The name of this association is the Whippet Racing Association.

The purposes for which this Association is formed are:

(a) Educational and recreational and not for profit. To support the

Whippet Standard, to encourage sportsmanship, to encourage and promote

the Whippet in its historic role as well trained racers competing

against other Whippets in organized, sprint racing events held on a

flat, surface.

(1)  To adopt Race Rules as necessary to fulfill section 2(a).

(b) The general purposes and powers are:

(1) To sue and be sued in its own name.

however, that no member of this Association shall be individually or

personally liable for the debts or liabilities contracted or incurred by

the Association, unless such member, or the members agent, assumes such

debt or liability. Further, there is no presumption or inference that

any member of this Association has consented or agreed to the incurring

of any obligation by the Association from the mere fact of joining or

(4) To purchase, receive, own, hold, lease, mortgage, pledge, or encumber by deed of trust or otherwise, manage, and sell all such real

estate and other property of every kind, nature, and description as may

otherwise.  To take and receive by will or deed all real or personal

property necessary for its purpose and objectives, subject to the laws

regulating the transfer of property by will.  To take and receive by

will or deed all real or personal property not necessary for its

purposes and objects and hold it until disposed of within a period of

insignia, alteration, or cancellation thereof with any appropriate

failure to affix the seal shall not affect the validity of any

(9)  To adopt, amend and repeal Rules for the racing of Whippets.

conferred, on such associations by law, or which do not contravene the

law or public policy of the United States, or any state.

The principal office of the Association for the transaction of its

business shall be located at the home address of the duly elected

Association Secretary - Treasurer, or at such other location as the

National Race Director shall designate.

(a) The powers of the Association shall be exercised, its property

controlled, and its affairs conducted by the Board of Directors.

(b) Board of Directors are:

(1) National Race Director

(2) Secretary - Treasurer

(3) Regional Race Directors

(c) The qualifications, the time, and manner of electing, the terms of

office, the duties and compensation, if any, and the manner of removing

the governing body and filling vacancies shall be set forth in the

Bylaws of this Association.

(a) There shall be one class of membership.  That membership shall be

racing Club Members.

(b) A Club Member shall be a club, association or corporation duly

admitted to membership by the Association.

(c) Only active Club members shall have voting rights in the Association,

and the rights of each voting member shall be equal. Active Clubs, for this

section, are Clubs who have held at least one (1) meet under the rules of this

Association in the calendar year.

(d) The interest of any member of this Association is the personal property of that member, and no member shall have any interest in the property held by the Association, regardless of the time or manner in which said property is acquired.

This Association shall be dissolved and its affairs wound up by the vote

or written consent of eighty percent (80%) or more of its voting

members, and not otherwise.

(a) This Association is not organized, nor shall it be operated, for

pecuniary gain or profit, and it does not contemplate the distribution

of gains, profits, or dividends to the members thereof and is organized

solely for nonprofit purposes.

(b) The property, assets, profits, and net income of this Association

are irrevocably dedicated to the purposes as stated in Article II and no

part of the profits or net income of this Association shall ever inure

to the benefit of any Director, officer, or member thereof.

(c) On the dissolution of this Association, its assets remaining after

payment of, or provision for payment of, all debts and liabilities of

this Association shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation,

or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for

educational or recreational purposes relating to the Whippet breed,

which has established its tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue

Code.

No part of the activities of this Association shall consist of

attempting to influence legislation, nor shall this Association

participate in or intervene in (including the publication or

distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any

candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Constitution, this

Association shall be subject to the following limitations and

restrictions:

(a) This Association shall not engage in any act of self dealing, retain

any excess business holdings, make any investments subject to taxation,

nor make any taxable expenditure, as may be proscribed by the Internal

Revenue Code.

(a) The original copy of this Constitution as amended to date shall be

kept at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open to

inspection by all members or their agents at any reasonable time.

(b) This Constitution shall be amended only by resolution duly adopted

by the vote of two thirds, or more, of the Club Representatives responding

on the date the ballot is due back.

the acting National Race Director (changed 2/1/00)

The principal office of the Association for the transaction of its

business is located at the address of the Secretary - Treasurer. The

National Race Director is authorized to change the principal office at

his or her discretion, and shall notify all Club Members of any such

change in writing.

(a) There shall be two classes of Club Membership: Active and Inactive.

(b) Clubs which do not conduct WRA race meets for two consecutive calendar

years will automatically be dropped from membership and must re qualify as

Members before conducting WRA race meets.

(c) A Club Member shall be a club duly admitted to membership by the

Association.

(d) Only Club Members which are Active shall have voting rights in the

Association, and the rights of each voting Member shall be equal.

(e) The interest of any member of this Association is the personal

property of that member, and no member shall have any interest in

property held by the Association, regardless of the time or manner in

which said property is acquired.

An application for Club Membership shall be a club which has qualified

to hold race meets under the Racing Rules of this Association.

Qualified Clubs shall be admitted to membership on making application

therefore and on approval of the application by the Board of Directors.

Application for Club Membership shall contain the statement that the

applicant's directing officer and club representative have read the

Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules of this Association, are familiar with

and understand them, and that if admitted to membership, agree to be

bound thereby.

(a) No fees shall be charged a Club Member applying for membership in

the Association.

(b) Club Membership in the Association is subject to assessments, which

shall be levied and collected in the form of a per capita charge, the

amount to be determined annually by the Board of Directors, for each

Whippet entered in a race sponsored by the Club Member pursuant to the

Rules of the Association.

(c) The Club membership may be assessed annual dues, upon recommendation of

the Board of Directors, in an amount determined by

a majority vote of the Club Representatives.

(a) The membership of any Club Member of the Association shall

automatically be terminated:

the Rules of this Association within fourteen (14) days of the date of

(b) All rights and interest of a Club Member in the Association shall

cease upon termination of membership as herein provided.

(c) Any Club Member whose membership is terminated may have its

membership reinstated on such terms as the Board of Directors deem

appropriate by filing a written request therefor.

(a) The Board of Directors is authorized to suspend or expel from

membership a Club Member or a Club Representative for good cause.

(b) "Good cause" as used in this section means:

(c) Definitions:

(b)(1) and/or (b)(2).  A suspension will be for no longer then eighteen

(18) months from the time of the judgment of the hearing committee.  A

suspension will include all privileges of membership, including but not

Club Member, and Club Representative, in the Association shall be

liability for the payment of assessments, or legal judgments

against the Association, accruing prior to the hearing on

sooner than Twenty-four (24) months from the date of

judgment. All requirements for a new Member must be met.

All assessments must have been paid before re-application. 

The Board of Directors may impose additional requirements,

(d) Procedure.

a majority of the Board of Directors specifying charges, and served by

personal service or by certified mail on the Club Representative or

President of the Club Member, and, if by mail, a Return Receipt shall be

required.  Said Resolution shall specify a hearing date not less than

fifteen (15) days, nor more than forty-five (45) days after passage and

National Director shall appoint a hearing committee consisting of the

Regional Director from the region of the club and two additional

members.  The hearing shall be open, informal and provide for fair

presentation of evidence from both sides. The rules of evidence and

Coordinator for their club's region who shall:

the person making them, and such witnesses as the President

make a statement in its own behalf, and call witnesses in its

(v) Allow the Board of Directors to question witness; and

to impose discipline or dismiss the matter.  The vote imposing

discipline or dismissing the matter shall be reviewed and approved or

rejected by the Board of Directors within 14 days, prior to the vote

becoming final. All parties concerned will be notified of the Board of

Directors final decision in writing.

its nonprofit nature, the lack of compensation of its officers and

members, there shall be no Member meetings, and business of the

Association and elections shall be conducted by mail, phone, or other

means of communication.  However, the National Race Director is

authorized to schedule meetings at such time and place as he or she may

designate.

Written notice of the time and place of meeting shall be sent by United

States Mail to the Club Representative at least twenty one (21) days

prior to such meeting.

Voting shall be by mail on ballots mailed to the members by the

Secretary.  Each Club Representative shall mail his or her ballot back

to the Secretary.  Election of Officers by the Club Representatives

shall be by secret ballot.

