RULES OF THE SOUTH WESTERN GREAT DANE CLUB

RULE 1. NAME.

The club shall be called the South Western Great Dane Club and all meetings, shows, matches and other activities organised by the Club shall be held in the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Avon and Somerset, except at such time as the Club is called upon to sponsor the Dane of the Year Show.

RULE 2. THE OBJECTS OF THE CLUB SHALL BE: -

a) To assist breeders and owners of Great Danes in every possible way, such that the qualities enumerated in the Standard approved by the Kennel Club (K.C.) shall be maintained.

b) To hold shows and guarantee classes for the breed at shows in the above named Counties.

c) To organise meetings and discussions on topics of interest and value to breeders and owners.

d) To encourage good fellowship and so maintain and advance the interests of the Breed.

RULE 3. MEMBERS.

a) The Club shall consist of an unlimited number of members irrespective of place of residence, whose names shall be posted by the Secretary in a Register kept for such a purpose. Such Register shall be available at all reasonable times, for inspection by members of the Club or by the Kennel Club. The Society shall send a list of Members and their address and those of Branch Members where appropriate, to the KC. with their Annual Returns.

RULE 4. ADMISSION / RESIGNATION.

a) The election of Members shall be vested in the Committee.

b) A candidate for admission shall have a proposer and a seconder, both of whom are members. Applications for membership and current subscription fee must be sent to the Secretary, who shall include the names of the applicants, together with those of their Proposers and Seconders, on the agenda of the next committee meeting.

c) A simple majority of those Committee members present at the meeting shall be sufficient for election to the membership of the Club. On admission to the Club all new members shall receive a copy of the rules.

d) Membership shall be effective from the date of application, except unless the Committee at their next meeting decide against acceptance of any application, in which case all properties of the Club held by the unsuccessful applicant shall be returned to the Secretary. Appropriate fees shall be returned to unsuccessful applicants.

e) No reason shall be given for rejection but a rejected candidate may reapply for election after two years.

f) Each member shall be entitled to one vote immediately upon acceptance of membership. In the case of joint memberships each member of the partnership shall be entitled to one vote. Proxy votes are not allowed.

g) Any member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42.j.(5)and/or any member whose dog(s)is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42.j.(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the Club for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification.

h) The terms of membership are as follows: -

i) Single, Annual, 5 Year or Life Membership.

ii) Joint Annual, 5 Year or Life membership. Which shall be taken to mean Husband & Wife, two joint owners of an exhibit or two persons living in the same household.

iii) A Family Membership.

iv) Other Membership combinations shall be at the discretion of the Committee.

i) Any Member shall be able to withdraw from the Club on giving or sending notice of his / her intention in writing to the Hon. Secretary. Any Member so leaving the Club shall not be entitled to receive any money back he / she may have paid to the Club, during his / her Membership or have any claim against the Club. Any property of the Club held by the resigning Member must be returned with that resignation at no cost to the Club.

RULE 5. SUBSCRIPTIONS.

a) The annual Membership Subscription shall be such amount as determined at a General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club.

b) Subscriptions are payable to the Secretary on the 1st. January each year.

The subscriptions of new members joining after the 1st. October shall carry through the ensuing year.

c) If the subscription of any member shall remain unpaid after the 1st. May his / her name shall be removed from the list of Members and thereon ceases to be a Member of the Club. Reapplication for Membership shall be at the discretion of the Committee

d) In recognition of services rendered to the South - Western Great Dane Club by any person(s), the Committee may recommend to the Annual General Meeting that such a person(s) be granted Honorary Life Membership.

e) The payment of the subscription shall be distinct acknowledgement of and acquiescence to the Rules of the Club.

RULE 6. MANAGEMENT.

a) The management of the Club shall be vested in the hands of the Committee, which shall have power to deal with all matters relating to the management of the Club not provided for in the Rules and whose decision shall be final.

b) The Committee shall consist of a President, a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and not more than twelve other members.

In the Chairman’s absence the Vice-chairman shall undertake the duties of and assume the powers of the Chairman.

c) Committee meetings shall be held at such time and place as deemed necessary, except that not more than four months shall elapse between meetings. At least fourteen days notice in writing, along with an agenda shall be given to all Committee members. Seven members shall constitute a quorum.

d) If a Committee Member is absent from three consecutive Committee meetings and fails to offer an explanation considered by the remaining Members to be of a satisfactory nature, that person shall be deemed to have resigned and shall not be eligible for election to any Committee post for a further two year period following the next A.G.M.

e) If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Club be injurious to the character or interests of the Club, 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 of the Club 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