Name of the Association shall be:

1. To encourage and promote the sport of owner training and handling of dogs.
2. To encourage and promote sportsmanship among the dog fancy.
3. To educate and communicate about the fancy.

I will uphold the Constitution of The Orange Blossom Owner Handlers Association Of Florida, Inc., further my own and other exhibitors education in the sport, educate other exhibitors by example and offer help wherever possible.

I will always endeavor to conduct myself in an exemplary fashion being aware that my behavior is a direct reflection on my organization.

I will at all times defend my organization by meeting misrepresentation with facts and will make every effort to safeguard it’s good name.

Membership is open to any person who subscribes to the purposes of this Association, agrees to abide by its Constitution and By Laws, is active in the sport of dogs and is in good standing with recognized Kennel Clubs.

All persons over eight (8) and under eighteen (18) years of age may apply for Junior Membership. Such members shall have all the privileges of membership but shall not serve on the Board of Governors nor vote neither on any business nor in Association elections. At Eighteen (18) years of age, Junior Members become eligible for Regular Membership.

The Board of Governors may confer Honorary Membership in the Association by a three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote of the Governors present at a Board meeting. An Honorary Member shall have none of the obligations of membership but shall be entitled to all the privileges except those of making motions, voting and holding office.

Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form approved by the Board of Governors, which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by the Association’s Constitution, By Laws, and the Code of Ethics. One year’s dues shall accompany the membership application. The Board may institute an initiation fee at its discretion.

The Board of Governors at its next meeting shall vote on all applications received. Affirmative votes by two-thirds (2/3) of the Governors present at a meeting of the Board shall be required to elect an applicant. If membership is denied an applicant, the Board is not obligated to disclose the reason for denial.

Applications, which have received an unfavorable vote by the Board, may be re-submitted no less than one year from the date of the Boards decision.

To be eligible for nomination to the Board of Governors or serve on a nominating Committee, a member must have exhibited and/or handled a minimum of one (1) dog completing the title of Champion of Record, Field Trial Champion, CD or TD and have at least two (2) years of active association with the sport of dogs, or not fulfilling the previous qualifications must have a minimum of five (5) years of association of the sport of dogs.

The Board shall be comprised of the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and the Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected for one two year term, and six (6) Directors who will be elected for one four year term, half of which will be elected at each biennial meeting of the Association, except in the first election when half of the Board shall be elected for two (2) years and the other half for four (4) year terms.

Both Secretaries and the Treasurer may have assistants approved by the Board. Assistants may not vote at a Board of Governors meeting.

The Executive Committee shall be made up of the President, The Recording Secretary, The Treasurer and ONE (1) Board member to be chosen by the Board. The Executive Committee shall act only on emergencies and only when there is a unanimous vote of its members. Decisions made but not acted upon by the Executive Committee may be overruled at the next Board Meeting.

The Association’s Officers, consisting of the President, First Vive President, Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer shall serve in their respective capacities as follows:

The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due or belonging to the Association and shall deposit these funds in the name of the Association in banks approved by the Board. The accounts shall be in the name of the Treasurer and the President for the purpose of withdrawal. When ever practical, monies shall be deposited in an interest bearing account upon the approval of the Board. The Executive Committee must approve all checks over $250. All checks over $1000 shall require signatures of the President and the Treasurer. The books shall at all times be open for inspection by the Board. The Treasurer shall provide an itemized report of the Association’s finances at every Board meeting. At the Association’s Annual Meeting, the Treasurer shall render an account of all monies received and expended during the current fiscal year and all outstanding debts owed by the Association. The Treasurer shall be bonded, and the Association shall pay for premiums for which. The annual Audit shall be conducted prior to the annual Meeting by a Committee of three (3) members chosen by the Board, only one of who shall be a current Board Member.

No person may be a candidate in the Association election who has not been nominated in accordance with these By Laws. The Board of Governors shall choose a Nominating Committee before June 1. The Committee shall consist of five (5) members in good standing. No more than one of who shall be a member of the current Board of Governors. The Board shall name a Chairman of the Committee.

The Nominating Committee shall nominate from among the members of the Association in good standing one (1) candidate for each position on the Board of Governors. The Committee shall procure written acceptance and a short biography from each nominee. The Committee shall then submit it’s slate of candidates and biographies to the Recording Secretary no later than August 1. The Recording Secretary shall mail the slate and biographies to each member of the Association on or before September 1.

Additional nominations may be made by written petition which must be signed by five (5) OBOHA Members in good standing and accompanied by the Candidate’s written acceptance with a short biography signifying the nominee’s willingness to be a candidate. This petition must be sent via express, certified or registered mail and received at the Recording Secretary’s regular address on or before October 1. No person shall be a candidate for more than one office.

If there is more than one candidate for any office, the Board of Governors shall pick two (2) members in good standing as Inspectors of Election to serve with the Recording Secretary in the validation of ballots.

If there is more than one (1) candidate for an office, the recording secretary must mail, on or before November 1, a ballot to each member in good standing as of July 1, of the election year. The ballot shall list all the nominees in alphabetical order together with the biographical sketches. A blank envelope and a return envelope addressed to the Recording Secretary and marked ‘ballot’ shall also be included. Each voter, after marking his ballot, shall seal it in the blank envelope and place it in the second envelope addressed to the Recording Secretary. The member must place his name and return address on the return envelope for validation of the ballot. Any ballot received without a return address will be invalid and will not be counted in the election process. Ballots, to be valid, must be postmarked no later than seven (7) days prior to the Annual Meeting.

