Southern Counties SBT Society

1. NAME AND OBJECTS

The Society shall be called The Southern Counties Staffordshire Bull Terrier Society (hereinafter known as the "Society") and its objects shall be to promote all things found to be desirable in the interests of Staffordshire Bull Terriers, as a breed, in the Southern Counties of England.

The Society shall consist of President, Hon. General Secretary, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon. Treasurer, Show Manager (hereinafter called the "Officers") a Committee of twelve (hereinafter called the "Committee") and an unlimited number of members.

The Society shall have the power to honour those members who have given long and distinguished service to the Breed by electing them to be Life Vice-Presidents. Candidates for this honour shall be nominated by a member of the Committee and shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Society. Life Vice-Presidents shall enjoy the privileges of membership without payment of subscription.

The Management of the Society shall be in the hands of the Officers of the Society who shall be elected annually and a Committee of twelve members who shall retire on a three years rotation. Officers and Committee Members may offer themselves for re-election.

Any person seeking election as an Officer or Committee Member shall have been a bona-fide paid up member of the Society for at least one year prior to nomination. Nominations, which must be proposed, seconded and in writing should be with the Hon. Secretary by no later than the 31st January preceding the Annual General Meeting. All committee members shall have full voting rights and in addition the Chairperson shall have a casting vote. Meetings of the committee shall be held as often as deemed necessary.

At their first meeting the incoming Committee may elect from the twelve-committee members the following: Trophy secretary. Match secretary, Newsletter Editor and persons with other specific responsibilities as designated by the Committee.

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 have full voting rights but only hold office until the next General Meeting of the Club at which an election of Officers and Committee takes place. In addition the Committee may co-opt temporarily any member of special benefit to the Society and ad-hoc committees may be formed for specific purposes. Any Committee member not attending three successive committee meetings without a valid reason, which is acceptable to the Committee, will be considered to have resigned. Committee meetings are subject to a minimum attendance of 50% of the elected Officers & Committee Members. If this quorum is not present no business can be conducted.

Application for membership shall be on the appropriate form. Membership is subject to payment of subscription and confirmation by the Committee. Joint membership shall be confined to two persons. 

A copy of the Rules and Code of Ethics of the Society shall be supplied to each member with confirmation of acceptance of membership.

The Society must send a declaration of the number of members of the Society as at the end of the Society's financial year with the  Annual Returns to the Kennel Club. The Society must maintain an up-to-date list of members names and their addresses, and if so requested, make the list of names available for inspection by the members of the Society or by the Kennel Club.

6. VOTING RIGHTS

Each member shall be entitled to vote immediately upon acceptance of membership. Postal / proxy votes are not allowed.

Children between 6 and 16 years of age are entitled to Honorary Membership in company with their legal guardian who will register them annually for Honorary Membership. At the age of 16 membership with full voting rights can be attained upon payment of the requisite sum.

The property of the Society shall be vested in the Committee.

In the event of the Society ceasing to exist, a final General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of the Society's assets and the outcome of the meeting notified to the Kennel Club-

(If a registered Club is wound up or ceases to be a Registered Society under these Regulations a final statement of accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Society shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months. The persons named as Officers and Committee of the Society will be held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Society.)

The Stafford Magazine is the property of the Society and is published at the discretion of the Committee to the subscribers on payment.

The Stafford magazine shall not be confined to members.

The Editor shall either be a full or co-opted Member of the Committee, and shall follow the guidelines set down by the Committee of SCSBTS.

(a) Bank accounts shall be held in the name of the Society at a bank deemed appropriate by the Committee into which all revenue of the Society shall be paid, and from which withdrawal shall be made on the signature of the Treasurer, and one other Officer of the Society from a panel of three appointed by the Committee.

(b) The Accounts of the Society shall be prepared and certified annually, by a qualified accountant who shall not be a member of the Society, and presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting. Members can request in writing and enclosing a SAE a copy of the accounts 14 days before the AGM. NOTE: Certification of accounts must be carried out by one qualified accountant or two individuals with accountancy experience. Those undertaking the certification must be independent from those who prepared the accounts.

The Annual Subscription shall be such an amount as agreed by members in a General Meeting and notified to the Kennel Club.

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 31st January his/her name shall automatically be erased from the register. Acceptance back on the register shall be dependent upon a new application.

Any member who shall be disqualified under the Kennel Club Rule A11j (5) and/or Kennel Club Rule A11j (9)shall ipso facto cease to be a Member of the Society. If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Society be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Society, the Committee of the Society 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 Society 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 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 Society.

