bbsai by-laws

1. To raise, preserve, improve, promote and publish facts pertaining to American Blackbelly (horned) and Barbados Blackbelly (polled) sheep.
2. To register and keep on file all records of registrations and transfers of American Blackbelly and Barbados Blackbelly sheep in the United States.
3. To support and promote the interests of American Blackbelly and Barbados Blackbelly sheep breeders.
4. To work together and exchange information and ideas that will be helpful in raising and preserving American Blackbelly and Barbados Blackbelly sheep.
5. To improve the genetics of each generation of sheep, including artificially inseminated sheep.
6. To develop better markets.
7. To sponsor shows and sales and to involve our youth in every part of sheep production.

1. Eligibility—Anyone is eligible for membership who is interested in, promotes, owns, or breeds American Blackbelly or Barbados Blackbelly sheep.
2. Applications—An individual (for themselves or their farm and/or family) shall make application and pay all appropriate membership dues to the Secretary of BBSAI. After the application and dues are processed, the BBSAI Secretary will issue a Certificate of Membership and Flock Number and notify the individual that the membership is approved. The BBSAI Secretary will furnish membership application forms to anyone interested, or the forms can be downloaded from the BBSAI website at http://www.blackbellysheep.org.
3. Status—There shall be five types of membership: Lifetime, Family, Regular, Associate, and Youth.
   1. A Lifetime membership will be offered and will be entitled to one vote and be eligible to hold one office.
   2. A Family membership will be offered for two people that join as a team. The membership will be entitled to one vote and one person will be eligible to hold one office.
   3. A Regular membership will be offered and be entitled to one vote and be eligible to hold one office.
   4. An Associate membership will be offered for sponsors and persons interested in supporting the BBSAI. An associate member will have no voting privileges and may not hold office.
   5. A Youth membership will be offered to individuals who are 18 years of age or younger and who own, breed, and register Barbado or Barbados Blackbelly sheep. A youth member has no voting privileges and may not hold office.
   6. Previous membership types in the Association will be honored and grandfathered into the new membership categories, effective July 15, 2005.
4. Terms and Renewal—The calendar year for all memberships is July 15 through July 14. An active member is an individual who has applied to the BBSAI for membership and paid the appropriate membership dues. To maintain an active membership status, membership must be renewed and all appropriate dues paid no later than June 30 of each year. Expired memberships may be made active by reapplying for membership and paying the appropriate membership dues. Memberships are not transferable.
5. Suspension and Expulsion of Members and their Membership—Any member who for any reason refuses to furnish a transfer of ownership certificate when a sale is made or who is found guilty of fraud or willful misrepresentation shall be suspended by the President until the next membership meeting. Likewise, any member knowingly attempting to register sheep that do not meet BBSAI breed standards shall be suspended by the President until the next membership meeting. At that time, the matter shall be documented in writing. If the matter is sustained by a majority vote of the members present, the member shall be expelled and the member shall not be entitled to a refund of any membership dues and/or fees. An expelled member shall lose all rights, and any registrations made during the suspension period shall be cancelled.
6. Fees—All fees can be found in the Standing Rules to the By-Laws.

1. Annual Membership Meeting—The Officers and Directors, on an annual basis, will determine the time and location of the Annual Membership Meeting. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed or emailed to each member at his or her address of record not less than 45 days prior to such meeting. The notice shall contain the time, date, place, and agenda of such meeting and shall be considered given at the time it is postmarked or emailed. At the Annual Membership Meeting, the active members shall elect the  Directors of BBSAI and transact any other business that is properly brought before the meeting. Anyone wishing to put a topic on the agenda must notify the BBSAI Secretary in writing 30 days before the date of the Annual Membership Meeting. Planning the agenda for such meeting shall be the responsibility of the President and other members of the Board of Directors serving prior to the meeting.
2. Special Meetings—Special meetings of the membership may be called by the President, or by a majority of the Directors, or by members owning a two-thirds majority of the active membership. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed or emailed to each member at his or her address of record not less than 45 days prior to such meeting. The notice shall contain the time, place, and agenda of such meeting and shall be considered given at the time it is postmarked or emailed. Planning the agenda for such meeting shall be the responsibility of the President and other members of the Board of Directors serving prior to the meeting.
3. Quorum—At all annual and special membership meetings, those active members present or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum and shall be sufficient for any transaction of business.
4. Voting—Voting for Directors shall be by ballot. Marked ballots shall be counted by the Secretary, or by a committee appointed by the President, at the Annual Membership Meeting. At any membership meeting, active members may be represented by proxy, but such proxy shall be in writing, signed by such member, and filed with the Secretary before the vote is tendered.
5. Ballots—The Secretary shall mail a ballot to each active member at his or her address of record not less than 45 days prior to the Annual Membership Meeting. Such ballot shall include the nominees for membership on the Board of Directors with instructions for write-in candidates at the member's initiative. Marked ballots shall be returned to the Secretary postmarked not less than 15 days prior to the Annual Membership Meeting in order to be counted.
6. Rules—Membership Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order or such other rules as the membership shall adopt, but no rule change will be effective until the next subsequent meeting after passage of the change.

