|
|
|
Section 1 - Objectives
The Objectives of the Society shall be:
- To encourage the responsible breeding and ownership of pedigree whippets in the North East & Cumbria
- To encourage the exhibiting of pedigree whippets
- To provide opportunities for the education of members in canine matters
- To provide social events promoting friendship among members
Section 2 - Relationship to the Kennel Club
This Society is affiliated to the Kennel Club and all the rules of the Kennel Club are binding on the members of the North Eastern Whippet Society (NEWS)
The Kennel Club shall be the final court of appeal in all matters of dispute.
The Kennel Club shall be the final court of appeal in all matters of dispute.
Section 3 - Membership
- Candidates for membership shall only be admitted if proposed by one existing fully paid up member and seconded by another. The Committee reserves the right to consider new membership applications and to accept or refuse them at its discretion. Membership shall commence upon payment of the appropriate subscription.
- Categories of membership shall be:
- Single
- Joint (2 Adults at the same address or joint owners of KC Kennel Name)
- Family (2 Adults & 2 named dependants at the same address)
- Junior (Persons under the age of 18 years of age)
- Honorary Life Membership, Life Presidency and the post of Patron may be proposed by the Committee for outstanding service, but ratified by a majority at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Special General Meeting (SGM).
- The Society shall maintain a list of all members and their addresses, and this shall be made available for inspection if so requested by members of the Society or the Kennel Club.
Section 4 - Management
The management of the Society shall be vested in the hands of no more than 7 officers consisting of a Patron, President, Vice-President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, and a Committee of no more than 8 other members who shall serve for a three year period. Two officers and 1/3 of the other members are to retire annually but be eligible to seek re-election. Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary, but at least every 6 months. Six Committee members form a quorum, which must include two officers. In the event of any member of the Committee being absent from three consecutive meetings without written notification, the Committee shall have the power to declare a vacancy to be filled by co-option at the following committee meeting of the Society. The co-opted member should be the unsucessful candidate collecting the highest number of votes at the previous AGM. Should there be no unsuccessful nominees at the AGM to fill vacancies occurring during the year, the Committee shall have the power to co-opt members of the Society to serve on the Committee. Those co-opted shall only hold office until the next Annual General Meeting of the Society at which an election of officers and committee takes place. No individual who has been a member for less than one year may be elected onto the Committee.
If the Society ceases to be a registered society under Kennel Club rules and regulations, a final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Society shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months. The persons named as officers and committee of the Society on the last return furnished to the Kennel Club will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Society. All cups and trophies shall be returned to their respective donors, heirs or executors. Cups and trophies belonging to the Society, and its financial assets, shall be distributed to such local charities as the members may decide. No person, whilst an undischarged bankrupt, may serve on the Committee or hold any other office within the Society. If so desired, an Assistant Secretary may be appointed from within the Committee.
If the Society ceases to be a registered society under Kennel Club rules and regulations, a final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Society shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months. The persons named as officers and committee of the Society on the last return furnished to the Kennel Club will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Society. All cups and trophies shall be returned to their respective donors, heirs or executors. Cups and trophies belonging to the Society, and its financial assets, shall be distributed to such local charities as the members may decide. No person, whilst an undischarged bankrupt, may serve on the Committee or hold any other office within the Society. If so desired, an Assistant Secretary may be appointed from within the Committee.
Section 5 - Subscriptions
The annual subscription shall be such an amount as agreed by members at the AGM and notified to the Kennel Club. No member whose subscription is unpaid is entitled to any priviledge of membership and if the member shall fail to pay outstanding subscriptions by the last day of February, his/her name shall be automatically erased from the register. The Honorary Treasurer shall keep a correct account of all money received on behalf of the Society and shall pay receipts and balances of cash into the Cumberland Building Society from which withdrawals shall only be made on the signatures of two of a possible three officers, Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. The financial year of the Society shall run from 1st January to 31st December.
Section 6 - Voting Rights
Each member shall be entitled to one vote. Proxy votes shall not be admitted. Joint members are allowed one vote to each member of a partnership. Membership is due on 1st January each year. Those memberships paid in November and December shall be valid for the following January 1st to December 31st.
