1. The Club shall be called ‘The Sutton Coldfield & District Dog Training Club’
2. AIM : To bring together, protect and develop the interests of all members and their dogs.
3. The membership of the Club shall be open to owners of dogs of every type and membership shall not be confined to any radius.

4.a.   On joining and each anniversary thereafter, each member shall confirm his or her details and pay a subscription:

• For an Adult
• For a Junior (from minimum age of 11 years to 16 years inclusive)
• For a Senior Citizen (60 years and above)

provided that there shall be an Associate membership open through introduction by a member for those interested in sharing in the Club’s activities other than training.

4.b. A member giving service as a Trainer, Trainee Trainer or Committee Member shall be an honorary member for as long as he or she serves in that capacity.

5. The Club shall be governed by a Committee consisting of the President, Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Head Trainer, and seven other members. The above to be elected by the members present at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations must be in the hands of the Secretary one week before AGM and the consent of the nominee must be obtained. The quorum for a Committee Meeting shall be five. If a Committee member shall be absent from three successive meetings without a valid reason, that member shall be deemed to have resigned.
6. The Committee shall have power to co-opt to fill any vacancies that may occur, such members to hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.
7. All funds of the Club shall be deposited with bankers in the name of the Club, and cheques drawn on these funds will bear two signatures. Officers empowered to sign cheques are Treasurer, Secretary and Chairman.
8. Seven days’ notice shall be given in writing for a meeting of the Committee except in the event of an emergency.
9. No members shall be allowed to vote or in any way enjoy any privileges of membership until their current subscriptions have been paid. Junior Members are not allowed to vote.
10. Any member who shall be disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A.11.j(5)) and/or Kennel Club Rule A.11.j(9) shall, ipso facto, cease to be a member of the Club for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification. 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 this Club, the Committee may, at a meeting, the notice convening which includes as an object the consideration of the conduct of a member determine that a Special General Meeting of this Club shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him. Notice of the Special General Meeting shall be sent to the accused member, giving particulars of the complaint and advising him of the place, date and hour of the meeting that he may attend and offer an explanation. If at that meeting a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting, his name shall henceforth be erased from the list of members, and he shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a member of the Club, except that he may within two calendar months from the date of such meeting appeal to The Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions as The Kennel Club may impose.
11. Not less than fourteen days’ notice in writing shall be given for the Annual General Meeting, such meeting to be held as soon as possible after the close of the financial year. The Accounts will be certified annually and presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting. The certified accounts will be made available on request to members fourteen days prior to the AGM. Certification of accounts must be carried out by one qualified Accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience, independent of the Committee. 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.
12. The Rules of this Club may not be altered except at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. Such alterations shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and has given its approval of the alterations.
13. A Special General Meeting may be convened at any time for any specific purpose at the request of five Committee members or fifteen ordinary members, by handing to the Secretary a written requisition duly signed. Such a meeting to be convened within fourteen days from the date of requisition. The objects of the meeting shall be notified to every member, and the decision of such a meeting shall be binding as at an Annual General Meeting and no other business may be discussed.
14. The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the rules and regulations of this Club and in all cases relative to canine and Club matters.
15. Any trainer taking any class shall have absolute authority to order any dog, whether on the ground as a member’s or as a visitor’s dog, to be taken away from the ground.
16. Status of Honorary Vice-President may be offered to an individual who has served the Club for many years and is adjudged by the Committee to have made a significant contribution to its organisation and development.
17. Should it become necessary at any time to disband the Club, a Special General Meeting shall be called to decide upon the disposal of its assets.
18. The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
19. If a Society expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog shows or trials, the Society must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply particulars required.
20. If a Registered Society is wound up or ceases to be a Registered Society under these Regulations, a final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Society shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months and the persons named as Officers and Committee of the Society on the last return furnished to the Kennel Club, will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Society.
21. 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 the continuance of registration and that by 31 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, will be forwarded to the Kennel Club.

The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any change of Secretary of the Society which may occur during the course of the year.

22. The Society will maintain an up to date list of members’ names and addresses, in accordance with current General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), and make the list of names available for inspection if so requested  by the Kennel Club.
23. 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.
24. The Membership Secretary and Treasurer are required to have a minimum of 3 years service with the Club and undergo a DBS check.

Amended at Special General Meeting 2nd October 2022