Information about the club, Club Rules and Club Ethics are all below
Foundation of the Club
In 1885 a small band of devotees got together to form the Toy Spaniel Club. Each colour at the time was judged separately; the King Charles (Black and Tan), the Blenheim (Red and White), the Prince Charles (Tri-Colour) and Ruby (Red).in 1902 at a meeting held at the Crystal Palace, it was decided that, as all four varieties could be produced in one litter, they must all be the same family; and as the breed had existed with the historic name of King Charles Spaniel since the time of the Merry Monarch, they wished the Club to known as the King Charles Spaniel Club. The Kennel Club, on the other hand, wished to keep the name English Toy Spaniel, Sub-divided by Colour.
An appeal was made by the powerful friends of the club to the King himself. His Majesty Edward V11 let it be known to the Kennel club that he wished the Toy Spaniel Club in future to be known by its historic name of the King Charles Spaniel Club. The kennel Club naturally bowed to his royal wish. It is interesting to note that the early shows in 1885 mustered a mere couple of dozen dogs. But in 1904 the entry had risen to 109 dogs. The first official standard was adopted by the Toy Spaniel Club in 1885, and is illustrated with the woodcuts of Victorian artist. Arthur Wardle.
Patron: Mr W Moffat
President: Mrs B Essex
Vice Presidents: Mrs A East
Chairman: Dr A Schemel Telephone: 0191 3711523
Secretary: Miss M Mallows
Telephone 0191 536 3323
Hon Treasurer: Mr R Stewart Telephone: 0172472411
Committee: J Coupland, A East, S Maddison, R Mochrie, R Salguero & Dr A Schemel, B Traynor, N Robinson , J Matches , V Harvey
RULES OF THE KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB 2019
NAME
The name of the Club shall be “The King Charles Spaniel Club”.
OBJECTS
The Club shall do all in its power to advance the interest and well-being of King Charles Spaniels and shall be a club for the benefit of its members.
a] As the original Club for the breed, first registered in 1885, it shall do all in its power to advance and protect from exploitation or deviation, the interests of all King Charles Spaniels including by liaison and co-operation with other breed clubs formed for a like purpose.
b] It shall promote the breeding and showing of King Charles Spaniels of true type as defined by the Breed Standard.
c] It shall endeavour to ensure that the Breed Standard is used by judges and exhibitors and in all aspects of King Charles Spaniel activities.
d] It shall encourage King Charles Spaniel members to interact in a mutual sharing of interests.
e] It shall encourage owners and breeders to maintain a high standard and act in a responsible manner with regard to the welfare of the dogs under their control and to abide by the King Charles Spaniel Club’s guidelines for members-see Rules and Code of Ethics.
f] The Club will not be classed as a trading business, so that all profits from any source, function and/or activity of the club, shall be maintained for the benefit of and for the future education of its members in management, training, showing, breeding and every aspect pertaining to canine activities.
MEMBERS
a] Members shall be nominated and seconded by fully paid up existing members and elected by the Committee; the election of that candidate shall be at the absolute discretion of the Committee by open vote.
b] The Committee may elect and confer Honorary membership as a mark of recognition for distinguished service to the Club or the breed. The abbreviation Hon. to be placed before their names on the list of Club members
c] Each year the Secretary must maintain an up to date list a list of members and their details and ensure that this list of names is made available for inspection if so requested by members of the Club or by the Kennel Club with due regard to compliance with the Data Protection Act.
d] All members elected to the King Charles Spaniel Club shall be expected to follow and abide by the Rules and the Code of Ethics as set down by the Club.
4 SUBSCRIPTIONS
a] Annual subscriptions shall be an amount as agreed by the committee and full members at the Annual General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club. These fees are payable in full on application for membership of the Club.
b] Subsequent annual subscriptions are due on the 1st January each year and paid no later than 31st January.
c] Any member whose subscription remains unpaid after 31st January shall be considered to be lapsed and the committee has the authority to erase his/her name from the Club membership list.
d] In this event the lapsed member shall lose entitlement to attend the Annual General Meeting, to receive voting papers, to enjoy any other privileges of the Club or to compete for any special prizes as offered to members.
e] Lapsed members would be required to complete a new application to re-join the Club.
f] However in exceptional circumstances, should the committee receive a satisfactory explanation for the lapse, the member/members may, at the discretion of the committee at a regular committee meeting and on full payment of the arrears occurred, be re-admitted to the membership of the Club.
g] A person, up to their sixteenth birthday, may be elected as a Junior Member- the subscription payable at half the adult annual membership fee. Junior Members enjoy all the benefits of Club membership but excludes all voting rights.
