Northern Bullmastiff Club Rules & Regulations
Revised 2024

All members must agree to the Clubs Rules and Regulations before joining the club.

• 1. Names and objectives. The club shall be called the Northern Bullmastiff Club, and its objects and aims shall be to promote and encourage the breeding and exhibiting of the Bullmastiff and to assist members and the breed in every way possible.
• 2. Officers and Committee. The club shall consist of Patron, President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, and a Committee of 20 including officers.
• 3. Committee. The management of the club shall be in the hands of the officers of the club, plus a committee that shall be eligible for re-election every year. The officers shall hold office for three years. Meetings of the committee shall be held as deemed necessary, and 6 shall form quorum. The committee shall have the power to co-opt members on the committee in the event of positions becoming vacant between general meetings. Anyone co-opted shall hold the position only until the next general meetings. Anyone co-opted shall hold the position only until the next general meeting where an election of officers and committee takes place. No individual who has been a full member for less than twelve calendar months can be elected on to the committee. If committee members do not attend the majority of meetings, without good cause, they will be invited to stand down the following year.
• 4. Election of members. Candidates for both full and affiliate membership shall be proposed by one existing fully paid-up full member and seconded by another. Ballot for membership acceptance.
• 4a. Affiliate members. Affiliate members will have all the benefits a full member receives, except for voting on any club issues and are not allowed to attend AGMs or SGMs. Affiliated member’s will be able to apply for full membership once they have been an affiliated member for 3 yrs unless co-opted by the committee.
• 5. Voting rights. Each full member shall be entitled to one vote after 12 calendar months. Full membership, in the case of joint members; each member of partnership shall have one vote. Postal votes by proxy are not allowed. Voting at meetings shall be either by secret ballot or show of hands as decided at the meeting. Junior members will be 16 years and under and have no voting rights.
• 6. Club property. The property of the club shall be vested in the committee. In the event of the club ceasing to exist, a general meeting will be called to decide as to the disposal of the club assets, and the outcome of the meeting notified to the Kennel Club. All cups and trophies presented to the club must be accompanied by a signed statement by the donor(s) that they become the property of the club from the date of presentation.
• 7. Club accounts/auditors. A banking account shall be held in the name of the club into which any revenue of the club shall be paid, and from which any withdrawal shall only be made with the signatures of Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary, using any two of the three. The treasurer shall maintain the accounts. One fully qualified or two unqualified auditors, unconnected to the committee shall be appointed at each general meeting for the purpose of auditing the clubs accounts for the ensuing year.
• 8. Subscriptions. The annual subscription shall be such an amount as agreed by members at the A.G.M. and notified to the K.C. Life membership will be 15 times the amount of the current annual subscription. No member whose subscription is unpaid is entitled to any of the privileges of membership, and if any member fails to pay any outstanding subscriptions by 31st January the members name shall be automatically erased from the register. Acceptance back onto the register will be dependent upon a new application.
• 9. Expulsion of members. Any member who shall be disqualified under K.C. Rule A11.j(5) and / or K.C Rule A11.j(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the club. If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of 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 shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him / her / them. 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 / they may attend and offer an explanation. If at the meeting, a resolution to expel is passed by a 2/3rd majority of the members present and voting, then his / her / their name shall forthwith be erased from the list of members. Also, he / she / they shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a member of the club except that he / she / they may, within 2 calendar months from the date of the meeting appeal to the K.C. upon and subject to such condition as the K.C. may impose.
• 10. Financial year. The financial year of the club shall be from 1st January to 31st December.
• 11. Annual General Meetings. The annual General Meeting shall be held in February and have a quorum of six, for the following purposes: to receive the report of the committee and balance sheet, to elect officers and committee and to discuss any resolution or item duly placed on the agenda of which prior notice of not less than 14 days, has been given to the Hon. Secretary. 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, which in the opinion of the chairman of the meeting are urgent. Notice of such meetings will be given in writing at least 28 days prior to the date of the meeting. The agenda will be circulated at the meeting. The certified accounts will be made available at the meeting of the AGM and 14 days prior to the AGM.
• 12. Special General Meetings. A special General meeting shall be summoned by the Hon. Secretary if, 25 members of the club send a sign requisition stating the subject to be discussed and requesting a S.G.M to do so. No business other than that detailed on the agenda can be discussed at a S.G.M. The committee of the club is empowered to call a S.G.M at its discretion. Members will be notified in writing at least 14 days prior to such a meeting and there will be a quorum of six.
• 13. Amendments to Rules. The rules of the club may not be altered except at an A.G.M. The notice for which contains specific proposals to amend the rules. Any proposed alteration to the rules may not be brought into effect until the K.C. has been advised and approved the alteration.
• 14. Registration and Title Maintenance. The officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, maintenance of title fee will be forwarded to the K.C. by the Secretary for the continuance of registration and that by 31st July each year, other returns, such as total number of members or other matter as stipulated in K.C. 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 K.C. of any changes of Secretary of the club which may occur during the course of the year.
• 15. Appeals. The kennel Club shall be the final authority for interpreting the rules of the society in all cases relative to canine and society matters.
• 16. Federations. The club shall not join any federation of societies or clubs.
• 17. Shows and Committee Members. Officials of the N.B.C will not show at club shows except in veteran classes. Members of the committee of the N.B.C shall not be members of any other breed club committees. A judge shall only judge the N.B.C Championship show every 10 years. (Starting from the first Championship show).
• 18. Members. The club shall have an unlimited number of members. The N.B.C will maintain an up to date list of member’s names and their addresses, and make a list of names available for inspection if requested by the members of the club or by the K.C.
• 19. Judging Lists. The N.B.C will produce judging lists every year as K.C directive. Inclusion on the list will be by application. A person must have been in the breed for five years before they can be included in any judging list on the N.B.C.
• 20. Honorary Life Membership. Honorary life membership will be allowed. Elected officers and committee can be granted honorary life membership upon retirement at the discretion of the members of the AGM.
• 21. Bankruptcy. No persons whilst an un-discharged bankrupt may serve on the committee of or hold any office or appointment within K.C registered society.
• 22. Code of Ethics. The code of ethics of the N.B.C are included in the Rules and Regulations of the N.B.C. (Click here to read the club's code of ethics)