PRT CLUB BREEDERS CODE OF ETHICS

1.0 NAMES AND OBJECTS

1.1    The Club shall be called the Parson Russell Terrier Club, "the club", and its objects shall be to promote the breed and in particular the breeding of Parson Russell Terriers of the correct type and working qualities and judging them at shows according to the Kennel Club Breed Standard.

 

2.0 CONSTITUTION

2.1   The Club shall consist of President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Treasurer (hereinafter called the Officers) and a committee (hereinafter called the Committee) not exceeding twelve in number and an unlimited number of members.

2.2   There may also be a non-voting Patron and voting vice-presidents who may be nominated by members, using the same method as for other nominations, and elected at an Annual General Meeting.

 

3.0 MANAGEMENT

3.1   The management of the club shall be in the hands of the Officers and Committee. The Officers elected from and by the membership will serve for a period of three years and will be eligible for re-election at the end of this term. The Committee elected from and by the membership, one third of whom shall retire annually, will also be eligible for re-election.

3.2   All Officers and Committee shall have full voting rights.

3.3   To be eligible for nomination as an officer an individual must have been a member of the club for at least the previous five years. To be eligible for nomination as a committee member an individual must have been a member of the club for at least the previous three years and over the age of 18 at time of election.

3.4   Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary but at least every three months. Regard shall be given to the places of residence of its members when arranging a venue. The Secretary shall give a minimum of seven days notice of a Committee meeting.

3.5   A Quorum for committee meetings shall be six.

3.6   The Committee shall appoint a Judges’ Sub-Committee with the functions and powers as contained in Rule 17.1 and may from time to time appoint such Sub-Committees as it may deem necessary or expedient to assist in the conduct of the business of the Club

3.7   The Membership of any Sub-Committee shall be determined by the Committee save the Judges’ Sub-Committee which shall be eight those being six from those members of the Committee who have been approved to award Challenge Certificates in the Breed and two other members of the Committee. In the event of there being insufficient members of the Committee who have awarded Challenge Certificates, the Committee will invite non-members of the Committee, who have awarded Challenge Certificate to make up the numbers of the Judges’ Sub Committee.

3.8   The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the Committee shall be ex officio members of all Sub-Committees save where they have been approved to award Challenge Certificates in Breed when they shall be full members of the Judges’ Sub-Committee.

3.9   Each Sub-Committee shall at its first meeting elect a chairman from its number. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the Committee shall not be eligible for election as chairman of any Sub-Committee attended in an ex officio capacity.

3.10  Members of a Sub-Committee shall remain members thereof until the Annual General Meeting following their appointment or their removal from the Sub-Committee by the Committee. If a member of a Sub-Committee ceases to be a member of the Committee they shall cease to be a member of the Sub-Committee.

3.11  A quorum for Sub-Committees shall be 50% of appointed members.

3.12  The Committee shall have the power to invite any person or persons whether members of the Club or not to attend any meeting to assist the Committee or any Sub-Committee but such persons shall not be entitled to vote there at.

3.13  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 Club at which an election of Officers and Committee takes place. Any such person co-opted to the Committee must have been a Member of the Club for a minimum of two years.

3.14  If a Club Officer or Committee Member should fail to attend three consecutive Committee meetings he/she will be considered to have vacated his/her position. However, if the Officer or Committee Member gives, in the opinion of the Committee, a valid written reason of his/her absence, he/she may remain as an Officer or Committee Member.

 3.15  No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee or hold any office or appointment within a Kennel Registered Society.

3.16      Any fully paid up Member who has a complaint against the Officers and Committee regarding actions and decisions taken by those Officers and Committee on behalf of the Club, must write to the Secretary to enable the complaint to be discussed at the next Committee meeting. Should the complainant not agree with any decision made at that meeting he/she may implement rule 11.2.

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4.0 ELECTION OF MEMBERS 

4.1   All applications for membership shall be considered by the Officers and Committee. The election of members shall be by ballot of the Committee. An applicant is required to receive a two thirds majority of those present and voting at the meeting. The applicant must be proposed and seconded by members of the Club who have been members for the previous two years. In the event of the officers and committee rejecting an applicant no reason will be given or correspondence entered into.

4.2   The Officers and Committee may at their discretion admit as Honorary Members any person whose services to the Club and Breed are generally well recognised.

4.3   Joint membership at the same address is accepted. Each partner of a joint membership is entitled to full membership rights but a joint membership will receive only one copy of each issue of the newsletter and one copy of the yearbook per annum.

4.4   Junior Members are accepted to a maximum age of eighteen

4.5   It is a condition of Membership that all Members have their dogs/bitches DNA tested for PLL, LOA and SCA prior to breeding unless considered to be free from these conditions through parents/grandparents that are assumed to be free as a result of their own DNA tests. Where reliance is placed on the status of breeding animals as a result of heredity results(i.e. that parents/grandparents test results were clear) it is highly recommended that animals are retested at least every three generations to ensure that results are still valid.

4.6   It is a condition of Membership that all DNA testing of Parson Russell Terriers must be verified by a veterinary surgeon.

