Old German Owl Club

Old German Owl Club Bylaws

As amended December 15, 2023

Article I Name
The name of the organization shall be the Old German Owl Club.

Article II Purpose
The purpose of the organization is to establish and maintain a club through which pigeon breeders may work together for the promotion of Old German Owls as a hobby, and to maintain a social setting where pigeons can be discussed and ideas exchanged regarding pigeon breeding in a friendly and cooperative manner. The primary focus of this club will be the breeding and exhibition of quality Old German Owls.

Article III Membership
Section 1: Open to all those interested in pigeons as a hobby, and especially those whose focus is on Old German Owls.

Section 2: Members shall be removed, without prejudice, from the active role whenever dues are in arrears for over two months.

Section 3: Members shall be removed from the active role whenever their actions and behavior do not conform to the purposes and objectives of the Club. Any member so removed shall have their dues refunded on a pro-rated share of dues paid.

Any five or more members may request removal of any member whose behavior does not conform to the purposes and objectives of the Club. They may initiate a request for review of the allegations by an Investigative Committee by writing to the Club Secretary, fully describing and documenting the alleged actions that violate the Club Bylaws or are not in keeping with the best interest of the Club and hobby. The Secretary shall forward the review request to the President within 30 days.

The President shall convene an Investigative Committee consisting of three neutral members, who are not party to the request or alleged actions. The Committee shall investigate the complaint, interviewing all parties it finds may have relevant information about the alleged complaint, and shall submit its findings in writing to the President within 60 days. Along with the Committee’s findings, the Committee shall recommend one, but only one, of the following: no action, one-year suspension, or permanent removal from the Club. The findings may contain a minority report.

The President shall immediately forward the findings and recommendation to the Newsletter Editor if the Investigative Committee recommends suspension or removal. The Editor shall publish the findings and recommendation and provide a non-concurrence ballot in the next available newsletter. Any member that does not concur with the committee’s recommendation shall return the ballot to the Club Secretary within 30 days of the newsletter mailing or by the date specified on the ballot, whichever is later.

The Investigative Committee’s recommendation becomes effective on the date of the ballot expiration period, and is final, unless overturned by a majority of the members. In the event that the members do not concur with the Committee’s recommendation, no action will be taken and the complaint will be considered resolved with no prejudice.

Article IV Dues
The annual dues shall be $25.00 per adult member, $30.00 for a family membership, and $10.00 for a junior member. A family membership covers parents and children under age 18. Two family members will have voting rights. For additional family members to have voting rights, they must join as single or family members.

Dues are payable at the time of joining the Club, and on the anniversary date thereafter.

Article V Officers
The elected officers shall consist of the President, three Vice-Presidents, and the Secretary Treasurer. The three Vice- presidents shall consist of the Eastern U.S. Vice-President, Central U.S. Vice-President and the Western U.S. Vice-President. Nomination and election of the three Vice Presidents and the Secretary-Treasurer shall be conducted in November and December in every even digit year, (e.g.2000) and so on. Nomination and election of the President shall be conducted in November and December in every odd digit year, (e.g.2001) and so on. Terms of the office shall be two years except for the implementation of the initial amendment to this section of the bylaws. The President will serve a one year term commencing January 1, 2007 and ending on December 31, 2007. This will allow for an orderly transition to this new voting process. Terms of office shall be two years. Minimum age for elected officers shall be 18 years of age. The officers shall be the Executive Committee of the Club and are authorized to act on behalf of the Club as the need arises.

Article VI Duties of Officers
The President shall exercise general leadership of the Club and promote the purpose and objectives of the Club and the membership

The President shall set up and make appointments to committees as needed to do the business of the Club. The President can appoint someone to fill a vacant officer position until the next election, at which time the position will be filled by election. The President shall do the business of the Club, but may call a meeting or conference call of the Executive Committee when certain Club decisions must be made. The President shall see that the Club is operated according to its bylaws at all times.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall perform all duties of the President in the absence of the President.

The Vice-presidents shall perform all the business of the club that focuses exclusively on their respective districts. Only members in the respective districts may vote for their Vice-president.

The Secretary Treasurer shall keep all business records of the Club, including membership roster, a record of dues paid by the membership, and financial records to account for handling of the funds, and shall publish a current report in every club newsletter.

