Rules of The Agility Club
Rules of The Agility Club
The Club shall be called "The Agility Club" and its objects shall be to promote the interests of Agility Tests. To concern itself with the safety and well being of dogs participating in Agility. To advise its members of current and forthcoming events, plus sound practices within the sport. To uphold general Kennel Club regulations, in particular those for Agility Tests.
The Club shall consist of Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, a Committee of eight and an unlimited number of members. The Club may also elect a Patron, President or Vice Presidents. Any person elected in General Meeting as Patron, President or Vice President may also stand for election to the Committee providing he/she is a fully paid up member of the Club and has been so for at least 12 months. 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 31st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in The Kennel Club Regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies, will be forwarded to the Kennel Club. The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform The Kennel Club of any change of Secretary of the Society which may occur during the course of the year.
The management of the Club shall be in the hands of the Officers of the Club and a Committee consisting of eight Members, of whom four shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election at the AGM having been previously nominated by post, but no Committee Member shall remain on the Committee for more than two years without re-election. Other Club Members may also be nominated and all nominations will close 42 days prior to the AGM.
Should the number of nominees exceed the number of vacancies for the Committee the election shall be decided by ballot by those members present at the AGM.
The Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall be ex-officio members of the Committee who shall appoint them for two years and have the same full voting rights as the elected Committee Members.
The Committee will appoint their Chairman at the first Committee meeting following the AGM. The Chairman shall have a casting vote to be used at their discretion. Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary and five shall form a Quorum for the transaction of business.
There shall be no more than one Officer residing at the same address. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members on to the Committee in the event of positions becoming vacant, or deemed necessary. These co-opted Members to hold office until the next AGM and voting rights for co-opted members in Committee shall be at the discretion of the elected Committee members.
No individual may be elected on to the Committee unless they have been a paid up member for the 12 months preceding the AGM.
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.
Candidates for membership of the Club shall be proposed by one member and seconded by another and elected by the Committee at one of their meetings.
The annual subscriptions shall be such sum as agreed by Members in General Meetings, payable to the Hon. Treasurer. Membership shall be for a period of twelve months from the date the subscription is received by the Hon. Treasurer. No Member whose subscription is unpaid shall be entitled to any privileges of membership.
Each member shall be entitled to one vote after two months of membership. Voting rights for joint members shall be one vote for each member of the partnership. Postal votes/Proxy votes are not allowed in General meetings. The method by which voting at General Meetings shall be conducted will be decided by the majority of members present at the meeting.
The property of the Club shall be vested in the Officers and Committee and in the event of the Club ceasing to exist; a General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of any assets. In the event of the Club being wound up a final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Club shall be forwarded to The Kennel Club within six months and the persons named as Officers and 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.
Any Member who shall be suspended under The Kennel Club Rule A42.j. (4) and/or any member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42.j. (8) shall ipso facto cease to be a Member of the Club for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification. 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 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 her/him. Notice of the Special General Meeting shall be sent to the accused Member, giving particulars of the complaint and advising him/her of the place, date and hour of the Meeting that he/she may attend and offer an explanation. If at that Meeting a resolution to expel is passed by 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 conditions as The Kennel Club may impose. If a member is expelled for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, Dog shows, Trial or Competitions, the Club shall report the matter in writing to The Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.
The Financial Year of the Club shall be from 1st November to 31st October. The Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of November for the following purpose: To receive the report of the Committee and Balance Sheet. To conduct a ballot for vacant Committee places. To discuss any resolution duly placed on the Agenda, of which prior notice has been given to the Hon. 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 are urgent. A quorum for General Meetings shall be as decided by the members present at the meeting.
A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Hon. Secretary if 35% of the Members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed. The Officers and Committee of the Club are empowered to call a Special General Meeting if deemed necessary. No business other than the matter on the Agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting. A minimum of 90 days notice will be given of an Annual General Meeting and a minimum of 21 days for a Special General Meeting, notice of such meetings to be given to members by post via Agility Voice. Agenda items should be forwarded up to 42 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. The Agenda for such Meetings will be circulated to members a minimum of 14 days before the date of the meeting.
The Rules of the Club shall not be altered except at a General Meeting or Special General Meeting, the Agenda for which contains specific proposals to amend the rules. Such alterations shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and has given its approval of the alterations. New Rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements shall be adopted immediately and be included in the Constitution with effect from the AGM.
Any member of the Club who wishes to seek the Committee's recommendation should write to the Secretary clearly and concisely stating the proposal. Two other members acting as seconds should countersign the proposal. All three parties names and addresses should be clearly stated and none should be related or domiciled at the same address.
The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Society in all cases relative to Club matters. The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
Members may not represent the Club in any capacity without the prior written permission of the Committee.
The Committee will make available for inspection a list of members and their addresses if so requested by members of the Club, notice of such a request must be given to the Hon. Secretary. The list of members and their addresses will be sent to The Kennel Club annually with the Annual Returns.
Copies of approved Committee Meeting Minutes, to a maximum of the last six meetings, to be made available to Agility Club members. Application to be in writing only to the Secretary, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope. At the Annual General Meeting the Secretary shall make available for perusal by any Agility Club member, copies of approved Minutes of the Committee Meetings which have taken place since the previous AGM. These copies may not be removed from the Secretary's safekeeping.
That a Banking Account be opened in the name of the Club into which all revenue of the Club shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signature of two of the following: Hon.Treasurer, Hon.Secretary, and Chairman. The Accounts shall be kept by the Treasurer, and shall be audited by an independent professional accountant/auditor who shall be appointed at each Annual General Meeting for the ensuing year, and presented to the members at the Annual General meeting.