Post by Johnny on Jan 5, 2007 11:47:38 GMT
BROADLAND GREYHOUND & WHIPPET CLUB
RULES FOR MEMBERS
CONTENT:
1. Background
2. Aims & Objectives
3. Membership to Club
4. Club Committee
5. Club President
6. Club Bank Account
7. Members Meetings
8. Club Special Events
9. Fundraising & Charity
10. Links with Other Clubs/Organisations
11. Club Internet/Website
12. Dissolution of Club
1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO CLUB:
The club originated in January to March 2005, and was initially promoted through advertising posters in Pet Stores and Veterinary Practises.
2. AIMS & OBJECTIVES OF CLUB:
The aims and objectives of the club are to establish a friendly, non-competitive organisation that promotes responsible dog ownership within the Norfolk and Suffolk area. The club will achieve this by organising members meetings, a regular newsletter, and outings where possible, and when practical.
3. MEMBERSHIP TO CLUB:
i. Dogs - Responsibility to our dogs is of the utmost importance, and members will be required to always clean up after their dogs if they foul public areas. Dogs will carry identity discs when at club events and in public – this practise being a requirement of UK law.
Member’s will not allow dogs to cause danger to children, members of the public, or farm animals, or put their dogs in the situation where they can cause unnecessarily hurt or distress to either themselves, other dogs, people or property.
Member’s dogs will remain their owners responsibility at all times. The club will not accept responsibility for any dog at club meetings and outings.
ii. Membership to Club (People) – Members of the club will acknowledge that the club’s authority lays with the Committee, and that they will at all times observe the rules of the club, and directions given by Committee members. The Committee reserves the right to relinquish a person’s membership to the club. In this situation the member will have his/her membership subscription returned for the current year, but will not have any refund made of monies paid at meetings or events.
iii. Responsibility of Members – Members will act in a responsible manner, and not bring the club into disrepute, both from within the club membership, or with outside people or organisations. If members do have a problem with a fellow member or outside organisation, and feel that the matter is causing a problem either within the club, or is bringing it’s reputation into disrepute - then they should bring this to the attention of the Committee at the earliest occasion.
iv. Membership Subscriptions – Club members will be required to pay an annual membership, with the 2006-07 rate being set at £8.50 per year, per person, or £10.00 for a family rate. Members will also be required to pay a subscription at certain meetings where a venue has been hired. This will be set at £1.00 per person, under 16’s free.
The Committee will determine subscriptions levels.
v. Zero Tolerance on Intimidation & Discrimination: The club is a friendly, non-political organisation. It fully supports freedom of speech and will allow for the fact that we are all individuals, who have varying viewpoints, and who can equally be affected by the stresses and strains of everyday life.
However, the club will not tolerate bad language, insulting words, intimidation or discriminatory actions found coming from any of its members. This will include discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, religion, age, disability, or other grounds as determined by the Committee.
Members found breaking this rule will be either warned by the Committee, or have their membership relinquished.
In the matter of Intimidation, the Committee reserves the right to expel a member immediately, and in a serious case will report threatening and abusive behaviour to the police.
vi. Duty of Care Towards Children: Children under the age of sixteen are allowed to join our club, but only as part of a family membership, and with the full consent and knowledge of their legally recognised parents or guardians.
Although it does not relate directly to our club, and we are not bound by it - we approve of the provisions laid down for the safety of children under the Protection of Children Act 1999, and acknowledge that we should ensure a duty of care towards family members of our club who are under the age of sixteen.
We will ensure that the following rules be observed:
1. That the parent or guardian of the child should be aware of where their child is, and who they are with, at all times.
2. That the parent or guardian should have knowledge of any internet sites that their child visits (whether that be ours, sites connected to ours, or other sites).
3. That the parent or guardian should ensure that their child does not attend meetings of which they are not aware, and without their prior consent and approval.
