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RULES OF THE CANARY COUNCIL
Adopted 3rd September, 2006

1:        TITLE

    The association shall be named "The Canary Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", hereinafter referred to as the "Council" or "CC".

2:        OBJECTIVES

  1. To encourage the keeping, breeding, exhibition and study of all recognised breeds of the domestic canary throughout Great Britain and Northern  Ireland.

  2. To affiliate to, and uphold the rules and objectives of, the National Council for Aviculture, hereafter referred to as the "NCA".

  3. To make representations, either directly or through the NCA, to statutory bodies, national organisations, government departments and others on   matters appertaining to the canary fancy.

  4. To send representatives to the meetings of, and otherwise participate in, the meetings and activities of the NCA.

  5. To encourage the governing bodies of each variety of domestic canary to become members of the Canary Council.

  6. To organise shows, events, campaigns, promotions or other activities in the interests of the canary fancy.

  7. To do anything else the Canary Council considers appropriate and reasonable to achieve its objectives.       

3.      MEMBERSHIP

3.1       Membership shall be open to the national governing body of each recognised variety of the domestic canary, hereafter referred to as "Member Societies".  Only governing bodies based in Great Britain and Northern Ireland shall be eligible.  In the event that two or more organisations claim to be the governing body of a particular variety, the Canary Council shall, at its absolute discretion, decide which organisation to admit to membership of the Council.

3.2       Admission to membership shall take effect upon:

  1. receipt by the Secretary of an application for membership in writing; and

  2. payment of the current membership fee; and

  3. acceptance by the Canary Council at its first meeting following the receipt of the application and fees. 

3.3      The Canary Council may, at its absolute discretion, refuse admission to membership without assigning reason.  In such event, the membership fee(s) shall be returned to the applicant.

3.4      Renewal of membership shall take effect upon payment of the current membership fee and all arrears.  The date for renewal of membership shall be 1 January of each year.

3.5      A delegate representing a Member Society may be expelled forthwith from a meeting of the Canary Council for any reason upon a two-thirds majority vote of those present at the meeting, provided always that such suspension shall not be made unreasonably or vexatiously. The expulsion shall take effect immediately.  The expelled delegate shall not be readmitted to any meeting of the CC unless invited by a simple majority vote of those present at the meeting.    A Member Society may replace a delegate at any time.

3.6       A Member  Society may be expelled from membership of the Canary Council for any reason upon a two-thirds clear majority vote of those present at an AGM or EGM, provided always that such expulsion shall not be made unreasonably or vexatiously. The expulsion shall take effect three days after a written notification has been issued by registered post by the Secretary. An expelled member shall loose all benefits of membership, and shall forfeit its membership fee.

3.7       A society or Council member that has been expelled from membership of the Canary Council shall be entitled to appeal against the decision of the CC by a hearing at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).  Such appeal shall be made in writing and issued to the Secretary by registered post within 28 days of issue of the notice of suspension or expulsion.   The CC shall permit the appellant to be represented by a member of the society at the meeting.  The appeal shall be carried or dismissed upon a simple majority vote of those members present at the meeting.

3.8      A Member  Society may resign its membership of the Canary Council by giving notice in writing to the Secretary.

3.9      A Member Society that fails to renew its membership within 9 months of the due renewal date shall be deemed to have resigned from membership of the Canary Council.

4.         ORGANISATION

4.1      The affairs of the Canary Council shall be managed by meetings of the delegates from paid-up Member Societies, hereafter referred to as the "Council".

4.2       The Council   shall comprise of up to two delegates from each paid-up Member Society. The delegates shall elect from their number the offices of Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and such other posts as the Canary Council deems appropriate. All members of the Council shall be elected to their posts at an AGM or EGM, and shall serve until the closure of the following AGM (or EGM, if applicable). All retiring incumbents shall be eligible for re-election. The Chairman's Society shall be entitled  to be represented by a deputy delegate with full voting rights at meetings.

4.3       In the event of resignation, suspension, or force majeure that prevents an officer or post-holder from undertaking his/her duties regularly and diligently, the Council shall elect a surrogate to fill the post.  The new officer or post-holder shall hold the office or post for the remainder of the term held by the previous incumbent.

4.5       Any member of the Council may be suspended from the Council for any reason by a clear two-thirds majority vote of the Council members present at the meeting, provided always that such suspension shall not be made unreasonably or vexatiously. The suspended member shall be entitled to appeal against his/her suspension in accordance with the procedures set out in Rule 3.7.

