Fast Track: Copy & Paste

Copy the text from the form, paste it into an email, and send it to:
midshiresbeardedcollie@gmail.com

Membership Year & Subscriptions

Annual Membership Year: August 1st to July 31st.

Early Payment Incentive: Any first-time subscription paid between May 1st and July 31st covers the remainder of the current year plus the entire following year.

Name (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss/Mx/Other):

Address:

Post Code:

Telephone (Home):

Email:

Mobile:

Kennel Club Affix:

Return Form & Payment to:

Please return the completed Application Form, along with your cheque or payment confirmation, to the Treasurer: Mrs R Salter, Shire Hill, Retford Road, Tuxford, NG22 0NW

Data Protection and Consent: Submission of the completed application form confirms your explicit consent for the Club to use and store your personal data (name, address, and other details) for the following purposes:

• Inclusion in membership lists and Club documents circulated to members


• Use in the normal course of the Club’s activities


• Inclusion on the Joint Breed Club Liaison Committee's mailing list Electronic storage of your details for membership administration

1. OBJECTS

The Club shall be named the Midshires Bearded Collie Club. Its object is to promote and protect the interests of Bearded Collies, their owners, breeders, and exhibitors, with a particular focus on the area covered by the Club as defined in Rule 18.

2. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

2A. COMPOSITION: The Club Officers shall be the President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and Membership Secretary, in addition to a Committee of eight members.

2B. ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICE: Officers and Committee Members shall be elected, when necessary, by postal or electronic ballot of all paid-up members before the Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year. The results of the ballot shall be announced at the AGM, and those elected shall take office from the conclusion of that meeting.

The terms of office shall be:

• Chairman and Vice Chairman: Two years, elected in alternate years.


• Treasurer and Secretary: Two years, elected in alternate years (the Chairman’s and Treasurer’s terms running concurrently).


• President and Membership Secretary: Three years.


• Committee Members: Two years, with four members retiring annually.

Retiring Officers and Committee Members are eligible for re-election.

2C. ELIGIBILITY: No person, whilst an undischarged bankrupt, may serve on the Committee or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.

3. MANAGEMENT, VOTING, AND CO-OPTION

The management of the Club shall be entrusted to the Officers and Committee. All Officers and Committee Members shall have full voting rights at meetings, except the President. The Chairman shall have a casting vote only.

Quorum: A quorum for Committee meetings shall be eight members, including at least three voting Officers.

Co-option: The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members to fill vacant positions between annual ballots. Co-opted members shall hold office only until the next annual ballot.

Eligibility: No individual who has been a member for less than one year before the closing date for nomination may be elected to the Committee.

4. NUMBER AND RESIDENCY OF MEMBERS

The number of members is unlimited. Membership will be by application to the Membership Secretary (subject to any rules or decisions made by the Kennel Club).

5. MEMBERS' VOTING RIGHTS

Every single member shall be entitled to one vote. Joint members shall be entitled to one vote for each of the two individuals. Voting rights commence two calendar months after the Membership Secretary accepts the membership.

Junior members (aged six to eighteen years) shall be accepted but will not have voting rights in postal/electronic ballots or at Special or Annual General Meetings.

6. PROPERTY

The property of the Club shall be vested in the Committee. A General Meeting shall be called in the event of the Club ceasing to exist, to decide on the disposal of the Club's assets. The outcome of the meeting will be notified to the Kennel Club.

7. ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

7A. BANKING: Banking Accounts shall be held in the name of the Club at a recognised banking institution. All Club revenue shall be paid into these accounts. Withdrawals (including cheques and electronic payments) require the signature/authorisation of the Treasurer and one other Club Officer (the two authorised officers must not be partners or related).

7B. AUDIT: Accounts shall be certified annually either by one qualified accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience, and shall be presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting. The accounts shall include an itemised breakdown of memberships at the end of the financial year.

7C. DISSOLUTION: If the Club is wound up or ceases to be a Registered Society under Kennel Club Regulations, a final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the Club's property shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months. The persons named as the Officers and Committee on the last return furnished to the Kennel Club will be held responsible for the proper winding up of the Club.

8. SUBSCRIPTIONS

The annual subscription shall be an amount agreed upon by the members at the Annual General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club.

Annual subscriptions are due on 1st August. No member whose subscription is unpaid by the due date is entitled to any of the privileges of membership. If the member fails to pay the outstanding subscription within two calendar months of the due date, their name will be removed from the register of members. Acceptance back onto the register will be dependent upon a new application and payment of arrears or a joining fee.

9. SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION OF MEMBERSHIP

9A. AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION: Any Member suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j(4) and/or any Member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42(j)8 shall automatically cease to be a member of the Club for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification.

