THE HOUND ASSOCIATION RULES & CONSTITUTION

Up to date as of 01/01/23

1. NAME.

The name of the Association shall be The Hound Association.

2. OBJECTS.

The objects of the Association shall be:

(a) To promote the interests of the breeds in the Hound Group by a close co-operation with Kennel Club recognised specialist clubs in that Group.

(b) To promote and organise shows for the Hound breeds.

(d) To do all such other things as may be for the general advancement and efficiency of the Association.

3. CONSTITUTION

The club shall consist of Patron, President, Vice Presidents, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Committee and an unlimited number of members.

4. CONTROL.

The affairs of the Association shall be under the management and absolute control of a committee consisting of the President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and twelve members, with power to co-opt.

5. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

(a) The Patron shall be appointed by the Committee. His membership status shall be that of an Honorary Member.

(b) The President shall be nominated by the Committee and elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. His membership status shall be that of an Honorary Member and he shall, as an elected member of the committee, the right to vote thereat. The President shall preside at all such social gatherings as may be to his convenience.

(c) Vice Presidents, to a number determined by the Committee, shall be appointed by the Committee and approved annually at the Annual General Meeting. Their membership status shall be that of an honorary member. They shall not be ex-officio members of the Committee.

(d) The Officers shall each be elected for a period of three years.

They shall, in rotation, retire in the following pairs President/Secretary, Chairman/Assistant Secretary and Vice-Chairman/Treasurer.

(e) The Members of the Committee shall be elected for a period of three years, one third of whom shall retire in rotation each year. The election of the Officers and Committee shall take place at the Annual General Meeting. Prior to the Annual General Meeting the Secretary shall invite nominations for the Offices and Committee places which fall vacant and such nominations must be in the hands of the Secretary at least seven days before the meeting is held. If in any case the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies, the election shall be decided by a ballot of those members personally present at the Annual General Meeting.

(f) The Chairman's duty shall be to preside at all General and Committee Meetings of the Association and to deputise for the President when called upon to do so. In the event of an equality of votes either at general or committee meetings he shall have a casting vote in addition to a deliberate vote.

(g) The duties of the Vice Chairman shall be to assist the Chairman in the matters specified under (f) above, and to deputise for the Chairman when necessary or called upon to do so.

(h) The Secretary's duties shall be to summon and attend all General and Committee Meetings of the Association. He/she shall keep a correct record of the proceedings in a minute book, which shall be signed by the Chairman at the next meeting: and conduct correspondence on behalf of the Association and transact such business as may be required by the Committee.

(i) The duties of the Assistant Secretary shall be to assist the Secretary in the matters specified under (h) above, and to deputise for the Secretary when necessary or called upon to do so.

(j) The Treasurer shall receive all moneys, keep a proper record of receipts and payments and submit a properly certified Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet to the members at the Annual General Meeting of the Association.

The accounts shall be certified annually, by one qualified accountant or two individuals with accountancy experience who shall certify the accounts for the ensuing year before the next Annual General Meeting. Those undertaking the certification must be independent from those who prepared the accounts. A copy of the Annual Statement of Accounts will be made available at the AGM and to members 14 days prior to the AGM on application to the Treasurer

He/she shall keep a banking account in the name of the Association. Two or more officers in accordance with the authority given by the Committee shall sign cheques.

(k) No person whilst an un-discharged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society

(l) Co-opted members of the Committee shall have full voting rights

(KC Recommendation)

6. MEMBERSHIP

(a) All applications for membership shall be in writing on the form for the time being prescribed by the Committee and submitted with the appropriate fee. Such applications shall be considered by the Committee, which shall have absolute power in respect of the admission of members.

(b) The Committee shall have the power to confer Honorary Membership on any person who has rendered distinguished service to the Association, or the interests represented by it. Honorary Members shall not be required to pay an annual subscription to the Association; they shall possess the same rights and privileges as full subscribing members.

(c) The Association must make an up to date list of members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by The Kennel Club and members of the Association and must send a list of members and their addresses declaration of the number of members to The Kennel Club with their Annual Returns.

7. RESIGNATIONS AND EXPULSION.

(a) A member may resign his membership at any time but shall not be entitled to the return of any subscription paid. He shall, nevertheless, be liable for the payment of any subscription or charges due to the society.