1. Powers—The general business of the BBSAI shall be conducted and managed by a Board of Directors. Said Board shall have the power to make rules and regulations for the guidance of its Officers and members and for transaction of the business of the BBSAI. The Board of Directors, by resolution, may delegate to committees and ad hoc committees.
2. Duties—Every Director shall discharge his or her duties in good faith with a view to the interests of the BBSAI. Every Director shall participate in all meetings of the Board of Directors, including informal discussions, email discussions, telephone conferences, and any other meetings in which BBSAI business is transacted.
3. Election and Composition of Board—At each Annual Membership Meeting of the BBSAI, the membership shall elect Directors to hold office until the next Annual Membership Meeting or until the election and qualification of their respective successors. The number of Directors shall be five but such number may be increased as the Directors see fit, provided that the number of Directors shall never be less than five.
4. Term—The term of a Director shall be one year. A Director may serve for any number of consecutive terms. It is recommended that the terms of the directors be staggered so that at any time the Board consists of members who have served at least one year on the Board as well as new members serving their first term.
5. Resignation; Removal; Vacancies—Any Director may resign at any time by giving two months written notice to the President of the Board of Directors. Any Director may be removed by a majority vote of the remaining Directors. Failure of a Director to participate in three consecutive meetings shall constitute a resignation from the Board of Directors, unless such absences are excused by the Board of Directors. If a vacancy occurs in the Board of Directors, any Director still serving may be elected, by a majority vote of the remaining directors, to fill the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term.
6. Conflict of Interest—No Director shall vote on any issue that may result in a direct monetary benefit to said Director, said Director's family, or to any business in which said Director has a direct or indirect interest.
7. Annual Meeting—As soon as practicable after each Annual Membership Meeting, the newly elected Directors shall meet for the purpose of electing officers and the transaction of other business, and if a quorum of the Directors be then present, no prior notice of such meeting shall be required to be given.
8. Regular Meeting—The Board of Directors may establish a schedule for regular meetings.
9. Special Meeting—Special Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or the Secretary and must be called by either of them on the written request of any two members of the Board.
10. Notice of Meetings—Notice of all Directors meetings, except as herein otherwise provided, shall be mailed or emailed not less than 15 days prior to the meeting. The notice shall be sent to each Director at his or her postal or email address of record. Such notice must include any materials necessary for the next meeting. At any meeting at which every Director shall be present, even though without notice, any business may be transacted.
11. Quorum; Voting—At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Directors shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of a majority of the Directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If at any meeting there is less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting without further notice to any absent Director.
12. Informal Action by Directors—Any action required to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if a written consent to such action is signed by all members of the Board or of such committee, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or committee.
13. Telephone/Electronic Meeting—Members of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone call, or by other electronic means, if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other or read each other’s comments at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at said meeting. The cost of such meetings shall be borne by the participating Directors.