The Secretary Treasurer shall keep written minutes of all Executive Committee meetings. These minutes shall be printed in the next Club newsletter.

Article VIII Changes to the Bylaws and Standard
Changes to the Bylaws may be offered at any time at the request of five members.

Standard changes my be offered at the request of five members at any time, provided that the standard has not been modified in at least five years

If the standard review process has been opened within the previous five years, the request to open the standard review process must come from 10% of the membership. A draft of such a proposal will be printed in the next news bulletin, along with any supporting reasoning.

Any member may offer amendments to the proposed draft noted above, along with supporting reasoning. These proposed amendments and/or comments, either pro or con, will be published in the following bulletin.

The next bulletin will include any other comments received on the original proposal and amendments thereto, either pro or con, and a “ballot” on the proposed amendments.

Any amendment that receives more yes than no votes by member ballot, will modify these bylaws unless some other majority is specified as part of the amendment. Results of the vote will be reported in the next bulletin.

Article IX Standard
Modifications to the Old German Owl Standard require a 60% majority of the member ballots returned. The comment section of the standard, being subservient to the main section, requires only the standard 50% + majority of member ballots returned for modification.

Article X OGO Recognition Awards
Section 1: Master Breeder Award
The Master Breeder, Member of the Year, and the Junior Member of the Year Programs have been developed by the Old German Owl Club for the purposes of promoting the pigeon hobby, active club participation, and encouraging excellence in the breeding, development, and showing of the Old German Owl breed of pigeon. These programs have been specifically developed to encourage members to actively participate in the promotion of the breed through all club functions, because without such activity the Old German Owl would not prosper.

Section 2: Member of the Year Award
The Member of the Year award has been designed to recognize club members who have gone above and beyond the norm in service to the club and the promotion of the Old German Owl breed of pigeon. Examples of such service may include holding an appointed position in the club, serving as a Member in Charge of a show, helping new fanciers or juniors with the breed, writing articles, promoting the breed, or other extraordinary service.

To be eligible for this award, the individual must be a member in good standing for at least three full years. There can be at the most 1 senior and 1 junior Member of the Year Awards given during any calendar year. Any member in good standing can nominate another member for this award. Nominations are due by December 1st of each year. All nominations will be reviewed and voted on by the club officers during the month of December and the results will be announced in the winter newsletter, if possible.

Section 3: Junior Member of the Year Award
Same as the Member of the Year. Members must be 18 or under in the year the award is provided.

These programs are open only to members in good standing of the Old German Owl Club.

Master Breeder Program

Revised to Start in the Year 2024

Section 1: Introduction

The main objective of the Master Breeder Program is to encourage excellence in breeding, promoting, showing and improvement of the Old German Owl Pigeon.

Section 2: Master Breeder Director (MBD)

The club President shall appoint the MBD. It is recommended the MBD serve for a period of five years to maintain continuity in the program. The MBD will have the overall responsibility for the program and will report directly to the President of the Old German Owl club. It will be the duty of the MBD to familiarize themselves with the rules of the program so that each show report submitted will be checked for compliance. Reports not in compliance will be sent back to the person in charge of each show for correction.

Section 3: Record Maintenance

The MBD will record points as show reports are received and keep a permanent accumulated total. The MBD will keep show reports for the current year and the most recent year recorded. It will not be the responsibility of the MBD to solicit show reports.

Accrued points will be published in the newsletter and will be presumed accurate unless protested to the MBD. Only the current year or the most recent year points may be challenged.

