ARTICLE I - Organization Purpose and Affiliation
1. This organization shall be known as the Royal Racing Pigeon Club. It is incorporated as a not for profit corporation under the laws of the State of Minnesota.
2. The primary purpose of the Club shall be to conduct pigeon races among its members. It shall also conduct social and fraternal events, and other activities related to the racing pigeon sport, as determined from time to time by the membership.
3. The Royal Racing Pigeon Club is affiliated with the American Racing Pigeon Union. The Royal Racing Pigeon Club also operates under the umbrella of the Twin City Concourse in Minnesota.

ARTICLE II - Officers
1. The officers of the Club shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Race Secretary. Term of office for officers shall be two calendar years and can serve two consecutive terms before a “PURGE ELECTION.” The Race Secretary is required to be present at all shipping and knocking off clocks, unless under dire circumstances which must be previously approved by the Club Committee.
2. The President shall preside at all Club and Board of Directors meetings, co-sign Club checks, call meetings, and sign approved minutes of Club meetings.
3. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in his absence. The Vice President also has the authority to co-sign checks with the President’s approval.
4. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings, e-mail the meeting minutes to the club members, and send in the Club’s charter and Club members’ renewal to the AU. The Secretary will also work with the Treasurer when extra bands are sold to members.
5. The Treasurer shall handle the financial matters related to the business of the Club, write receipts, co-sign Club checks, and present a financial report at every meeting.
6. The Race Secretary shall be responsible for the conduct of the Club races, record members’ birds into their clocks, enter birds on shipping night, and be present at clock knock off time. This is the only paid position of the officer positions. The pay rate for this position will be as follows: 50% off one and/or both flying seasons.
7. Elections shall be held at the January annual meeting when the bands are distributed, membership and AU fees are paid, and next year’s bands are pre-ordered. Transfer of power will take immediate effect. Elections are every two years.
8. The election process will proceed as follows: 1.) nomination of person followed by a second motion, 2.) an acceptance/decline of nomination by the person. Any member may be nominated, but if the member is not present, verbal confirmation by speaker phone will suffice as accepting the nomination. 3.) Members approved through referendum vote last hear that no greater than 2/3 majority be required.
Only present members may vote. Members who are not present will have their votes voided.

ARTICLE III - Membership, Dues, and Fees
1. All prospective members are encouraged to purchase a Benzing Electronic Clocking System; it can be either G2, or M1 model before open enrollment.
2. Royal Racing Pigeon Club will be an invite only for membership. Members can only be in one club. You must pass loft inspection first and will be on probation for 1 year without voting rights.. This will be at the Clubs’ first meeting when bands are distributed, pre-orders for next year’s bands are placed, and AU membership is renewed. Royals RPC, will only permit members to fly within one organization (Twin City Concourse) and one club only. We will not permit dual flying and follow a one loft, one location rule (One loft location with Same address/G.P.S.)
3. There will be three types of memberships
i. Single ($30) – You get one vote in Royal) RPC matters (Regular membership)
ii. Family ($40) – You get one vote in Royal RPC matters (All family members fly under one loft)
iii. Youth (Free) – Youth member with adult and get one vote in Royal RPC matters
4. Suspension of membership will automatically be evoked under the condition of non-activity for two calendar years base on condition. Re-entry into the club will fall under these guidelines: 1) a unanimous decision from the Club Committee, and 2) the member(s) must pay a <a>$50</a> re-initiation fee. The member(s) will be put on probation for one year and cannot run for office or vote the first year of probation.
5. Each paid member shall be allowed to purchase club bands at the time of pre-ordering at the lowest price available. Extra bands can be purchased for higher price TBD. Club bands will NOT to be sold to non-members. Any members found selling club bands to non-members prior to the end of the young bird race season will be subjected to violations, suspensions, and possible expulsion. No bands will be distributed before January 1st of the year. NO EXCEPTIONS.
6. A 10% late fee charge will be assessed after due date.
7. Membership Rejection. The club may reject the membership application of, and refuse to accept, any person as a member by a majority vote of the Board of Directors of the club. The Board of Directors may consider, as a basis for its action, any or all of the following: a record of criminal conviction(s) which is such that to allow membership would tend to bring the club into disrepute; a conviction for a crime of moral turpitude; a pattern of conduct in the past while previously a member of the club by the applicant which in the opinion of the Board caused harm to the club, its members, or an affiliated organization(s); the expulsion or suspension of the applicant from membership in another organization in the pigeon sport; or, a pattern of conduct in the past while the applicant was a member of another membership organization which conduct, if repeated as a member of the club, would in reasonable probability bring harm to the club.

