RULES OF THE
SOUTH WESTERN ROTTWEILER ASSOCIATION
RULE
1. NAME.
The
Association shall be called THE SOUTH WESTERN ROTTWEILER ASSOCIATION
RULE
2. THE OBJECTS OF THE CLUB SHALL
BE: -
To
support and encourage all aspects of Rottweilers by:
a)
The organisation of shows and advice on training classes.
b)
Providing instruction in all matters appertaining to the breed.
c)
Maintaining the breed in accordance with the standard approved by the Kennel
Club.
d)
Providing the opportunity for the interchange of knowledge and ideas between
Rottweilers owners through meetings, newsletters and all other forms of
communication.
e)
To encourage good fellowship and so maintain and advance the interests of the
Breed.
RULE
3. MEMBERS.
The
Association shall consist of an unlimited number of members irrespective of
place of residence, whose names shall be posted by the Secretary in a Register
kept for such a purpose. Such Register shall be available at all reasonable
times, for inspection by members of the Club or by the Kennel Club. The Society
shall send a list of Members and their address and those of Branch Members
where appropriate, to the KC. with their Annual Returns.
RULE
4. ADMISSION/RESIGNATION.
a)
The election of Members shall be vested in the Committee.
b)
A candidate for admission shall have a proposer and a seconder, both of whom
are members of the S. W. R. Association. The applications for membership along
with the current subscription fee must be sent to the Secretary. The
application, including the names of the applicant(s), Proposer and Seconder,
shall be placed before the committee at it's next meeting.
c)
A simple majority of those Committee members present at the meeting shall be
sufficient for election to the membership of the Club. On admission to the Club
all new members shall receive a copy of the rules.
d)
Membership shall be effective from the date of application, except unless the Committee
at their next meeting decide against acceptance of any application, in which
case all properties of the Club held by the unsuccessful applicant shall be
returned to the Secretary. Appropriate fees shall be returned to unsuccessful
applicants.
e)
The Committee shall be empowered to refuse applications for membership at their
discretion. No reason shall be given for the rejection of an application but a
rejected candidate may reapply for election after two years.
f)
THE TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP ARE AS FOLLOWS: -
1. Single, Annual or Life Membership.
2. Joint Annual or Life membership.
"Joint" shall be taken to mean Husband & Wife or Partner, two
joint owners of an exhibit or two persons living in the same household
3. A Family Membership. Husband, wife, or Partners
and their immediate children up to the age of eighteen years. The children of
such a membership hold no voting rights
4. Other Membership combinations shall be at the
discretion of the Committee.
g)
All eligible Members shall be entitled to vote immediately upon acceptance of
their Membership. (In the case of Joint Memberships and the Husband, Wife or
Partner within a Family Membership, they shall each be entitled to one vote.
h)
Voting shall either be by a show of hands or written ballot. Decisions for or
against a motion shall be based upon a simple majority of those eligible
members present and voting.
i)
Proxy votes are not allowed.
RULE
4. ADMISSION/RESIGNATION
continued
j)
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 for the duration of the suspension
and/or disqualification.
k)
Any Member shall be able to withdraw from the Club on giving or sending notice
of his / her intention in writing to the Hon. Secretary. Any Member so leaving
the Club shall not be entitled to receive any money back he / she may have paid
to the Club, during his / her Membership or have any claim against the Club.
Any property of the Club held by the resigning Member, must be returned with
that resignation at no cost to the Club.
RULE
5. SUBSCRIPTIONS.
a)
The annual Membership Subscription shall be such amount as determined at a General
Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club.
b)
Subscriptions are payable to the treasurer on the 1st. January each year.
The
subscriptions of new members joining after the 1st. October shall carry through
the ensuing year.
c)
If the subscription of any member shall remain unpaid after the 1st
March his / her name shall be removed from the list of Members and thereon
ceases to be a Member of the Club. Reapplication for Membership shall be at the
discretion of the Committee
d)
In recognition of services rendered to the South Western Rottweiler Association
by any person(s), the Committee may recommend to the Annual General Meeting
that such person(s) be granted Honorary Life Membership.
e)
The payment of the subscription shall be distinct acknowledgement of and
acquiescence to the Rules of the Association.
