- Preamble
We hereby establish the constitution for The Association for
Somali Cats (hereafter referred to as TASC). TASC is an unaffiliated
international organization dedicated to promoting the welfare
of Somali cats, and to fostering interaction and cooperation among
all Somali cat fanciers.
Membership in TASC is open to Somali fanciers, owners, breeders,
exhibitors, and other interested parties who agree with the purpose
and goals of the organization.
TASC is [will be] incorporated as a not-for-profit organization
in the state of New York in the United States of America.
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- Purpose and Goals
In addition to the purpose of TASC presented in the preamble,
TASC seeks to accomplish the following goals:
- Somali Breed Goals: TASC is committed to the following
goals for the welfare of the Somali Breed as a whole and of
individual Somali cats:
- Maintain the genetic diversity of the Somali breed.
- Encourage sufficient compatibility of Somali breed standards
throughout the world to avoid the genetic "walling-off" of
Somalis within a given registry's regional or jurisdictional
boundaries.
- Support research into feline health issues.
- Disseminate health and genetic information, especially
Somali-specific information.
- Encourage the selective breeding of the Somali, with
the intent of improving and maintaining high standards of
conformation, temperament, and health.
- Seek to be recognized by all cat registry organizations
as a leading advocate for the welfare of Somali cats and an
excellent source of information on Somalis and issues affecting
Somalis.
- Membership Goals: TASC is committed to the following membership
goals:
- Unite Somali owners, exhibitors, breeders, and fanciers
of all associations/registries worldwide in an effort to ensure
the viability of the Somali breed.
- Encourage positive ethical principles and behaviors
among its members, especially as they affect the breeding,
raising, showing, and selling of Somalis.
- Foster a spirit of camaraderie, cooperation, and friendship
among its members.
- Provide guidance, support and mentoring for novice breeders
and exhibitors.
- Provide consumer education on what to look for in a
Somali, how to find good breeders, what to look for in a good
cattery, what questions to ask, etc.
- Encourage participation in club activities, governance,
and procedures through fair and democratic processes.
- Recognize the accomplishments of Somali owners, exhibitors,
and breeders and their cats who succeed in shows and in furthering
the welfare of the Somali breed.
- Promote communication among Somali fanciers, owners,
breeders and exhibitors, by various media, especially on the
internet with a web site and through publications of TASC.
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- Membership
TASC encourages universal membership. Any person, living anywhere
in the world, who is interested in, owns, breeds, and/or exhibits
Somali cats, and agrees to the purpose and goals of TASC may become
a member of TASC. The process for applying for membership in TASC
and the required membership dues is specified in TASC's by-laws.
New members become Associate Members of TASC upon receipt of
their completed membership application and payment of the membership
dues.
Associate Members are advanced to Full Membership after six months
as an associate member. Associate Members have all of the rights
and privileges of Full Members except that they may not vote in
TASC elections or on TASC resolutions, initiatives, or referendums,
and they may not hold an executive office or position on the board
of directors. (Note: Associate Members may run for and be elected
to the board of directors or an executive office provided that
they will have advanced to Full Member prior to their term of
office.)
Past members (full members who have allowed their membership
to lapse) may rejoin TASC as Full Members upon submitting a new
membership application and paying their membership dues.
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- Affiliation
TASC is not affiliated with any other cat club, cat-registering
association, cat showing organization, or any other organization
of any kind. This article does not preclude TASC from supporting
the efforts of members of TASC in associating or working within
other organizations to promote the purpose or goals of TASC.
- Internationalization
TASC encourages international participation in all business and
communications including the TASC newsletter, web site, and e-mail
list. TASC will promote fair representation within the association
for regional issues worldwide. While TASC may establish a common
language or unit of currency for the sake of expediency in business
and communications of the association, this shall not preclude
the association from making available parallel services in local
languages such as a localized edition of the newsletter or localized
web pages, nor shall it preclude the club from making accommodations
for other currencies.
