The Association shall be called The North Western Counties Field Trials Association and its objects shall be, by means of field trials, to improve the performance of working gun dogs and to encourage their true purpose of finding and retrieving game in the field.
The Association shall consist of a President, Vice President and such number of honorary members as the Association from time to time, at the Annual General Meeting shall determine, and an unlimited number of ordinary members.
The Association affairs shall be managed by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and a committee of not more than fourteen elected members, including office bearers, seven of whom shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting which must be held by the end of May. The following officers and committee shall have full voting rights – Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee. Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary but at least every six months. A quorum for Committee Meetings shall be five. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members on to the Committee 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. No individual who has been a member for less than six months may be elected on to the Committee. The Committee shall have the power to deal with any matter which may arise and is not provided for in the rules.
The Committee at their first meeting after the Annual General Meeting shall elect a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and any other official deemed necessary to ensure the successful organisation of the Association’s affairs. These officers, which may be co-joined, shall be held during the pleasure of the Committee.
The Committee shall have the power to appoint sub-committees.
The Annual Subscription shall be such amount as agreed by members in General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club.
A Banking Account shall be held in the name of the Association at the National Westminster Bank, Garstang, into which all revenue of the Association shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signatures of the Treasurer and Secretary.
It is the Committee’s responsibility to ensure that the Association’s affairs are managed and regulated in accordance with Kennel Club rules and Kennel Club Field Trial regulations.
In the event of the Chairman being absent from committee, the Vice Chairman shall preside. In the absence of both, any member of committee shall preside and subscribe the minutes thereof.
Committee Meetings shall be held in such places and at such times as shall be required by the Chairman or Secretary and shall be called at the instance of either.
The minutes of the preceding meeting shall be read and approve at the next similar meeting.
Any question, other than that of misconduct, shall be decided by the majority of those present, the Chairman in the case of parity having a deciding vote.
Any business, other than that on the agenda, must be referred to the Chairman, who may then ask the meeting if it is agreeable to the item being considered.
The nature of business at General Meetings shall be to receive the report of the Committee and Balance Sheet, to elect officers and to discuss any resolution duly placed on the agenda of which prior notice has been given to the Hon. Secretary. No business shall be transacted at an 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 shall be given to members in writing at least twenty eight days prior to the meeting. Items for inclusion on the agenda will be required by the Secretary fourteen days prior to the meeting. The agenda will be circulated at the meeting.
The rules of the Association shall not be altered except at an Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for such purpose. Notice of any proposed alteration must be given to the Secretary, in writing, at least twenty eight days prior to the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. Intimation of proposed alteration must be given to the members at least fourteen days prior to the meeting. The issue shall be decided by a majority vote.
Kennel Club approval is required before any alterations are valid.
In the event of twenty members signing a requisition for a Special General Meeting and specifying the purpose thereof, such meeting shall be held within one month. The notice shall specify the business and discussion be confined to such business.
Candidates for membership shall be proposed by one existing fully paid-up member and seconded by another. The election of member of the Association shall be vested solely in the committee.
New members shall not receive preference in any draw until six months has elapsed after payment of joining fee and subscription.
Subscriptions shall be payable by February 1st and unless payment has been received by the end of the month membership shall cease until a re-joining fee and arrears in subscription have been paid. The Association allows only single membership, each carrying one vote. Where joint ownership of dogs is involved, only one of the owners needs to be a fully paid-up member of the Association to enter draws, receive preference in them and run in the resulting competition.
Any member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j(4) and/or any member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42j(8) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the Association for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification. 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, 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 from the date of such Meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such condition as the Kennel Club may impose.
In the event of the Association being wound up it will obtain from donors of challenge cups an acknowledgement that the gift is made outright to the Association and all assets shall be disbursed at the discretion of the Committee with final approval of the Kennel Club.
The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the rules and regulations of the Association and in all matters related to club matters and to Field Trials.
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 Kennel Club regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title Societies and Breed Councils and the Affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities be forward 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.
The association shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
The association must make a list of members and their addresses available of inspection if so requested by the members of the Association or by The Kennel Club.
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.
