CLUB RULES

WESSEX BORDER COLLIE CLUB RULES

1. Name and objects: The Club shall be called the Wessex Border Collie Club and its objects shall be to promote and encourage the responsible breeding, working and showing of Border Collies.
2. Officers and Committee: The Club shall consist of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and a Committee of seven.
3. Committee: The management of the Club shall be in the hands of the Officers of the Club and the Committee, all of whom shall retire annually, at the Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible for re-election.  Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as is deemed necessary, but at least every three months.  A minimum of seven days notice shall be given of Committee Meetings.  A quorum for Committee Meetings shall be six. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members on to the Committee in the event of positions becoming vacant between General Meetings.  All vacancies in the Committee shall be filled at the Annual General Meeting by means of a ballot.  Nominations must be in the hands of the Secretary at least seven days prior to the meeting.  Any Officer or member of the Committee who misses three consecutive meetings without a satisfactory explanation shall automatically cease to be a member of the Committee.  No one Committee member shall hold two Officer positions at the same time.  Only one person in a family is allowed to hold an Officer post of the Club at any one time.
4. Members: There shall be no limit to the number of members.  Candidates for membership of the Club shall be accepted on the completion of an application form and payment of the subscription. 
5. The Club must send a list of members and their addresses to the Kennel Club with their Annual Returns and, if so required, make an up to date list of members available for inspection by the members of the club or by The Kennel Club.
6. Voting rights: Each member shall be entitled to one vote immediately upon becoming a member.  In the case of joint membership, there is one vote for each member of the partnership.  Voting shall be by secret ballot or by a majority at meetings, the method of voting to be at the discretion of the Chairman of the meeting.
7. Club property: Any property of the Club shall be vested in the Committee.  In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, a final General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of the Club’s assets and the outcome of the meeting shall be notified to The Kennel Club.
8. Club Accounts: A bank account shall be held in the name of the Club at a bank approved by the committee.  All revenue of the Club shall be paid into this account and withdrawals shall be from this account by cheques, which must be signed by any two of the following three Officers: Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary.  A Chartered, Incorporated or Cost Accountant shall be elected annually and shall audit the accounts of the Club at the end of each financial year – 31 December.
9. Subscriptions: The annual subscription shall be such amount as agreed by the members in General Meeting and shall be notified to The Kennel Club.  Such subscriptions shall become due on 1 January (or such later date in the case of new members).  No member who’s subscription is unpaid shall be entitled to any of the privileges of membership and if the member shall fail to pay outstanding subscriptions by 30 April, his/her name shall be automatically erased from the register.  Acceptance back on to the register will be dependent upon a new application and payment of back arrears.
10. Expulsion 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 Club.  If the conduct of any member shall in the opinion of the Club be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Club, the committee of the Club 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 of the Club shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her.  Notice of the Special General Meeting 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 Club except that 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.  If the club expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog shows, trials or competitions, the club will report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within 7 days and supply any particulars required.
11. Financial Year/Annual General Meeting: The financial year of the club shall be from 1 January to 31 December of each year.  The Annual General Meeting shall be held in February.
12. Annual General Meeting: The Nature of the Business to be conducted is:
    1. To receive the reports of the Committee and Balance Sheet, to elect the Officers and Committee and to discuss any resolution placed on the agenda of which prior notice has been given to the Secretary.  No business shall be transacted at an Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the agenda, with the exception of routine matters or those, which in the opinion of the Chairman of the Meeting, are urgent.
    2. Notice of an Annual General Meeting shall be given to all members by post at least 14 days before the Meeting.
    3. Any items for inclusion on the agenda must be in the hands of the Secretary at least 25 days before the Meeting.
    4. The agenda shall be circulated at the Meeting.
13. Special General Meeting: A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Secretary if 25 members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting to do so.  The Committee of the Club is also empowered to call a Special General Meeting.  No business other than that detailed on the agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting.  Notice of a Special General Meeting shall be given to all members by post at least 14 days before the meeting.
14. Amendment to Rules: The Rules of the Club may not be altered except at a General Meeting, the Notice for which contains specific proposals to amend the Rules.  Any proposed alteration to the Rules may not be brought into effect until The Kennel Club has been advised and approved the alteration.  New Rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements shall be adopted immediately.
15. Annual Returns to the Kennel Club: The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Secretary for the continuance of the Registration and that by 31 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 be forwarded to The Kennel Club.  The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform The Kennel Club of any changes of Secretary of the club which may occur during the course of the year.
16. Kennel Club Final Authority: The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Club in all cases relative to Canine or Club matters.
17. The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
18. No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.
19. Breed Society Judges Lists: The Club shall maintain an approved list of judges. Membership of the Club is not a prerequisite for inclusion of the lists.  The judges lists shall be divided into five parts namely A1, A2, A3, B and C, as below.  The list will indicate the date on which it will expire and such lists will be submitted to the Kennel Club as part of the Club’s Annual Returns.