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- TASC Documents
- CONSTITUTION:
This document comprises the constitution of TASC. The constitution
is the foundation document of the association, and all processes,
procedures, and other documentation of TASC are subject to the
provisions of this constitution. The constitution may be amended
as described within the appropriate article of the constitution.
- BY-LAWS:
TASC shall have a set of by-laws that document the general
processes and procedures of the association. The by-laws may be
amended by a resolution of TASC's membership subject to the provisions
of the constitution.
- STANDING RULES
TASC shall have a set of standing rules that document the specific
details of TASC operating processes and procedures. The process
for amending the standing rules shall be the same as for the TASC
by-laws subject to the provisions of the constitution and by-laws.
- STANDARD OF CONDUCT
TASC may create a code of ethics that is intended to serve
as a guide to members of TASC and as a statement of the ethical
position of the association as a whole. The process for amending
the code of ethics shall be the same as for the by-laws.
- Undocumented Operating Authority
In the absence of any specific process or procedure being defined
in the TASC constitution, by-laws, or standing rules, a process
or procedure may be defined by a majority vote of TASC's board
of directors subject to the existing provisions of TASC's documents.
The TASC constitution, by-laws, standing rules, and code of
ethics shall be available to the TASC membership and to the
general public through the TASC web site and through request
to TASC's secretary (subject to reasonable provisions to cover
mailing costs).
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- Regions
TASC may establish geographical regions for the purpose of ensuring
a geographically diverse representation of the membership in a
global association. The sole purpose for geographical regions
in TASC shall be to provide a director on the TASC Board of Directors
elected by the members of each region. Each member of TASC shall
belong to exactly one region based upon their primary place of
residence.
TASC by-laws shall define procedures for redrawing region boundaries
to accommodate changes in membership demographics. These procedures
shall be consistent with the goal of maintaining regions with
comparably sized memberships representing diverse geographical
areas. Regions shall not be redrawn more frequently than once
per term of regional officers and shall take effect at the start
of a new term of office. Officers of newly defined or modified
regions shall be elected by the members of that region as newly
defined or modified.
In the absence of any defined regions, the association shall
have no regional director and all directors on the board of directors
will be directors at large.
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- Club Authority
The ultimate authority of the association lies with the collective
membership. Except for explicitly stated exceptions, all TASC
business activity and actions of any TASC member, committee, director,
board, officer, chair, or other entity or sub-entity of TASC must
be fully disclosed to the membership of the association.
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- Breeders' Forum
TASC shall include a forum of qualified Somali breeders called
the TASC Breeders' Forum. The purpose of the Breeders' Forum will
be to provide a check on resolutions and policies that may be
passed by the TASC membership which might be deemed detrimental
to the Somali breeders of TASC. The sole function of the Breeders'
Forum is to veto, by a two-thirds majority vote of the Breeders'
Forum members, any resolution or policy brought before the TASC
membership which the TASC Breeders' Forum deems detrimental to
the interests of the Somali breeders. Discussions of the TASC
Breeders' Forum are to be carried in an open forum accessible
to the TASC general membership. The TASC by-laws shall establish
procedures for calling and conducting a vote of the TASC Breeders'
Forum.
Membership on the TASC Breeders' Forum is open to any full member
of TASC who meets the following criteria:
- The member must have bred a minimum of 3 litters of pedigree
Somali cats including litters from a minimum of two different
queens;
- The member must have entered and shown at least 5 different
pedigree Somali cats in a cat show sanctioned by a major cat
registry association;
- The cats shown must include at least one whole adult Somali,
one neutered or spayed Somali, and one Somali kitten;
- The cat shows entered must include at least one show in
each of three different years;
- The member must establish current experience by having
bred a litter of Somali cats within the preceding 2 years and
having shown a pedigree Somali cat in a cat show within the
preceding year; or must have met an alternative current experience
requirement as may be defined in the TASC by-laws;
- In addition to the above, the TASC by-laws may define
additional criteria for membership on the TASC Breeders' Forum
based on success achieved by the member in showing Somali cats.