4. Children shall not attend an event on their own when only one other adult member of the club is in attendance.
5. The club has a duty to ensure that any child does not suffer abuse whilst being involved in our club, and with it’s members. “Abuse” can mean any of the four acknowledged abuses – physical, sexual, emotional or neglectful abuse. If the club is aware of any of it’s members inflicting abuse towards a child, whether that be at an official club meeting or even outside the club – then the matter will be investigated, and at the Committee’s discretion - disciplinary action will be taken towards that member, if the evidence indicates that abuse has occurred, or even if the majority of the Committee feels that abuse could have occurred. The Committee reserves the right to put the safety of the child first, and in this respect all club members acknowledge that the Committee has the authority to terminate an individual’s membership, even on the grounds of suspected abuse towards a child. If necessary, further action towards the individual will be taken, by referring to the matter to the Police. The facts relating to any incidence like this will be permanently kept on file and held by the club. If the club officials have good reasons to believe that an individual (whether a club member or outside of the club) has a nature that could constitute a serious threat to the well-being or safety of any child connected with our club – then the matter should be referred (via the Committee) to the Police, and if necessary to the Secretary of State, for possible inclusion in the Protection of Children Act’s official list of people deemed unsuitable for working with, or being involved with children.
4. CLUB COMMITTEE:
i. Appointment/Election to: in the first year of existence, club founder, Mr. John Warnes, will appoint members to the Committee. Further members to the Committee will be appointed by the agreement of the existing appointed members. If a member chooses to leave the Committee during the course of their appointment, a replacement member can be coerced on by the existing members.
From the AGM of 2006 onwards, all appointments to the Committee will be by secret ballot at the clubs AGM meeting in March.
In order to stand for a Committee position, members will be required to have achieved at least four months current membership to date.
ii. Membership of: The Committee will be made up of five members, one of which will act in the role of Chairman.
iii. Responsibility of: The Committee are collectively responsible for the day-to day running of the club, and in the planning, co-ordinating, and deciding of club policy, and the arranging of meetings.
The Committee will work as a team. This will enable it’s members to contribute freely, and to the best of their abilities, without feeling of being restricted by titles or roles.
iv. Chairman: This person will be chosen from amongst the Committee for the responsibility of acting as the club’s main spokesperson.
The chosen person will arrange Committee meetings, compile an agenda for such meetings, and record a brief note of discussions held, and agreements reached. Although they will not participate in voting on proposals, they will act to responsibly find common ground between differing views, and if there is a “hung” vote, they will use their experience and conscience, to use a casting vote that will be in the best interests of the club as a whole.
v. Secretary: Will keep an up-to-date list of club members, and ensure correspondence is sent to them as needed.
vi. Club Accounts: A member of the Committee will have the responsibility of paying in any monies raised by the club, and to keep an up-to-date record of the club’s accounts (See also – Club Bank Account)
vii. Role of Committee Members: Members will be expected to act in a responsible manner, and will have the best interests of the club at heart. They will seek to maintain the club’s integrity, values, and will help effect change which will be of benefit to the whole club, and to the dogs we hold in our affection.
They will have the authority to raise subjects for discussion, forward proposals, and to request that a vote to be taken, to determine club policy in any matter accept that which relates to the final dissolution of the club, and the club’s policy on charity. These policies can only be changed with the 90% approval of the whole club, conducted in a secret ballot either at the AGM, or at a specially arranged meeting of the entire club.
viii. Reimbursement of Expenses: Committee members will from time-to-time be able to collectively decide on what expenses they can claim for, relating to work carried out on behalf of the club. An individual’s time, telephone calls, and petrol expenses to and from Committee meetings will not be considered as claimable expenses, but other expenses, such as – use of paper, envelopes, ink cartridges, and special trips (incurring costs) on behalf of club business will be considered and agreed by the Committee.
ix. Member’s Rights to Attend Committee Meetings: All paid-up members of the club will have the right to attend a Committee meeting if they so desire. However, they will need to contact the Chairman/Secretary in the first instance to arrange this, and to have their name put down as a member attending.
5. CLUB PRESIDENT
The Committee of the club will have the authority to appoint a person to be the club’s President.
This person will not be an existing member of the club, but will be well known to have both the interests of dog welfare and greyhounds/whippets at heart. They will only be approached following the full approval of all the five members of the Committee.
The role of the President will be to act as a figurehead for the club. They will normally attend the club’s AGM, and will be kept informed of club activities by being sent a club newsletter, even though there would be no requirement for them to join the club.
6. CLUB BANK ACCOUNT:
The Committee will select one of it’s members to act in the role of Treasurer, and to open a bank account for the club, in the name of “Broadland Greyhound & Whippet Club”.
The Treasurer will be responsible for collecting in all monies due, and to pay them into the bank account. Bank statements will be received and held by the Treasurer, who will also be required to keep a basic record of the club’s accounts, which will be presented in a summarised form at the AGM, and will be available to any member of the club if requested to be viewed. They will remember that it is every member’s right to see these records if requested, and should endeavour to provide such information as soon as is conveniently possible.
