 MEETINGS
Meetings of the Society shall be called by:
The President of the Association
The Chairman of the Board of the Association
A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Society Petition of 20% of the Members of the Society
All meetings, in person or virtual, shall be preceded by a minimum of 30 days’ notice. Notification shall be made either online or through regular mail. Notice of the meeting shall state the purpose of the meeting. Provisions shall be made for members, who so desire, to attend the meeting.
SECTION 3.2 ELECTIONS AND BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
In the absence of an annual meeting, elections and business transactions of the Society shall be carried out through mail ballots, email or online voting.
ARTICLE IV DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
SECTION 4.1 DIRECTORS
Directors shall report directly to the membership whose interests they represent on the Board of Directors. Each Director shall be responsible for bringing all members' business forward for consideration. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall assume the duties of calling periodic meetings of the Board of Directors and appointing interim Directors.
SECTION 4.2 OFFICERS
The Society shall have, in service to the membership, a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. These Officers shall serve on the Board of Directors and must be USA Residents. The Chairman of the Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint Volunteer Officers assigned to specific duties. These appointments shall not serve on the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.3 VACANCIES
The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall appoint an interim member of the Board of Directors, upon majority agreement of the members of the Board of Directors, to fill a position vacated by a Board Member.
PRESIDENT
The President shall be an USA chief executive officer of the Society and shall, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, and shall direct the business and officers of the Society. The President shall preside at all meetings of the executive officers, meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of members.
VICE PRESIDENT
In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall assume all duties and responsibilities of the President. The Vice President shall also assume other such duties as assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.
SECRETARY
The Secretary shall keep a book of the minutes of all meetings of the executive officers, the Board of Directors and the members. The minutes shall record the time and place of the meeting, the purpose of the meeting, the officers and members in attendance and the proceedings of the meeting. The minutes, as recorded, shall be provided to the Board of Directors upon request. The duties of the Secretary shall include reports to the membership of the business conducted by the Society.
TREASURER
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep a full and accurate accounting of all funds received and all funds dispersed and to make a regular and detailed report of such accounting to the Board of Directors and to the membership. The Treasurer shall perform other such duties in connection with the administration of the financial affairs of the Society as assigned by the Board of Directors.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Society shall have a Board of Directors consisting of seven elected members. 6 Directors must be USA residents and no more than one Canadian Director. They shall include the four executive officers and three Directors. The Board of Directors shall serve as members representatives in conducting the business of the Society.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In addition to duties as a member of the Board of Directors, the Chairman shall cast the deciding ballot in all matters in which the Board of Directors' votes result in a tied decision.
SECTION 4.4 ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the majority of ballots cast by the members. The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and The Chairman of the Board shall be elected by the majority of ballots cast by the Board of Directors.
02/16/2018 amendment accepted: (1.) Only a board member that has served a full term would be qualified to run for the President or Vice-President position. (full amendment posted below)
01/28/2020 amendment accepted: (1) it is a requirement for any future members applying for Director positions to first be on the AKKPS Breeders List and to have applied for DNA through UC Davis.
Directors need these necessary skills to assist our members.
SECTION 4.5 TERMS OF OFFICE
The founding President’s term shall end December 31, 2015. After December 31, 2015, the terms for the President shall be two years.
The Founding Vice President's term shall end December 31, 2016. After December 31, 2016, the term for the Vice President shall be two years.
The Founding Secretary and Treasurer terms shall end December 31, 2014. After December 31, 2014, the term for the Secretary shall be two years.
Founding Directors' terms shall end December 31, 2013. After December 31, 2013, the terms shall be two years. There shall be no limit upon the number of consecutive terms of service to the Society.
SECTION 4.6 EXECUTIVE OFFICER VACANCIES
In the event of a vacancy of the offices of Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer, the Board of Directors shall appoint a member to fill the vacancy until the next regular election.
SECTION 4.7 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
Any Director shall be removed from office by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at a special meeting of the Society called for that purpose.
02/16/2018 AKKPS BYLAW AMMENDMENTS
The Board voted unanimously to amend bylaws concerning BOD members.
(1.) Only a board member that has served a full term would be qualified to run for the President or Vice President position.
(2.) It would be mandatory for all future board members to register and litter notify all pigs with AKKPS that are registrable with AKKPS.
(3.) Board members must register all intact pigs sold, including pets with AKKPS. Designated meat pigs should be listed on the correction form on the website. Crossing KuneKunes with other swine breeds is prohibited.
ARTICLE V COMMITTEES AND COORDINATORS, VOLUNTEERS, APPOINTED JOB POSITIONS
SECTION 5.1
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint members to help with any business the Society may require. These individuals shall be subject to deletion, alteration, replacement or removal at any duly called meeting of the Board of Directors, by majority vote of the Board of Directors.
11/9/2021 AMENDMENT by unanimous vote of the BOD on 11/9/21.
AKKPS Board of Directors cannot be held personally liable for decisions made in upholding AKKPS By Laws, Buyers Help Step Plan and AKKPS code of ethics.
AKKPS Board of Directors cannot be held personally liable for anything resulting from votes made by the BOD for AKKPS members.
ARTICLE VI AMENDMENTS
SECTION 6.1 POWERS OF MEMBERS
Members may make proposals to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws by putting forth such a request to any Director.
SECTION 6.2 POWERS OF DIRECTORS
Directors shall serve the interests of the members of the Society in the adoption, amending and repealing of Bylaws. Amendments to the Bylaws must be approved by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors present at any meeting. Ballots may be cast either through regular mail, email, teleconference online voting.
Amendment Added 08/08/2018
In the event an AKKPS owner of a pig dies, heirs to the owner of the pigs can submit a death certificate to the BOD and will be allowed to transfer to the current owner’s name.