1. NAME
The Club shall be called the BRITISH DALMATIAN CLUB.

2. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Club shall be:
(a) To maintain the well being of the breed with the general public.
(b) To publish the Kennel Club Ltd Standard of the Breed and to urge upon all breeders, owners and judges, the adoption of this as the only recognised Standard by which Dalmatians shall be judged and awarded prizes for excellence.
(c) To support the breeding of pedigree Dalmatians in accordance with the Standard.
(d) To hold shows under Kennel Club Ltd Rules and Regulations and to encourage Kennel Club Ltd registered Canine Societies to provide Dalmatian classes at their shows; offer prizes where appropriate and give support to those shows whose Committees provide a suitable classification and approved Judge for Dalmatians.
(e) To support the agreed Code of Ethics.
(f) To provide social, educational and breed functions for the benefit of Members.

3. CONSTITUTION
The Club shall consist of an unlimited number of Members from which the Committee and Officers are elected.

4. ELECTION OF MEMBERS
Every candidate for Membership shall be proposed and seconded in writing by two Members (not of the same family or partnership) who shall be responsible for the fitness of the candidate. A reference may be required from a Committee Member or District Representative. Election of Members shall be by vote of the Committee, who have the right to refuse membership.

5. MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTION
(a) The level of fees and subscriptions shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club Ltd..
(b) The current Joining Fee and Subscription shall be payable upon election. Thereafter the Subscription shall be payable annually on 1st January.
(c) Those joining on or after 1st October shall remain in Membership until 31st December in the following year.
(d) Members residing within the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man shall be known as Home Members. Those having permanent residence outside these areas shall be known as Overseas Members. Overseas Members receiving Club communications electronically shall pay the same rate of subscriptions as Home Members, otherwise a different rate will be applicable.
(e) The spouse/partner of a Member and other family members at the same address shall pay a reduced subscription. Individual membership for children is available.
(f) Those who have rendered services to the Club, or to the Dalmatian Breed, may be invited to become Honorary Members by a majority vote at an Annual General Meeting from nominees put forward by the Committee. Home Honorary Members will retain their voting rights.
(g) The Treasurer shall remind any Member failing to pay his or her subscription by 1st February. Should the subscription remain unpaid by 28th February he or she will cease to be entitled to any benefits or privileges of Membership, whereupon such names shall be removed from the register of Members.
(h) The Treasurer shall inform the Committee at their next meeting of the names of the lapsed Members.
(i) A person having allowed their Membership to lapse and wishing to rejoin shall be treated as an initial application for Membership.
(j) The Club is required to submit the total number of members to the Kennel Club Ltd with its Annual Returns and maintain an up-to-date list of members names and addresses, and make the list if names available for inspection, if so, requested by any Member or by the Kennel Club Ltd.
(k) Home Members who have paid all subscriptions have the power to vote at any Annual General or Special General Meeting, and elections conducted through the post. Overseas Members shall be entitled to vote at any Annual General or Special General Meeting at which they attend but shall not be entitled to participate in any postal ballot. Members under fourteen years of age on the 1st January in the current year may attend such meetings, but have no voting powers whatsoever.
(l) By renewing their membership, Members agree to abide by the Club rules and Code of Ethics in force at that time.

6. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS
(a) Any Member who shall be disqualified under Kennel Club Ltd Rule A11.i.(5) and/or Kennel Club Ltd Rule A11.j.(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a Member of the Club.
(b) If the conduct of any Member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Club be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Club, the Committee of the Club may at a meeting, the notice convening which, includes as an objective, the consideration of the conduct of the Member, determine that a Special General Meeting of the Club shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her.
(c) 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 Club except that he/she may, within two calendar months from the date of such Meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club Ltd upon and subject to such condition as the Kennel Club Ltd may impose.
(d) When a Member is expelled from the Club under Rules 6(b) and 6(c), the Committee must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club Ltd within seven days and supply any particulars required.
(e) Subject to the foregoing no Member so expelled shall have any claim against the Club, nor be entitled to repayment or any part of his or her subscription, and shall forthwith return to the Club any Cups or Trophies that, being the property of the Club, are in his or her possession at the time of his or her expulsion.

7. COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS
The affairs of the Club shall be conducted by a Committee of not more than fifteen Members and the following Officers, namely Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, all of whom shall be ex-officio Members of the Committee who shall retire every year at the AGM, but shall be eligible for re-election.
No Officer or Committee Member may use their position in any form of advertisement, and the only reference to be on the Club’s Official Note Paper and in its publications.

8. PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS
(a) The President shall be proposed by the Committee for ratification by a simple majority at the AGM, and shall serve a term of three years. The President may attend Committee Meetings, but shall not have voting power. A President may be proposed for a second term of office but not consecutive to their first term. The President shall not hold any other Office of the Club.
(b) Vice-Presidents shall be proposed by the Committee for ratification by a simple majority at the AGM, and elected for life.
(c) Vice-Presidents not elected to the Committee may attend Committee Meetings but shall not have voting power.

9. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS

9.1 Eligibility to be a candidate for the Committee and Officers is as follows:-
(a) A Home Member to be 18 or over at the time of nomination and having a minimum of three years continuous Membership of the Club at the time of nomination.
(b) No more than one Member of the immediate family namely the spouse/partner or family member at the same address, or more than one member of a Kennel Club Ltd Registered Partnership shall stand for or serve as an Officer, or member of the Committee at one time. (This does not include a Registered Separate Interest in one affix, which is not recognised by the Kennel Club Ltd as a Partnership). Should any Member be elected to a Life Office, this shall not in any way hinder a family or partnership Member from seeking election or taking Office.
(c) No Member shall be eligible for, or take part in the election of the Committee if his or her current subscription, or any other monies are outstanding.
(d) No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other Office or appointment within the British Dalmatian Club.

9.2 The Committee shall be elected by postal ballot from a list of nominees who have signified their willingness to stand, and whose eligibility is as 9.1, duly Proposed and Seconded by Members whose nominations were received by the Secretary not later than 7th January prior to the AGM. Existing Committee members seeking re-election need not be proposed and seconded. (If this date 7th January shall fall on a Sunday, then the next day, Monday 8th January will be deemed to be the qualifying date).

9.3 If the candidate after being elected is unable to serve the Committee, the candidate having the next largest number of votes will be elected. If any candidates obtain an equal number of votes the Committee shall elect from these the number required to complete the Committee.

9.4 Any casual vacancy occurring in the Committee in any year, may be filled by the Committee but the person so elected must comply with Rule (9.1).

9.5 The Committee may at any time co-opt any person on to the committee for a specific purpose. Such person(s) shall not have any voting power.

9.6 The Officers shall be elected by a simple majority at the AGM from a list of nominees who eligibility is as 9.1, duly Proposed and Seconded by Members whose nominations were received by the Secretary not later than 7th January prior to the AGM. An incumbent Officer seeking re-election need not be proposed and seconded. (If this date 7th January shall fall on a Sunday, then the next day, Monday 8th January will be deemed to be the qualifying date).
In the event of no nominations for any Officer position having been received by the due date, then nominations will be accepted at the subsequent AGM, if properly Proposed and Seconded, and in accordance with Rule 9.1.

10. POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS
The Committee in its conduct of affairs shall have power to deal with all matters not provided for in the Rules of the Club. The Committee shall have power to appoint sub-committees composed of Members of the Club.
In the event of an emergency, the Chairman shall have power, in conjunction with the Secretary and Treasurer to transact such urgent business as might be transacted at a meeting of the Committee. Such action shall be reported to the Committee as soon as possible and minuted at the next meeting.

11. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee shall meet not less than five times per year, and as often as may be deemed necessary by the Chairman. Whenever possible at least one week’s notice convening a meeting and stating the business of the agenda shall be issued to all Members of the Committee and those District Representatives not elected to the Committee, who have previously notified the Secretary in writing, of a wish to attend to present a specific item.
The quorum at a Committee Meeting shall be six, two of whom shall be an Officer.

12. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
An Annual General Meeting of the Members shall be held, if possible in the first quarter of the year. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:-
(a) To receive from the Committee the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts duly certified on by a firm of Chartered or Chartered Certified Accountants.
(b) To declare the Committee elected in accordance with Rule 9.
(c) To elect its Officers in accordance with Rule 9.
(d) To elect President and Vice-President in accordance with Rule 8.
(e) To elect a firm of Chartered or Chartered Certified Accountants none of whose Partners shall be a Member of the Club.
(f) Any other business that may be necessary for transaction.
Notice of an Annual General Meeting shall be advised to all members in writing in December. Copies of the Minutes, Accounts and Agenda will be sent out twenty one days before the AGM, but no earlier than 1st March.
A quorum to an Annual General Meeting shall be twenty five Home Members having voting power. Notice of any motion to be tabled at an Annual General Meeting shall be given in writing, duly Proposed and Seconded, to the Secretary by 7th January prior to the Meeting, unless this date shall fall on a Sunday, when it should be the next day, Monday. No business hall 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.

13. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
May be convened at any time either by the Committee, or by written requisition, signed by more than fifty Members of the Club, having voting power at the time. The business shall be confined to the particular object for which the meeting is convened. The notice convening the meeting shall be issued to all Members at least fourteen days prior to the date thereof and the quorum shall be forty Home Members having voting power. A majority of two thirds of the votes cast shall be necessary to carry a resolution.

14. JUDGES AND SHOWS
1. The Committee shall cause to be maintained in five parts, viz. (A1) (A2) (A3), (B), (C), a list of Judges. The list must be compiled annually stating the date on which it expires.

List A
Shall consist of those Judges who have the support of the Club and who have previously been approved to award CCs in the Breed and have carried out the appointment.

List A2
Shall consist of those Judges who have the support of the Club and who, if invited to judge by a Society, would in principle be approved by the Kennel Club Ltd to award CCs in the Breed for that occasion.

List A3
Shall consist of those Judges who are recommended by the Club as being suitable to award CCs in the Breed, but are not yet approved by the Kennel Club Ltd for inclusion on an A2 List.

List B
Shall consist of those Judges who have been approved by the Club to judge the Breed at Ch. Shows without CCs or at Open Shows.

List C
Shall consist of those aspiring Judges who have shown an interest in the Breed, have the support of the Club, and meet the Kennel Club Ltd minimum requirements for judges.

The Club shall maintain a Judges’ Roll of Honour comprising those Judges previously included on the Club’s ‘A1’ List and who have indicated their wish to retire from active Judging.

The Committee shall cause to be formed, in accordance with Kennel Club Ltd recommendations, a Judges Sub-Committee to consider nominations for additions to the List of Judges.

The Secretary shall issue to nominees a questionnaire, the completion of which will assist the Judges’ Sub-Committee to determine whether nominees have sufficient experience and knowledge of the Breed to justify their names being added to the list of Judges. The Judges’ Sub-Committee shall present the current Judging Lists at the AGM.

2. The Club shall not incur any financial liability for Dalmatian Classes at any Shows, except in accordance with the objectives of the Club as specified in Rule 2.iv.

3. Breed Supported Entry Classes. The Club will meet the Kennel Club Ltd requirements to support classes for Dalmatians at a minimum of two general or group open shows each year following the criteria set out by the Kennel Club Ltd.

4. Education and Training. The Club actively supports the education and training of judges in accordance with the Kennel Club’s Education Programme (Breed Shows) (as published and amended from time to time).

15. CLUB FUNDS
The Funds of the Club shall be lodged in a Finance House approved by the Committee and shall be in the name of the BRITISH DALMATIAN CLUB. All accounts, other than for ordinary expenditure must be passed by the Committee and all cheques drawn on behalf of the Club shall be signed by the Treasurer and either the Chairman or the Secretary. The Financial Year of the Club shall be from 1st January to 31st December. The certified accounts shall be made available to members 14 days prior to the AGM. Those certifying the accounts shall be unconnected to the committee.

16. TROPHIES
All Trophies shall be vested in the Committee who shall be the Trustees for the said Trophies and any other property of the Club.

17. DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB
The Club shall not be dissolved except by a majority of two thirds of the Home Members voting, who must be present at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose. In the event of the Club being wound up, Club property shall be disposed of as the Committee shall determine.
A final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the property shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club Ltd within six months, and the persons named as Officers and Committee of the Club on the last return furnished to the Kennel Club Ltd will be held responsible by the Kennel Club Ltd for the proper winding-up of the Club.

18. NOTICES
All notices shall be sent to Members by post or email as the Member requests at the address recorded in the register and shall be considered as being duly delivered when such notices are sent.

19. THE KENNEL CLUB
The Kennel Club Ltd shall be the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Club. Its Rules shall apply to the Club and it shall be the final Court of Appeal in all cases relative to Canine or Club matters.
The Club shall not join any Federation of Clubs or Societies.

20. ANNUAL RETURNS TO THE KENNEL CLUB
The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year Maintenance of Title Fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club Ltd by the Secretary for the continuance of Registration and that by 31st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club Ltd Regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies and Breed Councils and the affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities will be forwarded to the Kennel Club Ltd. The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club Ltd of any change of Secretary of the Club which may occur during the course of the year.

21. THE RULES OF THE CLUB
The Rules of the Club may not be altered except by a two thirds majority at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting, notice of which included details of the proposal to alter the Rules. Such alterations shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club Ltd has been advised and given its approval of the alterations.
A copy of the Rules and of any additions or alterations created from time to time shall be supplied to and be binding upon all Members of the Club.