The Objects of the Club shall be:
*to operate, within the boundaries of Canada, as the National Club for English Cocker Spaniels;
*to encourage and promote quality in the breeding of pure-bred English Cocker Spaniels and to do all possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection;
*to encourage the organization of independent local English Cocker Spaniel Specialty Clubs in those localities where there are sufficient fanciers of the breed to meet the requirements of the CKC;
*to foster the Breed Standard (as approved by the CKC), to urge members and breeders to accept the Breed Standard (as approved by the CKC) as the premier standard of excellence;
*to do all in its power to protect and advance the interest of the English Cocker Spaniel and to encourage sportsmanlike competition at conformation shows, field trials and tests, obedience trials and other like events;
*to conduct sanctioned and approved events under the rules of the CKC, and other events, for the English Cocker Spaniel, and to abide by the principles of the CKC Code of Ethics;
*to promote the welfare of the English Cocker Spaniel breed as a whole, including the conducting and promoting of rescue services for the English Cocker Spaniel;
*to foster and encourage an ethical approach in the breeding and exhibiting of English Cocker Spaniels;
*to operate the Club on a non-profit basis, it being agreed and understood that no resulting surplus in Club income or other funds, shall be used to the benefit of any member of the Club;
*to promote the English Cocker Spaniel as a breed by making available Club- sponsored literature which promotes the breed and provides information where interested persons can obtain more information about the breed;
*to promote membership and public education regarding the English Cocker Spaniel as a breed, as well as canines in general. To be involved in community activities and/or projects whenever possible
Regular Membership
A Regular Membership shall be for an individuals who is resident in Canada and has attained the age of eighteen (18) years. A Regular Membership shall be entitled to full voting privileges.
Household Membership
A Household Membership shall be for two (2) or more individuals who are resident in Canada, in the same house and have attained the age of eighteen (18) years. A Household Membership shall be allowed only one vote for the membership.
Junior Membership
A Junior Membership shall be for an individual who has not attained the age of eighteen (18) years but who would otherwise qualify for Regular Membership. A Junior Membership is not entitled to any voting privileges.
Non-Resident Membership
A Non-Resident Membership shall be for an individual who is not a resident of Canada but who would otherwise qualify for Regular Membership. A Non-Resident Member cannot be an officer of director of the Club, but with the exception of amendments to the breed standard, amendments to this Constitution and matters pertaining to the possible dissolution of the Club, shall be entitled to the same voting privileges as a Regular Member.
Honourary Life Membership
An Honourary Life Membership shall be awarded to an individual in recognition of long service to the Breed or to the Club. Nomination to Honourary Life Membership may be made by a recommendation from the Executive Committee by a minimum of three members in good standing and endorsed by at least 51% of the membership by ballot mailed to each eligible member a minimum of one month before the Annual General Meeting. An Honourary Life Membership shall be entitled to full voting privileges, but shall not be required to the payment of annual dues.
Membership Year
With the exception of Honorary Life Memberships, Membership in the Club shall be based on the calendar year.
Eligibility
With the exception of Junior Memberships, Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons who are:
**EIGHTEEN (18) years of age, or older; and
**who subscribe to the Objects (of the Club
All types of Memberships, excepting only Honorary Life Memberships, shall be subject to the payment of dues as set out by the Board from time to time.
Dues
Membership dues shall be payable by the FIRST day of JANUARY of each year. The annual membership dues for any given year ("the Relevant Year") shall be determined as follows:
the Board shall propose the annual dues for the Relevant Year, prior to the Annual General Meeting of the Club held in the year previous thereto, and shall submit such proposal for approval of the membership at the said Annual General Meeting. The membership shall then fix the annual dues for the Relevant Year, at the said Annual General Meeting. Should, in any year, the Annual General Meeting fail to determine the dues for the following year, the Board shall fix the dues for that following year at a rate up to but not more than the rate which applied for the year during which the Annual General Meeting failed to set the dues;
the Secretary shall in writing notify each member, a minimum of SIX (6) weeks prior to the 1st day of January of the Relevant Year, of the amount of the annual dues set for the Relevant Year, and that the fact that the same are payable on or before the 1st day of January of the Relevant Year.
If a member ("the Recalcitrant Member") has not paid his or her annual dues for the Relevant Year, by the 1st day of March of the Relevant Year, the Recalcitrant Member’s membership shall be terminated. The Secretary shall, prior to the 1st day of February of the Relevant Year, in writing remind each Recalcitrant Member, of the fact that the Recalcitrant Member’s membership dues for the Relevant Year have still not been paid, and of the effect of this rule.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall have the power, at a meeting thereof, to by resolution reinstate a terminated membership, if it appears to the Board that there is good and sufficient reason so to do. This power may only be exercised (and may not be delegated) by the Board.
A Member whose Membership has been terminated or has lapsed by reason of failure to pay annual dues, may re-apply for admission to the Club.
Any applicant for Membership who is notified after October 15th in any given year, that his or her application for membership has been approved, shall be extended free membership for the following year.
Application for Membership
Except for Honorary Life Memberships, all applications for Membership for the Club shall be submitted on a form approved by the Board of Directors and which shall provide that the applicant agrees to abide by this Constitution. The Secretary shall forthwith furnish, free of charge and without enquiry, application forms for membership, upon request of any person.
The application shall state the name and address of the applicant and shall be supported by a Member in good standing and endorsed by another Member in good standing, of the Club, which support and endorsement may either appear on the application or be sent in separately to the Club (and if sent separately, may be transmitted electronically). Together with the application, the prospective member shall submit dues payment for the current year.
Member in Good Standing with the Club
A Member shall be deemed to be in good standing with the Club if:
**that Member’s membership in the Club or in the CKC is not then undergoing a period of suspension; and
**that Member has not been debarred or expelled from or by the Club or the CKC; and
**that Member’s Membership in the Club has not been terminated by the Club and
**(if the Member is a member of the CKC) that Member’s membership in the CKC has not been terminated by the CKC.
Approval of Membership
With the exception of Honourary Life Membership, all applications for membership shall in the first instance, be approved or rejected by the Board, and shall be subject to appeal (in the case of a rejection) to the Club in General Meeting.
Rejection of Membership
If the Board rejects an application for membership, it shall do so by written Notice of Rejection to the applicant, stating:
**the reason for the rejection;
**the fact that the applicant has the right to appeal the rejection to the general membership of the Club, provided that written notice of appeal is received by the Secretary within THIRTY (30) days of receipt by the applicant, of the Notice of Rejection. An appeal, if duly lodged, shall be heard at the next general meting of the Club, and shall, if allowed, be so allowed by an affirmative votes of FIFTY (50%) percent plus ONE (1) of the Members present and entitled to vote.
Termination of Membership
Memberships may be terminated as follows:
**Resignation. Any Member may resign from the Club upon providing written notice to the Secretary.
**Lapsing. A Membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if the same lapses or is terminated by reason of non-payment of dues.
**Expulsion. A Membership may be terminated by expulsion as provided in Article 9 of these by-laws.