 

5.0 VOTING RIGHTS

5.1   Each member shall be entitled to one vote upon acceptance of membership. Members must be fully paid up for the current year in order to vote at an AGM or S.G.M. Those paying by cheque must present cheques at least ten clear working days before meeting. Joint memberships are accepted. One vote per member of partnership. Postal votes are not allowed. Voting may be by secret ballot. Juniors are non- voting Members.

5.2   Elected vice-presidents are entitled to the same voting rights as members.

 

6.0 CLUB PROPERTY

6.1   All the property and assets of the Club shall be vested in the Trustees to be dealt with by them as the Committee shall from time to time direct There shall be not fewer than 2 or more than 4 Trustees of the Club (who shall not be more than 80 years of age) appointed from time to time by the Committee from the membership of the Club.. The Trustees shall not have power to act on the direction of the Committee in respect of any transaction involving a value in excess of £2,000 without the prior approval of the members of the Club given at a general meeting.

6.2   The Trustees shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of the Club assets. The Trustees shall hold office until resignation, retirement or death or until removal from office by a resolution of the Committee, who may for any reason which may seem sufficient to a majority of them present and voting at any meeting remove any Trustee or Trustees from the office of Trustee. Where by reason of any such resignation, retirement or death or removal it shall appear necessary to the Committee that a new Trustee or Trustees shall be appointed or if the Committee shall deem it expedient to appoint an additional Trustee or Trustees it shall by resolution nominate the person or persons to be appointed Trustee or Trustees. For the purpose of giving effect to such nomination the Committee is hereby nominated as the person to appoint the new Trustee of the Club within the meaning of section 36 of the Trustee Act 1925 and it shall by deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Committee as the new Trustee or Trustees of the Club and the provisions of the Trustee Act 1925 shall apply to such appointment.

6.3   In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, a General Meeting shall be called to describe the disposal of the Club’s assets by the Trustees and the outcome of the meeting shall be notified to the Kennel Club by the Trustees.

 

7.0 FINANCE

7.1   The financial year of the club shall be from January 1st to December 31st.

7.2   A Banking Account shall be held in the name of the Parson Russell Terrier Club at a Bank or Building Society, agreed by the Officers and Committee, into which all revenue of the Club shall be paid, other than specifically designated funds, and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signatures of the Treasurer and either the Chairman or Secretary.

7.3   Any other banking accounts may be established on behalf of the club that the officers and committee may deem appropriate, withdrawal shall only be made on the signatures of the Treasurer and either the Chairman or Secretary.

7.4   The Accounts will be certified annually and presented to the Members at the AGM. NOTE Certification of Accounts must be carried out by one qualified accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience.

7.5   For the purpose of accounting the value of all stock held for re-sale shall be the net cost or least realizable price whichever is the less.

7.6   Title to all assets of the Club, inclusive of Cups, Shields, Trophies, etc., should be established and recorded in the name of the Club. Such assets should be listed and included within the Treasurer's financial statement and report presented at the AGM.

 

8.0 SUBSCRIPTIONS

8.1   The Annual Subscription shall be an amount as agreed by the Members in General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club

8.2   Subscriptions are payable on application for membership and again on January 1st in each year. No member shall be entitled to any of the privileges of membership until their subscription for the current year has been paid. Any member who has not paid their subscription by February 28th shall be deemed a "member in arrears" and should the arrears be unpaid by April 30th his/her name shall be struck from the list of members and he/she shall cease to be a member. 

8.3.  Acceptance back on the register will be dependant upon a new application.

 

9.0 EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

9.1   Any Member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j(4) and/or any member whose dog(s) are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42j(8) shall, ipso facto, cease to be a Member of the Society for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification.

9.2   If the conduct of the Member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Society, be injurious to the character or interests of the Society, the Committee of the Society 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 Society 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 so that he/she may attend and offer an explanation.     

9.3   If at that 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 hereupon cease for all purposes to be a Member of the Society except that he/she may, within two Calendar months from the date of such Meetings, appeal to The Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions as the Kennel Club may impose.

9.4   If the Club expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, Dog Shows, Trials or Competitions, the organisation will report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required. No person disqualified under Kennel Club Rules shall be a member of the Club and should any person under disqualification be allowed to remain a member, the Officers and Committee of the organisation may be dealt with under Rule A42 of the Kennel Club.

 

10.0 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

10.1  The Annual General Meeting shall be held in March/April of each year.

10.2  Nature of Business to be conducted:

10.2.1  To receive the report of the Officers and Committee and Balance Sheet, to elect Officers and Committee Members and to discuss any resolution duly placed on the Agenda, of which prior notice has been given to the Secretary.

10.2.2  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.

10.2.3  Notice of such a meeting should be given to members in writing.

10.2.4  Six weeks notice will be given of the meeting.

10.2.5  Items for inclusion on the Agenda are required by the Secretary at least four weeks before the proposed meeting. Any proposals including nominations for Officers or Committee Members are required in writing to be received at least four weeks before the AGM. All items for inclusion on the Agenda must be proposed and seconded in writing by fully paid up Members of the Club. Nominations for Officers, Committee Members and Judges for both Open Championship Shows must be proposed and seconded in writing by fully paid up Members of the Club and must also be signed by the nominee.

