BERGAMASCO CLUB UK

(hereinafter called “The Club” and commonly known as B.C.U.K.)

Updated 09.05.2021 due to name change from Bergamasco Owners and Friends Fraternity to
Bergamasco Cub UK.

PRINCIPLES AND CONSTITUTION – Dated 31.5.2014

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
1. To encourage, promote and protect the breeding of Bergamascos to ensure the
  maintenance of good temperament, structure and health
2. To protect and advance the development of the breed
3. To ensure that all Members and Breeders accept The Kennel Club Standard for the breed
4. To abide by the health requirements laid down by The Kennel Club and by the proposed Club
5. To give help and assistance to all Members in respect of maintaining these aims and objectives
6. To arrange training/seminars to Members’ requirements
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
The Society shall consist of: The President, The Chairman, The Hon Secretary and The Hon
Treasurer and a Committee of maximum 8 Members and an unlimited number of Members.
COMMITTEE
The management of BCUK shall be in the hands of the following Officers of BCUK:-
The Chairman, The Hon Secretary and the Hon Treasurer and a Committee consisting of a
maximum of 8 elected Committee Members, of which one includes an appointed Health and
Welfare Officer.

All Officers and Committee and The President shall have full voting rights at Committee and
General Meetings. The Chairman has the casting vote should one be required.

All roles are without payment or allowances.
There will be a minimum of two Committee meetings per year.

A Quorum for Committee meetings must consist of a minimum of 5 Members, of which a
minimum of any 2 of the Officers must be present.

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 BCUK at which an
election of Officers and Committee takes place. Co-opted Committee Members shall have
voting rights at Committee meetings.

No individual who has been a Member for less than 1 year may be elected onto the Committee.
2
MEMBERSHIP AND ELECTION OF MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE
1. BCUK is open to owners of Bergamascos and to those interested in the welfare and
  development of the breed and who abide by the Kennel Club Code of Ethics and the objectives
  of BCUK.
  Candidates for membership shall be proposed by one existing fully paid-up Member and
  seconded by another, following payment of subscription. Should the request not be seconded
  and Membership refused, then a full refund of the subscription paid will be made.
2. Election of the Committee shall be at the AGM of the Club. Committee Memberships last for 3
  years.
  One Officer will retire each year. The first Officer to retire, at the 2014 AGM will be the Hon
  Secretary, the second Officer to retire at the 2015 AGM will be the Hon Treasurer and the third
  Officer to retire at the 2016 AGM will be the Chairman.
  Retiring Officers are eligible for re-election.
  Candidates for the Committee and Officers must be proposed and seconded by fully paid up
  Members and their candidature to be notified in writing to the Secretary 30 days prior to the
  AGM.
  Members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election every 3 years
  The President shall be elected by the Officers and Committee for a period of 3 years.
3. Voting at the AGM: Election of Committee Members and Officers to be by a show of hands. The hands to be counted by two persons nominated at the Meeting and the result announced by the Chairman.
4. Vacancy. Should any Committee Member be unable to serve, for any reason, the position
  should be declared vacant. Should any Officer be unable to serve, for any reason, the vacancy
  shall be filled from within the Committee until the next Annual General Meeting when an election will take place.
  Should any Officer be absent for 3 (three) consecutive Committee meetings, without reasonable excuse, the position shall be declared vacant and continue so until the next Annual General Meeting, with any Officer vacancy being filled from within the committee.
5. Co-Option. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt any eligible Member to the Committee in addition to their number, until the next AGM. An eligible Member is one who has been a full Member for a minimum of one year.
LIST OF MEMBERS
An up to date list of Members and their addresses must be maintained and, if so requested,
made available for inspection by the Kennel Club and Members of the Society.

A declaration of the number of Members of the Society must be made with the Annual Returns.
VOTING RIGHTS
Each Member shall be entitled to one vote after 6 months membership

Postal votes/Proxy votes are not allowed

Voting shall be by a show of hands as decided by majority at the Meeting

Joint Memberships: one vote for each Member of the partnership.

Junior Members: A junior Member is one who is aged 16 or under, or who is 18 and under and in
full time education. Junior Members have no voting rights.

