Midland & Northern Counties French Bulldog Club

  

RULES & REGULATIONS

RULE 1

 

NAME:        The Club shall be named MIDLAND & NORTHERN COUNTIES FRENCH BULLDOG CLUB (hereinafter for the purpose of these rules referred to as ‘The Club').

 

RULE 2

 

OBJECTS:     To promote the breeding and judging of healthy French Bulldogs in accordance with the recognised standard of the breed and to bring the characteristics of the breed to the notice of the general public. To promote the general health and welfare of the breed, in particular by encouraging the universal adoption of health testing practices. The Club is for the benefit of its Members and will not be classed as a trading business.  All profits from any source, function and/or activity of the Club shall be maintained for the benefits of, and for the further education of its Members in the management, training, showing, breeding and every aspect pertaining to French Bulldogs.

 

RULE 3

 

RULES:          The rules of the Club shall be binding upon Members and shall not be altered or varied except by the proceedings of an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or a Special General Meeting {SGM) of the Club. Notice of an Annual General Meeting convened for the purpose or alteration to the Rules shall be given in writing to the Secretary at least twenty-one days before such a meeting, and it shall be the duty of the Secretary to inform each Member of the Club of the proposed alteration or new Rules at least fourteen days before the said meeting.  No addition or amendment to these Rules passed by an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Special General Meeting (SGM} shall become effective until after the Kennel Club has finally approved the addition, alteration or amendment

 

RULE 4

 

  CLUB ACCOUNTS:

1. A Banking Account shall be opened in the name of the Midland & Northern Counties French Bulldog Club into which all the revenue of the Club shall be paid and from which withdrawals shall only be made on the signature of two or three Officers, one of whom shall be the Treasurer. Any form of electronic banking that permits transaction of The Midland & Northern Counties French Bulldog Club funds to any account should require the authority of the signatures specified above. Debit card transactions shall be made by the Treasurer only up to the value of £250

2. The financial year shall commence on 1st January and end on 31st December.

3. The accounts of the Club shall be certified annually by one qualified accountant or two unqualified individuals with accounting experience, appointed by the Committee and independent of the Committee, except if otherwise requested by the Kennel Club.  A copy of the Statement of Accounts shall be sent to Committee Members prior to the AGM and made available to members on request fourteen days prior to the AGM.

4. Subscriptions shall be agreed by Members at General Meetings and notified to the Kennel Club. Subscriptions are due on election and 1st January each year.  The subscription paid by new members elected after October 1st each year will be valid until December 31st of the following year. A reminder that subscriptions are due shall be sent to each Member and posted by 15th December the previous year. No one shall be a Member or entitled to the privileges of membership until dues are paid in full. Subscriptions must be received no later than six weeks before the date of the AGM for entitlement to privileges of membership. On payment of arrears the Member may be admitted to membership at the discretion of the Committee.

 

RULE 5

 

CONSTITUTION:  The Club shall consist of Patrons, a President, Vice Presidents (not more than four), Chairman of Committee, Vice Chairman of Committee, an Honorary Secretary, an Honorary Assistant Secretary (if deemed necessary), an Honorary Treasurer, and an unlimited number of Members. A list of Members names and addresses shall be kept by the Honorary Secretary and be open to inspection by Members and The Kennel Club at all reasonable times.

 

1. MEMBERS OF THE CLUB:  

 

Any reputable person favourable to the objects of the Club and its Code of Ethics shall be eligible for membership and will normally be proposed and seconded by existing members. The Committee at its next meeting shall consider such applications and approval for membership shall be by a majority vote. In addition, the Committee will consider, at its sole discretion, applications for membership not proposed by existing members but where the application is supported by a submission detailing the applicant’s involvement with and interest in French Bulldogs, together with reasons for wishing to be a member.A member is entitled to all voting rights and privileges offered by the club and may hold office

 

1. COMMITTEE:  the management of the Club will be by a committee of not more than twelve members all of whom shall have been members of the Club for not less than two years on first election.  Members of Committee shall be elected by a vote of the Members cast by a secret ballot at the AGM or SGM of the club.

        Four Members of the Committee shall retire each year, having served a three-year term; these members are                  eligible for re-election.         

            The Committee may fill any vacancies that occur mid-term provided that the number of vacancies at any one                 time does not exceed four Members of the Committee.

            Any Member who replaces another will have to stand again at the normal retirement of the replaced Member.

            A husband/wife/partner of a Committee Member may not both hold Officer positions at the same time.

            Any Committee member missing three consecutive committee meetings will cease to be a member of the                    committee. However, in extenuating circumstances, the Committee may exercise its discretion over the                          application of this rule.

            The Committee shall have the power to deal with any question relating to the management of the Club not                   provided for in these rules.

 

1. THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE:   These positions will be elected from the members of the Committee at the first meeting following the AGM, and no person shall be eligible for election who has not served at least two years as a member of Committee.

       The Chairman will preside at all Committee meetings, but if absent, the Vice Chairman will preside. If both are              absent, the Committee will elect a Chairman for that meeting.

        At all meetings, in the case of equal votes, the Chairman has a second or casting vote.

