Rules and Regulations of the club
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Name and Constitution
The name of the Club shall be NORTHUMBERLAND & DURHAM LABRADOR CLUB, its objectives being:
To encourage the breeding of true, healthy Labradors and to encourage the use of recognized Kennel Club health schemes
To protect the type of Labrador that has proved itself so eminently for gundog work
To encourage Field Trials and Shows and to ensure, where possible, qualified Judges are chosen
To help and encourage all owners, particularly those who are new and inexperienced, to seek advice in good management, training and all aspects of Labrador ownership
Officers and Committee
The club shall consist of a President, up to five Honorary Life Members, a Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Field Trial Secretary and a Committee of 12
There will be both a Show Sub-Committee and Field Trial Sub-Committee consisting of the Officers and up to 12 elected Members
Membership shall be unlimited
Management
The management of the Club shall be in the hands of the Officers (who shall retire annually) and Committee (4 of whom shall retire annually on a three year rotation)
Officers and Committee members will be eligible for re-election
The Chairman shall have the casting vote
Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as is deemed necessary
A quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be 14
A quorum for Committee Meetings shall be 7
In the event of positions becoming vacant between General Meetings the Committee shall have the power to co-opt members onto the Committee. Those co-opted shall only hold office until the next General Meeting at which an election takes place
No individual who has been a member for less than one year may be elected to the Committee
Election of Members
Candidates for membership shall be proposed by one existing member, seconded by another and will be accepted by a majority vote of the Committee in a ballot
Membership List
The Secretary will keep a list of members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by the members of the Society or the Kennel Club The Club undertakes to send a list of all members and their addresses to the Kennel Club with the Annual Returns N.B. In accordance with the Data Protection Act (1984) members are advised that their membership details are now kept on a computer database. Members may request that their details are not kept in this manner
Voting Rights
Each member shall be entitled to 1 vote after three months as a member
Joint members shall be entitled to 1 vote each
Postal votes/proxy votes are not allowed
Junior memberships will be accepted under age 18 years without voting rights. However, those 16 years and over may choose to pay full membership and have full voting rights
Club Property
The 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 assets and the outcome of the meeting notified to the Kennel Club
Cups and trophies will only be accepted on the understanding they are outright gifts to the Club
Cups and trophies will only be entrusted to FULLY paid up members
Club Accounts
A bank account shall be held in the name of The Northumberland and Durham Labrador Retriever Club at the National Giro Bank into which all revenue of the Society shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall be made on the signatures of any two of the four signatories
The Accounts will be certified annually and presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting
N.B. Certification of Accounts must be carried out by 1 qualified Accountant or 2 unqualified individuals with accountancy experience
Subscriptions
The annual subscriptions (joint and single) shall be such a price as decided at the Annual General Meeting. Junior membership shall be half that of a single member
Subscriptions shall be due on the 1st January each year
No member whose subscription is unpaid is entitled to any privileges of membership and if the member fails to pay outstanding subscriptions by 31st March his/her name shall be automatically erased from the register. Acceptance back on the register will be dependant upon a new application
Expulsion of Members
Any member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club rule A42j(4) and/or any member whose dog/s is/are disqualified under Kennel Club rule A42j(4) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the Society for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification
If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Society be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Society, the Committee of the Society may, at a meeting, the notice of 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 that he/she may attend and offer an explanation. If, at the meeting, a resolution to expel is passed by a 2/3rd majority of the members present and voting, his/her name shall forthwith be erased from the list of members. He/she may, within two calendar months from the date of such of meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions as the Kennel Club may impose
If the Club expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, shows, trials or competitions, the club must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within 7 days and supply any particulars required
Financial Year/Annual General Meeting
The Financial Year of the Society shall be from the 1st January to 31st December
The Annual General Meeting shall be held in either March or April
a Annual General Meeting
The purpose of the meeting is to receive the report of the Committee and Balance Sheet, to elect Officers 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 at the A.G.M. 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
Notice of the A.G.M./S.G.M. will be published in Dog World/Our Dogs and in writing to all members
Items for inclusion on the agenda shall reach the Secretary no later than 14 days before the meeting N.B. A provisional agenda will be circulated with the notice of the A.G.M. and any items received before 31st January in any year will be included in the provisional agenda.
ALL committee proposals will also be included in this provisional agenda. The agenda will be finalised 10 days prior to the meeting. Anyone requiring a copy before the meeting will be sent one on request
b Special General Meeting
A S.G.M. shall be summoned by the Hon. Secretary if 6 members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a S.G.M. to do so. The Committee of the Society is also empowered to call a S.G.M.
No business other than that detailed on the agenda may be discussed at a S.G.M.
The method of convening and notifying members of a S.G.M. shall be as in 12a b (above)
Amendments to Rules
The rules of the Society may not be altered except at a General Meeting, the agenda 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 and amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements shall be adopted immediately and be included in the Club’s Constitution with effect from the date of the Club’s A.G.M.
Annual Returns to the Kennel Club
The Officers acknowledge that during the first month of the year, maintenance of title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Hon. Secretary for continuance of registration and that by 31st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club regulations for the maintenance of title of societies be forwarded to the Kennel Club
The Officers 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
Kennel Club Final Court of Appeal
The Kennel Club shall be the final court of appeal in all matters of dispute
Affiliation to Other Clubs
The Society shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs
Bankruptcy
No person whilst an undischarged Bankrupt may serve on the Committee of, or hold any office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society
Judges Lists
The Club will use for its A1, A2, A3 and B judging lists, the Breed Council Judging Lists and criteria, and may, at their discretion, produce a supplement.
The B list contains the names of people who the Committee would support to judge at Limited and Open Show level. The minimum criteria for specialists being five years active involvement in the breed, a minimum of 10 classes or 50 dogs judged, attendance at one judging or educational seminar and a minimum of 2 stewarding sessions. Non-specialists who have shown a genuine interest in the breed and award C.C.s in their own breed/s will, at the Committee’s discretion be included in this list
The C list contains the names of people who the Committee would support to judge up to 5 classes at Limited and Open show level. Previous judging experience is not a pre requisite of this list however an active involvement in the breed, attendance at a teach-in seminar and both, dogs bred and owned will be taken into consideration by the Committee. Anyone who would like to be considered for the B or C Lists should apply to the Committee
N.B. If this Committee approve a request for inclusion on the B list the application will be passed on to the Breed Council for consideration. These lists will be circulated bi-annually to all local societies and on request