1. NAME
The Club shall be called "The British Cane Corso Society", or "BCCS".
2. OBJECTIVES
- Protect, promote and encourage the best interests of Cane Corso in the UK
- Communicate with foreign clubs and registries.
- Issue pedigrees and track Corso ownership and imports across UK
- Achieve Import Register status for Cane Corso with the Kennel Club
- Achieve Kennel Club recognition for Corso
3. THE CLUB
The Club shall consist of an elected President, Vice President, and a Committee of 6, the appointed officers of Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, and an unlimited number of members.
4. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
The management of the club shall be vested in the hands of the officers of the club and the Committee. The committee shall have the power to arbitrate in cases of dispute between members when asked by both parties to do so. The committee shall have the power to deal with any questions relating to the management of the Club not specifically mentioned in these rules. Officers and Committee members shall retire annually and shall be eligible for re-election every year at the Annual General Meeting. The Hon Treasurer shall be a person with relevant business or accountancy experience. All officers and Committee shall have full Committee voting rights; meetings of the committee shall be held as often as is deemed necessary but at least every three months. A quorum for Committee meetings shall be 5 members. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt fully paid members to the Committee in the event of a position 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, no person who is under the age of 18 may be elected or co-opted on to the Committee or as an Officer of the club.
5. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Any member of the Club shall be eligible for election to the committee or as an officer provided he or she is a fully paid up member in good standing. All nominations of an eligible member for election to the committee or as a President or Vice-President shall be proposed by one fully paid up member and seconded by another. All nominations shall be in writing, in the hands of the Honorary Secretary 30 days before the Annual General Meeting. Individually identified ballot forms shall be sent to all eligible members of the Club upon completing the processing of all nominations, and must be provided a minimum of 10 business days before the Annual General Meeting. Ballot forms are accepted by post up to the day before the scheduled Annual General Meeting. Proof of receipt is required in cases of dispute. Members may select one Presidential nominee, one Vice-Presidential nominee, and up to six committee nominees. At the Annual General Meeting, members present submit completed ballot forms to the Hon Secretary, who will then tabulate and combine with postal ballot forms. The President and Vice President are those respective nominees with the most votes. The Committee is made up of the 6 nominees with the most votes. In ties, the outgoing President can cast an additional vote. The positions of Hon Treasurer and Hon Secretary are selected from amongst the members of the newly formed Committee and decided at the AGM by simple majority vote among the committee.
6. MEMBERSHIP
Candidates may apply for Membership using a Membership application form supplied by the Club. Applications may be made on the following basis; Individual, Joint (2 members at one address), or Family (2 adults and any number of children up to 16 years of age at the same address) and Overseas (member address outside the UK and Ireland). Election for Membership shall take place at Committee Meetings, a simple majority of the Committee being required, Election to Membership will be at the sole discretion of the Committee. Membership of the club is subject to acceptance and compliance with all rules contained herein. Candidates will only be accepted on receipt of the appropriate application form and applicable fees. An up to date register containing the names and addresses of all Club Members shall be maintained and will be subject to relevant Data Security legislation.
7. VOTING RIGHTS
Each member shall be entitled to one vote upon acceptance of Membership. Joint and Family Members will have one vote for each member of the partnership. Members under 18 years of age will have no voting rights. Non-election voting shall be by secret ballot or show of hands as decided by a simple majority at the meeting.
8. GENERAL MEETINGS
A general meeting shall be convened by the Honorary Secretary on a suitable date in October of each year, notice of which shall be forwarded to members in writing not later than the end of August. This meeting will be held to elect Officers and Committee, to receive the report of the Officers and Committee, the financial accounting report, and to discuss any resolutions or items duly placed on the Agenda - of which at least 30 days prior notice has been given to the Hon Secretary. No business shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the Agenda with exception of routine matters or those which in the opinion of the Committee are urgent. All items for the Agenda must be proposed by one fully paid up member and seconded by another.
A Special General Meeting can be called at the discretion of the Committee and Officers of the Club. The specific purpose of this meeting must be provided to all members with at least 60 days notice. All members may then submit proposals as above.