 

1. THE HONORARY SECRETARY, THE HONORARY TREASURER AND THE HONORARY ASSISTANT SECRETARY (when applicable):  These positions are to be appointed annually by the Committee at the first meeting following the AGM.

A report of all business transacted at meetings is to be entered in a Minute Book kept for the purpose or recorded electronically by the Secretary.

The Treasurer shall keep proper books of accounts showing all receipts and expenditure.

The Secretary and Treasurer need not be members of the Club.  The Secretary and/or Treasurer may or may not be a member of Committee.

1. PRESIDENT.  Shall be elected for two years by a vote of members cast by secret ballot at the AGM or SGM and shall be eligible for re-election and may attend committee meetings.

 

1. PATRONS, VICE PRESIDENTS & LIFE MEMBERS:  Nomination is the prerogative of the Committee who must take into account that the Offices are intended to confer the Clubs greatest honour, on one who has done much for the Breed or the Club.  Election is for life.

RULE 6  

MEETINGS:

 

1. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS.  The AGM is to be held at a time and place decided by the Committee, to receive the Chairman's report, financial statement, the election of Officers and Committee in accordance with Rule five b (5b). Eight members shall form a quorum.  Notification to be sent to paid up Members a month before the date indicating the closing date for nominations and agenda items. No business shall be transacted at an AGM unless notice thereof appears on the Agenda with the exception of routine matters or those which in the opinion of the Chairman are urgent.

 

1. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS:  The Committee shall at any time, upon a requisition in writing, signed by 25 of the Members, and specifying the business for which such a Meeting is required, summon a Special General Meeting of the Club. No other business other than detailed can be discussed.  If the Committee fails to call such a Meeting within fourteen days after receipt of the said requisition, those signing the same may call a meeting jointly.  A quorum shall consist of 25 members. The Committee is empowered to call a SGM at its discretion

 

1. COMMITTEE MEETINGS:  These may be held as often as is deemed necessary, but at least four per annum must be held. Meetings may be held virtually subject to Kennel Club rules. Fourteen days notice must be given and four members shall form a quorum.

 

1. SUB COMMITTEES:  the Committee may form sub-committees and may co-opt persons other than Club members.  The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be ex-officio members of all sub committees with voting powers.

 

1. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted at any meeting.

 

RULE 7

 

 EXPULSION OF MEMBERS:  Any Member who shall be disqualified under Kennel Club rule A11.j.(5) and/or Kennel Club Rule A11.j.(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a Member of the Club.

If the conduct of any Member shall, in the opinion of the Committee 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 of which includes as an object the consideration of the conduct of the Member, determine that a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Club shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her                      

Notice of the Special General Meeting (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 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 impose.

                       If any Member is expelled 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.

 

RULE 8

 

RULES:    The rules of the Club shall be binding upon the Members and shall not be altered or varied except at an AGM or SGM, notice of which includes details of the alteration to the Rules.  Such alterations shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and given its approval to the alterations.  New Rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements shall be adopted immediately and be included in the society's constitution with effect from the Club's Annual Meeting.

 

RULE 9

 

CHALLENGE CUPS AND TROPHIES:  All challenge cups and trophies presented to the Club shall become the sole property of the Club, the donor having made the said challenge cup or trophy a gift to the Club.  The Committee have the right to alter the conditions and objects of the challenge cup or trophy should it be in the interest of the breed and Club.

 

RULE 10

 

DISPOSAL OF ASSETS.  In the event of the Club being defunct or wound up all assets after defraying and Club expenses or debts shall be disposed of by the Committee at their discretion. An appointee of the Committee shall furnish the Kennel Club with a final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the property within six months of the Club being wound up.  The persons named as Officers and the Committee of the Club on the last return furnished to the Kennel Club will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Club.

 

RULE 11

 

 LIABILITY:  No Member or Officer of the Club shall incur any kind of liability in the name of the Club. Only the Honorary Secretary or Honorary Treasurer shall incur such liabilities with the authority of the Committee, and no Member shall make use of the title of Midland & Northern Counties French Bulldog Club for the purpose of private advertisement or personal letters without the written permission of the Club.

 

RULE 12

 

RULING BODY The Kennel Club shall be the final authority for interpreting the rules and regulations of the Club in all cases relative to canine or Club matters.

 

RULE 13

 

The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.

 

RULE 14

 

No person while an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of, or hold any office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.

 

RULE 15

 

 ANNUAL RETURNS:: The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club whether by the Secretary or by Direct Debit, for continuance of 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 will be forwarded to the Kennel Club.

The Secretary will include, with these Annual Returns, any information that is a requirement of the Kennel Club. The Officers acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any change of Secretary of the Club which may occur during the course of the year.

 

RULE 16

 

 JUDGING LISTS:  Judges lists prepared in accordance with current Kennel Club practice, shall be included in the Club's Annual Returns to the Kennel Club.  The Club reserves unto itself the right to produce its own list of judges.

 

 RULE 17

 

All members of the Midland & Northern Counties French Bulldog Club are to abide by its following policies and procedures. General Code of Ethics, Breeders Charter, General Data Protection Regulation Privacy Notice and accept that, if believed to be in breach of these, will be subject to disciplinary action under Club Rules and may be expelled from the Club