(a) In the event a meeting of Club Representatives is held, the meeting

shall be presided over by the National Race Director, or in the National

Race Director's absence, by a chairman chosen by the Club Representatives present.  The Secretary of the Association shall act as secretary of all meetings, provided that in the absence of the Secretary, the presiding officer

shall appoint another person to act as Secretary.

(b) A quorum shall be one half (1/2) the Club Representatives.

(c) Any actions suggested by the meeting must be mailed to the Member

Clubs.  Two thirds of the responding Member Clubs must then approve, or disapprove, the items on the ballot by the due date.  Clubs will be given at

least three (3) weeks to return their ballots.

(d) Meetings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, insofar as suchrules are not in conflict with these Bylaws or the Constitution of

this Association, or with the law.

Each Club Member shall advise the Secretary - Treasurer in writing of

the name, address, and telephone numbers of its representative.

(a) Until the NRD is notified otherwise, each Member Club's Race

Secretary of record is that club's Representative.

Club Member should have at least two (2) years experience in Whippet

racing.

It shall be the duty of the Club Representative:

(a) To perform any and all duties imposed on them collectively or

individually by law, by the Constitution, Bylaws, or Rules of this Association.

(b) To register their addresses and telephone numbers with the Secretary - Treasurer of this Association.

(c) Club Representative shall serve without compensation.

(d) Any three (3) Club Representatives by joint written request

presented to the Association Secretary - Treasurer, may require any

decision or act of the National Race Director, or Board of Directors, be

placed before the Club Representatives for approval or reversal.  A two

thirds (2/3) majority of Clubs voting are required to reverse a decision

of the National Race Director or the Board of Directors.

Club Representatives shall serve at the pleasure of the Member Club

electing or appointing them, and can  be removed by their respective

Member Club.

A vacancy of Club Representative shall be filled by election or

appointment of the Member Club whom the Club Representative represents.

The Member Club shall provide the Association with notice, as set forth

in Section 4.01.

(a) National Race Director

(b) Secretary/Treasurer

(c) Regional Race Coordinator

5.01 shall be elected by the Club Members by written ballot.  The term

of office shall be two (2) years commencing on January 1st following the

election.  The term of the NRD and Secretary/Treasurer shall start

and end on years that end with an even number, i.e. 1996.  The terms of

the Regional Race directors shall start and end on years that end with

an odd number, i.e. 1997.  The following procedure shall be followed:

(a) Nominations shall be made in writing by the Club Representatives and

approved by the nominee, and mailed to the Association Secretary between

September 1st and October 15th.

(b) Each candidate for office shall prepare a short campaign statement

to be included with the ballot.  This statement should include why they

want to run for office and what they intend to do while in office.

(c) The Association Secretary shall prepare and mail the candidate

statements along with the ballots to the Club Representatives by

November 1st.

(d) Regional Race Coordinators are elected by the vote of Club

Representatives from their region only.

(e) The Club Representatives shall vote promptly and mail the ballots

back to the Secretary.  The ballots must be received by the Secretary no

later than the second Monday in December to be counted.  Ballots

received after that date will not be counted.

(f) To be considered elected, each officer must receive fifty percent

(50%) plus one (1) vote of the ballots being received on, or before, the

closing date.  If no candidate receives a majority plus one of the votes

for an office, a run-off election between the top two contenders for

that office shall be conducted.

(g) The Association Secretary shall tally the ballots one day after the

closing date, and mail notice of the results of the election to the

members within fifteen (15) days of tallying the ballots.

(h) The Secretary shall preserve the ballots for a sixty (60) day

period, from the time the result notices are mailed, during which time

they shall be available for inspection by any Club Representative.

Officers and Board of Directors of this Association shall serve without

compensation.  This Association will, to the best of its ability,

reimburse officers, members of the Board of Directors, or its

committees, the direct and reasonable expenses necessary to fulfill the

duties required by the Constitution, Bylaws, or Rules of this

Association.

