ORGANIZATION AND BYLAWS
Ferret Lovers' Club of Texas

ARTICLE 1: DEFINITIONS AND PURPOSE
1. The name of this organization shall be called The Ferret Lover's Club of Texas, referred to as "FLC-TX", "the club", or "the corporation".
2. "Ferret" or "Domestic Ferret" as used herein and in all FLC-TX publications shall refer to the Domestic European ferret (Mustela putorius furo or Mustela furo). Any other species of hybrid will be called by its proper name, with scientific classification if possible.
3. The primary area served will be greater Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex in the state of Texas. Areas served secondarily may be selected by the membership on case-by-case basis from the state of Texas or adjacent states.
4. FLC-TX is an association of natural persons for social and recreational purposes. These persons include, but are not limited to, ferret enthusiasts and owners, veterinarians, shelters, and breeders of ferrets. The organization consists of Officers and Members, and may form committees as needed to conduct club business.
5. FLC-TX is a social organization devoted to the enjoyment of ferrets as pets and to enhancing the welfare and quality of life of the ferret. The general goal is to share our experiences pertaining to ferrets and to education others, and ourselves on their care, health and welfare of the species.
6. In furtherance of these purposes, FLC-TX shall provide an educational, informational, and social environment for ferret enthusiasts.
a. Provide at least 6 meetings per year to be announced via mailed notices or Internet communications
b. Provide a club phone number with voice-mail and/or voice
c. Maintain a website and/or an electronic mailing list
7. The Corporation shall have any and all powers granted to it by Texas Uniform Incorporated Nonprofit Association Act of 1995 and all other statues and other laws of the State of Texas applicable to incorporated nonprofit associations.

ARTICLE 2: MEMBERSHIP & VOTING
1. Membership to FLC-TX is open to the public, including any individual or organization, regardless of age, gender, race, creed, national origin, or political convictions.
a. Any individual member under 15 years of age must be sponsored by a family member or legal guardian over 21
b. Officers have the right to refuse any membership or to expel an existing member of reasonable cause. Anyone so refused is entitled to a written notification. The judgment may be appealed within 10 days; otherwise, the termination will be final.
2. Members will pay annual dues to the club, at a fee rate determined by FLC-TX officers and published on membership forms in whatever medium is currently in use for FLC-TX documents.
a. Lifetime members pay a one-time fee and are exempt from further annual dues, but continue to hold voting rights.
b. Lifetime honorary members pay no fee and are exempt from further annual dues, but do not hold voting rights.
c. Veterinarians are exempt from annual dues, and do not hold voting rights.
d. Fee structures shall not be changed more than once per calendar year.
3. Members have the following responsibilities and duties:
a. To provide and maintain a healthful, safe and caring environment for ferrets, if member is an owner
b. To uphold the principles and polices of FLC-TX, as set forth in these bylaws
c. To conduct oneself and one's family in a dignified and courteous manner whenever representing FLC-TX or attending any FLC-TX event
d. To maintain a current membership by paying on or in advance of the renewal date of membership
4. Member have the following rights:
a. To received a membership card.
b. To attend and participate in all Member, Officers, and Committee meetings and special club events
c. To provide one (1) vote per paid individual membership or two (2) votes per paid family membership on issues presented to the members at large for a vote
d. To be included in all FLC-TX mailings
e. To join in a petition to remove an officer
f. To request to hold a position as an Officer or committee member
g. To provide recommendations, commentary and other input regarding the operations of FLC-TX or its current projects
5. Unless otherwise defined, issues put to the membership for vote are approved by a simple majority of the vote holding members present at any general business meeting. A quorum for such votes is defined at business where there are at least five (5) voting members in good standing in attendance.
6. Members of the Corporation are not personally liable for debts, liabilities, and other obligations of the Corporation as provided by Texas Statute. Further, Members of the Corporation shall not be personally liable for any tortuous act or omission, or breach of contract of the Corporation. Members are protected from personal liability to the full extent of Texas Statute.

ARTICLE 3: OFFICERS
1. FLC-TX shall be managed by the Officers who will oversee and direct the on-going functions of the organization.
2. Selection and term: Each new officer shall be sponsored by an existing Officer and approved by the majority vote of the remaining officers. After approval, the officer will assume the position pro tem until the approval can be ratified by a majority of the voting membership. An Officer will serve a term not to exceed two years. At that time said officer would have to be reelected by usual process.

3. Criteria for selection: Each officer will meet the following criteria:
a. Be a member in good standing of FLC-TX
b. Be at least eighteen (18) years of age
c. Be an active member attending majority of functions at least 6 months prior to assuming office
d. Having been sponsored and approved by the Officers and accepted by the general membership at large
e. Have not been convicted of any statutory violation involving animal abuse or mistreatment
f. Be devoid of any conflict of interest, which might hinder or negate the ability to function as an officer
g. Have access to electronic mail.
4. Removal of an Officer will follow these guidelines:
a. A statement of cause signed by any five (5) current members in good standing presented to one or more officers. The statement must include specifics as to why the officer should be removed.
b. The statement will be reviewed by officers at the following meeting. Petitioning members may attend and present their case.
c. If the cause is just and reasonable, the officer will be given the opportunity to resign or be placed on probation until next meeting to correct the cause.
d. If the cause has been corrected after 30 days, as determined by both officers and petitioning members, the matter will be dropped. If not dropped, the petitioning members can appeal to the general membership at large after 30 days for a 2/3 vote for Officer removal. If the cause has not been corrected, the officer will be suspended pending notification of membership and majority vote of confidence.
5. The functions and duties of officers will be as follows. Any officer can be designated to perform those functions of the President in his/her absence or inability to perform the duties of the position.
a. President
" Acts as Chief Executive Officer of the Organization
" Has the authority to call meetings of any type
" Presides over all Officers and member meetings
" Has final approval or issue authority over all publications carrying the FLC-TX name
" Sets the agenda for meetings
b. Vice-President
" Performs the functions of the President in his/her absence or inability to perform the duties of the position.
c. Secretary
" Maintains a record of all decisions, activities, and/or votes made at business meetings. This record will be made available for publication or to any member upon request.
" Maintain listings of members, other clubs, veterinarians, and shelters.
" Shall read previous meeting minutes at each business meeting.

