Rules of The North West Labrador Retriever Club

1. Name and Objectives

The name of the Club shall be "The North West Labrador Retriever Club". The objectives being :-

  1. To encourage the breeding of pure Labrador Retrievers.
  2. To conserve the best type of working Labrador.
  3. To promote Field Trials and Limit, Open and Championship Shows.
  4. To ensure that only qualified Judges be invited to judge at Shows.
  5. To encourage the Junior and Novice exhibitor.
  6. Generally to promote the welfare of Labradors in the North West. A Rescue Section, named The North West Labrador Retriever Club – Rescue Section, may be established and be self sufficient, subject to the overall management and scrutiny of the Committee. The assets shall not be classed as general Club assets at any time, and to this end a separate bank account may be established in the name of the section and managed by the General Committee. In the event of the Club`s dissolution, then the Committee shall distribute the assets of the Rescue Section to other organisations concerned with the welfare of Labrador Retrievers.
  7. To educate members in the training, handling and care of Labradors.

2. Full Members

  1. The Club shall consist of an unlimited number of members of the Society or Kennel Club, a record of whose names and addresses shall be kept by the Hon Secretary, and this record shall be open to inspection by members. The election of members other than the original members shall be vested solely in the Committee and shall be made by ballot.
  2. The Annual Subscription of each member shall be decided by the membership. All subscriptions are due and payable on 1st January each year. Members` liability shall belimited to the amount of their subscriptions, and no member shall be entitled to the privileges of the Club if his or her Subscription is unpaid. If a member`s subscription shall be more than 6 months in arrears he or she shall cease to be a member of the Club unless satisfactory explanation is accepted by the Committee when upon payment of all arrears, he or she may be reinstated. Subscriptions o members elected after the last event of the year shall be deemed to cover the following year.
  3. The Committee shall have power to admit two adult persons as joint members (with reduced subscription). Joint members shall have the same rights and privileges as if they were separately full members.
  4. Any person(s) acting in an official capacity at Field Trials organised by the Club, and who are not full members, must be signed as “day members” by the Hon Field Trial Secretary, or his representative. Such persons will enjoy all the privileges of membership except that they will not be afforded any voting rights.
  5. The Secretary to send a list of members and their addresses to the Kennel Club with the annual returns, and if so requested, make an up to date list of members available for inspection by the members of the Club or by the Kennel Club.

3. Junior Members

The Committee is empowered to admit as junior members persons under the age of 16 years but they shall not be entitled to vote at General Meetings of the Club nor shall they be eligible to hold office or serve on any Committee of the Club.

4. Financial Year

The Financial Year of the Club shall be from 1st January to 31st December. A Bank Account shall be opened in the name of The North West Labrador Retriever Club into which all revenue of the Club shall be paid, and from which withdrawals shall be made on the signature of two or more Officers.

5. Committee

The affairs of the Club shall be conducted by a Committee consisting of not more than 15 members, one of which will be nominated as Vice Chairman annually, excluding the President, Chairman, Hon Secretary and Hon Treasurer. The above named shall be ex-officio members of the Committee and all or any Sub-Committees.

Also there shall be a Field Trial Sub-Committee consisting of 15 members together with an Hon Field Trial Secretary and an Hon Working Test Secretary, both of whom shall be ex officio. The Hon Secretaries to be elected annually at the Club A.G.M. One third of the 15 Field Trial Sub-Committee members` to be eligible for re-election annually at the Club A.G.M. The overall management of this Sub-Committee to be within the jurisdiction of the Committee in accordance with Rule 6.

6. Management

The entire control and management of the Club shall be vested in the Committee, who shall have power to make Bye-Laws and decide upon all matters of dispute not provided for by these Rules, subject to final appeal to the Kennel Club.

