- NAME AND OBJECTS
The Club shall be called “The Agility Club” and its objects shall be to promote the interests of the Agility Community
To concern itself with the safety and well being of dogs and people participating in Agility. To advise its members of current and forthcoming events, plus sound practices within the sport. To support new participants in agility and recognise the achievements and contributions of those who provide and promote agility at grassroots level. To uphold general Kennel Club regulations, in particular those for Agility Tests.
- OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
The Club shall consist of Honorary Chairperson, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, a Committee of up to ten and an unlimited number of members.
The management of the Club shall be in the hands of the following officers of the club Honorary Chairperson, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and a Committee of up to ten members. Each officer/committee member can serve for 36 months, they must then stand for re-election at the next AGM.
The Club may also elect an ambassador. Any person elected in General Meeting as ambassador may also stand for election to the Committee providing he/she is a fully paid up member of the Club and has been so for at least 12 months.
The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to The Kennel Club whether by the Secretary or by direct Debit, for continuance of registration and that by 31st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in The Kennel Club Regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies, 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 club which may occur during the course of the year.
Other Club Members may also be nominated and all nominations will close 30 days prior to the AGM.
Should the number of nominees exceed the number of vacancies for the Committee the election shall be decided by ballot by those members present at the AGM.
The Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall be ex-officio members of the Committee who shall appoint them for 36 months and have the same full voting rights as the elected Committee Members.
The Committee will appoint their Chairman at the first Committee meeting following the AGM. The Chairman shall have a casting vote to be used at their discretion. Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary but at least every 3 months and 5 shall form a Quorum for the transaction of business.
There shall be no more than one Officer residing at the same address.
The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members on to the Committee in the event of positions becoming vacant, or deemed necessary in 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 have voting rights at committee meetings.
No individual may be elected on to the Committee unless they have been a paid up member for the 6 months prior to their election to the committee.
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.
- ELECTION OF MEMBERS
Candidates for membership shall be accepted on payment of subscription. New members are accepted at the discretion of the Committee upon payment of fees
- SUBSCRIPTIONS
The annual subscriptions shall be such sum as agreed by Members in General Meetings, payable to the Hon. Treasurer. Membership shall be for a period of twelve months from the date the subscription is received by the Hon. Treasurer.
No Member whose subscription is unpaid shall be entitled to any privileges of membership, and if the member allows their membership to lapse for 3 months or more his/her name shall be automatically erased from the register. Acceptance back on the register will be dependent upon a new application
- VOTING & VOTING RIGHTS
Each member shall be entitled to one vote after two months of membership. Voting rights for family members shall be one vote for each member of the.family who are listed on the membership.
Postal votes/Proxy votes are not allowed in General meetings.
The method by which voting at General Meetings shall be conducted will be decided by the majority of members present at the meeting.
The General Meetings may be held online but must meet the requirements of notification as stipulated above.
- CLUB PROPERTY IN THE EVENT OF WINDING UP
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 clubs assets and the outcome of the meeting notified to the Kennel Club.
In the event of the Club being wound up or ceasing to be a registered society under KC regulations, a final statement of accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Club shall be forwarded to The Kennel Club within six months and the persons named as Officers and Committee of the Club, will be held responsible by The Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Club.
7.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 club. If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the committee of the club, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the society, the committee of the club 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 thereupon cease for all purposes to be a member of the club 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
- GENERAL BUSINESS & AGM
The Financial Year of the Club shall be from 1st November to 31st October. The Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of February or March for the following purpose: To receive the report of the Committee and Balance Sheet. To conduct a ballot for vacant Committee places. The 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.
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 are urgent. A quorum for General Meetings shall be as decided by the members present at the meeting.
A minimum of 14 days notice will be given of an Annual General Meeting and, notice of such meetings to be given to members by email to the email address registered. Agenda items should be forwarded up to 7 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. The Agenda for such Meetings will be circulated to members a minimum of 5 days before the date of the meeting.
The Rules of the Club shall not be altered except at a General Meeting or Special General Meeting, the Agenda for which contains specific proposals to amend the rules. Such alterations shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and has given its approval of the alterations.
New Rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements shall be adopted immediately and be included in the Constitution with effect from the AGM.
Any member of the Club who wishes to seek the Committee’s recommendation should write to the Secretary clearly and concisely stating the proposal.
Two other members acting as seconds should countersign the proposal. All three parties names should be clearly stated and none should be related or domiciled at the same address.
The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Society in all cases relative to Club matters.
The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
9.SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the secretary if 200 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
A minimum of 21 days notice is required for a Special General Meeting which will be given to members by email to the email address registered post. The quorum for an SGM is 20 members.
10.REPRESENTING THE CLUB
Members may not represent the Club in any capacity without the prior written permission of the Committee.
- LIST OF MEMBERS
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 society. A declaration of the number of members of the society must be made with annual returns.
- MINUTES OF MEETINGS
Copies of approved Committee Meeting Minutes, to a maximum of the last six meetings, to be made available to Agility Club members.
Application to be in writing only to the Secretary, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope. At the Annual General Meeting the Secretary shall make available for perusal by any Agility Club member, copies of approved Minutes of the Committee Meetings, which have taken place since the previous AGM. These copies may not be removed from the Secretary’s safekeeping.
- CLUB ACCOUNTS
That a Banking Account be opened in the name of the Club into which all revenue of the Club shall be paid
Withdrawal of amounts of £999 or less will be permitted by the Hon. Treasurer. £1000 or over must have additional written approval from either the Hon.Secretary or the Chairperson.
The Accounts shall be kept by the Treasurer, and shall be audited by an independent professional accountant/auditor who shall be appointed at each Annual General Meeting for the ensuing year, and presented to the members at the Annual General meeting. Certification of accounts must be carried out by one qualified accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience, who are independent of the committee
- SUBSCRIPTIONS
The annual subscription shall be such amount as agreed by members in general meeting and notified to the Kennel Club.” Consideration should be given to the inclusion of the following rule:- “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 by (give date) 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.” NOTE: Once members have been accepted for membership, and providing they continue to pay their membership subscriptions by the deadline, they cannot be refused renewal of membership. With the exception of default on subscriptions, the only way to remove a member from the Society’s register is by following the procedure defined in paragraph 10 of this guide
- KENNEL CLUB FINAL AUTHORITY
The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the rules of the society in all cases relative to canine or club matters
Updated March 2024