5         DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL

The Council shall:

  1.     Define the duties of the Officers and other post-holders (see Appendix 1).

  2.     Authorise actions by the Officers and other post-holders.

  3.     Keep and produce a minute book recording all decisions made and all actions taken.

  4.     Keep in touch regularly with the Member Societies by all reasonable means.

  5.     Form, at its discretion, sub-committees and/or working parties.

  6.     Co-opt, at its discretion, people with specialist knowledge on to the Council in an advisory capacity.

  7.     Organise shows or other events if authorised at an AGM or EGM.

  8.     Administer a ring scheme if authorised at an AGM or EGM.

  9.     Administer means of fund raising if authorised at an AGM or EGM.

  10.     Administer applications for membership of the CC

  11.     Review correspondence.

  12.     Supervise the CC's financial affairs set out in Rule 8.

  13.     Procure an Annual Statement of Accounts from an independent examiner appointed at an AGM or EGM.

  14.     Call an Annual General Meeting in accordance with Rule 6.1..

  15.     Keep up to date with the rules and activities of the NCA and inform the membership accordingly.

  16.     Nominate delegates to attend and vote in meetings of the NCA.

  17.     Consider, inquire, advise, instruct or act on any other matters affecting the CC and its members.

  18.     Undertake any other duty or action authorised by the membership at an AGM or EGM.

6.       GENERAL MEETINGS

  1. Annual General Meetings (AGMs) shall be held at such venue and at such time as the Council may reasonably determine.  AGMs shall be convened not less than 9 months and not more than 15 months since the previous AGM

  2. Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM) shall be called by simple majority of the Council or by petition to the Secretary signed by at least five member societies.

  3. The Secretary shall give all members not less than three weeks notice of an AGM or EGM. 

  4. A Member Society wishing to propose an addition, omission or alteration to the Rules shall notify the Secretary in writing.  The Secretary shall be obliged to include the proposal in the notice of the next AGM or EGM.

  5. All paid-up Member Societies are entitled to send two delegates to attend an AGM or EGM. 

  6. Non-receipt of notices shall not invalidate an AGM, EGM, or proposed change to the Rules, provided that non-receipt is due to reasons beyond the control of the Secretary, and applies to not more than 20% of the membership.

7.       CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

  1. A quorum at any General   or Extraordinary meeting shall be five delegates from paid-up Member Societies.

  2. Motions at  a meeting shall be carried by a simple majority unless stated otherwise in the Rules.  In the event of a tie, the Chairman (or, if absent, his/her deputy), shall have the casting vote.

  3. Only official delegates from paid-up affiliated societies, shall be eligible to vote.  The Chairman, (or, if absent, his/her deputy), shall only vote when a casting vote is necessary. Persons co-opted on to Council meetings in an advisory capacity shall not be entitled to vote at those

  4. In the absence of the Chairman at a meeting, the members present shall elect a deputy from amongst those present to chair the meeting.

  5. The Chairman (or, if absent, his/her deputy) shall declare any conflict of interest prior to a debate on a specific subject.  Upon such declaration, the Chairman (or, if absent, his/her deputy) shall vacate the chair and the members present shall elect another person in accordance with Rule 7iv) to act as chairman until the conclusion of the debate, or a vote is taken.

  6. No addition, omission or alteration shall be made to the Rules except at an AGM or EGM;

  7. No Rules can be changed unless notice of a proposed change is published in the notice of meeting;

  8. Motions carried at a general meeting shall take effect immediately upon closure of the meeting unless expressly stated in the motion to the contrary;

  9. The Council shall have the authority to correct accidental errors in the notice or minutes of meetings;

8          FINANCES

8.1       The Council shall be authorised, at its discretion, to:

  1. Set affiliation fees.

  2. Charge for services.

  3. Claim funds/subsidies/expenses from the NCA.

  4. Collect debts and payments due.

  5. Invest savings.

  6. Raise funds by other legitimate means.

  7. Acquire assets for the legitimate activities of the NCA

  8. Pay bills, honoraria and expenses due.

  9. Make donations to charities and/or organisations supportive of the NCA's objectives.

  10. Authorise the keeping of a bank account(s) and the signing of cheques.   All cheques to be signed by two authorised members of the Council.

  11. Appoint an independent person to audit the annual accounts.

8.2       The Council shall be prohibited from:

  1. Paying dividends or profits.

  2. Borrowing money.

8.3       If, for any reason, a motion is passed by a two-thirds clear majority at an AGM or EGM to wind up the Canary Council, the CC shall appoint Trustees to:

  1. Draw up, with all reasonable skill and care, an account of the CC's assets and liabilities.

  2. Settle outstanding credits and debts.

  3. Distribute, at its discretion, the net assets (if any) to a registered charity, or to another national bird-keeping organisation(s) with similar objectives to the CC.

8.4      The Trustees shall be entitled to recompense for expenses properly incurred in the conduct of their duties.

8.5      No member, or member's family, associates or company, shall be entitled to profit from the disposal of the assets of the CC.

APPENDIX 1: DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

i)        DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN:

Chair meetings of the Canary Council.

Act as spokesman for the CC.

Act, in consultation with at least one other member of the Council, on any issue where time is of the essence, provided that the Secretary is kept fully and promptly informed.

Undertake any other role authorised by the Council.

ii)        DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY:

Keep an up-to date list of members.

Keep the Rules up to date and issue copies to all new members.

Acknowledge, and distribute correspondence, and reply when requested.

Give timely notice of general meetings and Council meetings.

Prepare and issue minutes of meetings.

Undertake any other role authorised by the Council.

iii)      DUTIES OF THE TREASURER

          Keep proper accounts of the Canary Council's income and expenditure.

          Keep proper accounts of the CC's assets and liabilities.

          Advise the Council on financial matters.

          Prepare annual accounts for audit.

Present to the AGM for approval audited accounts for the preceding 12 months.

Inform the Secretary of membership fees paid.

          Undertake any other role authorised by the Council.