7. Election of Committee

The Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The President, Chairman, Hon Secretary and Hon Treasurer shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election. One third of he rest of the Committee shall retire each year but shall be eligible for re-election. In the case of a vacancy in the Committee the remaining members of the Committee may at their discretion, fill up the vacancy and the Member so appointed shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting when he may be re-elected. If a Committee member fails to attend three consecutive meetings without reasonable excuse such member shall cease to be a member of the Committee.

8. Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held at such time and place as the Committee may appoint (providing that each meeting be held within 15 months of the preceding meeting) for the purpose of passing the Annual Report (including the Accounts) for the election of Officers and members of the Committee and other general business. Propositions for the A.G.M. Agenda must be received by the Hon Secretary 7 days prior to the date of the A.G.M. signed by the Proposer and Seconder. No business shall be transacted at an A G M unless notice thereof appears on the agenda with the exception of routine matters or those which in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting are urgent. At all General Meetings 10 members shall form a quorum. The Hon Secretary shall be bound to call an Extraordinary General Meeting should he or she be requested to do so in writing by the Committee or not less than 20 members. 14 days` notice shall be given in writing by pre-paid post to all members of any General or Extraordinary General Meeting, and no business other than the business stated on the notice calling such Meeting shall be taken at an Extraordinary General Meeting.

9. Committee Meetings

Committee Meetings shall be held at such date and place as the Committee may decide. The Chairman shall have the power to summon an Emergency Meeting whenever he or she may think it necessary, provided that 3 days` notice is given of such Emergency Committee Meeting to each member of the Committee. Five members to form a quorum. The Committee may appoint Sub-Committees.

10. Annual Report

The Annual Report shall be drawn up by the Chairman, and circulated before the A G M to all members. The Accounts for the year prepared by the Treasurer and certified as correct by the auditors appointed by the members at the previous A G M shall be incorporated in such Report, and copies supplied to all members.

11. Prizes, etc.

  1. No prizes, cups or subscriptions shall be granted to Shows or Field Trials which are not held under the Rules of the Kennel Club.
  2. In the event of the Club ceasing to exist from any cause, all Challenge Cups etc., the property of the Club, which have not been won outright at the time of dissolution shall be returned to the donors, their heirs or executors.

12. Kennel Club

In all matters of dispute the Kennel Club shall be recognised as the Final Court of Appeal. Any member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j(4) and / or any member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42j(8) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the Club for the duration of the suspensions and/or disqualification.

13. Dismissal of Members

If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee, be injurious to the character or interests of the Club, 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 Club shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him. Notices of both these Meetings shall be sent to the accused member giving particulars of the complaint and advising him of the place, date and hour that he may offer an explanation.

If at the Special General Meeting a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, his name shall forthwith be erased from the list of members, and he shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a member of the Club, except that he may within two calendar months appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions as the Kennel Club may impose.

14. Resignation

Any member may resign from the Club by giving written notice to the Hon Secretary, provided that each member shall be liable for his subscription for the current year in which such notice is given, and shall have no further claim following resignation on any of the property or funds belonging to the Club.

15. Dissolution

In the event of the dissolution of the Club the free assets and property of the Club shall be disposed of as directed by an Extraordinary General Meeting called for that purpose, and shall preferably be to a named Charitable Institution such as Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

16. Amendment of Rules

The foregoing rules may be altered or amended at the A G M or at an Extraordinary General Meeting convened for the purpose. Notice of any proposed alteration must be given in writing to the Secretary at least 28 days before such Meeting and details of the proposed alterations must be included in the Secretary`s notice to members convening the Meeting in accordance with Paragraph 8 hereof. Any alterations must be approved by the Kennel Club before becoming effective. New rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet K C requirements shall be adopted immediately and be included in the Constitution with effect from the A G M.

17. 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 K C 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 and Breed Councils and the Affiliation 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 changes of Secretary of the Society which may occur during the course of the year.

18. Judges' Lists

To comply with Kennel Club rules regarding the submission of annual returns, the Club will utilize the Breed Council Judges Lists.

19. The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.

20. 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.

30th March 2005