These by-laws were voted in and enacted on December 1, 2007. 
 

Mission Statement 
 

The California Association of Rat Enthusiasts (CARE) is dedicated to promoting and improving the fancy rat through openness, education of owners, mentorship of new breeders, and by offering family-friendly fun and information.  
 

Article I The Club (Name) 
 

Section 1. The name of the club shall be: California Association of Rat Enthusiasts, also referred to as CARE. 
 

Section 2. The objectives of CARE shall be: 
Promotion and education about the pet rat and rat fancy to the general public

Encouragement for proper and ethical care of pet rats

Mentoring new breeders to encourage ethical breeding practices

Providing resources for new and veteran keepers of pet rats 
 

Section 3. All funds are to be used toward the missions of the club, and not for the benefit of any individual member. CARE's non-profit status is currently pending, and will be in place with the completion of all paperwork. 
 

Article II Membership 
 

Section 1. Eligibility

Membership is open to all persons who agree and subscribe to the standards and ethics of CARE.  
 

Section 2. Types of Membership

CARE has three types of membership:

1) Individual: Open to all persons. Two divisions will be available: Regular membership for all person eighteen years or older and who will hold regular voting privileges, and Junior membership for any person less than eighteen years of age and who must join with permission of an adult.

2) Households: Open to all person in a single household residing at the same address. Household members eighteen years or older will hold regular voting privileges.

3) International: Open to all persons outside the United States of America. International members will not have regular voting privileges for logistic reasons.

All Individual and Household members may take part in regular club activities and attend in-person meetings. All members may attend online meetings. 
 

Section 3. Application and Dues

All new members must submit a membership application with dues. Membership application also includes a signed Code of Ethics to which all members must adhere. Dues for membership are $25 for Individuals, and $30 for Households and International members. The Treasurer is to collect and track all membership applications and dues. One month prior to the expiration of a membership, the Treasurer will notify that member. Memberships which are not paid in full at the time of expiration will cease to be members. They may rejoin at any time with the submission of a new application and dues.  
 

Section 4. Membership Termination

Any member may terminate their membership at any time through two methods:

1. Refusal to renew: Any member who chooses not to pay the following year's membership dues will voluntarily terminate their membership. These members may renew at any time with the submission of a new application and dues.
2. Written resignation: Any member may submit a written letter asking their membership be terminated. These members are not subject to a refund of membership dues. These members may renew at any time with the submission of a new application and dues.

Membership may also be terminated by a majority vote of the officers, if a member refuses to follow the by-laws or code of ethics of the club.

Article III Meetings

Section1: Club meetings

CARE shall have two types of meetings: online and in-person. Meetings are to be held monthly. The date, time, and location shall be announced at least two weeks prior to the meeting. Members are not required to attend, but are welcomed. The majority of officers (one half or greater) shall be in attendance at all meetings. 
 

Section 2: Voting

All members in good standing whose dues are paid in full shall be entitled to one vote at any meeting. Member must be present to vote. If a member is unable to attend the meeting, that member's vote must be received by the President at least three days prior to the scheduled meeting.

Article IV Officers

Section 1. Officers

The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Event Coordinator, Outreach Coordinator, and Webmaster. Officers must be regular members in good standing. All officers shall be elected for a one-year term, starting the day of election.

The President shall preside at all meetings of CARE and shall have all duties and powers normally pertinent to the office of the President in addition to those particularly specified by these by-laws.

The Vice President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President's death, absence, or incapacity.

The Secretary shall record and publish minutes and all matters of which a record is ordered by CARE, and shall carry out other such duties as prescribed by these by-laws.

The Treasurer shall collect and receive all membership applications with dues, and handle and track all monies donated, due, or belonging to CARE. He/She shall keep books of all monies transferred to or from CARE. He/She shall deposit these monies in a bank approved by the Board, in the name of CARE. His/Her books shall at all times be open to the inspection of the officers and he/she shall report to them at every meeting the condition of CARE's finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported.

The Event Coordinator shall be responsible for announcing planned events, answer correspondence regarding events, collecting all event entries, and collecting and announcing the results of all shows.

The Outreach Coordinator is responsible for handling all matters regarding the general promotion and public education of the pet rat and rat fancy.

The Webmaster is responsible for updating and keeping current the website, and all matters pertaining to the website. 
 

Section 2. Vacancies

Any vacancies occurring among the officers during the year shall be filled until the next annual election by a majority vote (greater than one half) of all current members at the next meeting; except vacancy in the office of President shall be filled automatically by the Vice President. The resulting vacancy in the office of Vice President shall then be filled by a majority vote (greater than one half) of all current members at the next meeting, if there are greater than three months until the next annual election.