10.2.6  At the meeting the Agenda will be circulated. Copies of the Agenda will be available upon request, two weeks in advance of the AGM or SGM, from the Secretary.

10.3  The quorum for an AGM shall be 10% of the total number of members normally resident within Great Britain and Northern Ireland as at December 31st the previous year.

 

11.0 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

11.1  The Officers and the Committee of the Club are empowered to call a Special General Meeting.

11.2  A Special General Meeting will be summoned by the Secretary if twenty members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special Meeting to do so.

11.3  No business other than that detailed on the Agenda will be discussed at a Special General Meeting.

11.4  The Secretary shall notify members, in writing, of a Special General Meeting. The notice must be posted at least three weeks prior to the meeting (postmark).

11.5 The quorum for an SGM shall be 10% of the total number of members normally resident within Great Britain and Northern Ireland as at December 31st the previous year.

 

12.0 AMENDMENTS TO RULES 

12.1 The Rules of the Club may not be altered except by the membership at a General Meeting, the Agenda for which contains specific proposals to amend the Rules. Any proposed alterations to the Rules may not be brought into effect until the Kennel Club has been advised and approved the alteration. 

12.2 New rules, or amendments, introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements will be adopted immediately and be included in the Club Rules from the Club's next AGM.

 

13.0 ANNUAL RETURNS TO THE KENNEL CLUB

13.1 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 Titles of Societies and Breed Councils and the Affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities be forwarded to the Kennel Club.

13.2 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.

 

14.0 KENNEL CLUB FINAL COURT OF APPEAL

14.1  The Kennel Club shall be the final court of appeal in all matters of dispute.

 

15.0 MEMBERSHIP OF OTHER BODIES

15.1 The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs except with the written permission of the Kennel Club.

 

16.0 LIST OF MEMBERS

16.1  The Club must maintain an up to date list of members and their addresses, and if so requested, make the list available for inspection by the Kennel Club and members of the Club. A declaration of the number of members of the Club must be made with the Annual Returns.

 

17.0 LIST OF JUDGES 

17.1  The Judges Sub‑Committee, of which 75% should be persons who are active in the breed and have previously awarded CCs to Parson Russell Terriers shall set the criteria for Club’s judging list and will produce a list of judges each year.

17.1.1  The List will be submitted to the Kennel Club as part of the Club's Annual Returns.

17.1.2  The purpose of the Judges List is to indicate to interested parties those persons the Club would support at different levels of judging. Membership of the Club is not a prerequisite for inclusion on the List.

17.1.3  The Judges List will be divided into six parts: A1, A2, A3, B, C and Honorary. It must indicate the date on which it expires.

17.2 New Candidates and those Judges wishing to update their CV’s, must complete a Questionnaire, obtainable from the Secretary. The Questionnaire will be considered by the Judges Sub‑Committee. To be eligible for consideration for inclusion on the Judges List Candidates must meet the Club's Criteria for judges.

17.2.1  New Candidates for the A2 and A3 Lists are also required to provide proof of their attendance at one Breed specific Seminar, the subject of which was the Parson Russell Terrier and have passed at a Judges Assessment Seminar of the Parson Russell Terrier Club that was held in accordance with the K.C. code of practice and such seminars as the KC may at any time deem necessary for the judge’s inclusion on an “A” list.

17.2.2  New Candidates for the B and C Lists are also required to provide proof of their attendance at one Breed specific Seminar, the subject of which was the Parson Russell Terrier.

17.3 The lists are confined to those who have the support of the Club and are not necessarily the entire list of judges who have been approved to judge the Breed. Where possible, addresses and telephone numbers to be included.  These lists will be circulated to General Championship Shows and all Group and Breed Secretaries.

17.4 A1 List indicates Judges whom the Club would support and who have previously been approved by the Kennel Club to award Challenge Certificates in the Breed and have carried out the appointment.

A2 List indicates Judges whom the Club would support, if invited to judge by a society and who would, in principle, be approved by the Kennel Club to award Challenge Certificates for that occasion.

A3 List indicates Judges who are recommended by the Breed Club as being suitable to award CCs in the Breed but not yet approved by the Kennel Club for inclusion on the A2 List.

B List indicates Judges who have been approved by the Club to judge the Breed at Shows without CCs or Open Shows.

C List indicates aspirant Judges who do not fall into any of the above categories.

Honorary List indicates those Judges who have retired from active judging but who, in the opinion of the Club, have the interest and knowledge which has served the breed well.

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18.0 CLUB SHOWS

 

18.1  Judges for the annual spring, summer and autumn club shows will be elected by the   membership at an AGM from lists of approved judges. The election of judges will normally occur at least two years in advance of the year in which the show will take place. To be eligible for election a judge must be nominated by two club members and nominations, in writing, must be received by the club secretary in advance of the AGM in accordance with Rule 10.2.5.