Section 4: Master Breeder Program Official Rules

All points are forfeited when club membership expires for more than six months.
Only officially approved club shows with 3 or more exhibitors and 25 birds will be eligible for points. The Regional Vice President will compile a list of approved shows including a regional meet for his/her district and submit them for approval by the executive board. The executive board to consist of the President, three regional vice presidents and the secretary. Approved shows must be posted by the summer newsletter. No other shows will be approved after that deadline.
The National Meet will be held with the NPA Grand National Show. There will be three Regional Meets. Eastern Regional, Central Regional and the Western Regional.
Shows that are interested in hosting a regional show should apply with the Regional Vice President. It is recommended that the regional show will rotate through the district when practical.
The exhibitor does not have to be present to have points awarded.
All birds exhibited in competition must be bred and owned by the exhibitor.
Only birds judged will be included in the final show count. Birds entered but, not judged will not be included.
Only one show on the same week in the same vicinity is eligible for points.
Any exhibitor who commits any type of fraud, not limited to falsifying records or violating program rules will be permanently expelled from the program.
The point system will apply equally to shield marked, self-colored and tail marked categories. The best of each color in each category will compete in the final lineup for picking champions.
The member in charge of each show, as part of their duties, will forward a copy of the official show results to the MBD. Judging sheets will be included with the show report. This report must be sent to the MBD within 45 days of the show date to be considered for Master Breeder Points. Reports not submitted timely will not be recorded.
The executive board will be the final arbiters of any disputes or interpretation of the official rules.
The award will be earned after 5 years of continuous membership.
Champion or Reserve Champion of show must be earned at One Grand National and one Regional Show or Two Regional Shows to qualify for the award. One of these wins will be outside of the recipient’s home region.
1000 Points will be required to qualify for the award. 500 points must be earned at large point shows. 75 birds or more. No more than 500 points can be earned at small point shows. 74 birds or less.

Section 5: Show Points Calculation

1 - Master Breeder 1000 Points

2 - Silver Master Breeder 2000 Points

3 - Gold Master Breeder 3000 Points

4 - Points will continue to accumulate after Gold Master Breeder is achieved.

5 - Point Classifications:

A - Approved Shows

25-49 Birds 50-74 Birds 75 Plus Birds

Champion 25 Points Champion 50 Points Champion 75 Points

Reserve 10 Points Reserve 25 Points Reserve 50 Points

BOC 5 Points BOC 5 Points 2nd Res 25 Points

BOC 5 Points

B - National and Regional Shows 100 Plus Birds to Qualify. If there are not 100 birds, then

Champion 100 Points approved show points apply based on number of birds

Reserve 75 Points judged.

2^nd Reserve 50 Points

3^rd Reserve 25 Points

4^th Reserve 25 Points

5^th Reserve 25 Points

BOC 5 Points

6 - Additional Points.

Best of Show at All Breeds Shows. 200 birds in show to qualify. 50 Points

Judging National or Regional Shows 50 Points

Only 100 judging points are allowed to earn Master Breeder.

7 - New Colors not currently in Existence to the OGO Breed. 75 Points

The points will be awarded to the originator when:

A – The color is reproducible

B – The color has won the AOC class at three shows

C – Application has been made to the executive board. The board will study the merits of the application and determine the worthiness to receive the points. Points may be shared if there is more than one person working on the same color.

Section 6: Judging Procedure

1 – Classes will be set up by color. Sub classes in each color will be set up by young hens, young cocks, old hens and old cocks. They will be judged in that order.

2 – Place Best of color and reserve of color. Before you select reserve of color you must bring up the second -place bird from the class the best of color was chosen.

3 – Bring the Best of Each Colors to Champion Row. Then place the best 2 in a 25 to 49 and a 50 to 74 bird show, the best 3 in a 75 plus - bird show, and the best 6 in a National or Regional when there are 100 birds to qualify. You do not pick the top 6 in every show.

4 – Pick your Champion from the best of colors.

5 – Move the Champion and replace him with the Reserve of that color.

6 – Now select your Reserve Champion with the remaining birds.

7 – You follow this same procedure with each selection.

8 – It is important to remember to bring the reserve of color after each selection. If you do not do that you are only placing a class of colors. The objective is to pick the best birds of the show. Conceivably the best birds of the show could all come from the same color class.

Article XI Double Banding
All birds being shown in a recognized Old German Club meet must wear a seamless band of the correct size and year. Each bird being shown may wear one band only and no split bands, spiral rings or mating bands are allowed. Any Officer, Judge of the show, Member-in-Charge of the show or Show Steward may request directly to the member attempting to show a double banded bird that the extra band(s) be removed. Any other member may make such a request to one of the above-mentioned individuals. If a member refuses to remove an extra band(s) from a bird or the bird is taken to the judging area with multiple bands, the bird will automatically be disqualified from the show. All Judges are required to enforce this provision of the Bylaws. Failure to do so will result in the individual being banned from judging further shows unless the Executive Committee of the Old German Owl Club votes in the majority otherwise.