Honorary Memberships may be accepted under the following guidelines:
1. Recommendations as to who and why are to be approved at the next Committee meeting. They must be nominated and seconded and approved by a majority.
2. There will be no subscription payment
3. Honorary Members have no voting rights.
CLUB PROPERTY
The property of BCUK shall be vested in the Committee. In the event of BCUK ceasing to exist, a final General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of BCUK’s assets and the outcome of the meeting notified to the Kennel Club.
If BCUK is wound up or ceases to be a Registered Society under these Regulations, a final statement of account with a record of the disposal of the property of BCUK shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months and the persons names as Officers and Committee of BCUK will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of BCUK.
BCUK will obtain written acknowledgement from donors of cups and trophies that are given as outright gifts to BCUK.
CLUB ACCOUNTS
1. A Banking Account shall be held in the name of The Bergamasco Owners and Friends Fraternity (name changed to Bergamasco Club UK May 2021) at the Co-operative Bank plc, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, into which all revenue of BCUK shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signatures of:-
  1. The Chairman
  2. The Hon Treasurer
  3. a nominated Committee Officer, with a mandatory ‘any two signatures from those three’ required.
    No two signatories are allowed in the same household.
    BCUK has decided not to have an online Banking Account.
2. The BCUK Accounts will be certified annually and presented to the Members at the Annual General Meeting.
  The certification of the accounts will be carried out by one qualified accountant or two unqualified
  Individuals with accountancy experience. The certification must be independent from those who prepare the accounts.
3. A copy of the annual statement of accounts is to be made available on request to Members 14 days prior to the AGM. Additionally, the annual statement of accounts will be available for inspection by Members at the Annual General Meeting.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
The annual subscription shall be for the calendar year 1st January to 31st December 31st, with the exception of the first year in being which shall be for a period of 18 months from now (6th July 2013 until 31st December 2014).
The amount due will be reviewed annually by the Hon Treasurer and any recommended amendments put forward to Members at the Annual General Meeting.
No Member whose subscription is unpaid is entitled to any of the privileges of membership and if the Member shall fail to pay outstanding subscriptions by the end of July of the appropriate calendar year, his/her name shall be automatically erased from the register. Acceptance back onto the register will be dependent upon a new application and payment of arrears.
Once Members have been accepted for membership and providing they continue to pay their membership subscriptions at the correct time, they cannot be refused renewal of membership. With the exception of default on subscriptions, the only way to remove a Member from the BCUK register is by following the procedure defined in Section 10.
EXPULSION OF MEMBERS
Any Member who shall be disqualified under Kennel Club A11.j(5) and/or Kennel Club Rule A11.j(9) shall Ipso facto cease to be a Member of BCUK.
If the conduct of any Member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of BCUK, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of BCUK, the Committee of BCUK 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 proposed Club 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, he/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 BCUK, 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.
If BCUK expels any Member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog show, trials or competitions, BCUK must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.
The Kennel Club is the final authority for the interpreting the Rules and Regulations of BCUK in all cases relative to Canine or Club matters.
FINANCIAL YEAR
The financial year of the Club will be from January 1st to December 31, with the exception of the first year which will include the first six months after the inaugural meeting held in 2013 and the whole of 2014.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
An AGM will be held before the end of June each year to:-.
a) receive the report of the Committee and the balance sheet,
b) to elect Officers and Committee and
c) to discuss any proposal duly placed on the Agenda of which prior notice has been given to the Secretary.
Notice will be given to Members by email or by postal letter to those who do not have email.
Notice will also be posted onto the BCUK Website and Members-only Facebook site.
Notice of the AGM will be given to the membership at least 30 days before the date of the AGM.
Items for the agenda, shall reach the Secretary 25 days before the meeting.
The agenda for the AGM, together with the minutes of the previous AGM shall be circulated to Members by post or email, 21 days before the meeting. (Item 12 updated 2.7.2017)
12a SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Hon Secretary if 10 or more Members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting to do so.
The Committee of BCUK is also empowered to call a Special General Meeting.
A notice period of 21 days must be given to Members to inform of a Special General Meeting.
No business other than that detailed on the Agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting.
A quorum of 25% of Members is required at a Special General Meeting.
AMENDMENTS TO RULES
The rules of BCUK may not be altered except at a General Meeting, the notice for which contains specific proposals to amend the rules.
Any proposed alteration to the rules may not be brought into effect until the Kennel Club has been advised and approved the alteration. New rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements shall be adopted immediately.
ANNUAL RETURNS TO THE KENNEL CLUB
The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, the Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Hon 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 shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club. The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any changes of the Hon Secretary of BCUK which may occur during the course of the year.
KENNEL CLUB FINAL AUTHORITY
The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the rules of BCUK in all cases relative to canine or BCUK matters.
FEDERATIONS
BCUK shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs
BANKRUPTCY
No person whilst an un-discharged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.
BREED SOCIETY JUDGES LIST
BCUK will submit a list of Judges each year to the Kennel Club with the Annual Return.