Rules for the Cirneco dell'Etna Club
Cirneco dell’Etna Club Rules
1. Name and Objects
The Club shall be known as the ‘Cirneco dell’ Etna Club’ and its objects are to encourage and promote interest in the breed, and watch the breed's interests paying particular attention to the original function of the breed, the country of origin and its Breed Standard and to organise and support shows under the Kennel Club's Rules and Regulations.
2. Committee, Officers and Members
The Club shall consist of a President, Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer, all of whom shall be ex officio, and a Committee of up to five other members; together with an unlimited number of members
3. Management of the Club and Committee
a. The Committee
i.The management of the Club shall be in the hands of the Committee, as outlined above, all of whom must be residents of the UK.
ii.The Committee shall have the power to co-opt a member to work with them for any specific purpose including to bring the Committee to full strength. 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.
iii.The Committee has the power to delegate their authority for specific purposes to a subcommittee the members of which must all be members of the club.
iv.The remit for any subcommittee work must define the parameters within which the subcommittee should work and any time limits. Should time limits not be defined the work must be carried out within the current working year until the next AGM.
v.All such subcommittee work must be presented to the Committee who will make any final decisions.
b. Election of Officers and Committee.
i. The President, Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected at an AGM/SGM, whichever is appropriate, for a term of three years and will then retire automatically in rotation but be eligible for re-election. If there is more than one candidate for any ‘office’ an election shall, like that of the Committee, be by ballot of the members present, for that particular office.
ii. The members of the Committee other than the President, Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer as above, will be elected by the members of the club at an AGM/SGM whichever is appropriate for a term of two years. Half of the Committee members, apart from the President, Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, shall retire in alternate years in rotation but be eligible for re-election. (Each term of office is for two years, and therefore each Committee member fills the term of office accordingly).
iii. A candidate for the Committee must be a member of the Club for at least a full year’s standing and over from their date of acceptance and must be proposed and seconded by other members of the club of not less than one year’s standing and over from the date of their acceptance. Voting shall be by ballot of the members at the Annual General Meeting.
iv. A candidate for an Office must be a member of the Club for at least two full year’s standing and from their date of acceptance and must be proposed and seconded by other members of the club of not less than one year’s standing and over from the date of their acceptance. Voting shall be by ballot of the members at the Annual General Meeting.
v. Two consecutive absences from the Committee without reasonable written explanation to the Secretary shall constitute resignation.
vi. In the event of an equality of votes at any meeting, the Chairman of that meeting shall have a second casting vote.
c. Meetings of the Committee.
i. Meetings shall be convened as often as are deemed necessary but at least four times a year.
ii. Four shall form a quorum including two ex-officio members for the transaction of business.
iii. Notice of a Committee meeting with the agenda must be sent to all Committee members at least fourteen days before the meeting.
d. Powers of the Committee.
i. Rules and bylaws.
I. The Committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of these rules and of any of the bylaws made thereunder.
II. The decision of the Committee upon any question of interpretation or upon any matter affecting the Club and not provided for by these rules or by any bylaws made thereunder shall be final and binding on all members.
III. The Committee shall have the power to make such bylaws, which are consistent with these rules, from time to time as shall be deemed necessary for the welfare of the Club and such bylaws shall be binding on all members until repealed by the Committee or set aside by a resolution of a General meeting of the Club
4. Members
a. Candidates for membership of the Club shall be proposed by one member of a year’s standing and over from the date of their acceptance and seconded by another of similar standing and elected, or balloted for, by the Committee. Members need not be Cirneco owners. If approved the applicant shall become a duly elected member and be notified accordingly.
b. Application for membership of the Club implies agreement to abide by the rules in the event of election.
c. An up to date list of Members and their addresses, must be maintained and
available for inspection, if so requested, by the Kennel Club and Members of the Club. A declaration of the number of Members of the must be made with Annual Returns
5.Subscriptions
a. All persons elected as members shall pay an annual subscription as determined by the Committee and agreed at an AGM.
b. All subscriptions are due on the 1st January.
c. Those failing to pay by the 31st March shall be struck off the list of members. But if the Committee shall subsequently receive satisfactory written explanation, the member may, on payment of arrears and at the discretion of the Committee, be re-admitted to membership.
d. No member whose subscription is unpaid shall be entitled to any privilege of membership. Only fully paid up members of six month’s standing and over from the date of their acceptance may vote at an AGM or SGM.
f. Members joining on or after 1st November in any year shall be considered fully paid up for the following year.
g. Any member may resign by giving the Secretary notice in writing to that effect.
6. Club Property.
a. The property of the Club shall be vested in the Committee and in the event of the Club ceasing to exist a general meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of any assets.
b. The Officers acknowledge that details of the disposal of the property, together with a copy of the final statement of audited accounts, will be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months of the Club being dissolved.
c. A member upon ceasing to be a member of the Club shall forego all claims on the Club, its property and funds.
