Constitution
1. Title and Object
1a. The club shall be called the Azawakh Association of the United Kingdom and its objects shall be to promote and preserve the Azawakh breed and the breeding/judging of the true type.
2. Management Structure
2a. The Society shall consist of the following officers - President, up to 3 Vice Presidents, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and a Committee of 6 with an unlimited number of Members.
2b. The management of the Association shall be in the hands of the following Officers of the Association: Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected for a term of 3 years and be eligible for re-election.
2c. The Chairman, Treasurer & Secretary shall retire in rotation.
2d.Members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election every 3 years, with 2 members retiring annually.
2e. The President & Vice President(s) shall be entitled to attend and vote at committee meetings and shall be eligible for election every 3 years.
2f. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second (casting) vote.
3. Committee Meetings
3a. Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary but at least twice a year.
3b. A quorum for Committee shall be 5 with at least 2 voting officers present.
3c. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt officers or committee members (with the exception of President & Vice Presidents) in the
event of positions becoming vacant between General Meetings. Those co-opted shall only hold office until the next General Meeting of the Association at which an election of Officers and Committee takes place. Co-opted officers/committee members shall have voting rights at committee meetings.
3d. No individual that has been a member less than 1 year may be elected an officer or committee member. This rule is deemed to have come into force from January 2020.
4. Election of Members
4a. Candidates for membership must be nominated and seconded by existing members and will be accepted by a majority vote at the next committee meeting following their application.
4b. The Association will make an up to date list of members available for inspection by the Kennel Club only as part of the annual returns.
5. Voting Rights
5a. Each member shall be entitled to one vote one year after acceptance as a member. Overseas members are entitled to vote if present
5b. Postal votes/proxy votes are not allowed.
5c. All voting, including election of officers and committee shall be as decided by majority vote at the meeting. Elections will be undertaken by paper ballot.
5d. Junior Memberships: Under the age of 16 do not have voting rights.
6. Club Property
6a. The property of the Association 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.
7. Club Accounts
7a. A Banking Account shall be held in the name of the Association into which all revenue of the Society shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signatures of any two of a possible three officers, none to be resident in the same household.
7b. Accounts will be certified annually and presented to the members for approval at the Annual General Meeting.
8. Subscriptions
8a. The Annual Subscription shall be such an amount as agreed by members in General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club.
8b. No member whose subscription is unpaid is entitled to any of the privileges of Membership and if a Member shall fail to pay outstanding subscriptions by July 1st, his/her name shall be automatically erased from the register. Acceptance back on the register will be dependent upon a new membership application, and the person will be treated as a new member.
9. Expulsion of Members
9a. 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.
9b. 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, in secret paper ballot, 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 of the date of such Meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such condition as the Kennel Club may impose.
9c. If the Association 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
10a. The financial year of the Association shall be from 1 st January to 31 st December. The Annual General Meeting shall be held before the 30th June.
11. Annual General Meeting
11a. Nature of Business to be conducted:-
i) To receive the Secretary’s report.
ii) To receive the Treasurer’s Report.
iii) To elect Officers and Committee members agenda of which prior notice has been given to the Secretary.
11b. No business shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the Agenda.
11c. Notice of Annual General Meeting will be mailed to members no less than 28 days prior to the meeting.
11d. Notification of all general meetings may be sent by email unless otherwise requested by the member.
11e. Items for inclusion on the Agenda for the Annual General Meeting, including nominations for officers and committee must be received by the Secretary in writing 2 months before the meeting
11f. There will be a quorum of 8, including 2 officers and 6 members.
12. Special General Meeting
12a. A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Secretary if 10 members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting. The Committee of the Association is also empowered to call a Special General Meeting.
12b. No business other than that detailed on the agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting.
12c. Notice of Special General meeting will be given to members in writing, 28 days before the meeting.
12d. Notification of all general meetings may be sent by email unless otherwise requested by the member.
12e. There will be a quorum of 10, including 2 officers and 8 members.
13. Amendment to Rules
13a. Rules of the Society may not be altered except at a General Meeting, the agenda for which contains specific proposals to amend the Rules.
14. Annual Returns to the Kennel Club
14a. 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 31 st 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.
14b. 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.
15. Kennel Club Final Authority
15a. The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Association in all cases relative to Canine or Society matters.
15b. The Association shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
15c. 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.
16. Breed Society Judges Lists
16a. The Society shall produce a list of Judges each year, in line with Kennel Club guidelines, and submit this to the Kennel Club as a part of the Association's Annual Returns.
