NORTH OF ENGLAND BEARDED COLLIE CLUB CONSTITUTION & RULES

TITLE & OBJECTS
1. The Club shall be known as The North of England Bearded Collie Club. The Club shall promote the welfare of the Bearded Collie, supporting shows and doing all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the Breed.

CONSTITUTION
2. The Club shall conduct and manage its affairs generally in accordance with these rules.
3. The Financial Year of the Club shall run from January 1st to December 31st in each year inclusive.
4. The Club shall comprise (a) Members, (b) Honorary Life Members (c) A Committee of Management, (d) Officers.
These shall be defined as:-
A Members – Candidates for election to Membership shall make written application to the Membership co-ordianator of the Club on the forms provided. The power of election shall rest with the Committee who may accept or refuse to elect to Membership any application without assigning a reason for doing so. Membership shall not be open to any person already banned by the Kennel Club (for any reason) and/or having been convicted by any court of cruelty or other abuse of animals of any kind.
Membership may be held individually or jointly by not more than two persons. Any person under the age of 18 years may join the Club as a Junior Member either jointly or individually but as such shall not be entitled to any voting rights in the Club. The number of members shall be unlimited.
The expression `Member’ employed herein shall include Committee Members and Officers.
B. Honorary Life Members - A person may be elected an Honorary Life Member at the AGM on recommendation of the Committee, in recognition of outstanding service to the Club. Notice of a proposal to elect an Honorary Life Member shall appear on the Agenda for the AGM. Honorary Life Members shall have all the rights and privileges of membership but shall not be liable to pay subscriptions.
C. Committee of Management. - The members shall elect a Committee of twelve of their number who thereafter shall undertake the general management of the Club. Any member in Good Standing (as hereinafter defined) and aged 18 or over shall be eligible for nomination to the Committee, and appointment shall be by election as hereinafter provided.
D. Officers. - The members shall appoint as Officers of the Club: Patrons, a President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, all in manner as hereinafter provided, and all of whom shall engage in and assist in the management of the Club as necessary and within the terms and provisions hereinafter set out.
5. The property of the Club shall be vested in the Committee. In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, the Committee shall call a General Meeting (as hereinafter defined) to decide upon the disposal of assets and resolution of all other matters relating to the Club’s affairs at the time. A final statement of accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Society shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months of dissolution and it should be acknowledged that those persons named as Officers and Committee of the Club at the time of dissolution will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Society.
6. An account or accounts with any Clearing Bank or Building Society shall be opened in the name of and thereafter conducted on behalf of the Club, and all revenues shall be paid into such account or accounts. Any funds to be withdrawn shall only be drawn by those appointed as Authorised Signatories of the account or accounts by the Committee.
The signatories shall number three and shall comprise the Treasurer and any two other Committee Members or Officers with full voting rights. Any two of the three Authorised Signatories may sign for and obtain withdrawals on behalf of the Club, provided always that one of them is the Treasurer. Similarly, accounts shall be opened and conducted on behalf of the club with respect to Welfare and the Breed Stand. Any two of the Authorised Signatories of these two accounts may sign for and obtain withdrawals on behalf of the club provided that one of them is the current administrator of the account.
7. All accounts of the Club shall be kept and maintained by the Treasurer on behalf of the Committee and Officers, and the Committee and Officers shall be responsible to the Club therefore.
8. An independent Accountant shall be appointed by the Club at it’s Annual General Meeting each year for the purpose of ``Certification’’ of the Accounts. If the Accountant Appointed is not a Chartered or Certified Accountant, or otherwise properly qualified for the duty of ``Certification’’ then a second Accountant must also be appointed to act in conjunction with the first in that capacity. ``Certification’’ of the Accounts for the year ended shall be effected and completed before and the Accounts presented at the next ensuing AGM. The Committee shall be empowered by these rules to fix the remuneration of the Accountant (or Accountants) as appropriate.