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 condition as the Kennel Club may impose.

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

Any person convicted by a Court or Law of any crime involving cruelty to animals shall be ineligible to take part in any capacity or to attend an event organised by the Society.

The financial year of the Society shall be from 1st January to 31st December. The Annual General Meeting shall be held before the 1st April.

Notice and Agenda of a General Meeting shall be given to each fully paid up member of the Society not less than fourteen days prior to such a meeting. At the Annual General Meeting the following business shall be conducted. "To receive the report of the Committee". "To receive and approve the Accounts"."Election of Officers and Committee"."Appointment of Accountant"."Election of Judges for the Society's Limited, Open and Championship shows"."Other resolutions, which shall have been communicated to the Hon. Secretary in writing, by 31st January".

No business shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof is included in the Agenda, with the exception of routine or minor matters or those, which in the opinion of the Chairman of the Meeting are urgent. The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting, Annual Accounts. and Report shall be available at the meeting to all attending members. Members not attending can apply, after the meeting, to the Hon. Secretary for copies of the documents issued. General Meetings are subject to a minimum attendance of 15 fully paid-up Society Members. If this quorum is not present, no business can be conducted.

A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Hon. Secretary if twenty-four fully paid up members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a Special General Meeting to do so. The Committee of the Society is also empowered to call a Special general meeting. The meeting shall be held within twenty-eight days of receipt of the requisition. No other business than that detailed on the Agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting. Special General Meetings are subject to a minimum attendance of 15 fully paid-up Society Members. If this quorum is not present, no business can be conducted.

The Rules of the Society may not be altered except at a General Meeting, the notice for which contains specific proposals to amend the Rules.

Any proposed alteration to the Rules may not be brought into effect unless they receive a two-thirds majority of the fully paid-up members attending and voting at the General Meeting and until the Kennel Club has been advised and approved the alteration.

New Rules or amendments introduced specifically to meet Kennel Club requirements shall be adopted immediately.

A resolution for a proposal to alter the Breed Standard shall be subject to the same requirements as an amendment to the Rules. Any amendment should be submitted to the Breed Council and to other Breed Clubs and Societies before such amendments are submitted 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 Treasurer for the continuance of Registration.

By the 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 are forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Secretary.

The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any changes of Secretary of the Society, which may occur during the course of the year.

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

14A. No person, whilst an undischarged bankrupt, may serve on the Committee or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.

The Society shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs other than the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Council.

Registered Breed Societies and Breed Councils must produce a list of Judges each year, which must be submitted to the Kennel Club as part of the Society's Annual Returns. The purpose of the Breed Society Judges lists is to indicate to interested parties those persons a Breed Society would support at differing levels of judging.

Membership of the Society must not be a prerequisite for inclusion in the lists.

Judges lists should be divided into five parts namely. A1, A2, A3, B & C, and must indicate the date on which the list will expire. On expiry a new list must be completed.

A1 List. For persons who have previously been approved by the Kennel Club to award CC's in the breed and has completed their first appointment. To have the support of the "SCSBTS".

A2 List. For persons who fulfil all the requirements for the A3 list and who have been assessed in accordance with Kennel Club requirements and accepted by the Kennel Club for inclusion on an A2 list, and who have the support of the "SCSBTS".

A3 List Specialist. Criteria to be the same as to qualify as a specialist Judge for the Society’s Championship Show.

A3 List Non-Specialist. Criteria to be the same as to qualify as a non-specialist Judge for the Society’s Championship Show.

B List. (KC Level 2) (Specialist and non-specialist). Criteria to be the same as to qualify as a judge for the Society’s Limit & Open Shows.

C List. (KC Level 1) Requirements to meet this level.

(i)   Minimum of five years proven interest in pedigree dogs. (KC Policy)

(ii)   Attend a requirements of a dog show judge seminar (but not mandatory to take and pass examination) (KC Policy)

(iii)  Attend a conformation and movement seminar. (KC Policy)

(iv) To have attended at least 1 Breed Specific Seminar run in accordance with Kennel Club Code of Best Practice and passed an examination and/or assessment where applicable.

(v) Complete a minimum of two full day stewarding appointments. (KC Policy)

The judges for Society shows shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting from nominees submitted by the committee.

In the case of the Limited & Open Shows, judges shall be appointed 1 year in advance.

In the case of the Championship Show, judges shall be appointed 2 years in advance.

