BY-LAWS OF THE LEICESTER LONGWOOL SHEEP BREEDERS ASSOCIATION (LLSBA)

Article I – Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of the association is to improve and enhance the breed of Leicester Longwool Sheep and to promote the interests of the Leicester Longwool Sheep Breeders. The objectives of the Association are to collect, preserve, and publish facts pertaining to the Leicester Longwool sheep in the United States, to register and keep on file all records of the registrations and transfers of the breed in the United States and imported into the United States, and to share information of the breed in order to increase understanding, interest and support of the breed. The purpose and objectives are consistent with the nature and status of the Leicester Longwool Sheep Breeders Association as a nonprofit, membership organization.

Article II – Show Policy
Sheep that are registered or intended to be registered with the Association are not to be shown competitively in the show ring.

(This policy has recently changed. Please contact LLSBA for details)

Article III – Membership
Section 1 ... Eligibility
Any resident of the United States of America who owns and breeds Leicester Longwool sheep or who is interested in the Leicester Longwool sheep is eligible to become a member of the Association. 

Section 2... Membership Status
There shall be three classes of memberships: Active Membership, Junior Membership, and Friends Membership. 

Active Membership is limited to members of the Association who own, breed, and register Leicester Longwool sheep, consistent with the requirements for pedigrees and registration, in the Association flock book. Active members may engage in the regular business and activities of the Association. 

Junior Membership is limited to members under 18 years of age. Junior membership has all the privileges and responsibilities of active membership except for the right to vote. 

Friends Membership is open to those otherwise eligible for active membership but not owning, breeding and registering Leicester Longwool sheep in the Association flock book. 

Persons who have a friends membership may become eligible for active membership and may have their classification changed by application to the Association. When an Active member ceases to be an owner or breeder of Leicester Longwool sheep, or fails to register sheep in the association flock book for a period of two consecutive years, the member shall automatically become a friends member and the Secretary shall remove his or her name from the active membership list. 

Section 3...Dues
The annual dues are:

• Active membership: $25.

• Junior membership: $10.

• Friends membership: $15

Dues entitle the members to copies of the by-laws, newsletter and breeders directory. Dues shall be paid at or before the annual meeting. 

Special fees may be imposed on active members as may be determined by the Board of Directors following prior notice thereof to all Active members.

Section 4...Voting
An Active member in good standing and who has paid current membership dues shall have one vote. Friends members and junior members shall not be entitled to vote.

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Article IV-Meetings
Section 1...Meetings
The Association shall conduct an annual meeting. The annual meeting of the Association shall be held at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors.

Additional meetings may be scheduled, subject to thirty (30) days prior notice to all Active members, and held with the approval of the Board of Directors. 

Section 2...Quorum
At all meetings of the Association, a quorum shall consist of a third (I/3) of the active members in good standing, being present or represented by proxy. 

Section 3...Proxies
At any meeting, active members may be represented by proxy, but such proxy shall be in writing, subscribed by such member and filed with the Secretary at or before the time the vote is rendered. The Secretary shall mail proxies to each active member no less than fifty (50) days prior to the annual meeting. Such proxies shall include the nominees for membership on the Board of Directors as well as provision for write-in candidates pursuant to instructions therefore. All marked proxies shall be postmarked not later than fifteen (15) days prior to the annual meeting, voting by proxy is limited to voting for candidates for offices and any specific issues that are listed on the proxy.

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Article V – Officers
Section 1...Designation and Selection of Officers
The officers of the Leicester Longwool Sheep Breeders Association shall be a President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer. These officers shall be elected for a term of two years by the active members. If any office becomes vacant, it may be filled at any time by the Board of Directors for the unexpired term. 

Section 2...Directors
The Board of Directors shall consist of five (5) active members of the Association. The President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, one satellite flock owner and one non-satellite flock owner shall be included on the Board of Directors. The term of the Board of Directors will be for a two year period. 

The general management of the business of the Leicester Longwool Sheep Breeders Association shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to make rules and regulations not inconsistent with the bylaws of this Association for the guidance of its officers and members and for the transactions of the business of the Association and generally to exercise all powers necessary for the transaction of the business of the Association. A quorum for the Board of Directors shall consist of four (4) members. 

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Section 3...Duties of the Officers
A. the President shall preside over all meetings of the members and all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall call meetings of the members and Board of Directors when deemed advisable. 

