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1) The Title of the Society shall be “National Australian Shepherd Association” hereinafter referred to as the Association.

2) The Aims of the Association shall be to protect and advance the Breed by -

a) encouraging and promoting the breeding of pure bred Australian Shepherds in such a manner as to bring their natural qualities to the highest degree attainable.

b) Striving to promote, educate and assist all owners and judges of the breed to improve their knowledge of the breed and its history.

c) Protecting and advancing the interest of the breed and encouraging ethical breeding practices and sportsmanlike competition at all dog shows and trials.

d) Holding Agility, Breed and Obedience Shows, Stock Trials and Working Trials, educational and social events.

3) Constitution The Association shall consist of an unlimited number of members from whom a Committee shall be elected annually to manage the Association, its Assets and Property on behalf of the membership.

4) Membership The Association membership shall consist of Founder Members, Individual Members, Joint Members, Junior Members (aged eight to eighteen years) and Honorary Members. Applications for membership shall be on approved forms available from the Secretary. Membership will only be considered by the Committee upon the receipt of a completed application form. Acceptance for membership shall be by a Committee majority vote. The Committee shall have the power to refuse any application for membership and no explanation of any refusal shall be given. New members must sign to say that they fully accept to abide by the Rules and the Code of Ethics of the Society (Association). The Society (Association) must send a list of members and their addresses and those of branch members where appropriate, to The Kennel Club with their annual returns and, if so requested, make an up to date list of members available for inspection by the members of the Society (Association) or by The Kennel Club.

If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Society (Association) be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Society (Association), the Committee of the Society (Association) 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 (Association) 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 (Association) 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 conditions as The Kennel Club may impose.

If the Society (Association) expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog shows, trials or competitions, the Society (Association) must report the matter in writing to The Kennel Club within seven days and supply any particulars required.

Any member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club rule A42.j.(5) and/or any member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club rule A42.j.(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the Society (Association) for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification.

5) Officers These shall comprise of President and Vice-president(s) who are ex-officio and therefore have no voting rights at Committee level. The other Officers are Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. None shall be a serving Officer of another Australian Shepherd Breed Club.

6) Committee The Committee shall comprise of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and ten other individual members. The minimum age to serve on the Committee shall be eighteen. No serving Committee Member nor the partner of a serving Committee Member of another Australian Shepherd Breed Club shall be eligible to stand or be appointed to the Committee. It shall not be permitted for spouses or cohabiters to serve concurrently on the Committee.

7) Bankruptcy No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.

8) Election of Officers and Committee All Officers and Committee shall stand down annually at the Annual General Meeting but may offer themselves for re-election. The Officers shall be appointed by the incoming Committee immediately following the Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall have the option to co-opt a member to the Committee should a position become vacant. Co-opted Committee Members must be proposed and seconded for nomination should they subsequently wish to stand for the following year’s Committee. Nominations for Members to serve on the Committee shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least twenty-eight days prior to the published date of the Annual General Meeting. Each nomination shall comprise of the written acceptance of the nominated fully paid up member and a signed proposal by a fully paid up member which has been seconded and signed by a third fully paid up member. Nominated Members must have held a full membership during all of the preceding two financial years of the Association. If the total nominations for places on the Committee exceed fourteen in number, a secret postal vote will be carried out. The Secretary shall send voting papers containing the names of the nominees to all paid up members. Each paid-up member shall have fourteen votes when selecting nominees. All voting papers shall be forwarded to a named and independent scrutineer so that he or she receives the voting papers no later than seven days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting. The Scrutineer shall provide a certified result of the ballot for the Annual General Meeting.

9) Committee Meetings The Committee shall meet at least four times per year at a central location. A Quorum shall consist of 50% of the elected Committee plus one, of whom two members shall be officers with a minimum of six. Fourteen days notice shall be given. Items to be included in an Agenda must be submitted to the Secretary, in writing, at least seven days prior to the date of a Committee meeting. Committee Members must attend at least two full Committee Meetings within the term of office, otherwise, at the discretion of the Committee, they will be ineligible to re-stand for the following year. Committee meetings shall be closed to the membership. However, a member(s) may be invited by the Chairman to address the meeting in order to discuss a specific Agenda item. The Chairman shall control when the meeting is open to the floor. Additional meetings to be called as necessary.

