Article I – Name
This club shall be known as “The United Swallow Club”

Article II – Purpose
The purpose of this club shall be to advance and improve the scientific breeding and showing of that group of
color pigeons known collectively as “Swallows”. This shall include Silesian Swallows (non-crested Saxon Wing Pigeons), Fairy Swallows (crested Saxon Wing Pigeons), Fullhead Swallows (Saxon Swallows), Nuremberg Swallows, Clean Leg Spot Swallows (Thuringer Wing Pigeons and Thuringer Swallows) and Bohemian Tiger Swallows

Article III – Offices
The officers of this club shall consist of president, vice president, secretary-treasurer, and four district directors. The above officers shall comprise the executive committee.

Article IV – Elections
The officers shall be elected for a two year term. All the officers shall take office on the first of January of the even numbered years or as soon after the annual meet as possible (not before January first).

Article V – Membership
A candidate for membership may become a member of the club by payment of the annual dues.
Only members in good standing (current on payment of dues) and Lifetime members are eligible to vote, nominate or be nominated for office or other club business.

Article VI – Dues
Regular dues shall be $10 per year to be paid at the beginning of the calendar year. Dues Assessments may be increased or decreased only on election years. A simple majority of votes cast is required for a change.
For individuals that have been granted the honor of being a Lifetime Member no dues are required. A Simple majority vote is required at the annual meeting to grant the Lifetime Member status (assuming a minimum of 10 members present and voting)

Article VII – Districts
There shall be four districts: Eastern District: Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maine, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland; Central District: Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana; Western District: Oregon, Montana,, Wyoming, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Washington; And Canadian District.

Article VIII: Vacancies
Vacancies in any elected office caused by resignation, suspension, death or any other reason shall be filled by appointment of the Executive Committee (officers). The appointee shall fill only the unexpired term of the office to which he/she is appointed.

Article IX: Meetings
The annual meeting may take place at the annual show. District meetings may take place at the districts.
Article X: Amendments to the Constitution & By-Laws
It shall require at least 51% of the votes cast, provided at least one over half (50%+1) of the membership votes, to amend the Constitution and/or By-Laws.
Article XI: Dissolution
The club can only be dissolved with the consent of two-thirds of the active members. Disposition of all assets shall be determined by a majority vote of said members.
By-Laws

Article I – Duties of Officers
President – The president shall exercise general supervision and leadership that will promote the aims and objectives of the club. He/she shall preside over all meetings of the club. He/she shall make appointments to special posts or committees (i.e.- publicity director, election commissioner, communication director). He/she shall serve as an ex-officio member on all committees.
Vice President – The vice president shall act as an aide to the president, and in the absence of the president, shall perform the duties of the president.
Secretary-Treasurer – The secretary-treasurer shall serve as general business manager of the organization. He/she (or designated representative) shall record the minutes of all meetings, the names and addresses of members and all other matters pertaining to the operation of the club including an account of all monies received, and dispersed. He/she shall present in writing at the annual meeting of the club a report on the finances of the club and publish said report in the first club bulletin following this meeting, or in lieu of such meeting, he/she shall publish said report in the first bulletin of the calendar year. He/she shall notify all members of their arrears and as treasurer, he/she shall receive and pay all monies belonging to the club, all checks shall be signed by him/her or the president. He/she shall supply a current membership list to the election commissioner.
Secretary-Treasurer has the responsibility for performing all club correspondence, preparation and publishing to members in good standing club bulletins (normally 4 - winter, spring, summer and fall) UNLESS the President with the approval of the Executive Committee appoints another individual to the role of Communication Director.
District Directors – The directors shall be responsible for coordinating all club activities within their respective districts. They shall select the district annual show site(s) and communicate appropriately in ensure that this information is included in the club bulletin.
Executive Committee – The executive committee is comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary Treasurer and the District Directors. This committee shall act for the club between bulletins or meetings of the membership on matters too urgent to wait for such bulletins or meetings. Such actions shall be described in the following bulletins or meetings. They shall make the appointment to fill a vacancy created in an elected office.

