SECTION 1. The Name of the Organization shall be Louisiana Search and Rescue Dogs (LaSAR-DOGS, INC.).

SECTION 2. The Objectives of the Organization shall be:

SECTION 3. The Organization shall not be conducted or operated for profit and no part of any profits or remainder or residue from dues or donations to the Organization shall incur to the benefit of any member or individual.

SECTION 4. The members of the Organization shall adopt and may from time to time revise such by-laws and may be required to carry out these objectives.

SECTION 1. Eligibility.

SECTION 2. Dues.

SECTION 3. Election to Membership. Each applicant for membership shall apply on a form as approved by the Board of Directors and said applicant agrees to abide by this constitution and by-laws. The application shall state the name and address of the applicant. All applications are to be filed with the Secretary and each application is to be read at the next four (4) regular meetings, being voted upon after the fourth reading. Membership approval will be by secret ballot and require affirmative vote of 3/4 of the members present and voting at the meeting. The Secretary will immediately notify the applicant of the result of the election. Dues shall be paid upon being notified of membership approval.

Applicants for membership who have been rejected by the Organization may reapply six months following such rejection or make an appeal to the Board requesting reconsideration of membership, after acquiring three (3) signatures from members in good standing. If approved by the Board, applicant will begin four (4) month observation period again.

SECTION 4. Termination of Membership. Membership may be terminated:

SECTION 1. Club Meetings. Meetings of the Organization shall be held within St. Tammany Parish on the fourth Thursday of each month, at such hour and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors.

The quorum for such meetings shall be one-third of the members in good standing.

SECTION 2. Special Organizational Meetings. Special Organizational meetings may be called by the President, or by a majority vote of the members of the Board who are present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the Board, and shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by five members of the Organization who are in good standing. Such special meetings shall be held within St. Tammany Parish, at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person or persons authorized herein to call such meetings. All members in good standing shall be contacted prior to meeting. The quorum for such a meeting shall be one-third of the members in good standing.

SECTION 3. Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held within St. Tammany Parish, at such date, hour and place as may be designated by the Board.

SECTION 4. Special Board Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President; or shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a written request signed by at least three members of the Board. Such special meetings shall be held within St. Tammany Parish at such place, date and hour as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call such a meeting. A quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of the Board.

SECTION 5. Voting. Each member in good standing, and whose dues are paid for the current month, shall be entitled to one vote at any meeting of the Organization at which he/she is present. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any organization meeting or election.

SECTION 1. Board of Directors. The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer and Trainer of whom shall be elected for one year terms at the Organization's annual meeting as provided in Article IV, and shall serve until their successors are elected. General Management of the Organization's affairs shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors, who shall appoint all committees.

SECTION 2. Officers. The Organization's officers, consisting of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Trainer shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the Organization and its meetings and the Board and its meetings.

SECTION 3. Eligibility. Any person being nominated for an officers position, must have been a voting member in good standing for at least one (1) year.

SECTION 4. Vacancies. Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the offices during the year shall be filled until the next annual election by a majority vote of all of the members of the Board at its first regular meeting following the creation of such vacancy, or at a Special Board Meeting called for that purpose; except that a vacancy in the office of President shall be filled automatically by the Vice-President and the resulting vacancy in the office of Vice-President shall be filled by the Board.

SECTION 1. Organization Year. The Organization's fiscal year shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of December.

The Organization's official year shall begin immediately at the conclusion of the election at the annual meeting and shall continue through the election at the next annual meeting.

SECTION 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in the month of December, at which Officers, and Directors for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret, written ballot from among those nominated in accordance with Section 4 of this Article. They shall take office immediately upon the conclusion of the election and each retiring officer shall turn over to his or her successor in office all properties and records relating to that office within 30 days after the election.

SECTION 3. Elections. The nominated candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected.

SECTION 4. Nominations. No person may be a candidate in an Organization election who has not been nominated. During the month of October, the Board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of three members and two alternates, not more than one of whom may be a member of the Board. The Secretary shall immediately notify the committeemen and alternates of their selection. The Board shall name a Chairman for the Committee and it shall be his/her duty to call a committee meeting which shall be held on or before November 1.

SECTION 1. The Board may each year appoint committees to advance the work of the Organization in such matters as deemed necessary.

SECTION 2. Any committee appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the full membership of the Board upon written notice to the appointee; and the Board may appoint successors to those persons whose services have been terminated.

SECTION 1. Charges. Any member may prefer charges against a member for alleged misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Organization. Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary together with a deposit of $10 which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Board following a hearing. The Secretary shall promptly send a copy of the charges to each member of the Board or present them at a Board Meeting, and the Board shall first consider whether the actions alleged in the charges, if proven, might constitute conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Organization. If the Board considers that the charges do not allege conduct which would be prejudicial to the best interests of the Organization, it may refuse to entertain jurisdiction. If the Board entertains jurisdiction of the charges it shall fix a date of a hearing by the Board not less than 3 weeks nor more than 6 weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall promptly send one copy of the charges to the accused member by registered mail together with a notice of the hearing and an assurance that the defendant may personally appear in his own defense and bring witnesses if he or she wishes.

SECTION 2. Board Hearing. The Board shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing, but both complainant and defendant shall be treated uniformly in that regard. Should the charges be sustained, after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by complainant and defendant, the Board may, by a majority vote of those present, and, if it deems that punishment insufficient, it may also recommend to the membership that the penalty be expulsion.

SECTION 3. Expulsion. Expulsion of a member from the Organization may be accomplished only at a meeting of the Organization following a Board hearing and upon the Board's recommendation as provided in Section 2 of this Article. Such proceedings may occur at a regular or special meeting of the Organization to be held within 60 days but not earlier than 30 days after the date of the Board's recommendation. The defendant shall have the privilege of appearing in his or her own behalf, though no evidence shall be taken at this meeting. The President shall read the charges and the Board's findings and recommendations, and shall invite the defendant, if present, to speak in his or her own behalf if he or she wishes. The meeting shall then vote by secret ballot on the proposed expulsion. A 2/3 vote of those present and voting at the meeting shall be necessary for expulsion.

SECTION 1. Dissolution. The Organization may be dissolved by the written consent of not less than 2/3 of the members. In the event of the dissolution of the Organization, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, none of the property of the Organization nor any proceeds thereof nor any assets of the Organization shall be distributed to any members of the Organization but, after payment of the debts of the Organization, its property and assets shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefits of dogs selected by the Board of Directors, other than for purposes of reorganization.

SECTION 1. At meetings of the Organization, the order of business, so far as the character and nature of the meeting may permit, shall be as follows:

SECTION 2. At meetings of the Board, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:

SECTION 1. The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws and any special rules of order the Organization may adopt.