1a. The club shall be called the Azawakh Association of the United Kingdom and its objects shall be to promote and preserve the Azawakh breed and the breeding/judging of the true type.
2. Management Structure
2a. The Society shall consist of the following officers - President, up to 3 Vice Presidents, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and a Committee of 6 with an unlimited number of Members.
2b. The management of the Association shall be in the hands of the following Officers of the Association: Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected for a term of 3 years and be eligible for re-election.
2c. The Chairman, Treasurer & Secretary shall retire in rotation.
2d.Members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election every 3 years, with 2 members retiring annually.
2e. The President & Vice President(s) shall be entitled to attend and vote at committee meetings and shall be eligible for election every 3 years.
2f. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second (casting) vote.
3. Committee Meetings
3a. Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary but at least twice a year.
3b. A quorum for Committee shall be 5 with at least 2 voting officers present.
3c. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt officers or committee members (with the exception of President & Vice Presidents) in the
event of positions becoming vacant between General Meetings. Those co-opted shall only hold office until the next General Meeting of the Association at which an election of Officers and Committee takes place. Co-opted officers/committee members shall have voting rights at committee meetings.
3d. No individual that has been a member less than 1 year may be elected an officer or committee member. This rule is deemed to have come into force from January 2020.
4. Election of Members
4a. Candidates for membership must be nominated and seconded by existing members and will be accepted by a majority vote at the next committee meeting following their application.
4b. The Association will make an up to date list of members available for inspection by the Kennel Club only as part of the annual returns.
5. Voting Rights
5a. Each member shall be entitled to one vote one year after acceptance as a member. Overseas members are entitled to vote if present
5b. Postal votes/proxy votes are not allowed.
5c. All voting, including election of officers and committee shall be as decided by majority vote at the meeting. Elections will be undertaken by paper ballot.
5d. Junior Memberships: Under the age of 16 do not have voting rights.
6. Club Property
6a. The property of the Association 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.
7. Club Accounts
7a. A Banking Account shall be held in the name of the Association into which all revenue of the Society shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signatures of any two of a possible three officers, none to be resident in the same household.
7b. Accounts will be certified annually and presented to the members for approval at the Annual General Meeting.
8. Subscriptions
8a. The Annual Subscription shall be such an amount as agreed by members in General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club.
8b. No member whose subscription is unpaid is entitled to any of the privileges of Membership and if a Member shall fail to pay outstanding subscriptions by July 1st, his/her name shall be automatically erased from the register. Acceptance back on the register will be dependent upon a new membership application, and the person will be treated as a new member.
9. Expulsion of Members
9a. 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.
9b. 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, in secret paper ballot, 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 of the date of such Meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such condition as the Kennel Club may impose.
9c. If the Association 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
10a. The financial year of the Association shall be from 1 st January to 31 st December. The Annual General Meeting shall be held before the 30th June.
11. Annual General Meeting
11a. Nature of Business to be conducted:-
i) To receive the Secretary’s report.
ii) To receive the Treasurer’s Report.
iii) To elect Officers and Committee members agenda of which prior notice has been given to the Secretary.
11b. No business shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the Agenda.
11c. Notice of Annual General Meeting will be mailed to members no less than 28 days prior to the meeting.
11d. Notification of all general meetings may be sent by email unless otherwise requested by the member.
11e. Items for inclusion on the Agenda for the Annual General Meeting, including nominations for officers and committee must be received by the Secretary in writing 2 months before the meeting
11f. There will be a quorum of 8, including 2 officers and 6 members.
12. Special General Meeting
12a. A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Secretary if 10 members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting. The Committee of the Association is also empowered to call a Special General Meeting.
12b. No business other than that detailed on the agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting.
12c. Notice of Special General meeting will be given to members in writing, 28 days before the meeting.
12d. Notification of all general meetings may be sent by email unless otherwise requested by the member.
12e. There will be a quorum of 10, including 2 officers and 8 members.
13. Amendment to Rules
13a. Rules of the Society may not be altered except at a General Meeting, the agenda for which contains specific proposals to amend the Rules.
14. Annual Returns to the Kennel Club
14a. 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 31 st 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.
14b. 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.
15. Kennel Club Final Authority
15a. The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Association in all cases relative to Canine or Society matters.
15b. The Association shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
15c. 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.
16. Breed Society Judges Lists
16a. The Society shall produce a list of Judges each year, in line with Kennel Club guidelines, and submit this to the Kennel Club as a part of the Association's Annual Returns.
Last update: December 4, 2020