1. The object of the Club shall be
a) To provide the training of any dog over four months deemed suitable by the trainer. A veterinary certificate of inoculation must be produced prior to attendance
b) To support obedience classes at shows and working trials
c) To meet on matters of common concern and for social purposes
d) To further as far as possible the interests of charities concerned with dogs
2. Membership
a) The committee shall have the power to confer honorary membership on any person who has rendered service to the Club
b) Experienced handlers with new dogs to commence in beginner’s class. Experience to be defined by the Committee
c) A member may resign membership at any time and forfeits any subscription paid
d) Members who have resigned, or who have been removed from membership shall forthwith return any trophies they hold
3. Expulsion of Members
a) Any member who shall be suspended under the Kennel Club rule A42j(4) and/or any member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club rule A42j(8) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the Society for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification
b) If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the committee of the Society be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the society, the committee of the Society may, at a meeting the notice convening which includes as an object the consideration of the conduct of the Member, determine that a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Society shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her
c) Notice of the SGM shall be sent to the accused member, giving particulars of the complaint and advising the place, date and hour of the meeting that he/she may attend and offer an explanation. If at the meeting, a resolution to expel is passed by a two thirds majority of the Members present and voting, his/her name shall forthwith be erased from the list of members, and he/she may, within two calendar months from the date of such meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such condition as the Kennel Club may impose
4. Meetings
a) Members will be notified in writing of all Special and General meetings and of the agenda for the meeting
b) The Annual General Meeting will be held in February
c) Not less than 14 Days must be given of all Special and General Meetings
d) The committee shall meet at convenient times as and when necessary, but not less than three times a year
e) The quorum for General and Special Meetings shall be 12 members, for committee meetings 5 members
f) The chairman shall normally preside over all General and Committee meetings
5. Special General Meetings
a) A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Hon. Secretary if 12 members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a SGM to do so
b) The Committee of the Society is also empowered to call a SGM
c) No business other than that detailed on the Agenda can be discussed at a SGM
6. Voting
a) At all meetings, voting shall be by a show of hands or by ballot at the Chairman’s discretion. Voting by Proxy shall be accepted if covered by written authority for those who through extenuating circumstances cannot attend
b) One vote for each paid up member shall be allowed
c) The chairman to have a casting vote as well as a deliberate vote
7. Elections
a) The election of Officers and Committee shall take place at the Annual General Meeting
b) Officers and Committee shall be individually nominated
c) Nominations must reach the Secretary at least fourteen days before the meeting
d) If in any case nominations exceed vacancies the election shall be by ballot
e) Nominations for Officers and Committee must be posted on the notice board
8. Duties
a) The Secretary’s duties shall be to summon and attend all General and Committee meetings.
b) The Secretary shall record the proceedings in a Minute book, to be signed by the Chairman of the meeting
c) The Secretary shall conduct correspondence on behalf of the Club, and transact any business required by the Committee
d) The Society must make a list of members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by the Members of the Society or by the Kennel Club
e) The Treasurer shall receive all monies, record receipts and payments and submit an audited account and balance sheet to the members at the AGM
f) The Treasurer shall keep a banking account in the name of the Club and the Treasurer and the Secretary or the Chairman shall sign cheques jointly
g) The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, Maintenance of title fee shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Secretary for the continuation of Registration and that that by the 31st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in the Kennel Club Regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies and Breed Councils and the Affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities, to be forwarded to the Kennel Club
h) The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any changes of Secretary of the Society that may occur during the course of the year
9. Training and Competitions
a) The Trainer at any class shall be in sole charge, and shall be empowered to exclude any dog or handler at his or her discretion
b) Handlers must attend at least half of whatever training session being currently attended to qualify for any awards, or have taken training classes
c) Test A, B and C competitions to be run in accordance with Kennel Club Rules
10. Finance
a) The Committee shall have the power to fix training fees and to raise funds for the Club in any way it seems fit
b) The annual subscription payable in advance shall be £10
c) Club property shall be vested in the Officers and Committee, and trophies shall be kept fully insured
11. Officers and Committee
a) Club affairs shall be under the management of a Committee consisting of the President, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and six members
b) The President shall be nominated by the Committee and elected at the AGM and shall be an ex-officio member of the Committee, with the right to vote
c) The Committee may elect vice-Presidents. A Vice President shall not be an ex-officio member of the Committee
d) No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society
12. Dissolution
a) The dissolution of the Club may be determined in the following manner. Viz. On the unanimous recommendation of the Committee or on the requisition of not less than one third of the members giving at least 21 days’ notice of the date and purpose of the meeting, and such dissolution shall take place when decided upon by a two-third majority
b) On dissolution the assets shall be realised and the Club funds remaining after payment of its debts to some other society having objects similar to those of this Club, or to some charity whichever the members present at the General Meeting decide by simple majority
13. Alteration of Rules
a) Alteration of these rules shall be made by the vote of a two-thirds majority at an AGM or SGM, and notice of intention to move any alteration must be given in writing to the Secretary fourteen days beforehand
14. Agreements
a) The paying of a subscription shall be deemed to be an implied agreement by the Member to abide by Club Rules
b) The Kennel Club shall be the final court of appeal in all matters of dispute
c) The Society shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs
d) It is the Handler’s responsibility to clear up any fouling by their dogs in the Church Hall car park. Failure to clear up would be interpreted as conduct injurious to the interest of the Club