This additional criteria may be specified on a per cat show
association basis;
- In addition to the above, the TASC by-laws may establish
an ethics requirement for membership on the TASC Breeders' Forum.
Membership on the TASC Breeders' Forum is open to those members
who qualify based on the criteria in effect at the time. A member
may choose not to belong to the TASC Breeders' Forum if they desire.
The TASC by-laws shall provide a procedure for amending that portion
of the membership criteria which is specified in the by-laws.
This procedure shall require a two-thirds majority vote of those
members of the TASC Breeders' Forum prior to enacting the new
criteria.
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- Executive Officers
TASC will have as executive officers of the association a president,
a secretary, and a treasurer who are elected by the club membership
to fixed terms of two years with a limit of two consecutive terms
and with no limit on nonconsecutive terms.
The duties, responsibilities, and authority of these executive
officers shall consist only of those duties, responsibilities
and authority explicitly specified by TASC's constitution, by-laws
and standing rules.
In addition to the three elected executive offices, TASC also
will recognize the position of immediate past president as an
executive office of the association. This office shall be filled
by the most recent past president of TASC who is available to
fill the office. In the event that no past president of TASC is
available to fill the office of immediate past president then
the officer shall be elected by the membership.
- All executive officers of TASC must have an actively monitored
e-mail account.
- No person may concurrently hold more than one executive
office (except temporarily in the event of a vacancy).
- The president of TASC may not concurrently hold the office
of chair of the board of directors (but may be a member of the
board of directors).
PRESIDENT:The duties, responsibilities and authority of the
president of TASC are as follows. The president:
- is the official spokesperson and point of contact for
TASC;
- has signature authority for TASC business matters subject
to authorization by the TASC board of directors;
- moderates electronic meetings of TASC;
- provides a regular column in TASC's newsletter and web
site.
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT:The duties, responsibilities and
authority of the immediate past president of TASC are as follows.
The immediate past president:
- assists and advises the president and other executive
officers;
- substitutes for any other executive officer in the event
of a vacancy in that office until a new officer can be elected;
- substitutes for the chair of the board of directors
in the event of a vacancy in that office until a new chair
can be elected;
SECRETARY:The duties, responsibilities and authority of the
secretary of TASC are as follows. The secretary:
- processes membership applications and keeps the TASC
membership list;
- maintains the TASC e-mail list (possibly in conjunction
with a list administrator if appropriate);
- handles TASC mailing requirements;
- keeps any required association documents;
- handles TASC correspondence;
- records (and posts) minutes from TASC meetings;
- provides backup signature authority for both the President
and the Treasurer;
TREASURER:The duties, responsibilities and authority of the
treasurer of TASC are as follows. The treasurer:
- has signature authority for the association bank account;
- keeps association financial records;
- collects membership dues and other association receivables;
- pays association debts from the association bank account;
- issues regular treasurer's reports to the board of directors
and membership.
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- Board of Directors
The centralized authority of TASC shall reside with a board of
directors (referred to as BoD in the remainder of this article).
The BoD will oversee all other activity of TASC, and all TASC
officers, committees and other TASC entities (except for the TASC
Breeders' Forum) shall report into the BoD. The decisions and
actions of the BoD are only subject to review and overrule by
TASC's membership (except for the veto power granted to the TASC
Breeders' Forum).
The BoD is comprised of a chair, one regional director for each
region and a number of directors at large as specified in the
TASC by-laws. Regional directors are elected by vote of the members
of the corresponding geographical region. Directors at large and
the chair of the BoD are elected by vote of the full voting membership
of TASC. Except for the special provisions that apply to the chair
of the BoD, all members of the BoD are equal. All members of the
BoD must have an actively monitored e-mail account. For purposes
of conducting business, the BoD must have a quorum of the BoD
members participating. The BoD quorum is defined in the TASC by-laws.
