The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) Club Rules should be read in conjunction with the Club’s Code of Ethics.
1.0 NAME & OBJECTIVES.
1.1 The name of the club shall be “The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) Club.
1.2 The objectives of the Club are :-
a) To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breed.
b) To promote the responsible ownership of the breed.
c) To encourage the breeding of sound, typical and healthy dogs of good temperament, in accordance with The
Kennel Club Breed Standard.
d) To encourage and support the exhibition and judging of dogs in accordance with the recognised Kennel Club
Breed Standard.
2.1 MEMBERSHIP.
2.2 The club shall consist of an unlimited number of members whose names may be available for inspection if so reasonably requested by a member of the Club or by The Kennel Club (provided the data protection principals are adhered to).
2.3 SUBSCRIPTIONS
The financial year of the Club is 1st January to 31st December. Subscriptions shall be an amount as agreed by members in a General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club. Subscriptions are due on election and 1st January each year (those joining after August the fee payable will be 50% of the current subscription rate for that year).
A subscriptions renewal will be issued by the second Friday in December each year.
Subscription must be received by the nominated Officer on or before the second Friday in January (or the due date notified on the renewal form) for entitlement to the privileges of membership (which are club publications, cups and trophies, reduced show entry fees, voting rights and puppy support). Members who subscribe after this date will not be entitled to the privileges of membership until the Committee has ratified their membership renewal. Members must pay all charges incurred on dishonored cheques.
Members wishing to withdraw must do so in writing to the Secretary prior to 31st December and are liable for dues for the current year and any outstanding monies due to the Club.
APPLICATIONS
Applications for membership shall be proposed by one member and seconded by another member on a form provided by The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) Club. The form must be signed by the proposer, the seconder and the applicant(s). The form must be sent to the nominated officer with appropriate fees prior to presentation to the committee. Joint membership is limited to 2. Junior membership is for those under 18 years of age and is without voting rights. The election of these members shall be vested in the Committee, a majority vote in favour securing election. The nominated officer shall send to the newly elected Member a copy of the Rules and code of ethics which shall be binding upon them; the acceptance of which is a condition of membership of the Club.
2.4 EXPULSION
Any members who shall be disqualified under 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 Club’s Committee, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Club, then the Committee of the Club 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 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 is passed by two‑thirds majority of the members present and voting, his/her name shall forthwith be erased from the list of members. 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 subject to such conditions as the Kennel Club may impose. If the Club expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with the Club, dogs or dogs shows, trials or competitions, it shall report the matter in writing to The Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.
3.0 THE CLUB.
3.1 PATRON
The Club may appoint a Patron (or patrons not exceeding two), whom the committee will democratically elect. Appointment is for life.
3.2 PRESIDENT
The Club will appoint a President who will be democratically elected by the committee for a term of three years.
3.3 HONORARY VICE PRESIDENT
The Club will appoint an Honorary Vice President who will be democratically elected by the committee for a term of one year.
3.4 HONORARY SECRETARY & HONORARY TREASURER
The same person may not hold the role of Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. Candidates for Secretary and Honorary Treasurer must have been fully paid-up members of the club for a minimum of 24 consecutive months and must be proposed and seconded by fully paid up members; the proposal accompanied by written references from the proposer and seconder and a CV from the candidate but shall be eligible for re‑election (without further nomination). Terms of office are for three years; election and re‑election is by open ballot from paid up members for the current year at the Annual General Meeting.
The office of Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer entitles the holder to full voting rights at all Club meetings. The Honorary Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining accurate minutes of all Club meetings. The Honorary Secretary will be responsible for forwarding all monies received in respect of membership fees, show entry fees and other income as received for the Club, to the Honorary Treasurer.
The Honorary Treasurer must provide at every committee meeting, a list of income and expenditure since the last meeting together with the current balance of all bank accounts. At least two officers must be signatories for withdrawal from the bank account
3.5 COMMITTEE
In addition to the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer, a maximum of 12 Committee Members shall manage the Club, all of whom shall have voting rights. Candidates must have been fully paid-up members of the club for a minimum of 24 consecutive months and must be proposed and seconded by fully paid-up members; the proposal accompanied by written references from the proposer and seconder and a CV from the candidate, election is by secret postal ballot unless there are less nominations than positions available in which case the nominees are duly elected. The term of office for Committee Members is three years. Four Committee Members shall retire from office each year but shall be eligible for re‑election (without further nomination) by secret postal ballot from paid up members for the current year.
The Chairman and Vice Chairman will be elected annually from members of Committee at the first meeting following the Annual General Meeting. The Chairman will preside at all meetings. If absent, the Vice-Chairman shall preside. If both absent, then the Committee will elect a chairman for that meeting. In the case of equal votes, the Chairman has a second or casting vote.
At the discretion of the Committee any casual vacancy in Officers or Committee may be filled for the remainder of the year. The resignation of a Committee Member shall be filled for the remaining period of the three-year term of service, announced by secret postal ballot.
The Committee may form sub‑committees and co‑opt persons other than Club members, but without voting powers, to serve upon them. The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be ex‑officio members of all sub‑committees with voting power. Committee meetings may be held as often as deemed necessary but at least three per annum must be held. Fourteen days’ notice must be given and six people present shall form a quorum.