(b) The Committee shall have power to remove from membership any member whose subscription is three months overdue on notice being given to such member.

(c) Any member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j(5) and/or disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42j(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the Association for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification. Any member who shall be disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A11.j.(15) and/or Kennel Club Rule A11.j.(19) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the Association. If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Association, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Association, 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 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 Association, 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 conditions as the Kennel Club may impose.

(d) If the Association expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, Dog Shows, Trials or Competitions, the Association must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within 7 days and supply any particulars required.

(e) A member who has resigned, or whose resignation has been requested, or who has been removed from membership, or whose membership is suspended, shall forfeit all rights and privileges of the Association. He/she shall forthwith return to the Secretary any challenge cups or trophies belonging to the Association which he/she may hold.

8. FINANCE

(a) The financial year of the Association shall commence on January 1st and end on December 31st in each year.

(b) The subscription to the Association shall be such sum as the members in General Meeting may determine from time to time.

9. MEETINGS.

(a) An Annual General Meeting must be held each year prior to May 31st. Its purpose shall be to receive the accounts and balance sheet, to elect the Officers and Committee, to receive a report on the workings of the previous year, to appoint the accountant, 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 matters which, in the opinion of the Chairman of the Meeting shall be dealt with as matters of urgency.

(b) A Special General Meeting may be summoned by the Secretary at the request of the Committee or on the requisition in writing of at least fifteen members of the Association specifying the business to be transacted.

(c) Members of the Association must receive not less than fourteen days notice of General or Special General Meetings and such notice may be given either in writing or by public notice in the canine press (The Dog World and Our Dogs or successor publications) except as described in rule 13,

(d) The Committee shall meet at convenient times as and when necessary,

(e) The quorum for General Meetings shall be two officers and ten members personally present. For meetings of the Committee two officers and four members personally present.

(f) At all meetings of the Association or of the Committee voting shall be by a show of hands, or by ballot at the discretion of the Chairman or as requested by the members present

10. PROPERTY.

The property of the Association shall be vested in the Officers and Committee for the time being. Trophies owned by the Association shall at all times be kept insured.

11. AGREEMENT.

The payment of a membership subscription shall be deemed to be an implied agreement on the part of a member to abide by the Rules of the Association.

12. FEDERATION.

The Association shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.

13. DISSOLUTION.

(a) The dissolution of the Association may be determined in the following manner viz: On the unanimous recommendation of the Committee, or on the requisition of not less than one-third of the members of the Association, a Special General Meeting shall be called by the Secretary, in writing, giving not less than 21 clear days’ notice of the date and purpose of the meeting. Such dissolution shall be effective only when decided upon by a resolution carried by a majority of, not less than, two-thirds of the members personally present at the meeting.

(b) On dissolution, the assets shall be realised and the funds of the Association remaining after the liquidation of all its just liabilities shall not be paid to, or distributed amongst, the members of the association. They shall be given or transferred to some other Society or Societies having objects similar to those of the Association, or to some Charitable Institution, whichever the members present at the Special General Meeting may decide when the resolution for dissolution is passed by simple majority.

(c) If the Association is wound up or ceases to be a Registered Association under these Regulations, a final statement of certified accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of

the Association shall be forwarded to The Kennel Club within 6 months and the persons named as Officers and Committee of the

Association on the last return furnished to The Kennel Club shall

be held responsible by The Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Association.

14. ALTERATION OF RULES.

Any alteration of these Rules shall be made only at an Annual General

Meeting, or Special General Meeting, by the vote of a two-thirds majority of members present. The notice of intention to move any alteration must be given in writing to the Secretary not less than 28 days before the date of such a meeting. The Secretary shall advise members of the intention to propose any alteration to the Rules at the time when the notice of such a meeting is issued. Alterations to the rules shall not be brought into force until The Kennel Club has been advised and 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 Association's Constitution with effect from the Association's .Annual Meeting.

15. 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 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 Association that may occur during the course of the year.

16. FINAL COURT OF APPEAL.

The Association shall function under the jurisdiction of the Kennel Club and in accordance with its rules and regulations. The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting Rules and Regulations of the Association in all cases relative to Canine or Society matters.