The chair of the BoD moderates all meetings of the BoD. The chair
of the BoD may receive reports from TASC committees and officers
on behalf of the BoD and post them to the BoD membership. The
chair of the BoD does not vote in BoD decisions except in the
event of a tie vote in which case the chair will cast the tiebreaker
vote. The chair of the BoD may not concurrently be the chair of
any standing committee of TASC nor may the chair of the BoD concurrently
hold the office of president of TASC.
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- Elections
A vote of the membership shall be the principal means by which
TASC:
- elects club officers,
- ratifies amendments to the TASC constitution or bylaws,
and
- enacts resolutions, initiatives, or referendums from the
members.
Each full member of TASC is entitled to one vote in the election
of TASC officers and the ratification of amendments. In general,
resolutions, initiatives, or referendums will be decided by a vote
of the full members; however, the TASC by-laws may make provision
for a class of resolution, initiative or referendum in which all
members (including associate members) may vote. Amendments to the
TASC constitution shall be by a 2/3 majority of the votes cast,
all other votes shall pass by a simple majority. All votes to amend
the TASC constitution require a minimum of 50% of the eligible votes
to be cast. All resolutions, initiatives and referendums of TASC
and all amendments to the TASC constitution are subject to the special
veto power granted to the TASC Breeders' Forum by this constitution.
TASC by-laws shall establish procedures for conducting elections,
nominations and other balloting. E-mail shall be the preferred
means for submitting nominations and conducting votes. Provision
must be made to allow members without an e-mail account to participate
in the nomination and voting process. The ability of a member
to designate a proxy to cast an e-mail vote or submit a nomination
shall be deemed a minimally adequate provision.
It is furthermore a requirement of the balloting procedures that
provision be made for tallying of votes by at least two independent
parties, and in the case of an election that no candidate for
an office being elected may be a party to the vote counting. Except
as required of those tallying the votes, the contents of all ballots
shall be confidential, though the roster of who has voted need
not be confidential.
It is also a constitutional requirement of the balloting procedures
in the TASC by-laws that provisions be made for resolving voting
irregularities, re-counts and protests.
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- Committees
With the exception of those functions specifically delegated
to the officers or board of directors of TASC by this constitution
or TASC by-laws, all TASC functions shall be assigned to a committee
within TASC. Membership on committees will consist exclusively
of members of TASC and may be further restricted as appropriate
to the purpose of the committee. Every committee must have one
member who is designated the chair for that committee and represents
the committee to the board of directors. The chair of any standing
committee may not concurrently be the chair of the board of directors.
There are two types of committees in TASC, ad-hoc committees and
standing committees.
Ad-hoc committees are impaneled by, report to, and serve at the
discretion of the board of directors. In general these committees
are targeted at specific issues of limited duration. Ad-hoc committees
are created, modified, and disbanded by the board of directors
through its regular business procedures and documented in the
business minutes of the board of directors. The board of directors
shall decide and document for all ad-hoc committees at least the
following information: (1) the purpose of the committee, (2) the
duration of the committee, and (3) the procedure for selecting
and replacing the committee chair (including whether the chair
is elected or appointed). The board of directors may additionally
decide and document any additional items relating to committee
membership, structure, reporting requirements or operating authority.
The board of directors may not grant to any ad-hoc committee any
operating authority which they (the board of directors) do not
themselves possess. Except as specifically authorized by the board
of directors, an ad-hoc committee has no operating authority other
than reporting to the board of directors.
Standing committees are incorporated in the by-laws of TASC.
In general, these committees carry out the ongoing functions of
TASC and are of indefinite duration. The TASC by-laws shall provide
at least the following information for each standing committee:
(1) the purpose of the committee and (2) the procedure for selecting
and replacing the committee chair (including whether the chair
is elected or appointed and any term of office and term limits
for the committee chair). The TASC by-laws may additionally provide
additional items relating to committee membership, structure,
duration, reporting requirements or operating authority. Standing
committees may be created, modified, or disbanded only by amendment
to TASC's by-laws. Except as specifically authorized by TASC's
by-laws, a standing committee has no operating authority other
than reporting to the board of directors.