Any or all officers may be removed from office at any time by the vote

of Seventy five percent (75%) of the Club Representatives.

The following procedures shall be the used in filling vacant positions

on the Board of Directors:

(a) The following order of preference shall be used to fill the vacant

unexpired term of the National Race Director:

(1) The duly elected Secretary - Treasurer

fill this position, the Club Representatives shall elect a National Race

(b) The National Race Director shall have the power to appoint an acting

replacement to serve out the remaining term of all other vacant Board of Directors positions.

(a) The National Race Director shall serve as the President and Chief

Executive officer of the Association and shall in general be subject to the

control of the Club Representatives.

(b) The National Race Director shall supervise and control the affairs of

the Association.

(c) The National Race Director shall perform all duties incident to his

office and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Constitution of this Association, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him from time

to time by the Club Representatives.

(d) The National Race Director shall be the final reviewing authority for

all protests received, and is responsible for appointing all protest committees with the chairman of the committee being one of the Association's Board of

Directors.

(e) The National Race Director shall see that complete records regarding all

whippets racing in the Whippet Racing Association are properly kept, and that

awards are granted in a timely manner.

(f)  The National Race Director shall issue WRA Titles to the owners of

those whippets which complete the requirements set forth in the Rules.

(a) The Secretary - Treasurer shall keep the principal office of the

Association, the original Constitution, as amended, and the original

Bylaws, as amended.

(b) The Secretary - Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining and

annually publishing any changes to the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of

the Whippet Racing Association.

(c) The Secretary - Treasurer shall keep in the Minutes Book the minutes

of all meetings of the Club Representatives, and those in attendance.

(d) The Secretary - Treasurer shall see that all notices are duly givenin accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws, or as required by

law.

(e) The Secretary - Treasurer shall be custodian of the records of

theAssociation.

(f) The Secretary - Treasurer shall keep the name and address of each

Club Member and its respective Club Representative.

(g) The Secretary - Treasurer shall have charge of and custody of, and

be responsible for all funds and assets of the Association, and deposit

all such funds in the name of the Association in a bank or depository.

(h) The Secretary - Treasurer shall receive and give receipt for moneys

due and payable to the Association.

(i) The Secretary - Treasurer shall distribute the funds of the

Association as directed by the Board of Directors.

(j) The Secretary - Treasurer shall keep and maintain adequate and

correct accounts of the Association's properties and business transactions, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains,

and loses.

(k) The Secretary - Treasurer shall render to the National Race Director

and Board of Directors an account of any and all transactions as requested.

(l) The Secretary - Treasurer shall perform all duties incident to his or

her office and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Constitution of this Association, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him from

time to time by the Board of Directors.

(m)  The Secretary/Treasurer will keep a book, separate from the meeting

minutes, containing all policy decisions of the Board of Directors, the

National Race Director, and The Club Representatives.

(n)   The Secretary/Treasurer shall distribute racing titles to the owners of those whippets which complete the requirements set forth in the Rules.

Clubs in Canada that are directly north of that RRC’s Region.

(b) Regions with no RRC, due to a lack of Member Clubs within thatRegion,shall have the vacancy filled per the WRA By Laws section on vacancies in the Board of Directors when a RRC becomes necessary due to Clubs

application for WRA race meets in that Region.

(c) The RRC shall contact the clubs in his/her area to discuss the rules

and any problems or changes in the area.  The RRC will present current

topics and materials regarding racing, and make note of suggestions,

changes, etc. to give to the NRD or Rules Committee as necessary.

(d) To receive any complaints that are not settled by the local

Race Secretary.  These complaints need not be submitted in writing.

(e) Will be present, if possible, at the official qualifying meet given

by any new club in their area.  If not, the National Race Director will

appoint another individual to supervise and assist at the qualifying

meet, or first meet held, if the Club is not required to hold a

qualifying meet.

(f) The RRC will assist in the general supervision of WRA racing, and

will report to and be responsible to the NRD.

(g) The RRC may serve on an Inspection Committee, only after allowing

the Host Club reasonable time to solve a situation.