5 MANAGEMENT : OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
a] The management of the Club shall be in the hands of the Presidents, four Vice Presidents, the Chairperson, the Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and a Committee consisting of twelve members. The Vice Chairperson and a Trophy Steward to be appointed from the current Committee members .
b] Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer shall be ex-officio members of the Committee and as such shall have full voting rights. The Chairperson of any meeting will have the casting vote at that meeting.
The President, and Vice Presidents shall have no voting rights but may attend committee meetings as an observer.
c] If for any reason the number of Committee members falls below twelve the Committee may co-opt a member of 2 years membership to fill the vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting.
d] The Committee shall have full power to co-opt any additional persons it deems necessary to assist for the benefit of the breed or the Club but such co-opted persons shall not have voting rights within the Committee.
6 ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
a] The positions of Patrons, President and Vice Presidents are bestowed by the club upon persons who have worked and given their time to the interests of the Club or the breed in general. Names for these positions are nominated by the Committee or any member and put to the AGM for agreement. These are honorary positions and shall be for the life of these persons unless an individual wishes to retire.
b] The positions of Chairperson, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer are elected by postal vote and are due for re-election every three years, each one standing down individually. They may offer themselves for re-election should they wish to do so without nomination.
c] The Committee of twelve shall be elected by postal vote for a period of three years 4,4,4 standing down by rotation. They may offer themselves for re-election should they wish to do so without nomination.
e] Nominations for Officers and Committee must be proposed and seconded in writing and accompanied by the written agreement of the candidate to serve the club if elected.
f] Each candidate and each proposer and seconder must be a fully paid up member of the Club for a minimum of 2 years.
g] Co-opted members stand for the year remaining and may stand for election the following year should they wish to do so. His/her proposer and seconder to have been fully paid up members of the Club for a minimum of 2 years.
h] Nominations for Officers and Committee should reach the Secretary no later than 6 weeks before the A.G.M. date.
i] All such names shall be included in the ballot papers together with the names of Committee members wishing to re-stand and also a record of Committee members attendance for the previous year.
j] Numbered Ballot Papers shall be sent by the Hon. Secretary by first class post, the voting papers shall be completed by the voting member (one ballot paper per member) and returned by post to reach the appointed scrutineer by the date indicated on the ballot paper. Ballot papers reaching the scrutineer after the date indicated will be classed as null and void. The result of the Ballot shall be returned to the Secretary in a sealed envelope and brought by him/her to be opened only at the Annual General Meeting.
k] In the event of no ballot being required, nominated Officers and Committee Members shall be declared elected.
l] No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.
7 MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
Committee members must make themselves available to attend meetings and carry out duties at club shows or events organised by the Club. Any member of the Committee absent from three successive Committee meetings or who fails to carry out agreed duties at a show or any other event shall have his/her attention drawn to the fact and unless just cause can be shown to the Committee, such member’s seat on the Committee shall automatically be declared vacant.
8 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
a] The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held no later than 30th June And notice of the date, time and venue shall be sent to members by second class post or email at least 10 weeks prior to the meeting, together with a request for nominations for Officers and Committee. The certified accounts will be made available on request to members fourteen days prior to the AGM
b] The AGM will be held for the membership to receive the Committees report, to approve the Annual Accounts, to receive the results of the Postal Ballot, routine matters and to discuss any motion put forward by a member as per the following criteria -Rule 8 [c].
c] Proposals for the agenda, signed by a proposer and seconder should be sent to the Secretary and should arrive no later than 6 weeks prior to the AGM date.
d] No business shall be transacted at an A.G.M. unless notice thereof appears on the agenda with the exception of routine matters or those matters in the opinion of the Chairperson of the meeting are deemed urgent. These matters to be heard in A.O.B.
d] At the commencement of an Annual General Meeting a Ballot Officer shall be appointed to record the results of all votes cast. Voting on all proposals shall be by a show of hands unless a secret ballot is deemed essential by the majority. The Ballot Officer will automatically forfeit their vote.
e] Twenty five adult members to form a quorum at the Annual General Meeting.
9 COMMITTEE MEETINGS
a] A Committee meeting shall be called as often as shall be deemed necessary by the Chairperson and Secretary and Four Committee members and at least a Secretary and one more Officer to form a quorum.
b] Fourteen clear days in writing sent by first class post or by email must be given to each Officer and Committee member of the agreed date and venue of such a Committee meeting along with the agenda and a copy of the minutes of the previous meeting.
c] Minutes of the full record of all meetings to be kept. The preceding meeting’s minutes to be read and approved by vote at the commencement of all subsequent meetings.