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- Communication
Facilitating communication between Somali Cat fanciers, owners,
breeders, and exhibitors is a fundamental goal of TASC. All applicable
media should be utilized to promote the international scope of
TASC.
TASC communications shall consist of:
- a TASC newsletter,
- a TASC web site, and
- a TASC e-mail list.
The TASC newsletter and TASC web site shall be the responsibility
of standing committees of TASC as defined in TASC's by-laws. TASC's
by-laws shall establish procedures for the maintenance and use
of the club e-mail list.
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- TASC Meetings
- Electronic General Membership Meetings
Due to the global nature of TASC and the logistical difficulties
in physically bringing together members of TASC, the preferred
method of conducting meetings shall be by e-mail discussion posted
to the TASC e-mail list. The TASC by-laws shall establish the
procedures for announcing, conducting, and reporting the minutes
of these meetings. While participation in e-mail meetings may
be limited for members of TASC who do not have e-mail accounts,
and while members without e-mail accounts are encouraged to make
arrangements for a proxy to pass on information and post submissions
on their behalf, the TASC by-laws shall make provisions to enable
members without e-mail accounts to receive at least meeting notices
and minutes via regular mail or other non-electronic means.
- In-Person General Membership Meetings
The preference for meetings conducted via the TASC's e-mail
list shall not preclude members of TASC from taking advantage
of events within the cat fancy to conduct an informal in-person
meeting for social or business purposes. No business conducted
at such an in-person meeting shall be binding upon TASC until
the minutes of such a meeting have been posted to the TASC e-mail
list and the membership of TASC has voted upon the results of
any business that was conducted at that meeting. The TASC by-laws
shall establish procedures for announcing, conducting, and posting
the minutes of in-person membership meetings. For the purposes
of timing discussions and voting on the results of in-person meetings,
the effective date of the meeting shall be the date on which the
minutes of the meeting are posted to the TASC e-mail list. The
intent to have an in-person meeting of TASC (along with a proposed
agenda) should be posted to the TASC e-mail list at least two
weeks prior to the meeting.
- Board of Directors and Executive Officer Meetings
Business meetings of the TASC Board of Directors and business
meetings of the TASC Executive Officers shall be conducted via
an e-mail discussion unless there is unanimous agreement within
the Board of Directors or Executive Officers respectively to utilize
some other forum. Business meetings of the TASC Board of Directors
or business meetings of the TASC Executive Officers shall be announced
via a posting to the TASC e-mail list at least 7 days prior to
the commencement of the meeting. The Board of Directors or Executive
Officers are encouraged to conduct business meetings in the open
on the TASC e-mail list; however, they may choose to use another
forum or a restricted e-mail list provided (1) the use of a restricted
e-mail list is agreed to by a majority of the Board of Directors
or Executive Officers as appropriate, (2) any regular member of
the club may request and be granted inclusion in the meeting communications
as an observer only, and (3) a complete and accurate record of
all meeting communications is recorded and posted to the TASC
e-mail list within 7 days of the meeting's adjournment.
There shall be at least one business meeting of the TASC
Board of Directors every 3 months.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions, the TASC Board
of Directors must utilize a restricted e-mail list that is not
open to the general membership and maintain the confidentiality
of meetings or portions of meetings dealing with (1) the registration
of or investigation of complaints of misconduct against a TASC
member, and (2) issues of a legal or financial nature where
public disclosure of the information would be illegal or detrimental
to the welfare of TASC. This shall not preclude the posting
of general descriptions of business conducted provided that
the necessary confidentiality is maintained.
- TASC Committee meetings
Meetings of committees within TASC may be held as desired
by the committee members consistent with any provisions established
in the formation of the committee. Reports by the committee
chair to the Board of Directors shall be posted to the TASC
e-mail list except where confidentiality is required as described
in section C of this article.
