Lancashire Heeler Association Rules
1. NAME AND OBJECT
The Society shall be called The Lancashire Heeler Association and its objects shall be to promote and preserve the breed and to provide education and information on all aspects of this vulnerable native breed.
2. OFFICERS, COMMITTEE AND MEMBERSHIP
The Society shall consist of a President, a Chairman, an Honorary Secretary, an Honorary Treasurer, a Committee of not more than nine and an unlimited number of Members. The Officers and Committee will be elected at the Annual General Meeting by ballot of the Members either in person or by postal vote and will serve for three years, with one officer and three committee members retiring annually to maintain continuity. Nominations must be received by the Secretary at least twenty-one days before the date of the AGM. If an Officer or Committee Member retires or resigns for any reason, his/her position shall be filled by co-opting until the following AGM, when any person subsequently elected to fill that position shall only be elected for the remainder of the original Member's term before having to seek re-election. The Committee may also co-opt up to the maximum number of Committee Members who shall serve until the following AGM. A quorum for a Committee Meeting shall be three, one of whom shall be an Officer. The President shall have all the rights and privileges of membership but shall not be liable to pay membership subscriptions.
No person whilst an undisclosed bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society. Applications for membership of the Society shall be considered by the Committee who reserve the right to refuse any application. On payment of the annual subscription each Member will be entitled to one vote after one year’s membership. Voting shall be in person, or by postal vote. Membership subscriptions shall become due on 1st April each year, but any Member who joins after 1st January shall not be liable to rejoin until the following year. Subscription rates for the following year shall be decided at the AGM. Any Member whose subscription remains unpaid after 30th April shall cease to be a Member and will have to re-apply. An up to date list of Members and their addresses, and those of branch Members where appropriate, must be maintained and, if so requested, 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 Annual Returns.
3. FINANCES
The financial year of the Society shall be from 1st April to 31st March. 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 Officers, i.e. Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer. The accounts will be presented to Members at the Annual General Meeting after certification by a qualified accountant (or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience). The property of the Society shall be vested in the Committee. In the event of the Society ceasing to exist, a final General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of the Society's assets and the outcome of the meeting notified to the Kennel Club. A final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Society shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months. The persons named as Officers and Committee of the Society on the last return furnished to the Kennel Club will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Society. Any donations of cups or trophies are accepted by the Society on the understanding that they are given as outright gifts to the Society.
4. GENERAL MEETINGS
The AGM shall be held each year to receive the Annual Report and the Balance Sheet, to elect the Officers and Committee and to discuss any matters which appear on the Agenda. No business shall be conducted at the AGM unless notice of it appears on the Agenda, except routine matters, or those which in the opinion of the Chairman are urgent. Twenty-eight days notice shall be given to Members and items for inclusion on the Agenda should be received by the Secretary at least twenty-one days before the date of the AGM. The Agenda and Balance Sheet will be available at the AGM and will also be distributed to Members fourteen days before by email (or post if requested). Postal votes should be received by the Secretary at least seven days before the date of the AGM.
The Rules of the Society shall not be altered except at an AGM or a Special General Meeting (SGM), notice of which includes details of the proposal to alter the Rules. Any alterations to the Rules shall not be brought into force 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 AGM.
An SGM shall be summoned by the Secretary if twenty Members send a signed requisition to do so, stating the subject to be discussed. The Committee of the Society is also empowered to call an SGM. Notice stating the date, time, venue and proposed business must be received by Members not less than fourteen days prior to the date of the Meeting. No other business than that detailed on the Agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting.
5. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS
Any Member who shall be suspended under the Kennel Club Rule A42.j.(5) and/or any Member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42.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 Committee of the Society, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Society, the Committee 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 so 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 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, dog shows, trials or competitions, the Society must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.
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 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 so 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 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, dog shows, trials or competitions, the Society must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.
6. ANNUAL RETURNS TO THE KENNEL CLUB
The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, the Maintenance of Title Fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Secretary for continuance of Registration, and that by July 31st 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 shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club. The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any changes of Secretary which may occur during the course of the year.
7. JUDGING LISTS
The Committee shall appoint a Judges Sub Committee who shall compile a list of Judges who they would support to judge the breed at Limit, Open and Championship Shows, together with the criteria for inclusion on such lists, in accordance with the current requirements and regulations of the Kennel Club. Membership of the Society shall not be a prerequisite for inclusion on the lists. The lists shall be divided into five parts, namely A1, A2, A3, B and C and will expire on 31st March each year. Judges for Club Shows will be shortlisted by the Judges Sub Committee and voted for by the Committee.
8. CODE OF ETHICS
The Code of Ethics of the Kennel Club are incorporated in the Society's Rules.
The Society will not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Society in all cases relative to Canine or Society matters.
The Society will not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Society in all cases relative to Canine or Society matters.