Section 7 - Meetings
The AGM shall be held within 3 months of the end of the financial year at such time and place as decided by the Committee. The date set for the AGM and the final date for receipt of agenda items shall either be notified direct to members or published in 'Our Dogs' and 'Dog World', dependent on which method is cheapest. Dates & Agendas may be sent direct to members electronically, where possible, unless requested otherwise by a member. Dates will be notified at least 30 days before the AGM. Agendas and Balance Sheets to be made available to members at least 14 days before the meeting, on receipt of a stamped addressed envelope. No proposals other than the adoption of reports shall be moved at this meeting unless a notice of the resolution, signed by the proposer and seconder, both of whom must be fully paid up members, and stating its terms, is received by the Honorary Secretary at least 14 days before the date of the meeting whereupon such a resolution shall be included on the agenda.
A Special General Meeting shall be either convened by the Committee or called upon receipt, by the Chairman, of a written requisition signed by not less than 10 members and stating the purpose for which it is to be summoned. Upon receipt of such a request, the Secretary shall arrange the appropriate meeting within 21 days. No other business shall be discussed at that SGM. Members will be notified in the dog press at least 14 days before the meeting is due to take place.
A Special General Meeting shall be either convened by the Committee or called upon receipt, by the Chairman, of a written requisition signed by not less than 10 members and stating the purpose for which it is to be summoned. Upon receipt of such a request, the Secretary shall arrange the appropriate meeting within 21 days. No other business shall be discussed at that SGM. Members will be notified in the dog press at least 14 days before the meeting is due to take place.
Section 8 - Expenses
At the AGM the Chairman shall move a vote to decide the honorarium of the Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. The Secretary/Treasurer, at quarterly intervals throughout the year, shall present to the Committee, a claim for reimbursement of the telephone and/or travel and/or postal charges necessarily incurred on behalf of the Society.
Section 9 - Elections
All nominations for officers and committee posts must be in writing, signed by the proposer, seconder and nominee (all of whom must be members of the Society) to be received by the Secretary at least 14 days before the AGM.
Scrutineers (not interested parties) shall be appointed to count the votes. One or two auditors, not being officers or on the Committee, shall be appointed at the AGM to audit the accounts for the ensuing year and present a report at the next AGM. The Committee may propose Vice-Presidents for a term of office of one year. The nominees are to be accepted by ballot at the AGM. The Chairman shall be elected at the AGM, the Vice-Chairman will be elected, by the Committee, at the first committee meeting following the AGM.
With the exception of the Chairman (who shall have a casting vote only) the elected President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, shall be full voting members of the elected Management Committee. All officers of the Society shall be ex-officio members of any elected sub-committee or group of the Society.
Scrutineers (not interested parties) shall be appointed to count the votes. One or two auditors, not being officers or on the Committee, shall be appointed at the AGM to audit the accounts for the ensuing year and present a report at the next AGM. The Committee may propose Vice-Presidents for a term of office of one year. The nominees are to be accepted by ballot at the AGM. The Chairman shall be elected at the AGM, the Vice-Chairman will be elected, by the Committee, at the first committee meeting following the AGM.
With the exception of the Chairman (who shall have a casting vote only) the elected President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, shall be full voting members of the elected Management Committee. All officers of the Society shall be ex-officio members of any elected sub-committee or group of the Society.
Section 10 - Impulsion of Members
Any member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j(5) and/or any member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42j(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the Society.
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 SGM of the Society shall be called, for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her.
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 shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a member of the Society except that he/she may, within 2 calendar months of such meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such condition as the Kennel Club may impose.
If the Society expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog shows, trials or competitions, the Society must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.
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 SGM of the Society shall be called, for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her.
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 shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a member of the Society except that he/she may, within 2 calendar months of such meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such condition as the Kennel Club may impose.
If the Society expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog shows, trials or competitions, the Society must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.
Section 11 - Constitutional Changes and Kennel Club Report
The Society shall not join any federation of societies or clubs. The rules of the Society may not be altered except at an AGM or SGM - notice of which details of the proposal to alter the rules. Such alterations shall not come into force until the Kennel Club has given its approval for the alteration. The officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year the Maintenance of Title Fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Secretary for continuance of registration and that by 31st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club Regulations for the registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies and Breed Councils and the affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities, will be forwarded to the Kennel Club.
The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any changes of Secretary of the Society which may occur during the course of the year.
The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any changes of Secretary of the Society which may occur during the course of the year.