RULE
6. MANAGEMENT.
a)
The management of the Association shall be vested in the hands of the
Committee, which shall have power to deal with all matters relating to the
management of the Association not provided for in the Rules and whose decision
shall be final.
b)
The Committee shall consist of a Patron, President, Vice‑President,
Chairman, Vice‑Chairman,
Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, with a general committee of not more
than twelve other Members.
c)
Committee meetings shall be held at such time and place as deemed necessary,
except that not more than four months shall elapse between meetings. At least
fourteen days notice in writing, along with an agenda shall be given to all
Committee Members. “ANY OFFICER AND 5 OTHER MEMBERS TO FORM A
QUORUM FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS”.
d)
If a Committee Member is absent from three consecutive Committee meetings and
fails to offer a satisfactory explanation, that person shall be deemed to have
resigned and shall not be eligible for election to any Committee post for a
further two year period following the next AGM
e)
If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the committee of the
Association, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or
interest of the Association, the committee of the Association 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
Association 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 Association, except the 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 Association expels any member
under Rule C6E (Disciplinary Procedures) or for discreditable conduct in
connection with dogs, dog shows or trials, the Association must report the
matter in writing to the Kennel Club with seven days and supply particulars
required.
f)
The Committee shall have the power to arbitrate in cases of dispute between
Club members, when requested so to do by both parties and their decision in
such cases, shall be final.
RULE
6. MANAGEMENT continued.
g)
The South Western Rottweiler Association shall acknowledge the Kennel Club as the
Final Court of Appeal in all canine matters.
h)
The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year a
Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Secretary
for the 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.
i)
The Officers also 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
7. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
a)
The financial year of the Club shall be from January 1st. to
December 31st.
b)
A banking account shall be opened in the name of the Association into which all
revenue of the Association shall be deposited and from which withdrawals shall
only be made on the signatures of two unrelated Officers, one of whom shall be
the Treasurer. He/She shall receive all
monies and keep a record of receipts and payments.
c)
The Treasurer shall present a duly audited statement of accounts at the A.G. M.
Copies of which shall be distributed to all Members attending the AGM and be available
to all Members on request.
d)
Qualified Auditors as described under KC Rule C15, shall be appointed at the
Annual General Meeting to audit the Clubs accounts for the ensuing year. With a
minimum of seven days notice the auditors may inspect all of the Clubs books
and accounts.
e)
All expenses properly incurred by members of the Committee, for or on behalf of
the Association, with Committee approval, shall be defrayed out of Club funds
alone.
f)
The Assets of the Association shall be vested in the Committee. In the event of
the South Western Rottweiler Association being disbanded, a General Meeting
shall be called to decide the disposal of the Association's Assets. The
Association shall obtain the written acknowledgments from donors of all new Cups
and Trophies, that they are given as outright gifts to the Club.
g)
In the event of the Club being wound up and/or ceasing to be registered under
K.C. Regulations, a final statement of accounts with a record of the disposal
of its assets shall be forwarded to the K.C. within six months and the persons
named as Officers and Committee on the last return furnished to the K.C. shall
be held responsible by the K.C. for the proper winding up of the Club.
RULE
8. ELECTION OF OFFICERS &
COMMITTEE.
a) The
Officers shall serve a three years period of office. The remainder of the
general Committee shall retire after a two-year term. All retiring Officers and
Committee members may seek re-election.
b)
In the event of an Officer leaving Office prior to the completion of his-her 3
year term, a temporary replacement shall be elected, when ever possible, from
within the body of the Committee. At the next AGM, a replacement Officer shall
be elected. Any person elected to fill an Office, which has been vacated in mid
term, shall in the first instance, serve only the remaining term of the vacated
Office. At the AGM following the completion of the vacated term, the Office
must once again be the subject of an election, at which, the incumbent may seek
re-election.
c)
All serving Officers and Committee members shall be deemed to stand again
unless they inform the Secretary to the contrary, in writing, on or before the
31st. December.
d)
The procedure for the election of Officers and Committee shall either be by a
show of hands or a written ballot at the AGM In any ballot a simple majority
shall prevail. The successful candidates shall be declared elected by the
members present at the AGM
e)
All eligible Members over the age of 18 years are entitled to vote.
RULE
9. NOMINATION OF OFFICERS &
COMMITTEE
a)
Any person who has been a member for at least two consecutive years immediately
prior to the AGM is eligible for nomination to the Committee.
b)
Any nomination must have a proposer and seconder both of whom must be current
members of at least two years standing at the time of the AGM together with the
signed consent of the nominee. Such nominations together with the membership
renewal subscription for all three parties shall be in the hands of the
Secretary not later than the thirty-first day of December preceding the Annual
General Meeting.
c)
A member seeking election as an Officer of the Committee may also stand for
election as an ordinary Committee member in the event of being unsuccessful in
their original nomination. A second nomination is not required, they need only
indicate their willingness to stand when sending in their original nomination.
d)
Serving Officers and Committee of the SWRA shall not hold any Office or
Committee Post with any other Rottweiler Club or Association.
e)
The Officers shall be ex-officio members of all Sub-Committees with the
Secretary and Treasurer having full voting rights. In the event of equality of
voting the Chairman shall have the casting vote.
f)
With the exception the Chairman, all Officers and General Committee Members
have equal voting rights. The Chair shall only have a vote in the case of tied
motions.
g)
In the event that one person should hold more than one Office, that person
shall only be entiled to one vote on any issue.
h)
The Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional Committee Members with
full voting rights to fill casual vacancies. Co-opted Committee membership
ceases at the commencement of the next AGM. Previously Co-opted Committee
Members may offer themselves for election.
i)
In the case of insufficient nominations for any Officer post or the General
Committee, prior to the AGM, nominations shall not be accepted from the floor
of the Meeting.
j)
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.
