Club Rules

updated August 2023

1. NAME & OBJECTS

The Society shall be called The East Midland Bulldog Club, and its objects shall be to promote the interest of Bulldogs, particularly in the area of the East Midlands, and to encourage the breeding, exhibiting and judging of the Standard Bulldog.

2. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE OF THE CLUB

The Society shall consist of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and a Committee of up to fourteen (14), and an unlimited number of members with no residential restriction. The positions of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by one person.

3. COMMITTEE

The management of the Society shall be in the hands of the following officers of the Club: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and a committee consisting of up to fourteen (14) members.

Officers and Committee shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election at the AGM.

All officers and committee shall have full voting rights at committee and general meetings and the Chairman shall have the casting vote in the event of a tie.

Meetings of the committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary but at least one every six months. Any committee member failing to attend three consecutive meetings and/or shows shall be deemed to have resigned from the committee.

A quorum for committee meetings shall be seven (7).

The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members on to the Committee in the event of positions becoming vacant between general meetings. Those co-opted shall only hold office until the next general meeting of the Club at which an election of officers and committee takes place. Co-opted committee members shall not have voting rights at committee meetings.

No individual who has been a member for less than one year may be elected on to the committee.

4. ELECTION OF MEMBERS

Candidates for membership shall be accepted at a Committee meeting proposed by one existing fully paid up committee member, and seconded by another and accepted on payment of subscription.

The committee shall approve membership applications by a show of hands provided the applicant secures a majority cast vote.

5. MEMBERS LIST

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

6. VOTING RIGHTS

Each member shall be entitled to one vote immediately upon acceptance of membership.

Postal votes are not allowed.

Voting shall be decided by majority at a meeting.

Honorary Life Members shall have a vote.

Joint membership entitles each person to one vote.

7. CLUB PROPERTY

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.

8. CLUB ACCOUNTS

(a) A banking account shall be held in the name of the Club at Lloyds Bank.

into which all revenue of the Society shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signatures of Treasurer, Chairman, Secretary with a minimum of two signatures.

(b) Accounts will be certified annually and presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting. The certified accounts must be made available to members 14 days prior to the AGM.

NOTE: Certification of accounts must be carried out by one qualified accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience, who are independent of the committee.

9. SUBSCRIPTIONS

The annual subscription shall be such amount as agreed by members in general meeting and notified to the Kennel Club. Subscriptions shall be due on the 1st January and shall run to 31st December.

No member whose subscription is unpaid is entitled to any of the privileges of membership and if the member shall fail to pay outstanding subscriptions within three months of the 1st January his/her name shall be automatically erased from the register. Acceptance back on the register will be dependent upon a new application and payment of arrears.

10. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

Any member who shall be disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A11.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 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 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 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 there upon 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.

11. FINANCIAL YEAR/ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

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

The Annual General Meeting shall be held within three months of the end of the financial year (31st December).

12. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

An Annual General Meeting will be held each year to receive the report of the Officers, Committee and balance sheet, to elect Officers and Committee and to discuss any resolution duly placed on the agenda of which prior notice has been given to the 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 Chairman of the meeting are urgent.

Notice of the Annual General Meeting will be announced on the society’s website, and in the canine press one month prior.

Fourteen (14) days notice is required for any inclusion to be placed on the agenda for the AGM and must be sent to the Secretary.

The Agenda will be circulated at the meeting.

Ten (10) members of the Club shall constitute a quorum.

12A. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING (SGM)

A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the secretary if ten(10) or more members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and voted upon and requesting a Special General Meeting to do so. 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. The secretary shall give fourteen (14) days notice and within twenty one (21) days of receipt of such request. All members shall be notified in writing.

13. AMENDMENTS TO 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 alteration. New rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements shall be adopted immediately.

14. 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 31st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club Regulations for the registration and maintenance of title of societies / 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 change of secretary of the society which may occur during the course of the year.

15. KENNEL CLUB FINAL AUTHORITY

The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the rules of the Club in all cases relative to canine or society matters.

16. The Society shall not join any federation of societies or clubs.

17. 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.

18. JUDGES LISTS

Judges shall be chosen from the Bulldog Breed Council’s A1, A2, A3, B and C lists, or the Kennel Club JEP equivalent.

Judges shall be selected at a committee meeting with a proposer and seconder for each name. These names shall go forward to the Annual General Meeting for voting.

• Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if, and when required
• Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon who performs an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, or who carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report such operations to The Kennel Club
• Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the breed standard should be placed in suitable homes
• Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act
• Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally
• Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed
• Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties
• Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home
• Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited
• Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the rehoming of a dog if the initial circumstances change
• Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home
• 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
• 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)
• 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