APPOINTMENT, ELECTIONS AND GENERAL PROVISION:
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE.
9. 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.
10 Officers.
A. Patrons.
Patrons of the Club shall be retiring former Presidents of the Club. The appointment to Patron shall occur automatically on the retirement of any President, and need not otherwise be ratified. No person shall however be compelled to accept such appointment, and need not accept should they so choose.
B. President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer
Any member in good standing and aged 18 or over may seek or accept Nomination for anyone only of these positions, at any one time, and in manner hereinafter provided.
11. Committee
The Committee of Management shall comprise any 12 Members of the Club, all in goodstanding and aged 18 or over and elected in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set out.
12. Elections
A. Frequency & Extent
1). All elections will be held and all appointments made at the AGM of the Club. All elective terms shall be a maximum of three years, with the natural exception of Patrons. All elections shall be conducted by a paper ballot of all members present and eligible to vote and such election shall in all cases be carried by a simple majority.
2). All other Officers and Committee shall be elected triennially, and elections shall be held in strict rotation to better ensure continuity, and as follows:-
(a) Election for President and Chairman shall be held at the AGM of 1992, and every three years thereafter.
(b) Elections for Vice-Chairman and Secretary shall be held at the AGM of 1991 and every three years thereafter.
(c) Election for Treasurer shall be held at the AGM of 1990 and every three years thereafter.
(d) Four Committee members (or pro-rata, such number as shall represent in total one third of the actual standing number of the committee at the time, being less than twelve overall) shall retire annually. Such retirements shall begin at the AGM of 1990, and continue during 1991 and 1992, and shall be of those persons whose existing tenures of office shall (under previous rules of the Club) expire in accordance naturally. From 1990 on Committee Members shall be elected in accordance with this provision for a term of three years each, and in that rotation thereafter. All such retiring Committee Members shall be eligible for re-election, provided they are not otherwise excluded there from as may be ascertained from these rules or otherwise.
B. Nominations
1) All vacancies arising in the Constitution of the Club, whether by effluxion of time, as provided above, or by any other reason, may be filled at the next ensuing AGM. All vacancies for such posts shall be advertised in the Club Journal or by other circular to all members published not less than 28 days prior to the appropriate AGM, and the reasons for the vacancy described. Vacancies occurring due to early retirement or other reason shall only create a vacancy for the balance of the term originally elected.
2) Any person seeking to fill a vacancy shall, not less than 14 days before the appropriate AGM, deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Secretary a Notice in writing (in any form which may from time to time be prescribed by the Committee) of his/her intention to seek election to such post.
3) The Notice shall define: (a) the position sought (b) the full name and address of the Nominee (c) a confirmation that the Nominee is not excluded from the post for any reason, and (d) a confirmation that the member is in good standing.
4) The Notice shall be signed by the Nominee to indicate acceptance of Nomination, and countersigned by not less than two other members of the Club in good standing in support of and to cause the Nomination.
C. Voting
Each Committee Member shall be entitled to the exercise of one vote at Committee Meetings. This limit shall not be exceeded, even where a Committee Member holds more than one post on Committee. For the purposes of this rule, the Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be deemed to be full Committee Members and accordingly entitled to the exercise of one vote each at Committee Meetings. Patrons and the President may attend Committee Meetings if they so wish, and act in an advisory capacity, but shall not be entitled to, nor seek to exercise, a vote at such meetings in any way whatsoever. The Chairman of any meetings shall not be entitled to the exercise of any vote, other than a casting vote, which may be made only in the event of an otherwise tied Committee vote on any matter. Any Committee Member or Officer having an interest in any particular matter the subject of a vote, must declare an interest in the debate before a vote is taken. In such event, the declaring Member or Officer will abstain from the vote though not the debate.
D. Co-option
During the continuance of any Committee year, should vacancies properly arise on the Committee itself, then a member or members may be co-opted by the Committee to fill such vacancies. In addition, should the Committee deem it necessary, and number less in total than twelve at a time, it may co-opt any other of the Club as a temporary Committee Member.
Co-option shall only be effected in such instance where it is perceived that need has arisen for a particular duty or purpose not otherwise capable of being undertaken by an existing Committee Member or Officer, and the Committee must not so act unless they have already by vote, established that such need has arisen, and cannot otherwise be accommodated or stood over until the next ensuing AGM, when a normal election can be pursued. Any person co-opted in accordance with this Rule shall serve only until the next ensuing AGM in any event, but shall thereafter be eligible for Nomination and election in the normal way, but only for such a term as may properly coincide with the triennial rotations previously described. No co-option however, for whatever cause, shall be effected should this then cause the number of the Committee to exceed twelve in all.
13. Committee Meetings
These shall be held periodically, and as often as necessary for the proper conduct of the affairs of the Club. They shall be covened by the agreement of the Committee at a previous Committee Meeting, and at a time and place agreed to where necessary by a majority of the Committee at that time. A quorum for a Committee Meeting shall not be less than 6 Committee Members, exclusive of the Officers, or pro-rata according to the actual standing number of the full Committee at the time. In addition to its normal meetings as previously described, the Committee may meet on occasion of a special need. Any such meeting may be convened where deemed necessary by any two of the Officers, or at the request of 4 or more of the Committee Members. Where half or more of the Committee request such a meeting, the Chairman shall in any event call such a meeting in exercise of this rule, by Notice from the Secretary to the full Committee and Officers. The Committee may if it so wishes appoint from its then current members one or more Sub-Committees to deal with, act or advise upon any particular matter as the full Committee consider more appropriate to be so dealt with. All or any such Sub-Committee shall have no powers other than that of Report to the full Committee who may or may not act on such report as it sees fit.
14. Attendance and Conduct at Committee Meetings
A. Conduct of Committee Meetings shall be in the hands of a Chairman. In the normal course this shall be the Chairman of the Club, or in his absence, the Vice-Chairman. If neither of them is present then the meeting may elect for itself for that occasion a Chairman so to act. In such event the appointed Chairman shall not exercise any vote other than a Chairman’s casting vote as previously described.
B. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and all Committee Members shall attend all Committee Meetings. In circumstances where an Officer or Committee Member finds it impossible for him/her to attend any particular meeting, he/she must, by tender of apology, advise the Secretary of his/her intended absence. Any Officer (other than the Patrons or President) or Committee Member who fail to attend 6 Committee Meetings (of whatever kind) in any one year shall automatically cease to be an Officer and/or Committee Member, and shall forthwith resign, or may be deemed to have done so. For the purpose of this Rule, a Committee Meeting may be deemed by the Committee to be in addition to any normal Committee Meetings all or any functions or other meetings of the Club, including its shows and events.
C. To take account of all circumstances however, the Committee reserves the right nevertheless to hear all explanations for absence as aforesaid which may be tendered formally to it at a Committee Meeting by any such defaulting Committee Member and review the situation in the light thereof. This provision however may not be taken by any person to create a natural or automatic indulgence for any party who may be subject to the foregoing, and in any case of dispute or doubt the provisions as to resignations hereinbefore set out shall prevail.
D. All Officers and Committee Members undertake to the Club that they will act acceptably and responsibly at all meetings, shows and events held by the Club and at all Committee Meetings. Any Committee Member acting improperly on such occasion(s) will be asked by the Chairman to correct forthwith any such unacceptable behaviour and if he/she then fails to do so may be named by the Chairman to all other Committee Members present at the time, and, with the concurrence of the then present Committee shall require the defaulting Committee Member to forthwith leave the current meeting, event, show or Committee Meeting and take no further part therein. In the event of failure by such defaulting member to comply with this requirement he/she may be required by the Committee to resign, but subject always to the reservation set out in (c) above.
E. No Committee Member or Officer (except as hereafter provided) shall hold more than one duty at any one time, except in special need or emergency as defined as such by the full Committee and as may arise from time to time.
F. The Vice-Chairman of the Club only shall deputise for any Committee duty which may become vacant at any time for any reason and until a formal replacement is made by Full Committee by ballot, such ballot to be effected as soon as possible after the vacancy arises.