Please note:  The National Race Director, the Regional Racing

Coordinators, or other appropriate Committees, are not a police force or

a group to handle personal differences.   However, the NRD is interested

in the over-all conduct during race meets of individuals who race

Whippets at WRA Meets.

its members, or Club Representatives to serve on such committees.

(a) The Registrar - Recorder shall register all whippets participating

in the Race Program.

(b) The Registrar - Recorder shall maintain and publish records of each

whippet which has raced at a meet held by a Club Members pursuant to the

Association's Rules governing Whippet Racing.

(c) The Registrar - Recorder shall maintain records for all titles, and

disqualification's for any cause, for all whippets racing in programs

governed by the Associations Rules.

(d) The Registrar - Recorder shall notify the NRD of all whippets that

complete the requirements for any title offered by the Association.

(e) The Registrar - Recorder shall perform all duties incident to his

office and such other duties as may be required by law, by the

Constitution of this Association, or by these Bylaws, or which may be

assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors.

The Rules Committee shall be chaired by a member of the Board of

Directors and shall consist of three (3) additional members which may be

selected from the Club Representatives.  It shall formulate Rules for

Whippet Racing, and from time to time amendments thereto, for approval

by the Club Representatives.  The Rules Committee shall receive all

suggestions for changes in the Constitution, Bylaws, Race Rules from

Club Members, through their Representatives, or from individuals.

(a) The Rules Committee shall inform all Board Members, Officers, Member

Representatives and the Registrar/Recorder  of all suggestions for

changes with sufficient time for comment upon said changes.  The Rules

Committee may adjust a change, based on the consensus of the comment, or

it may submit a separate change based on the comments received.

(b) The Rules Committee shall accept suggestions for change till a date

of its choosing. The ballots for all suggestions for change will be

mailed to the Member Representatives by November first (1) of the year

the suggestion is made. Unless received after the deadline for change

suggestions, in this case the suggestion will be included in the next

years changes.

member Clubs by the second Monday of December.  The Secretary -

Treasurer will count the ballots on Tuesday and announce the results, by

mail, to the NRD, Board and Member Clubs.

A protest Committee consisting of Three (3) or more individuals

connected with the NPR or WRA Race program for at least two years. At

least one (1) person shall be from the region of the protest.  This

committee shall be appointed to hear and review and render a decision

upon the merits of each protest filed against an official race meet.

All protests must be filed within ten (10) week days of the meet in

question.  Due to the widely dispersed geographical area of the

Association, and its nonprofit nature, the lack of compensation of its

officers and members, there is no need for a physical protest hearing;

rather, all protest committee business will be conducted by mail or

other form of communication.  The protest committee will complete its

work as quickly as possible.

instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Association subject to

approval by the Board of Directors.

Except as otherwise determined by resolution of the Club Representatives

or as otherwise required by law, the Constitution of this Association,

or by these Bylaws, checks, drafts, promissory notes, orders for payment

of money and other evidence of indebtedness of this Association shall be

signed by the Secretary - Treasurer or by the National Race Director.

credit of the Association in such banks or other depositories as the

Secretary - Treasurer may select.

(a)  The Board of Directors may require the transfer of funds if it

deems the depository inappropriate.

the Secretary - Treasurer of the Association. (changed 2/1/00)

These Bylaws may be amended or repealed, in whole or in part, and new Bylaws adopted by the vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Club Representatives responding on the date the ballot is due back to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association.

The original of the Bylaws, as amended, certified by the Secretary -

Treasurer of the Association, shall be recorded and kept in a book which

shall be kept in the principal office of the Association, and such book

shall be open to inspection by the Club Representatives and Club Members

at all reasonable times during business hours.

(a) A copy of revised editions of the Constitution and Bylaws and

Rules will be sent to the Club Representatives, National Race Director, and all

Regional Race Coordinators.

(b)  Additional Copies of the Constitution and Bylaws and Rules will be

sent to the Club Representatives, National Race Director, and Regional Race Coordinator upon request.

(c)  Copies of the Constitution and Bylaws and Rules will be sent to any person

requesting them for a fee not to exceed the expense of copying and delivery.