Oundle & District Dog Training Society Rules
1.The Oundle & District Dog Training Society
The Society shall be called The Oundle and District Dog Training Society and its objectives shall be to encourage the training and management of all dogs
2 The Society
The Society shall consist of a President, Vice-presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer, a committee of up to nine members (Instructors shall be ex-officio members of the Committee) and an unlimited number of members.
3 The Management of the Society
The management of the Society shall be in the hands of the Officers of the Society and the Committee. Members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election every year, except that an Officer may not exceed more than three consecutive years in that office. Except in the case where the term of office may be extended at the recommendation of the Committee at the AGM if no other candidate meets the criteria for that position. Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary but at least every 4 months. A quorum at Committee Meetings shall be 5 Members. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt Members onto the Committee in the event of positions becoming vacant between General Meetings of the society at which an election of officers and committee takes place. No Member who has been a member for less than 2 years and a Committee Member for less than 1 year can be elected onto the Committee as Hon. Treasurer. The appointment of the Instructors shall be left to the discretion of the Committee.
4 Voting
Each member shall be entitled to vote immediately upon acceptance of membership. Each partner of a joint membership shall have one vote as shall a Junior Member i.e. a member who is of school age.
Voting shall be decided by a majority at meetings.
5.In the Case of Cessation of the Society
In the case of the Society ceasing to exist, the balance of funds shall be given to another Dog Club or Charity, and any special prizes which have been given to the Society shall be returned to the donors where this is practicable.
6.Society Bank Account
A banking account shall be held in the name of the Society into which all revenue of the Society shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signatures of two of the current Chairman, Vice- Chairman, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary or senior Committee Member who has been a member of the Society for at least three years and a Committee Member for at least one year. Any transactions to be made with the full knowledge and agreement of the Hon. Treasurer. Certification of accounts must be carried out by one qualified accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience. Those undertaking the certification must be independent from those preparing the accounts. The audited accounts should be available for inspection by members on request 14 days prior to AGM.
7.Annual Subscription
The Annual Subscription shall be such an amount as agreed by Members in General Meetings and notified to the Kennel Club.
Subscriptions shall be renewable on 1st January each year. Members joining on or after 1st November and before 1st January will not be required to pay a further annual subscription until January 12 months later.
8 Expulsion of Members
Any Member who shall be disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A 11.j.(5) and/or Kennel Club Rule A11.j.(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a Member of the Society.
If the conduct of any Member shall, in the opinion of the Society be injurious or likely 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 Special General Meeting of the Society 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 and he/she may attend and offer an explanation. If, at the meeting, a resolution to expel is passed by two thirds majority of the members present and voting, his/her name shall be erased from the list of Members and 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.
9.The Financial Year of The Society
The financial year of the Society shall be from 1 January to 31 December. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in May.
10.Annual General Meeting
The purpose of the Meeting is to receive the reports of the Chairman, Hon. Secretary and the Hon. Treasurer, the election of Officers and Committee and 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 an Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the agenda.
10a. Notice of such meetings will be given to the Members in writing 6 weeks prior to the date of the meeting and items for inclusion on the agenda shall be circulated at the meeting. The certified accounts will be made available on request to members fourteen days prior to the AGM.
10b. Nominations may be put forward for members in their absence provided that they have sent an apology and that they have previously signified that they are willing to stand.
10c. A Special General Meeting. The Committee of the Society 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. All Members must be advised in writing 21 days prior to the date of the Special General Meeting
11.Society Rules
The rules of the Society 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 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 Society’s Annual General Meeting.
12.Maintenance of Title Fee.
The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year the Maintenance of title Fee shall 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 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.
13.Matters of Dispute.
The Kennel Club shall be the final court of appeal all matters of dispute.
14.Federation of Societies/Clubs
The Society shall not join any federation of societies or clubs.
15.Members List
The Society will comly with the general Data Protection Regulation introduced in 2018. The Society shall make a list of Members and their addresses and follow the principles of the General Data protection Regulation. The number of members will be sent to the Kennel Club with the annual returns.
16.Responsibility of the Society
The Society takes no responsibility for members, visitors or dogs.
17.Bitches in Season
In fairness to all Members It is regretted that no bitch when in season can be accepted for training.
18.Proof of Inoculation
All Members shall show a proof of the dog’s inoculations when subscriptions are first paid and when renewed.
19.Dog Insurance
All dogs must have third party Insurance. The insurance carried by the Society covers this when dogs are training.
20.Life Membership
The Committee shall have the power to appoint a Member to Life Membership on merit.
21.Undischarged Bankrupts
No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other office within a Kennel Club Registered Society.