RULE
10. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
a)
The Annual General Meeting shall when ever possible, be held before the 31st.
March, at a time and place determined by the Committee.
b)
The Annual General Meeting shall be called to receive the Committee' s Report,
the Balance Sheet, elect Officers and
Committee and to discuss any resolution duly placed on the Agenda
c)
Notice of the meeting including the agenda and all relevant information shall
be given in writing to every member not less than twenty-eight days prior to
the meeting.
d)
Notice of items which members may wish to have included on the agenda and which
must have a member proposer and seconder shall be in the hands of the Secretary
not later than the thirty first day of December preceding the AGM
e)
No business shall be transacted at an Annual General Meeting unless notice
thereof appears on the agenda, except that the Chairman may, at his / her
discretion, entertain an emergency motion that he / she decides is of
sufficient importance.
f) “ANY
OFFICER AND 5 OTHER MEMBERS TO FORM A QUORUM FOR THE AGM”.
RULE
11. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS.
a)
The Secretary shall convene a Special General Meeting when directed to do so
either by the Chair, the Committee or when requested in writing by not less
than twenty-five current members, so to do.
b)
The S.G.M. must take place within sixty days of the proposal being received by
the Secretary. Any fifteen members shall form a quorum.
c)
Notice of the meeting shall be given in writing to every member not less than
fourteen days prior to the meeting.
RULE
11. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
continued
d)
No business other than that named in the notice shall be brought before a
Special General Meeting.
e)
All expenses incurred in arranging a S.G.M. shall be borne by the Club (Not
individual members expense).
f)
Any person calling such a meeting for what the majority of those present at
that meeting consider to be a trifling matter may be subject to disciplinary
action under SWRA rule 6e.
g)
Only fully paid-up members at the time of the meeting may attend and vote at
the Annual General or Special General meeting, except that the Committee may
invite persons of a specialist nature to attend in an advisory capacity,
without voting rights.
RULE
12. GENERAL MEETINGS RECORD.
a)
The Club undertakes to keep a Minute Book, which shall contain a full record of
all business transacted at General and Committee meetings, including a record
of all guarantees offered by the Club.
b)
No Officer, Committee member or ordinary Member shall take it upon themselves
to publish or cause to be published any detail or account, in part or in whole,
of proceedings at any of the Clubs meetings. Reports shall only be made public
by the Chairman or Secretary following authorisation from the Committee.
RULE
13. ALTERATION OF CLUB RULES.
The
Rules of the Association shall not be altered except at an Annual General
Meeting or Special General Meeting, Such alterations shall not be brought into
effect until the Kennel Club has been advised and has given approval to the
alterations. New Rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet K. C.
requirements shall be adopted immediately and be included in the Society’s
Constitution with effect from the Society’s Annual General Meeting. The Rules
of the Association shall be binding on all Members
RULE
14. REFUND OF ENTRY FEE.
In the
event of the death of an exhibit, which has been entered for any of the Club
Shows, the entry fees shall be returned on production of a veterinarian’s
certificate to that effect.
RULE
15. FEDERATIONS.
The
Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs, which would be
unacceptable to the Kennel Club.
Additional items
affecting Club Rules that were ratified at the 2003 AGM.
Proposal.
Removal of the Associate Membership Rule 4 f) 4. ADMISSION/RESIGNATION
Proposed. TE. Seconded MM.
All agreed. It was agreed to discard the
Associate Membership, as it is unused.
Change
of Membership Subscriptions that was proposed and accepted at the Committee
meeting in June 2002.
Under
item 06/02 - 8. MEMBERSHIP FEES & NEW APPLICATIONS
Endorsement Proposed. SL. Seconded. TS. All agreed. It was
agreed to change the Subscription Fees as follows.
Introduce a Single
Membership of £6.00.
Joint Membership (as
described in the Rules) for £10.00.
Family Membership for
£12.00.
Renewals through the Bank
with D. D. or S. Order. With the incentive of a £1.00 discount if paid by this
method.
A longer-term Membership at
a discounted rate, i.e. 5 years Membership for the cost of 4 years fees.
Proposal.
Change of Club Rules 6c) MANAGEMENT also 10f) AGM Quorum Proposed. TE. Seconded DS. All agreed. “ANY OFFICER AND 5 OTHER MEMBERS TO FORM A QUORUM FOR COMMITTEE
MEETINGS AND THE AGM”.
Proposal.
Clarification and Endorsement of Club Rule 6b MANAGEMENT Proposed.
GM. Seconded TS. All agreed
In
the future the Vice-Chairman shall be identified as an Officer of the club.