7. Bank Account
a. A bank account shall be opened in the name of the Club into which all revenue shall be paid and from which withdrawals shall only be made on the signature of the Treasurer and at least one other officer. (No two members of one family or household shall sign cheques). The Treasurer may move funds electronically with the approval of the Committee
b. The financial year of the Club shall be from January 1st to December 31st, the accounts shall be kept by the Treasurer and certified by either a qualified accountant or two people with accountancy experience who shall be appointed at each Annual General Meeting to certify the accounts for the ensuing year before the next Annual General Meeting. Those certifying the accounts must be independent of the committee. The certified accounts will be made available on request to members fourteen days prior to the AGM.
8. Annual General Meeting
a. The Annual General Meeting shall be held before June 30th each year.
b. All members must receive 28 days’ notice of the date of the AGM.
c. No business shall be discussed, transacted or voted upon at an AGM unless notice thereof appears on the Agenda of the AGM.
d. All items for the agenda must be with Secretary 21 days prior to the AGM
e. Ten members to form a quorum.
f. Business of the AGM shall be;
i, To receive the minutes of the last AGM.
ii. To receive from the Committee its annual report, balance sheet and statement of accounts duly audited.
iii. To present to the meeting the annually prepared list of all the property appertaining to the club.
iv. To elect Officers and Committee in accordance with Rule 3b.
v. To elect an Auditor who shall certify the Clubs accounts for the following year.(Certification of accounts must be carried out by one qualified Accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience).
vi. To discuss any resolutions of which 21 days’ notice has been given to the Secretary and duly placed on the agenda.
g. Any other urgent business at the discretion of the Chairman
h. A matter voted upon at an AGM cannot be brought up again, changed or rescinded for a period of six months or until the next AGM
9. Special General Meeting
a. A special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Secretary within three months after receiving the written request of not less than 25% of the membership eligible to vote, OR at the discretion of the Committee.
b. All Members must receive at least 14 days’ notice of the date of a Special General Meeting.
c. Ten members to form a quorum.
d. The business shall be confined to that particular object(s) for which the meeting has been convened and no further business will be discussed. In the event of an equality of votes at any meeting, the Chairman of that meeting shall have a second casting vote.
e. A matter voted upon at an SGM cannot be brought up again, changed or rescinded for a period of six months or until the next AGM
10. Minutes
Minutes of all Meetings of the Club must be kept and be available for inspection by the members at all reasonable times.
11. Expulsion of Members
Any member who shall be disqualified under the 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 Club, the Committee of the Club 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 Club 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 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 Club expels any Member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog shows, trials or competitions, the Club must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.
12. Honorary and Life Members
a. The Committee may recommend for the approval of the Annual General Meeting such persons as they think eligible for honorary membership. (An honorary member is a member for life with no further subscriptions due).
b. Life members will be members for life with no further subscription due. (Life membership is no longer available.)
c. Honorary and Life members will be required to abide by the clubs rules present and future.
d. Honorary and Life members are entitled to all such rights as members paying subscriptions.
13. Rules of the Club
a. The rules of the Club shall not be altered except at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting, notice of which includes details of the proposal to alter the rules.
b. Alterations to the rules shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and given its approval to the alterations.
c. A dated copy of the Rules and of any amendments with their dates of approval, shall be supplied to Members on joining and must be adhered to at all times.
d Notification of an approved amendment to the Rules will be printed in the ensuing Club publication.
e. The Committee shall review every three years the necessity or otherwise of reprinting the rules with new amendments incorporated and of supplying each member with a new copy of the rules.
f. The preferred method of communicating Club notices including those for an AGM or SGM shall be to the last recorded email address of all members on the register and shall be considered as being duly delivered when such notices are sent unless a member requests delivery by UK postal services.
14. Federations
The Club shall not join any federation of societies or clubs without prior written permission from the Kennel Club.
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 club matters.
16. Annual Returns to the Kennel Club
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 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 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 Club which may occur during the course of the year.
17. Undischarged Bankrupt
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 List
a. The annual preparation of a judges list is the responsibility of a Committee (or subcommittee) where a minimum of half the members award CC’s in the hound group.
b. The criteria for the judges lists will be compiled according to Kennel Club regulations.
c. Meeting all or any of the criteria does not necessarily guarantee inclusion on any list.
d. All judges must state that they are prepared to write, as part of their judging contract, a show critique as is customarily requested by the weekly dog press and also make this available to the Club.
e. Senior judges in the breed who have retired from judging or who have been inactive for several years can be removed from the judging list by mutual agreement.
19. Dissolution of the Club
a. The Club shall not be dissolved except by a Special General Meeting called for the purpose.
b One month's notice of this meeting must be sent to all voting Members.
c. A postal vote can be used for this issue for eligible Members as defined in Para.3.d.iv.
d. If the resolution is passed the Committee shall proceed to realise the property of the Club and after discharge of all liabilities, the members in attendance of the meeting shall decide on the way the assets of the club are disposed of.
e. All Cups, Trophies and other goods not won outright shall be returned to the donors, their personal representatives or administrators where possible otherwise as in Rule 19d above.
f. The outcome of this SGM is to be notified to the Kennel Club with a record of the disposal of the property of the Club.
Cirneco dell’Etna Club Rules v.4.2 approved 2019