(a) The Committee shall nominate four candidates for the Society's Limited and Open shows and eight candidates for its Championship show who meet the Society's criteria by 31st December preceding the Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall use ballot papers to determine the final candidates.

(b) The Committee when required shall nominate a maximum of six candidates for each Supported Show. The Committee shall use ballot papers to determine the two chosen candidates.

(c) Declaration: I am willing to officiate, if elected, having read and understood the Breed Standard. I agree to supply a critique to the canine press and the Society. I shall not judge Staffordshire Bull Terriers of either sex for twelve months prior to the show within 150 miles of London for the Limited and Open shows.

For the Championship Show: I shall not judge Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the United Kingdom of either sex for 18 months prior to the date of show. I also agree to supply a critique to the canine press and the Society.

"In accepting this invitation, you agree to be bound by Kennel Club Rules and Regulations and the Kennel Club Code of Best Practice for Judges. In doing so you also recognise that you are obliged to notify us in writing of any change in personal circumstances which will affect your ability to fulfil this judging appointment. You should also note that we reserve the right to cancel the contract before the date of the appointment if there is a change in your circumstances, which in our reasonable opinion would adversely affect your ability to fulfil the appointment."

(d) Open and Limit Shows. All nominees must meet the following criteria and have the support of SCSBTS.

Specialist and Non-specialist

(i) A minimum of 4 years judging experience.

(ii) Judged a minimum of 25 classes of SBT with dogs actually present.

(iii) Judged a minimum of 4 KC recognised shows.

(iv) Judged a minimum of 60 dogs.

v) To have attended at least one breed specific seminar run in accordance with Kennel Club Code of Best Practice and passed an examination and/or assessment where applicable.

(vi) Take and pass the Requirements of a Dog Show Judge Examination. (KC policy)

(vii) To have attended a Conformation and Movement seminar conducted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer.(KC policy)

(viii) To have undertaken and passed a Points of the Dog Assessment conducted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer. (KC policy)

(ix) To be a Member of the Kennel Club Academy. 

(x) To complete a minimum of two full day stewarding appointments. (KC requirement)

(xi) To view Ring Stewarding seminar and take online quiz. (KC requirement)                  

(xii) To complete the Critique Writing seminar and take online quiz. (KC requirement)

(e) Championship Shows. All nominees must meet the following criteria and have the support of SCSBTS.

Specialist

(i) A minimum of 8 years judging experience prior to the date of nomination & have the support of The SCSBTS.

(ii) Judged at least 3 Breed Club shows.

(iii) Judged at least 100 classes of SBT’s.

(iv) 50 of the 100 classes judged to be out-with a 50 mile radius of home town.

(v) Judged each sex at Breed Club level.

(vi) Judged a minimum of 250 dogs (actual).

(vii) To have bred and/or owned at least 3 dogs when they obtained their first entry in the KC Stud Book. (Save in exceptional circumstances). KC Policy.

(viii) To have stewarded at a minimum of 12 days at shows. KC Policy.

(ix) To have attended a seminar given by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer, and passed the relevant examination on Kennel Club Regulations and Judging Procedures. KC Policy.

(x) To have attended a seminar given by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer on Conformation and Movement. KC Policy.

(xi) To have attended at least one breed specific seminar run in accordance with Kennel Club Code of Best Practice and passed an examination and/or assessment where applicable. KC Policy.

xii) To have attended a Conformation & Movement ‘Hands On’ Assessment conducted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer & passed the assessment. KC Policy.

Non Specialist

(i) To have judged a minimum of 100 classes of Staffordshire Bull Terriers with exhibits actually present in each of those classes.

(ii) Judged a minimum of 2 separate Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club or Society Breed Club shows.

(iii) Judged each sex at Breed Club show level.

(iv) To have judged a minimum of 250 Staffordshire Bull Terriers (actual).

(v) A minimum of 8 years judging experience in the Breed and have the support of a Breed Club.

(vi) To have judged Staffordshire Bull Terriers with evidence of an adequate geographical spread of appointments of which a minimum of 50 classes to be not less than 50 miles from home town.

(vii) To have awarded CC's in at least 1 other recognised Breed.

(viii) To have attended a minimum of 3 Staffordshire Bull Terrier judging seminars and passed a minimum of 1 assessment on Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

Please Note:

Non UK Resident Judges must meet the Society’s criteria except for KC Stud Book numbers, seminars and assessments, but must be appropriately qualified and approved to judge at the nominated level in their country of residence.

(f) – No person shall be eligible for nomination to judge a Society show within six years of judging his or her last appointment for the Society.