1. NAME AND OBJECTS

The Association shall be called the HUNGARIAN WIREHAIRED VIZSLA ASSOCIATION. Its objectives are to:

• Encourage high standards of breeding in accordance with the Kennel Club Standard, for health, conformation and working ability.
• Help form and foster friendship amongst people with a common interest.
• Conduct working events and breed shows.
• Be run for the benefit and further education of its members.
• Encourage sportsmanlike behavior.
• Support research and educational work that may promote the future health of the breed.

2. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

The Association shall consist of three Officers: Chairperson, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, plus a Committee of not more than nine and an unlimited number of members. The Chairperson has the right to cast a deciding vote in the event of a tie when a vote is taken at any meeting of the Association. The Committee has the power to invite a suitable candidate to serve as President, approved by the members, for a period of up to two years. The President may be called upon to act as an arbiter in matters of concern to the Association, should the need arise.
The President shall not be a member of the Committee and shall not have voting rights.
No member shall be considered for membership of the Committee, or as an Officer, if he/she holds such a position with any other Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla breed club.

3. COMMITTEE

The management of the Association shall be in the hands of the Officers (Chairperson, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer) and a committee not exceeding nine. The Officers shall also be full voting members of the Committee. The Officers shall conduct the day-to-day business of the Association.

The three Officers shall be elected for a three-year term of office, shall retire in rotation but shall be eligible for re-election. The Committee, three of whom shall retire annually, shall be elected for a three-year term of office but shall be eligible for re-election.

Nominations for Officers and Committee, duly proposed and seconded, shall be in the hands of the Honorary Secretary not later than 28 days before the Annual General Meeting. Nominees for Officers and Committee must have been members of the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla Association for at least one year prior to the closing of nominations.

Each nominee must sign as to his/her willingness to serve.

Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as necessary, and seven shall form a quorum for the transaction of business, one of whom shall be an officer of the Association. At such meetings, if a vote is taken and there is a tie, the Association Chairperson, if present, shall have the casting vote. In the absence of the Association Chairperson the Committee members present will elect a chair from those present for the meetings duration.

Any member of the Committee failing to attend three consecutive meetings, without reasonable excuse, will automatically forfeit their place on the committee. It is the responsibility of those Committee members who were absent to ascertain the date of any subsequent meeting. Committee members unable to attend a meeting should give the Secretary at least one weeks notice. Exception to be made in the case of an emergency.

The Committee shall have the power to appoint Sub-Committees.

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 A.G.M. and shall have full voting rights.

If an election is required for Officers or Committee it shall be conducted by postal ballot. The Scrutineer to receive the postal ballot and shall, only after the closing date, notify the result to the Chairman. The Scrutineer shall retain the ballot papers for one year and deal with any queries that may arise out of any such vote.

4. ELECTION OF MEMBERS

There are three types of membership: single, joint, junior (up to age 17 inclusive). Membership shall be accepted upon payment of subscription. The Committee reserve the right to refuse membership applications.

The Association may have Life Members. All nominations for Life Members must be on the Agenda at the AGM.

5. LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION

An up to date list of members and their addresses must be maintained and, if so requested, made available for inspection by the Kennel Club and members of the Association. A declaration of the number of members of the Association must be made with Annual Returns.

6. VOTING RIGHTS

Each member shall be entitled to one vote immediately upon acceptance of membership. Postal votes/proxy votes are allowed using the requisite form. Voting shall be by secret ballot/show of hands/ as decided by the majority at the meeting. One vote for each member of a partnership.

7. ASSOCIATION PROPERTY

The property of the Association shall be vested in the committee, and in the event of the Association ceasing to exist, a general meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of any assets, and the outcome of the meeting notified to the Kennel Club.

8. ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTS

A banking account shall be opened in the name of the Association, into which all revenue of the Association shall be paid, and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signature of two or more Officers. The Honorary Treasurer shall keep the accounts. One qualified accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience, who are independant of the committee, shall be appointed at each Annual General meeting and who shall certify the Association’s accounts for the ensuing year, before the Annual General Meeting. Those undertaking the certifications must be independent from those who prepared the accounts. The Honorary Treasurer shall keep a record of all monies  received and paid by the Association. The accounts shall be certified and tally, and a statement of accounts shall be sent to all Association members not less than fourteen days prior to the AGM.

9. SUBSCRIPTIONS

The annual subscription shall be such amount as agreed by members in General meeting and notified to the Kennel Club.
Memberships are due on 1st January each year. No member whose subscription is unpaid shall be entitled to any of the privileges of membership and if any member shall fail to pay the annual subscription by 1st March in each year his/her name shall automatically be erased from the register. Acceptance back on the register shall depend upon the discretion of the Committee.

10. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

Any member who shall be suspended under 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 Association.

If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Association, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Association, the Committee of the Association 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 Association 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 member of 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 Association except that he/she 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.

If the Association expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, Dog Shows, Trials or Competitions, the Association must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.

11. FINANCIAL YEAR/ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The financial year of the Society shall be from 1st January to 31st December. The Annual General Meeting shall be held no later than May each year.

12. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS/SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

• Nature of business to be conducted:
• To receive the report of the committee and balance sheet.
• To elect Officers and Committee Members.
• To discuss any resolution duly placed on the agenda by any paid up member.
• No business shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the agenda, with the exception of routine matters or those which in the opinion of the Chairperson of the Meeting are urgent.

Notice of the Meeting shall be in writing.

Not less than 42 days notice must be given for an Annual General Meeting.

Items for inclusion on the Agenda must be in the Hon Secretary’s possession twenty-eight days prior to the meeting.

The Agenda and Balance sheet shall be circulated to all members not less than fourteen days prior to the meeting by electronic mail where possible unless the member has informed the committee that they wish to be notified in paper format.

The Annual General Meeting may be held virtually at the discretion of the committee.

13. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Honorary Secretary if 30 members or one-quarter of the membership send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting to do so. The Committee of the Association is also empowered to call a Special General Meeting. No business other than the matter on the agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting.
Notification of a Special General Meeting shall be in writing a minimum of twenty-eight days notice of time and place of meeting shall be given.

14. AMENDMENT TO RULES

The Rules of the Association may not be altered except at a General Meeting, the notice for which contains specific proposals to amend the rules. Proposed Rule changes must be sent in writing to the Hon Secretary of the Association not later than the 20th November, and shall be signed by two Members of the Association. Any proposed alteration to the rules may not be brought into effect until The Kennel Club has been advised and given its approval of the alterations. New rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements shall be adopted immediately.

15. 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 by the Secretary for continuance of Registration, and that by 31st July, each year, other returns as stipulated in The Kennel Club Regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies and Breed Councils and the Affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities, shall be forwarded to The Kennel Club. The officers also acknowledge their duty to inform The Kennel Club of any change of Secretary of the Association, which may occur during the course of the year.

16. THE KENNEL CLUB FINAL AUTHORITY

The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the rules of the Association in all cases relative to canine or Association matters.

17. FEDERATIONS

The Association shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.

18. GENERAL

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.

19. JUDGES LISTS

The Association Committee shall produce the Judges Lists annually which must be submitted to the Kennel Club as part of the Society’s Annual returns.

The Association shall maintain an approved list of judges in the format required by the Kennel Club and according to criteria determined by the Committee incorporating mandatory Kennel Club policy. Any changes to the criteria will be published to members of the Association, to new members and to others who request them.

(Revised 2017)