The BCCS

BCCS Consititution

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 

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 (together "Board"). The Board shall have the power to arbitrate in cases of dispute between members when asked by both parties to do so. The Board 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 valid member with relevant business or accountancy experience.  All Officers and Committee members shall have full board voting rights; meetings of the Board shall be held as often as is deemed necessary but at least every three months. A quorum for Board Meetings shall be 5 members. The Board shall have the power to co-opt current 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 current 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 casts 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 General Meeting by simple majority vote among the newly formed Board.

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, 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 Board Meetings; a simple majority of the Board being required.  Election to Membership will be at the sole discretion of the Board.  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 at a General Meeting upon acceptance of Membership.  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, attended by the Board and any valid Member of the Club, 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 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 CONSTITUTION

The Constitution of the Club may not be altered except at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting, the Agenda of 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 or other items 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 Board 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 September to the 31st August 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.

Members who join the Club after 30th of June are entitled to a 50% reduction in the membership fee.

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 Board or of the Club, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interest of the Club or the Cane Corso Breed, the Board may, at a General Meeting, at which the conduct of said member was raised as an Agenda item,  pass 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.

Members commit to abide by the BCCS Owners Code of Ethics

Breeders commit to abide by the BCCS Breeders Code of Ethics

 

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 Board to be a pure Cane Corso shall be issued pedigrees. Submitted applications are approved during Board meetings by receiving a majority Board 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.

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