Rules & Regulations

Name & Objects

 

The Society shall be called the Bracco Italiano Society and its objects shall be:

     a)    to promote best practice by members in the breeding and showing of the breed in line with the Kennel Club Breed Standard;

     b)    to support and encourage the working abilities of the breed;

     c)    to advance and protect the interests of the breed;

     d)    to support research and educational work in order to reduce and eliminate undesirable hereditary traits within the breed

 

1)  Composition

The society shall consist of a Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Working/Field Trial Secretary and a committee of up to 10. A Patron, President, Vice President and Vice Chairman may be appointed.  The society may have an unlimited number of members/life members.

 

2)  Committee

     a)   The management of the Society shall be in the hands of the following officers of the Society: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Hon  Secretary, Hon Treasurer and the Working/Field Trial Secretary and a Committee consisting of up to 10 Members.  

     b)   The Patron, President, Vice President shall be elected by the members at an Annual General Meeting for a period of 2 years.  The Patron, President and Vice President shall have no voting rights at Committee Meetings and General Meetings.

     c)   A Health Co-ordinator  shall be elected annually at each Annual General Meeting after being duly proposed and seconded in accordance with Rule 11.c) below. The position of Health Co-ordinator is neither an Officer or a Committee Member and does not have a vote at Committee meetings. The Health Co-ordinator will chair the Health Sub-Committee and will report back to the Committee as required.  

     d)   Each committee member may serve for up to 2 years before re-election is required. Retiring committee members who wish to stand for re-election do not require a proposer and seconder.

     e)   In the event of there being an uncontested election for Officer, Committee and/or Health Co-ordinator positions at the Annual General Meeting, the appointment(s) must be ratified by the approval of one third of the members present and eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting;  under these circumstances, any person who does not gain this approval at the Annual General Meeting shall be deemed to have not been elected.

      f)   The Committee shall appoint a Rehome and Welfare Co-ordinator annually at the first meeting after the Annual General Meeting.

      g)   Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary, but at least 3 times a year. A quorum for Committee meetings shall be 60% of the Officers and Committee serving at any given time. Meetings, may in exceptional circumstances only and with the agreement of the full committee meeting, be held digitally

      h)   The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members on to the Committee in the event of positions becoming vacant between General Meetings. Those co-opted shall only hold office until the next General Meeting of the Society at which an election of Officers and Committee takes place. Co-opted Committee Members shall not have voting rights at Committee meetings.

       i)   No person who has been a member for less than two consecutive years at the time of nomination may be elected on to the Committee.

      j)    Officers and Committee shall receive notice of meetings at least 14 days prior to the meeting .  A copy of the Minutes of each meeting shall be sent by the Secretary to all Officers and Committee Members.  

      k)   In the event of an Officer or Committee Member failing to attend any two out of four consecutive meetings, the other Officers and Committee members shall have the power to exclude that Officer or Committee Member.

       l)   No Officer or Committee Member shall serve simultaneously as an Officer or Committee member of any other Bracco Italiano organisation in the United Kingdom, whether Kennel Club registered or not.

 

3)  Election of Members  

      a)   Candidates for membership shall be proposed by one existing fully paid up Member and seconded by another existing fully paid up Member.  

      b)   Candidates for membership will be considered at a Committee Meeting and shall be deemed elected by affirmation of at least two thirds of those present at the Committee Meeting and payment of the required subscription and joining fee.  

      c)   Those joining after 31st October in each year shall be considered to be paid up members for the following year.

      d)   The names of the elected members shall be included in the minutes and published on the website and/or other Society media/publications, subject to the agreement thereto of the newly elected member(s).  

      e)   Every Member, upon being elected, shall be sent a copy of the Rules of the Bracco Italiano Society and the Society's Code of Ethics.  

      f)   There shall be four types of membership as follows:

               i.)   Single: for one person

               ii.)   Joint: for two people, all communications will be sent only to the address of the first person in the joint membership

               iii.)   Junior: for persons under 16 years of age (members under the age of 16 years are not eligible to vote on Society matters)

              iv.)   Overseas: for persons permanently resident outside of the British Isles

 

4) Members List

   An up to date list of Members and their addresses, and those of branch Members where  appropriate, must be maintained and, if so requested, 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.  

 

5)  Voting Rights

      a)     Each Member shall be entitled to one vote.

      b)     Postal votesor proxy votes are not allowed.

      c)     Voting shall be by secret ballot or a show of hands as decided by a majority at a meeting.

      d)     Joint Members are entitled to one vote for each member of the partnership.

      e)     Junior Members (ie under the age of 16 years) are not entitled to vote.