Minutes of all meetings shall be kept by the Honorary Secretary which shall be recorded in a minute book. Minutes of all general meetings shall be sent to all members by the Honorary Secretary as soon as practicable.
9. AMMENDMENT OF RULES
The rules of the Club may not be altered except at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting, the Agenda for which contains specific proposals to amend the rules.
10. CLUB PROPERTY
The property of the Club shall be vested with the Officers and the Committee. All cups, trophies, promotional material, donations of money, and any other items donated to the Club are the sole property of the Club. In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, a special general meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of all assets and settlement of any liabilities of the Club. The persons named as Officers and Committee of the Club will be held responsible for the proper winding up of the Club.
11. CLUB ACCOUNTS AND FINANCIAL YEAR
A Banking Account shall be held in the name of the Club at a Bank nominated by the Committee into which all revenue of the Club shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signature of any two of President, Vice-President or Hon Treasurer. Detailed and accurate financial records must be maintained by the Treasurer at all times. The Financial year of the Club will be the twelve months from the 1st January to the 31st December each year; The Club Financial Accounts will be certified annually and presented to the Members at the Annual General Meeting. Certification of Accounts must be carried out by a qualified accountant or two unqualified and independent individuals with accountancy experience.
12. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The Annual Subscription shall be such amount as agreed by the Members in a General Meeting. Subscriptions shall fall due on the 1st January each year and shall be paid to the Hon Treasurer. No member whose subscription is unpaid is entitled to any of the privileges of Membership and if the Member shall fail to pay outstanding subscriptions by the 1st of April the Members name/s shall be automatically erased from the register. Acceptance back on the register as a Club Member will be dependent on a new application and approval by the Committee.
13. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS
If any Member is in breach of the rules herein or in the Code of Ethics, or if the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee or of the Club, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interest of the Club or the Breed, the Committee may, at a General Meeting, at which the conduct of said member was raised as an Agenda item, determine that a special General Meeting of the club be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel said member. Notice of this 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 that they 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 club.
14. CODE OF ETHICS
Membership of the club is strictly only given with acceptance and compliance with this and the Kennel Club Code of Ethics and applies whether owner, keeper, or in temporary charge of any dog for any purpose. All members will accept their responsibility in that they will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate attention if and when required, not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to those carrying out official duties when their dogs are away from home ensure that their dogs shall wear properly tagged collars and shall be kept fully leashed or under effective control. Members will acknowledge responsibility to clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited. Members also agree without reservation not to allow any veterinary surgeon to operate on any of their dogs in such a way that the operation alters the natural conformation of the dog or any part thereof. Members will not breed from a bitch in any way which is deleterious to the bitch or the breed. Members will only sell puppies and older dogs to homes where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with rehousing of the dog if the initial circumstances change. When placing the dogs in a new home provide written details of dietary requirements and supply guidance concerning responsible ownership. Not knowingly sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers, or directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a contest of any kind. Not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the quality of the dogs, when selling or transferring a dog to another person ensure that all relevant Club documents are provided to the new owner. Comply with any changes to this code of Ethics as may be issued by the Club from time to time. It is a recommendation that all breeding stock will be hip-scored in accordance with current BVA advice.
15. REGISTER AND PEDIGREES
The Club shall charge for and issue pedigrees for all Cane Corso dogs in the UK. The fees shall be decided at a General Meeting. These pedigrees will be issued upon request for litters of Corsos born to hip scored parents with BCCS or FCI pedigrees. Adult dogs can be issued with a BCCS pedigree upon submission of all registration details as below. Only dogs in the opinion of the Committee to be a pure Cane Corso shall be issued pedigrees. Submitted applications are approved during Committee meetings by receiving a majority Committee vote in favour of the dog being added to the register. Fees are returned if the application is rejected.
The Club shall keep a register of all Cane Corsos in the UK. This register will maintain name, microchip number, photo, sex, owner, address, foreign or UK pedigree details, hip scores, sire, dam and any outstanding health issues. There is no charge to be levied to add FCI pedigreed dogs to the registry. This registry is to be kept towards the need to add the Cane Corso to the Kennel Club Import Register.