7. MEMBERS MEETINGS:
The Committee will arrange meetings for the benefit of members, and (if possible) their dogs.
A list of events will be published in the newsletter, and will be available on the club’s internet site.
8. SPECIAL MEETINGS & EVENTS:
From time-to-time the Committee will supervise and arrange special outdoor meetings and events, ie – attending or staging a dog show, arranging fun days out for members, or club/charity fundraising events.
9. FUNDRAISING & CHARITY:
This will fall into two distinct categories:
i. Club Fundraising: This will raise money specifically for the club, and will include “Bring-and-Buy” sales, raffles, or anything sold at, or profits from the establishment of a club shop.
ii. Charity Fundraising: This will raise money for charitable causes. Registered charities will only be supported if they currently fulfil their statutory obligations, and are not under investigation for bad practises or irregularities by The Charity Commission for England and Wales.
10. LINKS WITH OTHER CLUBS & ORGANISATIONS:
The club may seek to establish regular contact with other like-minded clubs, charities, or organisations, and will seek to maintain contact with them on an ongoing basis. A “Links” section will be maintained on our internet web site.
11. CLUB INTERNET WEB SITE:
The club will seek to establish, run and maintain a website on the internet.
It must be noted however, that as not all members may have access to computers and the internet, then this method of communication will be used as supplementary to the club’s activities, and shall not be used entirely to formulate club policy and decisions.
The internet site can be used to conduct discussions and polls relating to what members would like to see, or places they would like to visit – but the final decision on matters relating to club policy will always rest with the Committee.
12. RULES GOVERNING DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB:
In the event of the dissolution of the club it is hereby stated that all monies in the club’s bank account will be donated to a registered charity.
As the money is property of the club, and not of the individual members of the club – it is both the right and responsibility of all members to see that this occurs. A written receipt for the donation will be received from the charity, and copied and sent to anyone that has been a member of the club within the past year, or any other party that expresses interest in the matter.
Important Note – This rule is not a matter for change or modification at a future date, as it is the most appropriate method of distributing monies held in the name of the club.
THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN AGREED BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE CLUB.
RULES FOR MEMBERS
CONTENT:
1. Background
2. Aims & Objectives
3. Membership to Club
4. Club Committee
5. Club President
6. Club Bank Account
7. Members Meetings
8. Club Special Events
9. Fundraising & Charity
10. Links with Other Clubs/Organisations
11. Club Internet/Website
12. Dissolution of Club
1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO CLUB:
The club originated in January to March 2005, and was initially promoted through advertising posters in Pet Stores and Veterinary Practises.
2. AIMS & OBJECTIVES OF CLUB:
The aims and objectives of the club are to establish a friendly, non-competitive organisation that promotes responsible dog ownership within the Norfolk and Suffolk area. The club will achieve this by organising members meetings, a regular newsletter, and outings where possible, and when practical.
3. MEMBERSHIP TO CLUB:
i. Dogs - Responsibility to our dogs is of the utmost importance, and members will be required to always clean up after their dogs if they foul public areas. Dogs will carry identity discs when at club events and in public – this practise being a requirement of UK law.
Member’s will not allow dogs to cause danger to children, members of the public, or farm animals, or put their dogs in the situation where they can cause unnecessarily hurt or distress to either themselves, other dogs, people or property.
Member’s dogs will remain their owners responsibility at all times. The club will not accept responsibility for any dog at club meetings and outings.
ii. Membership to Club (People) – Members of the club will acknowledge that the club’s authority lays with the Committee, and that they will at all times observe the rules of the club, and directions given by Committee members. The Committee reserves the right to relinquish a person’s membership to the club. In this situation the member will have his/her membership subscription returned for the current year, but will not have any refund made of monies paid at meetings or events.
iii. Responsibility of Members – Members will act in a responsible manner, and not bring the club into disrepute, both from within the club membership, or with outside people or organisations. If members do have a problem with a fellow member or outside organisation, and feel that the matter is causing a problem either within the club, or is bringing it’s reputation into disrepute - then they should bring this to the attention of the Committee at the earliest occasion.
iv. Membership Subscriptions – Club members will be required to pay an annual membership, with the 2006-07 rate being set at £8.50 per year, per person, or £10.00 for a family rate. Members will also be required to pay a subscription at certain meetings where a venue has been hired. This will be set at £1.00 per person, under 16’s free.