 

6)  Club Property

The property of the Bracco Italiano Society shall be vested in the Committee.  In the event of the Society ceasing to exist, a final General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of the Society's assets and the outcome of the meeting   notified to the Kennel Club.  If the Society is wound up or ceases to be a Registered Society under these Rules, a final statement of accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Society shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months and the persons named as Officers and Committee of the Society will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Society.

 

7)  Club Accounts

      a)    Banking accounts shall be held in the name of the Society into which all revenue shall be paid and from which withdrawals shall only be made on the signatures of any two of the following: the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, or other elected Officer(s) of the Society

      b)   The accounts shall be kept by the Treasurer and Auditors shall be appointed at each Annual General Meeting. The accounts will be certified annually and presented to the members at the AGM.Please note: Certification of accounts must be carried out by one qualified accountant r two individuals with accountancy experience. Those undertaking the certification must be independent from thos ewho prepare the accounts.

      c)    A copy of the annual Statement of Accounts for the last financial year, which must be certified in accordance with the rules of the society will be sent on request, by email or by poost on receipt of an SAE, at least 14 days prior to the AGM, or when requested if received later. Additionally, the annual Statement of Accounts will be available for inspection by members at the Annual General Meeting.

      d)    The Treasurer shall submit a statement of account(s) at every Committee Meeting, as well as the books for inspection and discussion if so desired

 

8) Subscriptions

      a)    The Annual Subscription shall be in such an amount as deemed necessary by the Committee and agreed by Members in a General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club.

      b)    The Annual Membership shall be payable to the Society on the 1st January each year.

      c)     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 31st January his/her name(s) shall be automatically erased from the register. Acceptance back on the register may only be made following a new application for membership in line with Rule 3 of these Rules.  

 

9) Expulsion of Members

Any Member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j(5) and/or any Member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42j(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a Member of the Society.

 

If the conduct of any Member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Society, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Society, the Committee of the Society 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 Society 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.

                                 

10)   Financial Year/Annual General Meeting

The financial year of the Society shall be from 1st January to 31st December.                

 

The Annual General Meeting shall be held on or before 30th June.

 

11)   Annual General Meeting

      a)   The purpose of the Annual General Meeting is to receive the report of the Committee, the Accounts and Balance Sheet, to elect Officers, Committee members, a Health Co-ordinator and any resolution duly placed on the Agenda of which prior notice has been given to the Hon Secretary.

      b)   Notice of the date of the Annual General Meeting will be published as an advert in the dog papers and on teh society website 45 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

      c)   Nominations  for Officer positions, Committee Members, the Health Co-ordinator and any resolution for the Agenda of the Annual General Meeting must be proposed and seconded by fully paid up members and be received by the Secretary, by post, not less than 28 days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.

      d)   The  Agenda will be circulated to all fully paid up members at least 14 days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.

      e)   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 Chairperson of the Meeting are urgent.

       f)   Only fully paid up members are entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting

 

12)   Special General Meeting

       a)   A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Hon. Secretary if 20 Members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting. The Committee of the Society is also empowered to call a Special General Meeting.

       b)   No business other than that detailed on the Agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting.

       c)   Members will be given not less than 14 days notice of a Special General Meeting in writing, stating the subject to be discussed.

 

13)   Amendment to Rules

       a)   The rules of the Society may not be altered except at a General Meeting, the notice for which contains specific proposals to amend the rules.

       b)   Any proposed alteration to the rules may not be brought into effect until the Kennel Club has been advised and approved the alteration.

       c)   New rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements shall be adopted immediately.

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14)   Rehome and Welfare

       a)   A Rehome and Welfare coordinator shall be appointed by the committee to oversee the running of Rehome and Welfare

       b)   A Bracco Italiano in need of the services of Rehome and Welfare is defined as a Bracco Italiano that has not got a home in the United Kingdom, or cannot remain in its current hoe, and cannot be taken back by its breeder. The breeder(s) must be notified by the Rehome and Welfare Co-ordinator of any Bracco Italiano bred by them that is to be re-homed where the owner gives permission.

       c)   A Bank Account, or sub account within the main society bank account, shall be set up solely for the funds raised for the Bracco Italiano Society’s Rehome and Welfare service and shall be audited along with the Society’s main account and be presented to the Annual General Meeting. Rehome and Welfare expenses must be taken from the Rehome and Welfare Account.

       d)  The Treasurer shall keep a record of expenses paid out of the Rehome and Welfare Fund and a list of all Bracco Italiano that are rescued or re homed.

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15)   Annual Returns to the Kennel Club

The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, the 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 shall 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.

         

16)   Final Authority

The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the rules of the Society in all cases relative to canine or society matters.

 

17)   The Society shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs

 

18)   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.

 

19)   Code of Ethics

The Society recommends that all members will be guided by the Society's Code of Ethics.