8. To keep competition fair and close, Royal Racing Pigeon Club will only accept members that will fit in set a 30 mile radius from State Fair Grounds in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

ARTICLE IV - Membership Conduct
1. Members of the Royal RPC will present themselves in a professional and admirable manner to the public, other clubs, combines, or concourse at public pigeon-related functions, and abide by all higher organizations’ bylaws (this includes AU Bylaws). Members found in violation of any of these bylaws will be given a warning. After the 1st warning, the member will be suspended and/or expulsion from the Royal RPC as well as the American Racing Pigeon Union.
2. Members are highly advised to attend all club and/or concourse/combine functions and meetings, and awards banquets. Attendance is not required but highly advised. These are but not limited to: required club meetings, the annual Twin City Concourse meeting, awards banquet, trailer cleanings (once before and after Young Bird season). The Twin City Concourse Auction is not required but encouraged to participate.

ARTICLE V - Management
1. Any member, who has a grievance against another member or members, Club business, or affairs, must submit in writing the grievance, with supporting facts and names of witnesses along with signatures within sixty (60) days of the action. The written complaint must be turned in to the President, who in turn will give the complainant a dated receipt. Upon receipt of the grievance the President will have the Club Committee investigate the grievance and bring back their findings and recommendations to the President. Final judgment will be made jointly by the Club Committee within 30 days of report of the complaint by a 75% vote. All grievances will be conducted behind closed doors in respect to privacy.
2. Members with sick birds may voluntarily withdraw from the racing season. However, the member will forfeit the remainder races of the season and will not be refunded by the Club or Twin City Concourse.
3. Board members are allowed to visit a member’s loft during race day without prior notice. If a member does not allow the board to visit the loft, that member will be disqualified for that race week. President must be notified before any loft visits.

ARTICLE VI - Meetings
1. The Royal Racing Pigeon Club will hold a minimal of three meetings a year. More meetings TBD. The first meeting is on the first weekend of January. Paying of fees for both AU ($25) and the Club ($30), pre-order bands for the following year and to pick up new bands. The second meeting will occur before old bird season. Collection of the Twin City Concourse membership fee along with Young and Old Bird shipping fees are due at this time in full.
2. Order of business:
Introduction of guests and members
Treasurer's Report
Secretary’s Report
Race Secretary Reports
Old Business
New Business
Elections of Officers at the January meeting*
Adjournment

ARTICLE VII - Trophies, Awards, and Diplomas
The Royal RPC will give awards for the following (Championships include both loft and bird):
All races of the Club.
All Average Speeds and Championships.
Diplomas 1st-5th place
No award if less than 3 members in a race

ARTICLE VIII - Amendments and Changes
1. Amendments and Changes to these By-Laws and Race Rules and the Articles of Incorporation must be proposed and passed at a regular Club meeting and then voted on for final passage at the next January Annual Club meeting. At the final vote they must be approved by a majority of those members present.
2. The Royal Racing Pigeon Club will abide by the Twin City Concourse and the American Racing Pigeon Union suggested Race Rules and By-Laws should a need arise that is not covered by the AU Race Rules and By-Laws as it is published at such a time.
3. These revised By-Laws were passed by vote of the majority of the current paid membership at the January 1, 2016.

Revised: Tony Hang December 17th, 2016 per November 8th,2016 Meeting