Constitution and Rules (Amended A.G.M. 2004)
1. Name: The club shall be called "The Labrador Retriever Club of Northern Ireland".
2. Objects: To promote the breeding and owning of Labrador Retrievers, to define and publish a description of the true type, to urge the adoption of such type on owners, breeders, judges etc. as the standard of excellence by which Labradors should be judged; including promotion of field trials and working tests, offering special prizes at dog shows and the encouragement of novice owners, and to adopt all means as may be deemed advisable for the encouragement of the breed as a dual purpose dog.
3. The club shall consist of an unlimited number of members whose names and addresses shall be kept by the Hon. Secretary in a book which shall be open to inspection by the members.
The society must make a list of members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by members of the Society or by the Kennel Club.
4a. The Officers of the Club shall be a President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Asst Secretary & Hon. Field Trial Secretary.
4b. The property management and affairs of the club shall be in the hands of a Committee consisting of a total of 12 members to be elected at the Annual General Meeting, including the Officers of the Club, excluding the President and Vice-Presidents.
4c. The Committee shall maintain a Trophy List.
4d. The Committee to have the power to fill vacancies occurring in any of these positions, and the Committee shall have the power to appoint Sub-Committees and to delegate its power to such committees.
4e. The Committee shall also have the power to interpret by-laws and to decide upon all matters in dispute or not provided for by the rules.
4f. Five members shall form a quorum at committee meetings.
4g. The following officers shall have no voting rights (unless club members), President, Vice-Presidents and Junior Members.
In the event of a tie the chairman has an additional vote.
4h. Meetings of the Committee shall be held as deemed necessary.
Election Of Officers And Committee
5a. This shall be by members present and entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting.
5b. The Officers and Committee to be elected annually.
5c. The Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Assistant Secretary, Hon. Field Trial Secretary and the balance up to twelve as elected at the Annual General Meeting.
5d. A Show Committee consisting of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Assistant Secretary and the balance up to eight as elected at the Annual General Meeting.
5e. A Field Trial Committee consisting of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Assistant Secretary, Hon. Field Trial Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and the balance up to nine as elected at the Annual General Meeting.
5f. No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the committee or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.
Membership
6a. Candidates for membership shall be proposed and seconded by two members and ratified by the Committee or at a General Meeting of the club. The proposal to be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the meeting and their decision in the matter to be final, except that an appeal may be made against a rejection to the annual general meeting whose decision by a simple majority shall be final.
6b. On admission of each new member, the Hon. Secretary shall notify him or her to that effect and furnish him/her with a copy of the rules of the club and a /trophy list.
6c. The annual subscription shall be such amount as agreed by the members at the Annual General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club, payable on the 1st January each year or with membership application form. Applications refused will have their money refunded. No one shall be entitled to the privileges of membership whose subscription is not paid by April 6th.
6d. Voting Rights: Each member shall be entitled to one vote immediately upon acceptance of membership. Each member of a partnership one vote. Joint membership restricted to family members only. Junior members up to 16 years (nonvoting). Postal/proxy votes not allowed. Voting shall be by a show of hands as decided by a majority at a meeting.
6e. If a member has not paid his/her subscription by the following year's AGM he/ she automatically ceases to be a member of the club and if any such member of the club wishes to rejoin, they should pay their arrears as a joining fee.
7a. The financial year shall be from 1st January to 31st December. A banking account shall be opened in the name of "The Labrador Retriever Club of Northern Ireland", and all club money lodged in this account. All payments are to be made by cheque and signed by any two of the Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Field Trial Secretary and Hon. Treasurer. The Committee shall have power to invest monies lodged in the same manner as trustees.
7b. Accounts must be certified annually and presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting. Accounts must be audited by either one qualified accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience.
7c. Annual Returns To The Kennel Club
The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, Maintenance To 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 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 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.
8a. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in the month of January, February or March at such time and place as the Committee may appoint, giving at least one month's notice in writing.
8b. To discuss any resolutions placed on the agenda of which prior notice has been given to the Hon. Secretary. No business shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the Agenda, with the exception of routine matters or those which in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting are urgent.
Notice of such meetings will be given to members in writing with a copy of the Agenda a calendar month before the meeting.
Items for the Agenda must be with the Hon. Secretary by December 1st prior to the Annual General Meeting.
9. A Special General Meeting may be called at any time at a week's written notice by the Committee or by the Hon. Secretary on receiving a requisition duly signed by at least six members. Nine members shall form a quorum at any General Meeting.
10. Points Trophies. Only Championship and Open Shows and Open Stakes held under English Kennel Club rules will count towards Points Trophies. Claims must be received by the Hon. Secretary by the first Wednesday in February. Claims will be evaluated by the relevant committee whose decisions will be final.
Championship Shows
1st place - 6 points, 2nd place - 4 points, 3rd place -2 points. Best of breed - 12 points extra.
Open Shows
1st place - 3 points, 2nd place - 2 points, 3rd place - 1 point. Best of breed - 6 points extra
24 dog open stake
1st place - 6 points, 2nd place - 4 points, 3rd place - 2 points
12 dog open stake
1st place - 3 points, 2nd place - 2 points, 3rd place - 1 point
IGL championship
1st place - 12 points, 2nd place - 8 points, 3rd place - 6 points Res - 4 points, DoM - 2 points
11. Expulsion Of Members
Any member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j(4) and/or disqualified under kennel club rules a42(8) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the society for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification. If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the committee of the society be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the society, the committee of the society 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 Society 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, 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 society except that he/she may, within two calendar months from the date of such meeting, appeal to the kennel club upon and subject to such condition as the kennel club may impose.
12. The Committee shall maintain a list of qualified Judges approved at the Annual General Meeting. A copy shall be sent to the Kennel Club as part of the club's annual returns. Judges lists shall be divided as follows:
Al list - must indicate persons whom the club would support and who have previously been approved by the Kennel Club to award Challenge Certificates.
A2 list - must indicate persons whom the club would support to award Challenge Certificates but, who as yet, have not been approved by the Kennel Club.
B list - must indicate persons the club would support to judge the breed without Challenge Certificates.
The lists are to be compiled as recommended by the Labrador Breed Council. The Hon. Secretary shall select names when required by show and field promoting societies. It is the duty of the Committee to arrange training for potential judges.
13. The Kennel Club shall be recognised as the final court of appeal in all matters affecting the Club.
14a. Should for any reason the Club cease to exist, it's cups at the time of dissolution shall be handed to the Kennel Club for safe keeping and to observe the wishes of the donors in so far as may be possible.
14b. The assets and property of the Club shall be disposed of as directed at a Special Meeting called for the purpose and the proceeds shall be sent to "The Guide Dogs For The Blind". The outcome of the meeting shall be notified to the Kennel Club.
14c. Donors of trophies must give acknowledgement that they are outright gifts to the club, in writing.
15. The Club must not join any Federation of Clubs or Societies.
16. Any payment of the annual subscription will entitle a member to enjoy every benefit the club can impart, so is his/her acquiescence in the rules furnished to him/ her distinctly implied.
17. Any member who shall cease to belong to the club either by resignation or otherwise shall have no claim upon or be entitled to participate in any of the effects of property belonging to the club, nor to have any part of his or her annual subscription refunded.
18. The foregoing rules shall not be added to or altered or amended except at the Annual General Meeting, notice of such proposed alterations and additions to be given in writing as in rule 8b. Any alterations and additions must be approved by the Kennel Club before becoming effective.