Subject to the authority and direction of the Board of Directors, the President shall have general and active management of the Association and is authorized to execute all orders resolutions and directives of the Board of Directors. 

B. the Vice-president shall exercise all functions of the President in the absence or disability of the President and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors. 

C. the Secretary/Treasurer shall perform the duties of both Secretary and Treasurer and may be referred to by either title as may be appropriate. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep records of all proceedings of the Association and of the Board of Directors. The Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain the flock book and shall have charge of all books and papers of the Association; enter the pedigrees of all sheep accepted for registration and file all documents in reference to pedigrees with registration. Such records shall be open for inspection by any active member. The Secretary/Treasurer shall have the authority to appoint a registrar for the Association.

The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep funds of the Association deposited with a bank approved by the Board of Directors and shall pay all bills with vouchers of said bank. 

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Article VI – Pedigrees
Pedigrees shall be presented and reviewed by the Secretary. If pedigrees meet the necessary requirements pedigrees shall be approved and accepted for registration. 

Only Leicester Longwool sheep of pure breeding and with registered parents shall be accepted for registration. Applicants for registry must furnish facts and data satisfactory to the Secretary and Board of Directors as to the purity and integrity of the breeding and authenticity of the data. All sheep not born in the United States must first be recorded in the respective foreign flock book.

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Article VII – Registrations
Section 1...Applications
Application for registry of animals must he presented to the Secretary in accordance with forms provided for this purpose. 

Section 2...Fees
Fees to members for registration of sheep in the Association shall be as follows:

• Ewes under one year of age: $5.00

• Ewes over one year of age: $7.00

• Rams: $10.00

• Transfer of ownership $5.00

• Sheep sired by A.I. ram semen: $10.00

Prior to registration of an A.I. (artificial insemination) offspring with the LLSBA, the sire will be given a registration number by the Association’s official Registrar. 

The Board of Directors may determine whether additional standards for the registration and transfer of ram lambs should be adopted and set special fees therefore. 

Section 3... Time Limitations
No sheep bred in the United States shall be accepted for registration after it is two (2) years old, unless in the opinion of the Board of Directors special circumstances warrant its registration. No imported sheep shall be accepted for registration after two (2) years from its importation into the United States.

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Article VIII – Registration Data
Section 1...Sheep
Application for the registration of sheep bred in the United States shall include name, sex, year, month and day of birth of the sheep, the names and registration numbers of the sire and dam and an identification number such as tattoo or eartag of the sheep to be registered. Information about the sex of any siblings of the sheep to be registered is also required. 

Section 2...Breeder
The owner of the dam at the time of service shall be deemed the breeder. Any application for registration shall be signed by the breeder. 

Section 3...0wnership
When the dam of any sheep presented for registry is not shown by the records to be properly transferred to the party making the application, such sheep shall not be recorded until the proper transfer has been furnished to the Secretary. 

Section 4...Designation
Registration applications shall contain an appropriate designation. Sheep shall be designated by the flock name or character and the flock number e.g., CWL 32 Fluffy, Sheep Hill Jenny 9801.

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Article IX – Identification
Section 1...Sheep
On approval of registration applications, the Secretary shall assign the number and furnish a metal eartag with the numbers corresponding to those on the certificate of registration. This tag shall be placed in the ear of the corresponding sheep. The other ear may be used for the tag or tattoo of the breeder. 

Section 2...Duplicate Certificates
In case of loss of the certificate of registry, the Secretary may issue a duplicate form from the records. The word “duplicate” and the date of issue shall be plainly marked on the face. 

The fee for the duplicate registration certificate shall be $5.00.

Article X – Transfer Authority
Legal transfers must be signed by the Secretary on the blank space of the certificate. 

The fee for transfer will be $5.00.

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Article XI – Waiver Authority
The Board of Directors shall have the authority to deviate from these bylaws if such action is deemed advisable and is approved by unanimous vote.

Article XII - Amendments
These bylaws may be altered or amended at a meeting of the hoard of Directors by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the total Board of Directors or by a majority vote of the active members at an annual meeting provided no less than two thirds of the Active members are present.

Leicester Longwool Sheep
Breeders Association (LLSBA)
RT. 1, Box 172B
Albright, WV 26519
304-379-9100
info@leicesterlongwool.org

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