MEMBERSHIP
15. A member shall be in Good Standing with the Club by payment of an annual subscription fee. The rate of subscription shall be set at each AGM by open Ballot of the meeting, but shall not be less than £5.00 for Single membership, £7.00 for joint membership, £2.00 for Junior membership, £10.00 for Single Overseas membership, & £12.00 for Joint Overseas membership. Payment of subscriptions falls due on 1st January in each year, and must be paid to the Treasurer not later than 31st January in that year to maintain Good Standing of the member. If payment is not made by any member by that date then his/her/their membership shall cease forthwith, and such former member shall have no further right or interest of any kind in the affairs of the Club.
15a. Annual Returns must include a list of Members names and addresses. K.C Regulation C.4.a.(1)(b)(v)
16. Any member who is convicted by any Court of cruelty to animals of any kind shall thereon automatically cease to be a member of the Club.
17. 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(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 be injurious or likely to be injurious to the interest of character of the Club then it 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 shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him or 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 that meeting that he or she may attend and offer explanation. If at that meeting, a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, his or her name shall forthwith be erased from the list of members, and he or she shall thereupon cease for all purpose to be a member of the Club except that he or she may, within 2 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.
18. In the event of cessation of membership as described in (15) and (16) above, all or any unexpired subscription previously paid by the former member shall be forfeit, and he/she shall not be entitled to the return of any donation (of any kind) previously made or given by him/her to the Club.
GENERAL MEETING
19. An Annual General Meeting shall be held prior to 24th March wherever possible for the following purposes:
A. To receive the report of the Committee (and of its Sub-Committees (if any)) and the Accounts and Balance Sheet of the Club.
B. To elect and/or re-elect members of the Committee and its Officers in the manner set out in these Rules as necessary.
C. To discuss any resolution placed on the Agenda of the Meeting (but provided only that prior notice thereof has been given to the Secretary in manner hereinafter specified).
D. To elect and appoint an Accountant or Accountants as hereinbefore set out.
20. No other business of the Club shall be transacted at the AGM unless notice has been given and such business appears on the Agenda as aforesaid, except matters of a routine nature or those which, in the opinion of the Chairman of the Meeting, shall be deemed to be of sufficient merit to warrant discussion by and/or action by the Committee. All elections of Officers and Committee as may be necessary shall be conducted as previously set out herein.
21. All items of business for an Agenda and all nominations for the Committee and/or Officers of the Club must be delivered to the Secretary at least 14 days prior to the meeting to which they relate and any such items or nominations as aforesaid shall not be accepted otherwise. It shall be the sole responsibility of the person intending to deliver such item or nomination as aforesaid to ensure its receipt and the Secretary, Officers and Committee shall not be responsible for any loss or non-delivery thereof.
22. Members of the Club shall be entitled to receive at least 4 weeks notice of a General Meeting and the Committee shall have discretion to give such notice by advertisement in the publications `Our Dogs’ and/or `Dog World’ (but such notice shall be published at least 4 weeks prior to the date of that Meeting). A written Agenda for any Meeting notified as aforesaid shall be circulated by the Secretary to the Members by normal post at least seven days prior to the Meeting to which it relates.
23. Where necessary the Committee may call a Special General Meeting. Such Special General Meeting may only be called where at least 25 Members of the Club in good Standing deliver a signed Requisition to the Secretary specifying the business to be discussed. It shall be the responsibility of the Requisitioning Members to ensure delivery of such Requisition to the Secretary who may thereafter call a Special General Meeting in the manner hereinbefore set out, except that no business other than that causing the Special General Meeting to be called may be discussed at such Special General Meeting.
24. The Rules of the Club shall not be altered or amended except by a General Meeting (either Annual or Special) properly called and held in accordance hereof and no amendment or alteration to the Rules caused by such General Meeting shall be enforced until the Kennel Club has been advised of and has approved such amendments or alteration.
GENERAL
25. No expense shall be incurred by the Officers or Committee beyond the funds of the Club. Any application for guaranteeing classes shall come before the Committee for approval. The Kennel Club shall be the final Court of Appeal in all matters of dispute.
26. The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
27. The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year 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 together with a list of current Offices and Committee with their addresses and telephone numbers as well as a list of members and their addresses. 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 officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of the month in which the Society’s Annual General Meeting is held and to notify the Kennel Club of any subsequent amendments to that date.
28. The Society will make a list of members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by the members of the Society.
29. Officers and Committee of the NEBCC shall be responsible for the selection of judges at NEBCC Licensed events as defined in the Club's Standing Orders.
30. Any person wishing to make a complaint relating to any matter, must do so in writing to the secretary, for consideration by the committee. The complaint must be lodged within six months from the date on which the matter arose. The complaint shall be signed by the complainant, state the grounds of the complaint and contain in summary form, the material facts on which the complainant relies, including the date and place of the matters complained of. Identify the names and addresses of supporting witnesses (if any) and be supported by signed statements from such supporting witnesses.
31. The club maintains a list of puppies for placing which is available to members of at least twelve months standing. In respect of this facility, breeding stock must be hip scored.

NORTH OF ENGLAND BEARDED COLLIE CLUB
K C GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS

All members of the North of England Bearded Collie Club undertake to abide by its general Code of Ethics.

Club members:

1) Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.

2) Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon performing an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, may report such operation to the Kennel Club.

3) Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.

4) Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.

5) Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.

6) Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.

7) Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.

8) Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.

9) Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.

10) Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change.

11) Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.

12) Will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available.

13) Will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind. Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as stand alone items (not accompanying a dog).

14) Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.

Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.

KC/GJ September 2008