10 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
a] A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Hon. Secretary if twenty members sign a requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting for that purpose.
b] The Committee of the Club is also empowered to call a Special General Meeting.
c] Such requisition must state clearly the object for which the meeting is called.
d] The Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting by sending a notice by first class post containing all relevant information concerning the meeting to all paid up members of the Club not later than twenty-one days before the date of the meeting.
e] No other business other than that named in the notice shall be discussed or brought before a Special General Meeting.
f] A Special General Meeting must take place within one calendar month of such a requisition being received by the Secretary.
g] Twenty five adult members to form a quorum at a Special General Meeting.
11 EXPULSION OF MEMBERS
Any member who shall be disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A11.j(5) and / or Kennel Club RuleA11.j.(5) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the club.
a] 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 the interests of the Club, the Committee of the Club 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 Club be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel the member.
b] 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 that he/she may attend and offer an explanation. If at that meeting, a resolution to expel is passed by two thirds majority of the members present and voting, then 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 except that he/she may, within two calendar months from the date of such a meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions as the Kennel Club impose.
If the Club expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog shows or trials, the Club must report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.
12 AMENDMENT OF RULES
Notice and details of any proposed alterations or amendments to the rules must be put before the AGM or a Special General Meeting called for this purpose, the notice of which contains specific proposals to amend the rules and a vote resulting in a majority of the members attending to be gained before acceptance of the changes.
The Kennel Club to approve such changes before implementation.
13 RESCUE AND WELFARE
The King Charles Spaniel Rescue Fund to consist of Chairperson, Secretary , Treasurer and 3 Trustees
14 FINANCE
All expenses properly incurred by the Secretary or Treasurer with the consent of the committee for and behalf of the club shall be defrayed out of the funds of the club alone and no individual shall be deemed to incur any responsibility in respect of the same. The revenue of the club shall be paid into a separate banking account from which withdrawal shall be made on the signature of any two of the following three Officers Chairperson Hon Secretary Hon Treasurer No two members of the same household may be signatories on the same account.
A qualified accountant approved by the committee shall audit the clubs annual statement of accounts or two unqualified individuals with accountancy skills. Those certifying the accounts must be independent of the committee.
The financial year shall be from the 1st January to the 31st December.
Reimbursements may be paid to such Officers as in the opinion of the committee are eligible for them .The committee may suggest names and amounts for such reimbursements and the members at the AGM meeting shall have the power to confirm or amend such recommendations.
15 ANNUAL RETURNS TO THE KENNEL CLUB
The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year Maintenance for Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Secretary for continuance of Registration.by the 31st July each year other returns of AGM 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 be forwarded to the Kennel Club The officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any changes of secretary of the club which may occur during the course of the year
16 TROPHIES AND SPECIAL PRIZES
The Offices and committee shall have the power to give special prizes and guarantee classes at such shows as deemed appropriated
All Challenge Cups and Trophies unless won outright are to be held at the winning members risk and must be returned to the named Cup Steward prior to or a the applicable show for which they are next on offer for i.e. the clubs Championship Show and the Open show this applies only to U.K. Residents.
Any member who shall win a Cup or Trophy and wish to take possession of it must give a guarantee for its safety.
17 CLUB PROPERTY
The Club shall obtain written acknowledgement from donors of cups and trophies that they are given as an outright gift to the Club.
The property of the Club shall be vested in the Committee. In the event of the Club ceasing to exist for any just reason, a Special General Meeting shall be called for the winding up of the Club, the majority of the Members at which may decide upon the disposal of the assets of the Club after discharging all liabilities of the Club.
The Secretary or an appointed member shall furnish the Kennel Club with a final audited statement of accounts and record of the disposal of the Club’s assets within six months and the persons named as Officers and Committee of the Club 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.
18. The Secretary should be the only administrator of the Club Face book page no committee member shall be the admin of any other site in the social media
19 The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
20 The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the rules and regulations of the society in all cases relative to canine or society matters. ReglationsC3.a.(11): t
THE KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB
GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS
All members of the The King Charles Spaniel Club undertake to abide by its general Code of Ethics.
Club members:
Breeders/Owners:
1) Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
2) Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon who performs an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, or who carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report such operations to the Kennel Club.
3) Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
4) Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
5) Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
6) Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.
7) Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.
8) Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.
9) Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
10) Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change.
11) Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
12) Will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available.
13) Will not 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 competition of any kind. Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as stand alone items (not accompanying a dog).
14) Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.
Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.
Reproduced by permission of the Kennel Club KC/GJ January 2011
The Kennel Club has passed an additional clause to The King Charles Spaniel Club Code Of Ethics, as follows:-
Members will not advertise on any Commercial Puppy Sale Web Site.’
