- TITLE
The Club shall be called The Japanese Akita Inu Club.
- CLUB OBJECTIVES
To promote and protect the interests of the Japanese Akita Inu in Great Britain. To provide a source through which members and other interested parties can exchange views and seek information regarding the health, welfare or activities of the breed.
- STRUCTURE OF THE CLUB
A Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer will be elected Officers of the Club.
The Committee will consist of a minimum of 4 or maximum of 10 persons.
There will be an unlimited number of members.
There may be a Patron, President and Vice Chairman appointed at the discretion of the committee.
- REGISTRATION & MAINTENANCE OF TITLE
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 the Kennel Club regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies and Breed Committees and the Affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities, will be forwarded to the Kennel Club. The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any change of Secretary of the Club that may occur during the course of the year.
- ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
The method of election for Officers and Committee shall be by secret paper ballot of eligible members present at the Annual General Meeting where names of suitable candidates have been included on the agenda.
A nomination must be made using the official nomination form. A nomination must be proposed by a fully paid-up member, other than the nominee and seconded by one other fully paid-up member, other than the nominee. The nominee must sign and date the official nomination form prior to it being sent to the Secretary so as to confirm their willingness to stand for election.
Nominees must be fully paid-up members and able to meet the following requirements of eligibility.
- Nominee for the position of Officer of the Club must have served as a committee member for at least three consecutive years immediately prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting at which their nomination is an agenda item.
- Nominee for the position of committee member must have been a club member for at least one year immediately prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting at which their nomination is an agenda item.
- All Officers and Committee shall hold office without seeking re-election for a maximum three-year term.
ALL nominations for the position of Officer or committee member shall be required to be received by the Secretary at least 28 days prior to the AGM at which their nomination is intended to be an agended item.
A member shall only be allowed to hold one Office or Committee place at any one time.
Any member tendering resignation from any office that is accepted by committee shall become ineligible for re-election or co-option to any office until a period of two years following the date of resignation has elapsed.
No Committee member shall be allowed to serve as an Officer or Committee member of any other registered breed club or branch of a breed club for the Japanese Akita-Inu.
No person, whilst an un-discharged bankrupt or convicted of fraud, may serve on the Committee of, or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.
- VOTING RIGHTS
Voting rights are granted to members aged 16 years and over.
The Chairman shall be an ex-officio member of committee and will have a casting vote.
The Secretary and Treasurer shall be ex-officio members of committee and have full voting rights.
Duly elected members of committee shall have full voting rights.
Any member attending and voting at Annual General Meetings or Special General Meetings of this Club must have been a member in good standing for not less than one full year following the AGM subsequent to their membership being approved.
Voting at committee meetings will be conducted by those members in attendance at the meeting. However, a committee member restricted by travel or employment obligations will be permitted to make a postal vote of ‘Aye’ or ‘No’ or ‘Abstain’ in respect of a specified agenda item for the meeting that they cannot attend. The postal vote should be in the possession of the secretary or chairperson prior to the start of the meeting but where an amendment to the specified agenda item is accepted during the meeting, the postal vote will be automatically void.
- CLUB ACCOUNTS
The club’s fiscal year runs from 1st January to 31st December of each year and accounts will be kept and maintained by the Treasurer.
A banking account shall be opened in the name of the Club into which all revenues of the Club shall be paid. Withdrawals from this account shall only be made on signature from 2 of the 3 following officers: Treasurer, Secretary or Chairman of the Club. Two officers and/or signatories shall not reside in the same household.
A balance sheet showing an income and expenditure account, assets and liabilities of the Club shall be prepared annually and sent with the agenda to all members at least 14 days prior to each Annual General Meeting.
At annual general meetings the club will appoint 2 Examiners. The appointed Examiners must approve the club accounts for the current year prior to the next annual general meeting at which these accounts will be presented.
An income and expenditure account for any function the Club shall hold will be presented by the person elected as organiser of the function to the Committee at its meeting immediately following the function.
- MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee shall meet at least once every quarter to receive a Treasurer’s report and to arrange the affairs of the Club. Five members shall form a quorum.
The Secretary shall receive items for inclusion in each Committee Meeting agenda at least 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.
The Secretary shall send out an agenda for the meeting to all Committee Members. This would normally be received at least 7 days before the meeting.
A date for the next Committee Meeting shall be fixed at the present meeting and this shall be deemed notice of such meeting except that the Chairman may at his discretion, call a committee meeting at any time.
An elected Committee Member who absents him/herself from more than two consecutive Committee meetings without providing due notification and apology to the Secretary will automatically be deemed to have resigned as a Committee Member. The Secretary will confirm such action in writing on instruction from committee.
- POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee shall have the power to call meetings, make necessary byelaws and rescind the same, to arbitrate in matters of dispute within this club and to deal at it’s absolute discretion with the funds and property of this club. The committee shall have the power to: appoint sub-committees to carry out specific activities and co-opt to the Committee (subject to any restriction as detailed within these rules) any person deemed necessary to assist in the benefit of the Breed or the Club, but such co-opted person or persons shall not have any voting rights within the Committee except when co-opted to fill a vacancy. The Committee shall have the power to deal with any question relating to the management of the Club not provided for in these rules. Any decisions taken under this rule will remain operative until the following annual general meeting.
- SUBSCRIPTIONS
All members shall pay an annual minimum subscription fee.
Subscription for membership will run from 1st January to 31st December each year.
The annual subscription payable for membership of this club will be:
Single/Joint £10.00per annum
Family £15.00 per annum (family consists of a maximum of 3 voting members residing at the registered address)
No member whose subscription or other debts to the club remain unpaid shall enjoy any privileges of membership and if any member fails to make such payments by 31st March of the current year shall have their name erased from the list of members.
Annual Subscriptions can be reviewed by the Committee and notification of such changes made available to ALL members prior to the change taking effect.
- MEMBERS
A full list of member’s names and addresses shall be kept and maintained by the Secretary. The list shall be made available for inspection by members or The Kennel Club. Such a request should be made in writing to the Secretary.
Each application for membership must be received on an official club membership form duly endorsed by one current member proposing and one current member seconding the application. The form must be signed by all nominee/s to acknowledge their reading and acceptance to abide by the rules and constitution of the club.
Each application shall be placed before the Committee at its next meeting following the date of application. If the application is approved by a majority vote of those present at that meeting the applicant shall become a duly elected member of the Club and shall be notified accordingly.
The date of the commencement of each membership shall be deemed to be the date of the committee meeting at which the application is approved.
Any member may resign his or her membership by giving notice in writing to the Secretary. Such notice shall, unless otherwise expressed, be deemed to take effect as from the 1st of January next, following receipt thereof.
- GENERAL MEETINGS
Twelve (12) current members shall form a quorum at a General Meeting.
An Annual General Meeting must be held before 30th April in any one year for the following purposes:
- To receive and accept reports from the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer
- To receive and accept annual accounts
- To elect Officers and Committee as appropriate
- To elect 2 examiners of accounts
- To discuss items previously submitted for the agenda
Items for inclusion in the Annual General Meeting agenda must be received by the Secretary 28 days prior to the meeting.
An agenda listing the above items and a statement of accounts shall be sent to all members at least 14 days before the meeting.
No business shall be transacted at an Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the agenda
Special General Meetings: shall be convened at the discretion of the Committee OR within 4 weeks of the Secretary receiving a written request from not less than and signed by 20 fully paid-up members. The Secretary shall state in the notice convening the meeting the subject matter to be discussed.
A two-thirds majority of the members present, and voting shall be necessary to pass any item for which a Special General Meeting has been called.
Should a Special General Meeting be called for the expulsion of a member, rule 13 will apply.
Members shall receive 14 clear days notice of such a meeting and No business other than that notified shall be conducted at a Special General Meeting.
- EXPULSION OF MEMBERS
Any Member who shall be suspended under the 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.
If the conduct of any Member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Club, be injurious or likely to 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 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 Club, except that he/she may within two calendar months from the date of such meeting appeal to the Kennel Club upon subject to such conditions as the Kennel Club may impose.
If the Club expels any Member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, Dog Shows, Trials or Competitions, the Club must report the matter in writing to The Kennel Club within seven days and supply particulars required.
- CLUB JUDGING LIST
The Judges Lists shall be compiled as per Kennel Club current mandatory requirements and shall be submitted to the Kennel Club as part of this Club’s Annual returns.
- CLUB ASSETS, CUPS AND TROPHIES
All property belonging to the Club shall be under the control of the Committee. Any request made by the committee for the return of Club asset or property must be actioned within 7 days of notice by whomsoever holds that property.
All cups, trophies etc., donated to the Club shall become the property of the Club. Each shall be awarded in accordance with the wishes of the donor and shall not be re-allocated without their written approval.
- MEMBERSHIP OF REGISTERED BODIES
This club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
17. WINDING UP
In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, for any reason, the donors of cups and trophies shall be consulted, where possible, and each cup or trophy shall be disposed of in accordance with the wishes of the donor. A meeting of the committee shall be called to decide upon the disposal of any remaining assets after all outstanding liabilities have been discharged. The Kennel Club shall be notified as soon as a decision is made to wind up the Club, and within six months of such date they shall be supplied with a final statement of account and a record showing disposal of all club property.
- ALTERATIONS TO RULES
No alteration of the rules shall be made except at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting, notice of which includes details of the proposal to alter the Rules. Such alteration shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and has given its approval of such alterations.
- KENNEL CLUB FINAL COURT OF APPEAL
The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Club and in all cases relative to Canine or Club matters.