1. Officers—The Officers of the BBSAI shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Any two offices may be held by the same person, provided that the President shall not also serve as Vice President. Other Officers with such powers and duties not inconsistent with these By-laws may be appointed by the Board of Directors.
2. Resignation; Removal; Vacancies—Any Officer may resign at any time by giving two months written notice to the President or the Board of Directors. Any Officer may be removed from office at any time, in accordance with these By-laws. In case any office of the BBSAI becomes vacant, the Board of Directors by majority action may select an Officer to fill such vacancy. The Board may waive the two-month written notice allowing any Officer’s resignation to be effective immediately.
3. President—The term of the President shall be three years. The President may serve for any number of consecutive terms. It is recommended that the President not serve more than two consecutive terms. The President shall preside at all meetings. The President signs all contracts and other instruments of BBSAI. The President supervises the affairs of BBSAI according to and subject to the By-laws and performs such other duties as assigned. The President appoints Chairpersons of the various committees with the approval of the Board. The President, also with the approval of the Board, creates ad hoc committees when deemed necessary.
4. Vice President—The term of the Vice President shall be for three years. The Vice President may serve for any number of consecutive terms. It is recommended that the Vice President not serve more than two consecutive terms. The primary duty of the Vice President shall be to assist the President and perform all duties of the President in his or her absence and such other duties as the Board of Directors imposes. If the Vice President is assuming Presidential duties, then she or he has no vote in the Board of Directors' proceedings except to break a tied vote.
5. Secretary—The term of Secretary shall be for three years. The Secretary may serve for any number of consecutive terms. The Secretary shall be the corresponding and recording member of BBSAI. The Secretary issues notice of all meetings the By-laws may require, keeps the minutes of the meetings, and signs, with the President, all instruments requiring his or her signature, and performs such other duties the Board of Directors may require. The Secretary shall maintain the BBSAI’s book of registry and keep the BBSAI flock numbers and records of transfers, memberships, and registrations up to date. The Secretary shall work jointly with the Treasurer to keep a current membership list.
6. Treasurer—The term of the Treasurer shall be for three years. The Treasurer may serve for any number of consecutive terms. The Treasurer shall be the BBSAI’s chief fiscal and financial member. The Treasurer shall collect all fees, dues, and other monies due the BBSAI and shall pay the bills, reporting the same in detail at each regular meeting of the Board of Directors and the membership. Receipts and invoices must evidence all expenditures. The Treasurer shall keep the books up-to-date and open for inspection upon the reasonable request of any Board member. The Treasurer shall provide a written report of the BBSAI’s financial status when requested by the Board. The Treasurer shall work jointly with the Secretary to keep a current membership list.

1. The BBSAI shall maintain a book of registry.
2. The BBSAI’s book of registry is an “open book registry.” A sheep may be registered even if its dam and sire are not registered as long as it meets BBSAI breed standards.
3. An application shall be submitted for each sheep and include a photo of the sheep being registered. The photo may be submitted by U.S. mail or electronically by email.
4. A member must be in good standing and all dues paid to register sheep.
5. No sheep shall be registered unless it meets the association’s breed standards, without exception.
6. In order to preserve records of a bloodline, a sheep that does not comply with all the breed standards but that is related to a registered sheep may be entered as Tracked. Tracked sheep cannot be registered. An application shall be submitted for each sheep registered as Tracked.
7. Registering an animal does not improve the quality of the animal, but documents the animal's quality and that of its offspring. Sheep that do not meet the standards for registry, but could bear a registerable sheep, can be recorded as Tracked. The Association will not compromise the standards for the breed by making exceptions.

1. Registration Application—Applications for registration of sheep and fees must be made to the Secretary and all required information must be furnished in accordance with the type of registration being requested.
2. Breeder—The breeder is the owner of the ewe at the time of service. The breeder must sign the Sheep Registration Form. When the breeder is not the owner of the ram servicing the ewe, the breeder must submit a Certificate of Ram’s Service, signed and dated by the owner of the ram when registering any lambs from such a mating.
3. Ownership—When a sheep is presented for registration or tracking and is not shown by the records to be properly transferred to the party making the application, such sheep shall not be registered until the proper transfer has been made to the BBSAI Secretary and all fees paid to BBSAI.
4. Breeder Identification—The Secretary will assign a flock identification number to each member. This identification will consist of three letters of the breeder’s choice and approved by the Secretary. This flock identification code will be referenced on BBSAI paperwork including, but not limited to, sheep registrations and membership certificates.
5. Registration Numbers—Registration numbers will be assigned by the Secretary. A sheep’s registration number will consist of the flock identification code; the birth month and year of the sheep, and a sequential association number. Rams registered prior to January, 2005, may display a “P” or “H” after the registration number indicating if the ram is polled or horned.
6. Ear Tags/Tattoos—All sheep to be recorded shall have been identified by means of an eartag with the animal’s name or identification number. Animals, when approved, will have a BBSAI registry number assigned and a Certificate of Registration issued to the owner. The animals shall be known and identified by the private identification name or number supplied to the BBSAI by the owner at the time of registration. The assigned registration number will be recorded.
7. Transfers—Transfers will be the original registration paperwork and will indicate the transferred information on the back.
8. Fees—All fees are defined in Standing Rules to the By-Laws, which shall be made available by the Secretary. All fees must accompany the be paid by check, bank draft, or U.S. money order in U.S. dollars; and be payable to the BBSAI.