Article II – Nomination and Election of Officers
The secretary shall announce in the Winter bulletin (1st of the calendar year) of the odd number years that nominations are being accepted for all elected offices by the election commissioner. He/she shall include the name, address and email address of the commissioner in this bulletin and a deadline for receiving nominations of not less than thirty (30) days from the date the announcement was made. Only nomination ballots received from members in good standing and nominated members in good standing shall be accepted for inclusion in the election ballot. The election commissioner shall send a complete list of the names of only the nominees to each member of the executive committee. The secretary shall include the election ballot, deadline for receiving ballots of not less than thirty (30) days, and the name, address and email address of the election commissioner, who shall receive all cast ballots, in the Spring (2nd of the calendar year) bulletin in the odd number years. The election commissioner shall record all votes cast by members in good standing and send a complete list of the results to each member of the executive committee. The secretary/communications director shall publish the total results of the election in the Summer bulletin in the odd number years. The nominee with the highest number of votes shall be elected.
If the election commissioner is one of the nominees for an elected office he/she shall work with the president to transfer the collection of ballots and tallying of votes to another club member who is not up for election. The election commissioner shall not be permitted to hold an elected office of the club while he/she is commissioner.
All voting records are to be kept until after the next annual meeting.

Article III – Arrears
A member shall be considered in arrears if his/her dues have not been paid by the expiration date on his most recent membership card. A member in arrears shall not be entitled to vote, be a candidate for office, receive club bulletins, judge the annual meet or other club business.
Article IV – Expulsion
Any member detected in any dishonorable dealing involving the club or swallow fancy in general shall be expelled from the club by a simple majority vote of the total membership.
Article V – Annual Show
The secretary shall announce in the first bulletin after the USC Annual Show (usually the winter bulletin) that nominations are being accepted by the election commissioner for the next Annual Show Site. The secretary shall include the name, address and email address of the election commissioner in this bulletin and a deadline for receiving nominations of not less than thirty (30) days. The commissioner shall report to the secretary which sites have been nominated.
In the next bulletin, the secretary shall include a final ballot, a deadline for receiving ballots of not less than thirty (30) days and the name, address and email address of the election commissioner. The election commissioner shall report the final results to the secretary who shall publish these results in the next bulletin.
The annual show should be on a rotation basis as much as possible. The site receiving the highest number of votes shall be awarded the annual meet.
When any problem arises regarding the location of the annual show site, the executive committee shall make all final decisions. The secretary shall notify all members by U.S. mail or email of any change in the annual show site within two (2) weeks of said change.
The specials awarded by this club for the Annual Shows shall be determined by the Show Coordinator and approved by the President. Additional special awards may be accepted by the show coordinator or the club secretary. Any rebate from entry fees paid to this club as a participating club may be used to pay for judging and/or additional specials offered on swallows exhibited or returned to the secretary of this club.
All voting records are to be kept until after the next annual meeting.
Whenever possible it is highly recommended that auction is to be held at the annual show with the proceeds of that auction being used to help pay for the travel expenses of the judge(s) any remaining funds are to be sent to the secretary treasurer to be added to the club funds.

Article VI – District Show Specials
The specials awarded by this club for the district shows shall be determined by the Show Coordinator or District Director and approved by the President.
Additional special awards may be accepted by the district directors, appointees or the club secretary. Any rebate from entry fees paid to this club as a participating club may be used to pay for judging and/or additional specials offered on swallows exhibited or returned to the secretary of this club. (This is to be determined by the district director)

Article VII – Selection of Judges
The judge and/or judges for the annual meet may be elected by a vote of the membership. When the judge or judges is/are not elected by the membership, then he/she/they shall be approved by the executive committee.
The secretary shall announce in the first bulletin after the USC Annual Show (usually the winter bulletin) that nominations are being accepted by the election commissioner for annual meet judge(s). The Secretary/Comm Dir shall include the name, address and email address of the election commissioner in this bulletin and a deadline for receiving nominations of not less than thirty (30) days. The individual nominating a judge(s)
should verify that the individual(s) are available and accept the nomination. Additionally, the election commissioner shall verify all nominees to confirm their availability and acceptance of the nomination prior to the issues of ballots. The commissioner shall report to the Secretary/Comm Dir which judge(s) have been nominated. In the next bulletin, the secretary shall include a final ballot, a deadline for receiving ballots of not less than thirty (30) days and the name, address and email address of the election commissioner. The election commissioner shall report the final results to the secretary who shall publish these results in the next bulletin. The judge(s) should be on a rotation basis as much as possible. The judge(s) receiving the highest number of votes shall be awarded the annual meet. When any problem arises regarding the judge(s), the executive committee shall make all final decisions (by simple majority vote). The secretary/communications director shall notify all members by U.S. mail or email of any change in the judge(s) within (2) weeks of said change
For additional information on Judges/Judging and eligibility guidelines go to the Certified Judging Program which is available on the club website unitedswallowclub.com.