The Committee will determine subscriptions levels.
v. Zero Tolerance on Intimidation & Discrimination: The club is a friendly, non-political organisation. It fully supports freedom of speech and will allow for the fact that we are all individuals, who have varying viewpoints, and who can equally be affected by the stresses and strains of everyday life.
However, the club will not tolerate bad language, insulting words, intimidation or discriminatory actions found coming from any of its members. This will include discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, religion, age, disability, or other grounds as determined by the Committee.
Members found breaking this rule will be either warned by the Committee, or have their membership relinquished.
In the matter of Intimidation, the Committee reserves the right to expel a member immediately, and in a serious case will report threatening and abusive behaviour to the police.
vi. Duty of Care Towards Children: Children under the age of sixteen are allowed to join our club, but only as part of a family membership, and with the full consent and knowledge of their legally recognised parents or guardians.
Although it does not relate directly to our club, and we are not bound by it - we approve of the provisions laid down for the safety of children under the Protection of Children Act 1999, and acknowledge that we should ensure a duty of care towards family members of our club who are under the age of sixteen.
We will ensure that the following rules be observed:
1. That the parent or guardian of the child should be aware of where their child is, and who they are with, at all times.
2. That the parent or guardian should have knowledge of any internet sites that their child visits (whether that be ours, sites connected to ours, or other sites).
3. That the parent or guardian should ensure that their child does not attend meetings of which they are not aware, and without their prior consent and approval.
4. Children shall not attend an event on their own when only one other adult member of the club is in attendance.
5. The club has a duty to ensure that any child does not suffer abuse whilst being involved in our club, and with it’s members. “Abuse” can mean any of the four acknowledged abuses – physical, sexual, emotional or neglectful abuse. If the club is aware of any of it’s members inflicting abuse towards a child, whether that be at an official club meeting or even outside the club – then the matter will be investigated, and at the Committee’s discretion - disciplinary action will be taken towards that member, if the evidence indicates that abuse has occurred, or even if the majority of the Committee feels that abuse could have occurred. The Committee reserves the right to put the safety of the child first, and in this respect all club members acknowledge that the Committee has the authority to terminate an individual’s membership, even on the grounds of suspected abuse towards a child. If necessary, further action towards the individual will be taken, by referring to the matter to the Police. The facts relating to any incidence like this will be permanently kept on file and held by the club. If the club officials have good reasons to believe that an individual (whether a club member or outside of the club) has a nature that could constitute a serious threat to the well-being or safety of any child connected with our club – then the matter should be referred (via the Committee) to the Police, and if necessary to the Secretary of State, for possible inclusion in the Protection of Children Act’s official list of people deemed unsuitable for working with, or being involved with children.
4. CLUB COMMITTEE:
i. Appointment/Election to: in the first year of existence, club founder, Mr. John Warnes, will appoint members to the Committee. Further members to the Committee will be appointed by the agreement of the existing appointed members. If a member chooses to leave the Committee during the course of their appointment, a replacement member can be coerced on by the existing members.
From the AGM of 2006 onwards, all appointments to the Committee will be by secret ballot at the clubs AGM meeting in March.
In order to stand for a Committee position, members will be required to have achieved at least four months current membership to date.
ii. Membership of: The Committee will be made up of five members, one of which will act in the role of Chairman.
iii. Responsibility of: The Committee are collectively responsible for the day-to day running of the club, and in the planning, co-ordinating, and deciding of club policy, and the arranging of meetings.
The Committee will work as a team. This will enable it’s members to contribute freely, and to the best of their abilities, without feeling of being restricted by titles or roles.
iv. Chairman: This person will be chosen from amongst the Committee for the responsibility of acting as the club’s main spokesperson.
The chosen person will arrange Committee meetings, compile an agenda for such meetings, and record a brief note of discussions held, and agreements reached. Although they will not participate in voting on proposals, they will act to responsibly find common ground between differing views, and if there is a “hung” vote, they will use their experience and conscience, to use a casting vote that will be in the best interests of the club as a whole.
v. Secretary: Will keep an up-to-date list of club members, and ensure correspondence is sent to them as needed.
vi. Club Accounts: A member of the Committee will have the responsibility of paying in any monies raised by the club, and to keep an up-to-date record of the club’s accounts (See also – Club Bank Account)
vii. Role of Committee Members: Members will be expected to act in a responsible manner, and will have the best interests of the club at heart. They will seek to maintain the club’s integrity, values, and will help effect change which will be of benefit to the whole club, and to the dogs we hold in our affection.