Any Committee Member who does not attend three consecutive meetings without good reason (confirmed in writing) shall have deemed to retire from the Committee.
The Committee must appoint a Cup Steward, a Membership Secretary, a Health and Welfare Officer from within its constituent members.
No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other office or appointment with a Kennel Club Registered Society.
4.0 MEETINGS.
4.1 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS.
The A.G.M. shall be held before 30th April at a time and place appointed by the Committee.
The purpose of the AGM is:
(i) To receive the Chairman of Committee’s report and the Treasurer’s report.
(ii) Certification of accounts shall be caried out by one qualified accountant or two individuals with accountancy experience unconnected to the committee. The certified accounts must be made available to members 14 days prior to the AGM.
(iii) To ballots for members of Committee, Secretary and Treasurer whose terms have expired.
(iv) To elect the Auditor (in line with Kennel Club guidelines) for the ensuing year, the retiring Auditor is eligible for re‑election.
(iv) To discuss all propositions that appear on the AGM agenda.
A Preliminary Notice will be sent to fully paid members by December each year indicating the date, venue and the closing date for receipt of Officer and Committee nominations, propositions and agenda items.
An Agenda agreed by the committee, and an audited balance sheet will be sent to all fully paid members at least 21 days before the AGM.
No business shall be transacted unless itemised on the agenda with the exception of routine affairs or those, which in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting are urgent. Voting at an Annual General Meeting is based on one vote per person on each subject discussed. Abstentions do not count as either a positive or a negative vote.
A quorum for Annual General Meetings will consist of 15 fully paid members present.
4.2 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS.
This shall be summoned by the Honorary Secretary if 30 members send a signed requisition clearly stating the purpose of the meeting, the subject to be discussed and specifically requesting a Special General Meeting to do so. The Committee of the Club is empowered to call a Special General Meeting at its discretion. No other business other than that detailed on the agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting. Members shall be given at least 21 days written notice from the Secretary. If the Secretary, under Committee instruction, does not summons the Special General Meeting within 21 days of receipt of the requisition then the requisitionists may themselves do so.
4.3 RULE CHANGES/PROPOSITIONS
All new rules, alterations to existing rules, the reversal of a former act or decision or the acceptance of a proposition shall be made at an Annual General meeting or a Special General Meeting only, the notice for which contains specific proposals to amend the rules. The sanction of a majority of Members present shall be necessary to confirm any action taken. Oral amendments may not introduce matters beyond the scope of original propositions/rule changes especially if these matters might have themselves formed the subject of a separate proposition/rule change. Any amendment to a rule change/proposition must be restricted to matters such as the improvement of the language used, or at most, the removal of ambiguity. Such alterations shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and the alteration approved. New rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements will be adopted immediately and be included in the Club’s Rules following the next AGM.
5.0 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW JUDGES.
The Club will appoint a Championship Show judge who will be democratically elected by the Committee.
6.0 PROPERTY OF THE CLUB.
All property/assets of the Club will be placed on an inventory and will be controlled by the Club’s Committee. If for any reason the Club shall cease to exist as a Club registered with The Kennel Club, all property/assets will be disposed of to the Club’s best advantage; in particular to either reduce any financial sums that may be owed or affray any expenses that may be so incurred.
All Challenge Cups and Trophies donated to the Club become the sole property of the Club and are accepted upon that basis only. The Committee may make such rules with regards to them as they think fit. Members who have won annual challenge cups or trophies shall return the same when required to be put up again for competition, in as good order as when delivered. Should it be desired that the record of wins be engraved on Cups or Trophies, such engravings shall be carried out by a silversmith at the expense of the winner, in the manner approved by the Committee in accordance with previous engraving. Any damage incurred whilst in the holder’s possession shall be made good at his/her expense.
7.0 ANNUAL RETURNS TO THE KENNEL CLUB.
The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year. The Secretary for continuance of Registration will forward maintenance of Title fee to the Kennel Club. 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 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.
8.0 LIABILITY.
No member of the Club shall incur any kind of liability in the name of the Club. Only the Secretary or Treasurer shall incur such liabilities with the authority of the Committee and no member shall make use of the title of The English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) Club for the purpose of private advertisement or personal letters, without written permission of the Committee.
9.0 COURT OF APPEAL.
The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the rules of the society in all cases relative to canine or society matters.
10.0 The Club shall not join any other Federation of Societies or Clubs.
11.0 JUDGING LISTS.
As a KC registered society, the Club must produce a list of Judges each year that must be submitted to the Kennel Club as part of the Club’s Annual returns. The purpose of the Breed Society Judges Lists is to indicate to interested parties those persons the Breed Society would support at differing levels of judging. Membership of the Club must not be prerequisite for inclusion in the lists.
Judges Lists should be divided into five parts namely A1, A2, A3, B and C and must indicate the date on which the list will expire. On expiry a new list must be compiled. Revision and compilation will take place not less than once a year. After due consideration of prospective judge’s C.V’s against the set criteria for each list. Revised judging lists will be prepared by the sub-committee and presented to the committee for approval prior to distribution each year.
The criteria for inclusion on the Clubs Judges lists each year may only be changed by the majority agreement to a proposition at an A.G.M., by secret ballot of the membership or by the committee following instruction by The Kennel Club.
Approved at AGM 13th April 2024
Ratified by the KC 11th October 2024