Rules and Regulations of Northern Portuguese Podengo Association  

1. Name:
The Club shall be called THE NORTHERN PORTUGUESE PODENGO ASSOCIATION.

2. Objects:  
a. To promote the interests, health and welfare of the Portuguese Podengo in the North of the UK.
b. To promote responsible ownership through the provision of education and support.
c. To encourage best breeding practices which reflect the Associations Code of Ethics and ensure the original purpose of the breed is preserved.

3. Officers and Committee:
a. The Officers consist of a Patron, a President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary and Treasurer.
b. *The management of the Association shall be in the hands of the Officers of the Association and a Committee of up to twelve fully paid up members, all of whom a third shall retire annually on a three year rotation and can re-stand subject to re-election. The President and Vice President shall be elected for a five year period and can re-stand subject to re-election.
c. Election of Officers and Committee shall be by a secret ballot. There will be no postal vote.
d. All Officers and Committee to have full voting rights except the Chairman, who will only have a casting vote, and any co-opted members.
e. Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as necessary but at least three a year.
f. A quorum for Committee shall be five, of whom two must be Officers.
g. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members onto the committee in the event of positions becoming vacant between General Meetings. Those members co-opted shall hold office until the next General Meeting of the Club at which the election of Officers and Committee takes place.
h. The Committee shall have the power to elect sub-committees.
i. The Committee may remove a Committee Member should they fail to attend three consecutive meeting or events within the twelve month period without acceptable apology or reason.
j. All Committee Members and Officers must be fully paid up members of the Club, with the exception of the Patron.

4. Election of Members:   
a. The Annual Subscription for each class of Membership is Payable on the 1st January of each year. No Member whose subscription remains unpaid will be entitled to any privileges of Membership, and if the Member shall fail to pay the outstanding subscriptions by the 31st January their name shall be automatically  erased from the register, acceptance back on the register will be dependant upon a new application.
b. The election of Members will be controlled by the committee whose decision shall be final, and will be by ballot, on a majority by show of hands of those committee members present at the next meeting, and on payment of the appropriate subscription.
c. Any person elected a member of the Club and taking up his/her membership shall be deemed to have read the rules and Code of Ethics of the club and be prepared to abide by them.

5. Voting Rights:
a. Each new member shall be entitled to have one vote immediately upon acceptance of membership. In the case of joint membership, there shall be one vote per individual of the partnership. In the case of Family membership, each individual may have a vote unless they are under the age of 16 years.
b. Junior members shall have no voting rights. Junior membership is up to the age of 16 years.
c. To have voting rights at the AGM, the appropriate Membership subscription must be paid by 31st January prior to the AGM.  

6. Club Property: 
The property of the Club shall be vested in the Committee. In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, a final General Meeting will be called to decide the disposal of the Club’s assets.  

7. Club Accounts:
a. A Banking Account shall be held in the name of the Club at a Bank into which all revenue of the Club shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signature of 2 or more Officers.
b. Accounts shall be certified annually by a qualified accountant or two unqualified individuals with accounts experience, and presented to members at the A.G.M.

8. Subscriptions:
The annual subscription shall be Single - £8.00, Joint £10-00, Junior £2-00, Family - £12.00. Single Overseas £10-00 and Joint £12-00.

9. Expulsion of Members:
a. Any member who shall be suspended by the Kennel Club Rule A42j(5) and/or any member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A42j(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 of the character or interests of the Club, the Committee may, at a meeting the notice convening which included as an object 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. Notice of the S.G.M. shall be sent to the accused Member, giving particulars of the complaint and advising the date and hour of the meeting that he/she may attend to offer an explanation. If, at the meeting, a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the Members of the Club then he/she may, within two calendar months from the date of the meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club. This will then be subject to such conditions as the Kennel Club may impose.  
c. Should the Club expel any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog show, trials or competition, the Club shall report the matter to the Kennel Club within seven days with full details.

10. Financial Year :
The financial year of the Club shall be from 1st January to 31st December.

11. Annual General Meeting: 
a. The Annual General Meeting shall be held by the end of April, wherever possible.
b. Notice of the AGM shall be by notice in the Canine Press and/or in writing to all members. At least two months notice shall be given to all members of a forthcoming AGM.
c. The agenda for the AGM must be circulated no less than 14 days before the date of the meeting. Items for the Agenda must be lodged with the Honorary Secretary no less than 21 days before the date of the meeting.
d. No business shall be conducted at the AGM unless notice appears on the agenda with the exception of routine matters or those, which in the opinion of the Chairman are urgent.
e. The Chairman shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie taking place.

12. Special General Meeting:
a. A Special General Meeting may be summoned by the Honorary Secretary if twenty five members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting an SGM to do so. The Committee is also empowered to call a SGM.
b. No business other than that detailed on the agenda may be discussed at an SGM.
c. Members shall have a clear two weeks notice of an SGM. Notice also to be made within the Canine Press.

13. Amendments to Rules:
a. The rules of the Club may not be altered except at a General Meeting, the Notice of which contains the specific proposals to amend rules.
b. Any proposed alteration may not be taken 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.

14. Annual Returns to the Kennel Club:
a. The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, maintenance of Title fee shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Honorary Secretary for continuance of registration and that by the 31st of July the Annual Returns shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club.
15. Kennel Club Final Authority:
a. The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Club, in all cases relative to Canine and Society matters.
b. The society shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
c. 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.

* Rule change to 3b approved by the Kennel Club Ltd. 09/09/2021