They will have the authority to raise subjects for discussion, forward proposals, and to request that a vote to be taken, to determine club policy in any matter accept that which relates to the final dissolution of the club, and the club’s policy on charity. These policies can only be changed with the 90% approval of the whole club, conducted in a secret ballot either at the AGM, or at a specially arranged meeting of the entire club.
viii. Reimbursement of Expenses: Committee members will from time-to-time be able to collectively decide on what expenses they can claim for, relating to work carried out on behalf of the club. An individual’s time, telephone calls, and petrol expenses to and from Committee meetings will not be considered as claimable expenses, but other expenses, such as – use of paper, envelopes, ink cartridges, and special trips (incurring costs) on behalf of club business will be considered and agreed by the Committee.
ix. Member’s Rights to Attend Committee Meetings: All paid-up members of the club will have the right to attend a Committee meeting if they so desire. However, they will need to contact the Chairman/Secretary in the first instance to arrange this, and to have their name put down as a member attending.
5. CLUB PRESIDENT
The Committee of the club will have the authority to appoint a person to be the club’s President.
This person will not be an existing member of the club, but will be well known to have both the interests of dog welfare and greyhounds/whippets at heart. They will only be approached following the full approval of all the five members of the Committee.
The role of the President will be to act as a figurehead for the club. They will normally attend the club’s AGM, and will be kept informed of club activities by being sent a club newsletter, even though there would be no requirement for them to join the club.
6. CLUB BANK ACCOUNT:
The Committee will select one of it’s members to act in the role of Treasurer, and to open a bank account for the club, in the name of “Broadland Greyhound & Whippet Club”.
The Treasurer will be responsible for collecting in all monies due, and to pay them into the bank account. Bank statements will be received and held by the Treasurer, who will also be required to keep a basic record of the club’s accounts, which will be presented in a summarised form at the AGM, and will be available to any member of the club if requested to be viewed. They will remember that it is every member’s right to see these records if requested, and should endeavour to provide such information as soon as is conveniently possible.
7. MEMBERS MEETINGS:
The Committee will arrange meetings for the benefit of members, and (if possible) their dogs.
A list of events will be published in the newsletter, and will be available on the club’s internet site.
8. SPECIAL MEETINGS & EVENTS:
From time-to-time the Committee will supervise and arrange special outdoor meetings and events, ie – attending or staging a dog show, arranging fun days out for members, or club/charity fundraising events.
9. FUNDRAISING & CHARITY:
This will fall into two distinct categories:
i. Club Fundraising: This will raise money specifically for the club, and will include “Bring-and-Buy” sales, raffles, or anything sold at, or profits from the establishment of a club shop.
ii. Charity Fundraising: This will raise money for charitable causes. Registered charities will only be supported if they currently fulfil their statutory obligations, and are not under investigation for bad practises or irregularities by The Charity Commission for England and Wales.
10. LINKS WITH OTHER CLUBS & ORGANISATIONS:
The club may seek to establish regular contact with other like-minded clubs, charities, or organisations, and will seek to maintain contact with them on an ongoing basis. A “Links” section will be maintained on our internet web site.
11. CLUB INTERNET WEB SITE:
The club will seek to establish, run and maintain a website on the internet.
It must be noted however, that as not all members may have access to computers and the internet, then this method of communication will be used as supplementary to the club’s activities, and shall not be used entirely to formulate club policy and decisions.
The internet site can be used to conduct discussions and polls relating to what members would like to see, or places they would like to visit – but the final decision on matters relating to club policy will always rest with the Committee.
12. RULES GOVERNING DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB:
In the event of the dissolution of the club it is hereby stated that all monies in the club’s bank account will be donated to a registered charity.
As the money is property of the club, and not of the individual members of the club – it is both the right and responsibility of all members to see that this occurs. A written receipt for the donation will be received from the charity, and copied and sent to anyone that has been a member of the club within the past year, or any other party that expresses interest in the matter.
Important Note – This rule is not a matter for change or modification at a future date, as it is the most appropriate method of distributing monies held in the name of the club.
THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN AGREED BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE CLUB.