9B. EXPULSION PROCESS: If the conduct of any Member is deemed, in the opinion of the Committee, to be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Club, the Committee may call a Special General Meeting (SGM) to resolve the Member's expulsion. Notice of the SGM shall be sent to the accused Member, giving particulars of the complaint and advising the time, date, and place of the Meeting so they may attend and offer an explanation. If a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting at the SGM, the Member's name shall be forthwith erased from the list of Members. The expelled Member may, within two calendar months, appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions as the Kennel Club may impose.

9C. REPORTING TO THE KC: If the Club expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog shows, trials, or competitions, the Club shall report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any required particulars.

10. FINANCIAL YEAR

The financial year for the Club will be from 1st August to 31st July. The Annual General Meeting will be held before 30th November.

11. ANNUAL, GENERAL, AND SPECIAL MEETINGS

11A. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM): The AGM shall be held to receive the Committee's report, the certified Balance Sheet, and to discuss any resolutions duly placed on the Agenda with prior notice to the Secretary. The results of postal/electronic ballots shall be announced. No other business shall be transacted except routine matters or those the Chairman deems urgent and essential.

Notice & Agenda: One calendar month's notice of the meeting shall be delivered by post or electronic means to all members. Items for inclusion on the agenda must be received by the Secretary not less than fourteen days before the date of the meeting. The Agenda shall be circulated to members at the meeting.

11B. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING (SGM): An SGM shall be summoned by the Secretary if more than twenty percent (20%) of members send signed requisitions clearly stating the subject to be discussed and requesting the SGM. One calendar month's notice shall be given by post or electronic means to all members. (*The twenty per cent shall be calculated by reference to the total membership at the end of the last financial year as stated in the certified Balance Sheet.)

12. ALTERATION OF RULES

The Rules of the Club shall not be altered except at a General Meeting, the Agenda for which contains specific proposals to amend the Rules. Any proposed alteration to the Rules shall not be brought into effect until the Kennel Club has been advised of and has approved the alteration.

13. K.C. FEES AND RETURNS

The Officers acknowledge that during January each year, the Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club (whether by the Secretary or by direct debit) for continuation of registration. By 31st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club Regulations, will be forwarded to the Kennel Club. The Officials also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any changes to the Secretary of the Club which may occur during the course of the year.

14. DISPUTES

The Kennel Club will be the final court of appeal in all matters of dispute.

15. FEDERATION

The Club will not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.

16. MEMBERSHIP LISTS

The Club shall send a list of members and their addresses to the Kennel Club with the Club's Annual Returns. An up-to-date list of members shall be made available for inspection upon request by members of the Club or by the Kennel Club.

17. JUDGES LISTS

The Club acknowledges that it is required to produce a list of judges each year, which must be submitted to the Kennel Club as part of the Club's Annual Returns. The Judges List shall be divided into five parts: A1, A2, A3, and B, with the following purposes:

• A1 List: Persons supported by the Club who have previously been approved by the Kennel Club and have awarded Challenge Certificates in the Breed.


• A2 List: Persons supported by the Club to award Challenge Certificates and who have been approved by the Kennel Club to do so.


• A3 List: Persons supported by the Club to award Challenge Certificates in the Breed but who, as yet, have not been approved by the Kennel Club.


• B List: Persons supported by the Club to judge the Breed without Challenge Certificates.

Process: The Committee shall provide the minimum qualifications required for applicants for each part of the List. Membership of the Club is not a prerequisite for inclusion in the List. Applications shall be received by the Secretary each year. The List shall be prepared by a Judges Sub-Committee comprising members of the Committee and containing at least 75% of persons who award Challenge Certificates in the Breed.

General Welfare

All premises housing dogs shall be well fenced, clean, and warm. Dogs must be provided with adequate food, water, and clean dry bedding, allowed exercise, and human companionship. Under no circumstances should they be restricted to a confined space for more than a few hours.

Regular grooming, bathing, and companionship are essential for the dog's well-being and are as vital as exercise. Veterinary assistance should be sought without hesitation; the welfare of the animal must always come before monetary consideration.

Breeding

1. Equal weight must be given to type, temperament, health, and soundness. Nervous or aggressive dogs are not satisfactory as pets or breeding stock.


2. All breeding should aim at the improvement of the breed. Members should discourage breeding from clearly inferior specimens.


3. If defects occur, members should take all possible steps to give publicity to the fact to help the breed community.


4. Members are strongly recommended to utilize BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia and Eye Testing schemes.


5. Appropriate endorsements (e.g., "not to be bred from") should be placed on registrations where necessary, such as predominantly white puppies.


6. Bitches should not be bred before age 2 or after age 8, with a maximum of 4 litters per lifetime.


7. No member should breed a litter or provide stud services unless they have the time, facilities, and commitment to ensure the well-being of the dam and puppies.

Sales & Rehoming Standards

General Conduct

Members should refrain from making unfair or untrue statements about the dogs or practices of others. All exhibits should be clean and in good condition. Judges are expected to produce a critique after each appointment to assist the Committee and exhibitors.

Members shall keep accurate records of breeding and registrations, ensuring no false information is given to the Kennel Club. Officers and Committee members are always available to help members with queries or problems.