Article VIII – Method of Judging
The Americanized-European grading system shall be used at all recognized meets of this club.
The following grading system shall be used:

In no case shall less than two (2) Certified swallow judges be allowed to assign the grade of “E” to a bird. When two (2) certified judges are not available no “E” grade shall be assigned.
- Per the certified Judging program (approved 8/2015) – Due to their special schooling and training it is not necessary for a European Judge to use a 2nd judge to award an “E” rating
A numerical placing may be assigned when necessary to determine awards or specials as follows: the highest
rated bird shall be number one (1). Example: If 1 bird receives an “HS” and another bird receives an “S”, the
“HS” bird automatically becomes the first place or number one (1) bird. If, however, more than 1 bird in the same class receives the same rating the judge may assign one bird an additional numerical rating of one (1). Example: If 2 birds receive “HS” ratings, then the Top “HS” bird may be assigned “HS-1”, second “HS” would be assigned “HS-2”. No numerical rating shall be given below the “S” rating and only then when it is necessary to make a selection for purposes of an award or awards. At no time will numerical rankings continue from one rating level to another. The assigning of additional numerical ratings shall be discouraged.
When selecting the champion or other specials, only the highest rated birds shall be considered, example: if two birds receive the “E” rating, only those two birds shall be considered for champion, etc. If no “E” ratings are given, then the next highest rating “HS” shall be considered.
In no case shall birds of two different ratings be in competition with each other, the higher rated bird is automatically placed ahead of all lower rated birds.
The additional numerical classification is only valid within the class in which it is assigned. Example: If a
class has an “E-1” rated bird and an “E-2” rated bird, the “E-1” rated bird shall compete with all other “E” rated
birds for champion, etc. If the above “E-1” rated bird is awarded champion, the “E-2” bird from the same class
as the champion shall compete for reserve champion (second best)
After all the possible awards for the “E” rated birds have been exhausted, the “HS” or the birds from the next
highest category are brought up for the remainder of the awards.
Recommendations/Options for judging at a show are included in the Certified Judging program (approved 8/2015) which is posted on the club website unitedswallowclub.com (documents tab)
As voted upon and passed in 1999 – All future changes to the Certified Judging Program will be made by the judging committee except what is already covered (above) pertaining to the judging rating system.

Article IX – Certified Judging Program
As voted on and passed by the membership in 1999 a Certified Judging Program has been created. That program consists of:

1) a set of rules and guidelines for maintaining a “bank” of certified judges, develop the procedure for selecting new judges, etc. That document is located on the UnitedSwallowClub.com website in the documents section.
2) A judging board which is comprised of all USC certified judges
3) A Certified Judging Board Chairman who is a member of the current judging board and is selected by a majority vote of the board members.

Article X – Standard
The original standard of the club shall be the Swallow Standard as adopted by this club in June of 1972 and published in the American Pigeon Journal in August of 1972, page 498 (referred to as the German Toy Special). In 1984, the Thuringian and Nuremburg Standards were adopted. They are the Standards that appear in the Summer 1984 U.S.C. Swallow Bulletin.

a: As voted upon and passed in 1999 -- The new standard contains illustrations of the various varieties of
Swallows. This will enable you to not only read the different aspects of the breed, but see pictures of
what the printed standard is referring to. This standard can be found on the United Swallow Club
website, unitedswallowclub.com in the section labeled STANDARDS.

Note: The contents of the USC Constitution and By-Laws supersedes all other club documents.