THE SOUTHERN RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION AND RULES
1. NAME AND OBJECTS.
The Association shall be called The Southern Rhodesian Ridgeback Association and its objects shall be: The welfare of the Rhodesian Ridgeback, the encouragement of responsible and enjoyable ownership of the breed. To formulate an educated specialist judging list and co-opt interested all-rounders. To promote seminars and social activities of an educational nature.
2. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE.
The Association shall consist of Patron, President, Vice Presidents (no more than five), Honorary Life Members, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and a Committee of 9 members, and of full members and associate members and junior members. Full membership granted after an associate and/or junior membership of 2 years, unless objected to. The casting of 2 negative votes will exclude.
3. COMMITTEE.
The management of the Association shall be in the hands of the Officers of the Association and a Committee consisting of 9 members of whom 3 shall retire annually on a 3year rotation. The Committee shall have the power to appoint Assistants to the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer from within the Committee. Members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election every 3 years. The Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and all Committee members are entitled to vote at Committee meetings, the President is welcomed to attend in a non-voting capacity, Vice Presidents are permitted by prior arrangement with the secretary to attend one Committee meeting per year in a non-voting capacity, in addition the Chairman may also use a casting vote at his discretion. Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary but at least every 4 months. A quorum for meetings shall be 7 of the elected Officers and Committee members. If an elected member does not attend three Committee Meetings a year without a suitable explanation, the Committee will have the power to declare their position vacant. (i.e. from A.G.M. to A.G.M.). The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members onto the Committee in the event of positions becoming vacant between Annual General Meetings. Those co-opted shall only hold office until the next Annual General Meeting of the Association at which election of Officers and Committee takes place.
4a. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE.
Officers and Committee should receive one Proposer and one Seconder (both of whom are full members). The nominee must signify his/her willingness to stand. All nominations to be received one calendar month prior to General Meeting (G.P.O.Postmark). Voting to be carried out by secret ballot at the Annual General Meeting. The Chairman and Treasurer shall retire at the end of a 2year term of office and will be available for re-election. On the alternate year the Vice-Chairman and Secretary shall retire at the end of a similar 2year term of office and be available for re-election. No individual who is not a full member may be elected to Committee.
4b. Any Officer or Committee member who resigns from office as a result of complaint, dispute or disciplinary action shall not be eligible to stand for re-election to the Committee of the Association for a period of time to be determined by the Committee.
4c. Associate and Full Membership: Candidates for membership of the Association are to be proposed by a full member and seconded by another full member. The admission of the candidate shall then be subject of a vote by the Committee at one of their regular meetings. The vote may be by secret ballot if such ballot is requested by any member of the Committee present at the meeting. If a secret ballot is requested, all candidates at that meeting will be subject to the secret ballot. The Committee shall decide from time to time the method of secret ballot. The casting of 2 negative votes at that meeting will exclude the candidate.
Junior Members will now be known as Junior Associate Members. If by 16 years of age three years or more has been served as a Junior Associate, consideration for full membership will be considered.
4d. Any Founder member, Full member or Associate member who resigns from the Association as a result of complaint, dispute or disciplinary action, shall not be eligible to be re-elected a member of the Association for a period of time to be determined by the Committee.
4e. The Association will make a list of members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by the members of the Association or by the Kennel Club.
5. VOTING RIGHTS.
No proxy or postal votes will be allowed. Method of voting in General Meetings to be by eligible Members by a show of hands or by secret ballot if so requested. Associate Members will not be eligible to vote at General Meetings. Joint Members shall be entitled to one vote per member of the partnership. Junior Members shall not be eligible to vote.
6. SUBSCRIPTION.
Patron, President, Vice Presidents and Honorary Life Members are exempt from paying subscriptions. The Annual Subscription shall be such amount as agreed at the Annual General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club and are due on 1st August every year. If the member shall fail to pay outstanding subscription by 31st August (G.P.O. Postmark) they will lose their voting rights until 31st October of that year. If they fail to pay by 31st October, (G.P.O. Postmark) his/her name will be removed automatically from the Register. Acceptance back onto the Register will be in accordance with the Rules regarding applications for membership. No member whose subscription is unpaid is entitled to any of the privileges of membership.
7. ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTS/ACCOUNTANT.
Bank Accounts shall be held in the name of the Association at appropriate Banks/Building Societies into which all revenue of the Association shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signatures of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary and Treasurer, two of which shall suffice. The Treasurer shall maintain the accounts and an Accountant shall be appointed at each Annual General Meeting for the purpose of certifying the Association’s accounts for the ensuing year. The Accountant must be fully qualified and independent of the committee. The Accountant is entitled to attend Annual General Meetings to act as independent scrutineer for the Secret Ballots. He shall collect, count and declare the outcome of the vote and shall retain Ballot Papers for a one year period and shall deal with any queries that may arise out of such a vote.
8. ASSOCIATION PROPERTY.
The property of the Association shall be vested in the Committee. In the event of the Association ceasing to exist, a General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of the Association’s assets and the outcome of the meeting notified to the Kennel Club, together with a final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Society. The persons named as Officers and Committee of the Association on the last return furnished to the Kennel Club will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Association. All submissions regarding the winding up of the Association will be sent to the Kennel Club within 6 months of the Association’s closure.
9. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS.
Any member who shall be disqualified by 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 Association. If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Association Committee, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Association, or to any individual member or their dogs, the Committee of the Association 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 Association 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 him/her of the place, date and hour of the meeting, that he/she may attend and offer an explanation. If at that meeting, a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the full members present and voting, his/her name shall be forthwith erased from the list of members, and he/she shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a member of the Association, except that he/she may within 2 calendar months (G.P.O. Postmark) from the date of such meeting appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions as the Kennel Club may impose.
10.FINANCIAL YEAR/ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
The financial year of the Association shall be from 1 August to 31 July. The Annual General Meeting shall be held on the 1st Sunday in October.
11. GENERAL MEETINGS.
The purpose of the Annual General Meeting is to receive the report of the Committee and the balance sheet. The certified accounts will be made available on request to members fourteen days prior to the AGM. To elect Officers and Committee and to discuss any resolutions duly placed on the agenda of which 1 calendar month (G.P.O. Postmark) prior notice has been given in writing to the Hon. Secretary. No business shall be transacted at an Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the Agenda for the meeting, with the exception of routine matters or those which, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting, are urgent. The members will be notified of the Annual General Meeting at least 2 calendar months prior to the date in writing. A quorum shall consist of 10% of the full members. If no quorum is present after one hour of the start of the meeting; the meeting will be reconvened in 28 days. Nominations for the Officers vacancies and Committee vacancies to be with the Hon. Secretary 1 calendar month (G.P.O. Postmark) before the date of the Annual General Meeting. The Agenda will be circulated to members 14 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Venue to be decided by the Committee. Rules of the Association may not be altered except at AGM or SGM. Notice of which includes proposal. Such changes will not be effective until approved by the Kennel Club and require 2/3rds majority voting at the meeting.
12. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING.
A special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Committee if felt necessary or if 25% of the full membership send a signed requisition accompanied by œ5 per signatory stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting to do so. No business other than that detailed on the Agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting. Members shall receive notification in writing 28 days prior to the date requisitioned. A quorum at the meeting shall be 25% of the full membership. If there is no quorum within one hour of the appointed time of the meeting, the meeting is cancelled.
13. ACCESS OF MINUTES TO MEMBERS.
Members may have access to Committee Minutes subject to 28 days notice and on payment of handling fee.
14. 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 the continuance of registration and that by 31 July each year, other returns, to include Breed Club Judges Lists as stipulated in Kennel Club Regulations for the registration and maintenance of title of Societies and Breed Councils and the application of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities 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 COURT OF APPEAL.
The Kennel Club shall be the Final Court of Appeal in all matters in dispute.
16. The Association 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. Amended Oct 19