The Inspectors of Election shall check the returns against the July 31 list of members in good standing prior to opening the outer envelopes. To certify the eligibility of the voters, after validation, the sealed blank envelope shall be removed from the outer envelope and held by the Recording Secretary until the Annual Meeting. Blank envelopes will be opened at the Annual Meeting and the results of the voting shall be announced. Ballots shall be kept on file for a period of sixty (60) days during which time any contesting must be made.

If there are no contested positions, no ballot will be sent. The Recording Secretary will cast one (1) vote electing the uncontested slate. Nominations cannot be made at the Annual Meeting or in any manner other than provided In Article IX Sections 1,2, and 3.

At the Annual Meeting for the election of the Board of Governors, the vote shall be conducted by ballot. Ballots, to be valid, must be received by the Recording Secretary before the opening of the meeting. A Tabulating Committee of at least three (3) members chosen by the Chair shall count ballots at the meeting. The Nominees receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected. If any nominee, at the time of the meeting, is unable to serve for any reason, the nominee shall not be elected and the new Board of Governors shall fill the vacancy so created. The Officers & Directors take office immediately upon the conclusion of the meeting. Each retiring Officer shall turn over to his successor in office all properties and records relating to that office within thirty (30) days after the election.

At regular meetings or special meetings of the Association, voting shall be limited to those members in good standing. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted. The Board of Governors may decide to submit other specific questions for discussion of the members by written ballot cast by mail.

A chapter may be formed by any group of not less than fifteen (15) members in good standing with the Association. The Board of Governors must approve the territory covered by the proposed Chapter as well as its Constitution. If, after approval, the number of members of a Chapter is reduced to less than fifteen (15) members in good standing, the chapter may continue as a Chapter or may be dissolved at the discretion of the Board of Governors.

To enable each regional Chapter to be represented, one delegate and one alternate shall be elected by the Chapter to represent it at the National Board of Governors’ meetings. The delegates are invited to attend National Board Meetings and to listen to all discussion. Delegates will not be counted in the legal requirements of a quorum.

A delegate attending the Board of Governors meeting may only discuss chapter business with written instructions from the Chapter, which will be attached to the Recording Secretary’s minutes of that meeting. The delegate reserves the right to table the subject after discussion by the Board on order to report to the Chapter.

The Owner Handler Association of America, Inc. is not responsible for any expense of Chapter Delegates, which may include costs incurred as part of telephone conference calls.

The Chapter Coordinator shall act as liaison with established Chapter and assist in the formation of new chapters. In the event that a delegate cannot attend a National Board, the National Chapter Coordinator will represent the Chapter with the written request from the Chapter Delegate.

A chapter must submit any proposed Constitutional changes to the Board of Governors, which has authority to disapprove or approve such changes. In the event of approval, the chapter must wait for written approval before implementing any changes.

A Chapter must notify the Board of Governors immediately of any change of officers during the fiscal year.

At the end of each fiscal year, the Chapter must submit a summery business report, an up-to-date list of Officers and Board Members, and send a complete list of general members to the Corresponding Secretary.

An annual Chapter assessment may be established at the discretion of the National Board.

Any proposed amendments must be submitted in writing, signed by twenty five (25) members in good standing, and sent to the Recording Secretary.

The Board of Governors will review all proposed amendments. Upon their approval, by at least two thirds (2/3) of the Board, said proposed amendments will be submitted to the general membership for approval.

The By Laws may be amended by an affirmative two thirds (2/3) response of members voting. Voting shall be conducted by mail.

Any member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Association. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Recording Secretary together with a deposit of fifty dollars (50), which shall be forfeited if the Board does not sustain such charges. The Recording Secretary shall promptly notify the Board which shall fix a date of hearing by the Board not less than three (3) weeks nor more than two (2) months thereafter. The Recording Secretary shall promptly send one (1) copy of the charges to the accused member by certified mail with a notice of the hearings and an assurance that the defendant may personally appear in his own defense by bring witnesses if he wishes.

Any member who is suspended from the privileges of any recognized Dog Club shall automatically be suspended from any privileges of this Association for the same period of time. Reinstatement as a member of this Association shall be decided by unanimous vote of the Board of Governors.

Any member in good standing may resign from the Association upon written notice to the Recording Secretary, but no member may resign when in debt to the Association. Such debt is incurred as of the first day of the Fiscal year.

A member shall be considered as terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid sixty (60) days after the first day of the fiscal year. At the discretion of the Board, memberships maybe reinstated upon payment of dues.

Expulsion of a member from the Association may be accomplished at the next Board meeting following a Board hearing and upon the Board’s recommendations as provided in Article XIV, Section 2. The President shall read the charges. The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing on his own behalf and providing evidence to this meeting. The Board shall then vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion. A unanimous vote of those present at the meeting shall be necessary for expulsion. If expulsion is not so voted, the Board’s suspension shall not stand.

The Association may be dissolved at any time by written consent of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the members. In the event of dissolution of the Association whether voluntary or involuntary or operation of law, none of the property of the Association, nor any proceeds thereof, nor any assets of the Association shall be distributed to any members of the Association. After payment of debts of the Association, its property and assets shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefit of dogs to be selected by the members by ballot.