Article V Voting, Nominations, Elections

Section 1. Nominations and Ballots

No person may be a candidate for officer in a CARE election who has not been nominated in according with these by-laws. All candidates must be current regular members in good standings whose dues are paid in full. All nominations are to be emailed to the Secretary during the month of December prior to the annual election. No nominations will be accepted after December 31. Candidates are to be notified the first two weeks of the month of January of their nomination by the Secretary. During this time any candidate may decline. Candidates are to be announced January 15^th on the website and through a flier mailed to every current member.  
 

Section 2. Annual Election

The annual election shall take place the last Saturday of January. This vote shall be by secret ballot to determine the officers for the next year's term. The candidate with the most votes will become the new officer, effective immediately. The first annual election is to take place January 2009.

Article VI Shows and Events

Section 1. Guidelines

All shows held by CARE will adhere to these guidelines. This includes regular shows, as well as pet shows. These guidelines will also apply to any other event in which live animals will be present. 
 

Section 2. Quarantine

CARE follows strict quarantine guidelines. These guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of all rats at public events. Quarantine is to begin no less than twenty-one days prior to the scheduled event and is to continue after the event for no less than twenty-one days. The practice of proper quarantine procedures involves segregating the quarantined animals in a separate building or room with no shared air vents from all other animals during this period. No other animals shall leave or enter the quarantine area, and no litters shall be born or weaned. If quarantine is broken for any reason, these animals are not be permitted into the event.  This matter is regarded as highly important. Failure to practice proper quarantine procedures can result in excusal from the current event, and possibly suspension from entering future events. Participants in an event are prohibited from stopping at any store or location that houses live animals, such as pet stores, on the day of the event and prior to arrival.  
 

Section 3: Health Check

All animals entered in a CARE event for exhibition are to be housed in solid-sided enclosures. No wire cages will be admitted to the event. All animals are to be health checked prior to admittance. Fresh wounds, suspicious scabs, or abscesses will automatically disqualify the animal from entering that event. Symptoms of disease or signs of parasites, such as repeated sneezing, wheezing, nits, or excessive discharge from eyes and nose, will automatically disqualify the animal and all cage-mates from entering that event. Any biting will automatically disqualify the animal. This disqualification does not prevent the animal from entering future events, if the issue is resolved. 
 

Section 4. Handling Guidelines

CARE shows are only to be judged by approved judges. All animals brought to the judge for exhibition are to be kept individually in medium or large-sized Kritter Keepers. Handling of all animals is to be kept to a minimum, and all hands are to be disinfected in between the handling of every animal. Any object that touches an animal, must be disinfected prior to and after touching the animal. No visitors or observers are to handle animals on exhibition without explicit permission from the owner or without disinfecting hands before and after handling. No animal will touch the clothing of a judge, assistant, or any other hander if at all possible. No animal is to be held or transferred through the exhibition area out of an approved enclosure. All animals ready for judging are to be brought to the stand-by table. When appropriate, the animals are to be brought to the judge by approved stewards or assistants. After judging, animals are to be removed from the judge's table and brought to a post-judging table by approved stewards or assistants for pick-up by exhibitor. All animals should be handled with care and respect.

Article VII Discipline

Section 1. Conflictions and issues are to be handled on a case-by-case situation. Reports of non-compliance with the by-laws or code of ethics of CARE can be sent to any officers. The officer is then to bring the issue up to the Board. The Board will discuss the issue and decide appropriate action. Conflicts between members is also to be brought to the Board. The Board will review the conflict and decide appropriate action. For the first major offense, member will receive a warning. For a second major offense, further action will be taken, depending on the severity of the offense. A member who continues to be non-compliant with the by-laws and code of ethics of CARE may be asked to leave the club.

Article VIII Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to the constitution and by-laws must be approved by a majority greater than one half vote. Approved amendments or revisions are to be enacted immediately. 
 

Section 2. Amendments or revisions may be proposed by any regular member in good standing, at any time. All amendments and revisions must be submitted to the President. Such propositions will be presented to the members at least two weeks prior to the next meeting. These shall then be presented at the meeting for a final majority vote of greater than one half.

Article IX Dissolution

Section 1: CARE may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than 2/3 of the members. In the event of the dissolution of CARE, other than for the purpose of reorganization, none of the financial assets of the club shall be distributed to any members of CARE. After payment of any debts of CARE, its financial assets shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefit of rats selected by the officers.