10) Subscriptions The subscription rates for all membership shall be reviewed on an annual basis and be approved by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. Membership subscriptions shall become due on the 1st. of January annually. If any member shall fail to pay the annual subscription by the AGM the Committee shall erase his/her name from the list of members. Acceptance back on the register of members will be dependent upon completion of a new application. Subscriptions for Joint Memberships shall be a Single Membership plus fifty percent. Subscriptions for Junior Memberships shall be twenty-five percent of a Single Membership for one at that address each additional junior £1. Overseas membership shall be a Single Membership plus fifty-percent. There shall be no subscriptions due from Honorary memberships or Co-opted Officers. Those members joining after 1st. October in any year will automatically have inclusive membership for the following financial year. The kennel club shall be notified of any amendments to annual subscriptions.

11) Voting Rights Each fully paid up Member shall have one vote at Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings. Voting may be by show of hands or secret ballot at the discretion of the chair. Honorary members, co-opted Officers and juniors do not have a vote. Joint members are each entitled to one vote. The Chair at Annual General Meetings, Special General Meetings and/or Committee meetings shall have a casting vote only. If not occupying the Chair, the President and/or Vice-president(s) are permitted to vote at Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings providing that they are fully paid up members.

12) Annual General Meetings These shall be held between 1st January and 30th April annually, due notice of which will be published in the Association’s newsletter, ‘Roundup’. The President shall be invited to Chair the meeting. Items for inclusion in the Agenda must be received by the Secretary at least twenty eight days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting. The Agenda and copies of the certified accounts must be circulated to all members at least fourteen days prior to the Annual General Meeting. No matter can be discussed at the Annual General Meeting which has not been included in the published Agenda other than minor informative points allowed by the Chair.

13) Special General Meetings A Special General Meeting shall be called by the secretary if a request to that effect is received in writing by the Secretary. Such a request shall contain a statement giving the proposal to be put to the meeting and shall include the names and signatures of the proposer, seconder and twenty members, all of whom must be fully paid up members. Each page of the proposal shall be dated, numbered and signed by each member submitting the requisition. On receipt of such a request, the Secretary shall within fourteen days, send a notice to all members convening the Special General Meeting and this must be held within twenty-eight days of the date of the notice. The committee shall also be empowered to call a Special General Meeting. No matter or other business shall be discussed at the Special General Meeting which has not been included in the published agenda.

14) Association Property The property of the Association shall be vested in the care of the Committee. In the event of the Association ceasing to exist, a General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of the Association’s Assets

15) Banking The Committee shall arrange for Account(s) to be opened in the name of the Association into which all revenue shall be paid and from which all withdrawals shall be made. Each and every withdrawal shall require the signatures of any two of three named Officers. Prior Committee approval is required for any withdrawal over one hundred pounds.

16) Accounts The financial year shall run from 1st. January to 31st. December inclusive. The accounts of the Association shall be maintained by the Treasurer who will ensure that all records are kept up-to-date and available for Committee meetings. Profit/loss accounts shall be prepared for each activity. The accounts shall be certified by either one qualified accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience. Copies of the certified accounts shall be made available to all members prior to Annual General Meetings when they shall be presented for acceptance.

17) Annual returns 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 Secretary for continuance of registration and that by 31st. July each year, other returns, as stipulated in 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.

18) Winding Up If the Association is wound up or ceases to be a Registered Society under these Regulations, a final statement of audited accounts with a record of the disposal of the property of the Society (Association) shall be forwarded to the Kennel Club within six months and the persons named as Officers and Committee of the Society on the last return furnished to the Kennel Club, will de held responsible by the Kennel Club for the proper winding up of the Society (Association).

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

These Rules shall not be altered or amended except at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting prior to which due notice has been given of a proposal to alter or amend. Any proposed alteration to these rules may not be brought into effect until The Kennel Club has been advised and approved the alteration(s).

The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the Rules and Regulations of the Society (Association) in all cases relative to canine or Society (Association) matters.

The Society (Association) shall not join any federation of societies or clubs.