d. Treasurer
" Maintains a financial record of all financial transactions
" Receive and deposits monies in the FLC-TX designated financial institution
" Disburses FLC-TX funds in accordance with direction of the officers.
" Publishes a financial report no less than once per year
" Shall give financial report and previous report at each business meeting
e. Webmaster
" May fulfill any official club duty as assigned by Officers.
" Maintain the FLC of TX website.
" Determine website content and web links
" Determine web host server
" Maintain FLC of TX email subscriber list
6. An Officers meeting quorum shall consist of at least 3 officers, one of which must be either the President or the Vice President.
7. The number of Officers may be changed at any time by amending these bylaws with a majority vote of the voting membership in attendance at a general meeting, which announced such business as a topic.
8. Officers of the Corporation are not personally liable for the debts, liabilities, and other obligations of the Corporation as provided for by Texas Statute. Further, Officers of the Corporation shall not be personally liable for any tortuous act or omission, or breach of contract merely because they are authorized to participate in the management of the affairs of the Corporation.
9. The Officers are authorized to enter into and/or execute contracts for FLC-TX in the name of the Corporation. Such contracts and agreements must bear the signature of the President and the Secretary in order to make such contracts or agreements binding upon FLC-TX. Notwithstanding this proviso, neither the Officers, nor its individual office holders may enter into any contract, pledge its credit, or cause the Corporation to be committed to any financial liability beyond the Corporations ability to honor such obligations.

ARTICLE 4: MEETINGS AND EVENTS
1. General Meetings for Members
a. Shall be held no less than six (6) times per year
b. Shall be open to all members and their guest in good standing
c. Shall follow an agenda
d. Shall be held at a place and time designated by officers
2. Business Meetings
a. Shall be held during each Social/Information/Education meeting as required or no less than one (1) time per year
b. Are open to all members in good standing
c. Shall follow an agenda set by the President
d. Will review these bylaws at the first meeting of the calendar year
3. Officers Meetings
a. Shall be held on an as-needed basis whenever there is more business than may be covered in a general meeting schedule or whenever called by the President
b. Shall be open to all members in good standing, but without voting privileges
c. Shall follow an agenda
d. Shall be held at a place and time designated by the President
4. Committee Meetings
a. Shall be held on an as-needed basis
b. Shall be presided over by the chair of that Committee or a designate
c. Will make a report to officers
5. Social Events
a. Shall be a non-business related activity open to all members in good standing, their guests, and when appropriate, the general public
b. May also be a fundraising event

ARTICLE 5: BUDGET AND TREASURY
1. FLC-TX shall operate as a non-profit organization
2. Membership dues, donations and fund raising event proceeds shall be designated for use as determined by unanimous vote of Officers.
3. The Fiscal year for the Corporation shall be January 1st through December 31st of each year.
4. The Corporation is required to maintain in good standing, a secure, federally insured account in a Financial Institution that provides such services.
5. Any Member or Officer, under the direction of the Officers, is to be reimbursed for all pre-approved legitimate expenses incurred in the name of FLC-TX.
6. All expenses up to seventy-five dollars ($75) require written approval from the Treasurer prior to incurring the expense. All expenses in excess of seventy-five dollars ($75) require written approval from all Officers prior to incurring the expense.
7. Receipts for expenses incurred under Section 7 and 8 of this Article must be presented to the Treasurer for reimbursement.
8. The Treasurer will notify immediately any Member submitting a check that is returned or denied payment for any reason. The Treasurer is empowered to collect, on behalf of the Corporation, a fifteen-dollar ($15) charge, in addition to any financial institution charge, for each check returned to FLC-TX due to insufficient funds.

ARTICLE 6: SUPPLEMENTAL RULES, POWERS TO AMEND AND ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Rules and regulations to supplement these bylaws shall be devised as needed for the purpose of charity and uniformity. Additions, deletions or changes may be made to said rules and regulations at any Officers meeting, after a simple majority vote of those Officers in attendance where a quorum is present. Rules and Regulations as allowed for in this proviso shall not conflict with, change the meaning of, or otherwise violate the spirit and letter of these Bylaws or the Articles of Incorporation. In all questions of authority, These Bylaws shall take prescience over any rules or regulations so enacted.
2. Rules and regulations as provided for herein will be in the form of announcements issued by the Secretary. These rules and regulations will be considered to be in force immediately upon receipt of said announcement.
3. It is the responsibility of all Officers to read and understand any announcement issued by the Corporation.
4. The Officers are given full power to make, alter, amend or repeal any and all bylaws of the Corporation at any Officers Meeting after unanimous vote of those Officers in attendance where a quorum is present. This power may be exercised without prior notice to the Corporation of the Officers intention to so act. The Officers may also affect this section by mail or e-mail, if circumstances so warrant. Such changes to the bylaws are effective immediately, but are subject to repeal at the next scheduled meeting of the Corporation by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the general assemblage where a quorum is present. Any proposed change to these bylaws not so enacted under this provision may be further brought before the membership for vote by mail and will be considered passed by a three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote of the total membership entitled to vote.
If any provision of these bylaws is found to be invalid or unenforceable, for whatever reason, the remainder of these bylaws shall be effective.
02-11-07