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- Awards and Recognition
TASC recognizes that participation in cat shows is a popular
hobby among its members and encourages this pursuit as a means
of fostering communication and fellowship among the various breeders
and owners of Somali cats. Additionally, TASC may provide a forum
in which the various traits of Somali cats may be discussed and
the association may take a position in favor or against the advancement
of any of these traits in the Somali show standards of the various
cat show organizations. Furthermore, TASC may provide a forum
in which the accomplishments of individual Somali cats may be
announced and individual opinions on the relative merit of specific
Somali cats may be expressed. However, TASC as an association
does not sanction any scoring process or offer any award that
recognizes any specific Somali cat as superior to any other Somali
cat. Any award or special recognition that TASC may offer as an
association will be specifically for the purpose of acknowledging
excellence or outstanding performance in advancing the goals and
purposes of the club or in service to the breed of Somali cats.
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- Dissolution
The procedures and requirements for dissolving TASC shall be
the same as those for making amendments to the constitution. Upon
dissolution of the club, the board of directors shall inventory
the assets and liabilities of TASC. All liabilities shall be paid
out of assets. A legal notice of dissolution should be filed pursuant
to the laws under which TASC was incorporated. Any excess assets
shall be donated to a recognized, reputable, charitable organization
with federal tax-exempt status that is devoted to feline welfare.
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- Sanctions and Discipline
TASC will not pursue any active monitoring of member behavior
or actively seek to identify misbehavior on the part of individual
members except in the case of a direct complaint. TASC recognizes
the impact that the behavior of individual members can have on
the reputation of the association as a whole, and reserves the
right to fully or partially revoke the membership of an individual
whose conduct is damaging to the reputation of the association.
TASC will not levy fines or in any way seek to punish members
for disreputable or unethical conduct other than the full or partial
revocation of TASC membership or removal from office. This provision
does not apply to criminal activities or cases where the association
suffers financial loss due to member misconduct in which case
the club may seek reimbursement for financial damages and pursue
criminal prosecution. Complaints of member misconduct shall be
handled by the board of directors who may designate a committee
to deal with specific complaints.
Complaints shall be handled in as confidential a manner as possible
for all parties in a complaint; however, not at the expense of
an accurate resolution of the complaint. Any person accused of
misconduct has the right to respond to a complaint before any
complaint can be sustained.
Incompetence in office is grounds for removing club officers
from office and shall be handled similarly to misconduct complaints.
The TASC by-laws shall provide specific procedures for handling
complaints of misconduct.
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- Amendments to the Constitution
Proposals to amend the TASC constitution may be posted to the
TASC e-mail list for discussion at any time. The subject line
of the proposal must identify the post as a proposal to amend
the TASC constitution. A proposal must remain under discussion
for a minimum of two weeks during which time the author of the
proposal may modify or withdraw the proposal.
After the minimum two week discussion period, but in no event
less than four weeks from posting the proposal, the author may
(via a post to the TASC e-mail list) call for endorsements. Any
member of TASC may post an endorsement of the proposal to the
TASC e-mail list. A proposal must receive an endorsement from
at least 10% of the TASC voting membership within two weeks from
the call for endorsements in order to qualify for a vote. The
secretary shall keep a tally of the endorsements and shall post
a notice to the TASC e-mail list announcing the status of the
proposal and announcing a vote for those proposals that qualify.
A vote on the proposal shall be held within two weeks of its qualifying
for the vote and shall be held according to the balloting procedures
defined in the TASC by-laws. The by-laws shall make provision
for members without e-mail access to be able to utilize other
means to participate in the amendment process.
The vote to amend the constitution must have at least 50% of
the eligible votes cast. A two-thirds majority of votes cast is
required to pass a proposal to amend the TASC constitution.
Unless stated otherwise in the proposal, amendments to the TASC
constitution will take effect 7 days after the ballots are counted
and results announced per procedures defined in the TASC by-laws.
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This page was last updated on November 25, 2000.
