Club Constitution

Revised August 2021

1. TITLE

The Society shall be known as the “Cheshire, North Wales and Shropshire Retriever and Spaniel Society” and its object is to encourage the breeding of Retrievers and Spaniels and to develop and bring to perfection their natural qualities. If practical, separate Field Trials shall be held annually for Retrievers and Spaniels. Such Trials will be run according to the Rules of the Kennel Club.

2. OFFICERS AND COMMITEE

The Society shall consist of a President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and a Committee not exceeding eleven members and an unlimited number of members.

The management of the Society shall be in the hands of the Committee all of whom shall be eligible for re-election after two years. Meeting of the Committee shall be held as often as may be necessary and five shall form a quorum for the transaction of business. Committee members who attend less than half of meetings held in their period of office shall not be eligible for re-election.    

The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year Maintenance of Title fee shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club for the continuance of registration and that by the 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. 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.

No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club affiliated organisation.

Candidates for election to the Committee must be proposed and seconded by current members of the Society

3. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting shall be held as near as convenient to the last week in March for the following purposes:

  1. To receive the Committee’s Reports and Accounts, to elect Officers and members of the Committee
  2. 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 of the Meeting are urgent.
  3. The election of the Officers and Committee at the Annual General Meeting shall be either by vote or ballot of those at the Meeting.

A special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Hon. Secretary if twelve Members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed, no business other than the matter on the Agenda may be discussed at a Special General Meeting.

Members will receive 14 days’ notice of a General Meeting.

4. SUBSCRIPTIONS/MEMBERSHIP

The annual subscription shall be such amount as agreed by Members in General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club, payable to the Hon. Treasurer on the 1st February each year.

No member whose subscription is unpaid shall be entitled to any of the privileges of membership and if any member shall fail to pay their annual subscription by the 31st March the committee shall have the power to erase their name from the list of Members, but if the Committee shall subsequently receive a satisfactory explanation the member may at the discretion of the Committee and on the payment of arrears, be re-admitted to Membership.

An up to date list of members and their addresses must be maintained and, if so requested, be made available for inspection by the Kennel Club and Members of the Society. A declaration of the number of Members of the Society must be made with the Annual Returns.

Candidates for membership shall be proposed and seconded by existing members of the Society and accepted upon payment of subscription and joining fee.

5. ACCOUNTS

A bank account will be held in the name of Cheshire, North Wales and Shropshire Retriever and Spaniel Society. Withdrawals to be made upon the signatures of two Officers of the Society, one of which is the Honorary Treasurer.

The financial year of the Society shall be from the 1st February to the 31st January.

The Annual Accounts will be certified annually and presented to Members at the Annual General Meeting.

A copy of the Annual Accounts will be available on request to members 14 days prior to the AGM.

6. RULES

The Rules of the Society shall not be altered except at a General Meeting. Any alternations to the Rules shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and given approval to the alternations.

7. DISSOLUTION

The property of the Society shall be vested in the Committee and in the event of the Society ceasing to exist a general meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of any assets.

8. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

Any Member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A11j(5) or A11j(9)shall cease to be a Member of the Society. 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 interest 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 a 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 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 purpose to be a Member of the Society 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 condition as the Kennel Club may impose.

If the Society expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, trials or competitions, the matter will be reported in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.

  1. The Kennel Club shall be the final Court of Appeal on all matters of dispute.
  2. The Society shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs