1.The name of the incorporated association is ASSOCIATION OF DOG TRAINING CLUBS OF

   VICTORIA. (in these rules called “the Association”.

DEFINITIONS

2.  (1)  In these Rules, unless the contrary intention appears-

“Act” means the Association Incorporation Act 1981 and any amendments thereto and, unless inconsistent with the context or subject matter, includes the Association Regulations 1983 and any amendments thereto.

“Application for Membership”, includes application for re-admission to membership.

“Association” has the same meaning as is ascribed to that word by section 3 (1) of the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 which, inter alia, includes a Club.

“Body” means where the context reasonable admits, a Club, Society, Association, Company or group of persons.

“By-Laws”, means the By-Laws in force for the time being of the Club and shall form part of and be deemed to be incorporated in the Rules of the Club.

“Clause” means a provision of the Rules and where the context so admits includes a paragraph or sub-paragraph thereof.

“Club”, for the purpose of these Rules, has the same meaning as is ascribed to the word Association by Section 3(1) of the Associations Incorporation Act 1981.

“Committee” means the Committee of Management of the Association and includes Officers of the Association and ordinary members of the Committee unless the rules specifically provide otherwise.

“Exhibition” includes a Canine competition, display, obedience, tracking, endurance or agility trial, contest, match or similar event.

“Financial Year: means the year ending 30 June.

“Financial Member: means a member body of the Association who shall not be in default in the payment of its annual subscription or any fees or other monies payable by it in accordance with these Rules.

“Un-financial” shall have the opposite meaning.

 “General Meeting” means a general meeting of members convened in accordance with Rule 12.

“Relevant documents” has the same meaning as in the Act.

“Office Bearers”  means the President, the Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Public Officer, and such nominated positions as referred to in Clause 23 and By-Laws for the time being of the Association.

“Period of Membership” in relation to a member body, denotes the twelve months terminating at midnight on the 30^th day of June each year for which such member body is for the time being elected or admitted to membership of the Association or such portion of that term during which its membership continues.

“Writing” includes printing, photocopying and other like recognised means of communication or of reproducing works in visible form.

Words or expressions contained in these Rules shall be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of the Acts Interpretation Act 1958 and the Act as in force from time to time.

  (2) In these Rules, a reference to the Secretary of an Association is a reference –

(a)     if a person holds office under theses Rules as Secretary of the Association – to that person; and

(b)     in any other case, to the public officer of the Association.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

2A. The Statement of Purposes of the Association is as follows-

(1)     To provide a forum where Member Bodies may come together to consider matters of common interest and/or concern.

(2)     To foster all canine associated activities conducted by the Member Bodies with particular emphasis on obedience training.

(3)     To facilitate liaison and co-ordination between the Member Bodies in the achievement of their common goals and objectives.

(4)     To act as advocate on behalf of Member Bodies as may be determined from time to time by the Member Bodies.

ALTERATION OF THE RULES

3.  These Rules and the statement of purposes of the Association must not be altered except in accordance with the Act.

MEMBERSHIP, ENTRY FEES AND SUBSCRIPTION

4.  (1) A Club involving in which applies and is approved for membership as provided in theses Rules is eligible to be a member body of the Association on payment of the entrance fee and annual subscription payable under these Rules.

(2)     A Club which is not a member body of the Association at the time of the incorporation of the Association (or who was a member body at the time but has ceased to be a member) must not be admitted to membership unless –

(a)     it is a dog training club .

(b)     it applies for membership in accordance with sub-rule (3); and

(c)     the Members in General Meeting  approve the admission as a member body.

(3)     An application of a Club for membership of the Association must –

(a)     be made in writing on such from as the Committee may from time to time prescribe and shall be signed by the President  of the applying Club accompanied by the fees prescribed in Clause 4.

     (b)  be lodged with the Secretary of the Association

(4)     As soon as practicable after the receipt of an application, the Secretary must refer the application to the Members.

(5)     The Members must determine whether to approve or reject the application.

(6)     If the Members approve an application for membership, the Secretary must, as soon as practicable, enter the Club’s name in the register of members kept by him or her, and upon the name being so entered, the Club  will become a member body of the Association.

(7)     An applicant for membership becomes a member body and is entitled to exercise the rights of membership when the applicants name is entered in the register of member bodies.

(8)     If the Members reject an application, the Secretary must, as soon as practicable, notify the applicant in writing that the application has been rejected.

(9)     If the Members approve an application, the Secretary must, as soon as practicable, notify the applicant in writing that the application has been approved.

(10) A right, privilege or obligation of a Club by reason of membership of the Association –

(a)     is not capable of being transferred or transmitted to another Club; and

(b)     terminates upon the cessation of membership.

(11)  Member bodies shall strictly observe and act in conformity with and not otherwise than in accordance with the Act and the Rules and By-Laws of the Association in so far as they shall relate to them and will uphold the honor of and use their best endeavors to further the objects of the Association.

(12)   A member body may within thirty (30) days after the end of the Association’s financial year, make application to the Association for re-admission as a member upon payment of the annual subscription and shall be deemed for all purposes to have been re-admitted as such a member body.

5.  (1)  The Secretary must keep and maintain a register of members containing -

(a)     the name and address of each member body; and

(b)     the date on which each member body’s name was entered in the register.

(2)     The register is available for inspection free of charge by any member body upon request.

(3)     A member body may make a copy of entries in the register.

PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP

6.   Subject to restrictions and limitation prescribed by or pursuant to the Act, Rules and By-Laws of the Association the privileges of a member body shall be:-

(a)     upon application and payment of the prescribed fee to the Secretary, to receive a copy of the Rules and By-Laws of the Association.

(b)     The right to send  two delegates to attend and vote at all General Meetings of the Association; subject to the conditions of Clause 27 (2) and 27(3).

(c)     To submit nominations for any Office of the Association and /or Committee subject to the conditions of Clause 27(2) and 27 (3);

(d)     To receive any publication issued by the Association, upon the payment of the prescribed fee (if any).

CEASING MEMBERSHIP

7.  (1)  A member body of the Association who has paid all monies due and payable by a member body to the      Association may resign from the Association by giving one month’s notice in writing to the Secretary of its intention to resign.

     (2) After the expiry of the period referred to in sub-rule 4 (12) –

(a)     the member body ceases to be a member; and

(b)     the Secretary must record in the register of member bodies the date on which the member body ceased to be a member.

DISCIPLINE, SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

8.  (1) Subject to these Rules, if the Committee is of the opinion that a member body has refused or neglected to comply with these Rules, or has been guilty of conduct unbecoming a member or prejudicial to the interests of the Association, the Committee may by resolution -

(a)     suspend that member body from membership of the Association for a specified period; or

(b)     expel that member body from the Association.

 (2)  A resolution of the Committee under sub-rule 8 (1) does not take effect unless -

(a)     at a meeting held in accordance with sub-rule 8(3), the Committee confirms the resolution; and

(b)     if the member body exercises a right of appeal to the Association under this rule, the Association confirms the resolution in accordance with this rule.

(3)  A meeting of the Committee to confirm or revoke a resolution passed under sub-rule 8 (1) must be held not earlier than 14 days and not later than 28 days after the notice has been given to that member body in accordance with sub-rule 8 (4).

(4)  For the purposed of giving notice in accordance with sub-rule 8(3), the Secretary must, as soon as practicable, cause to be given to the member body a written notice -

(a)     setting out the resolution of the Committee and the grounds on which it is based; and

(b)     stating that the member body, or  its representative, may address the Committee at a meeting to be held not earlier than 14 days and not later than 28 days after the notice has been given to that member body; and

(c)     stating the date, place and time of that meeting; and

(d)     informing the member body  that it may do one or both of the following –

(i)                   attend the meeting;

(ii)                 give to the Committee before the date of that meeting a written statement seeking the revocation of the resolution;

(e)     informing the member body that, if at the meeting, the Committee confirms the resolution, it may, not later than 48 hours after that meeting, give the Secretary a notice to the effect that it wishes to appeal to the Association in General Meeting against the resolution.

(5)_At a meeting of the Committee to confirm or revoke a resolution passed under sub-rule 8(1), the Committee must –

(a)     give the member body, or  its representative, an opportunity to be heard; and

(b)     give due consideration to any written statement submitted by the member body; and

(c)     determine by resolution whether to confirm or to revoke the resolution.

(6)  If at the meeting of the Committee, the Committee confirms the resolution, the member body may, not later than 48 hours after that meeting, give the Secretary a notice to the effect that it wishes to appeal to the Association in General Meeting against the resolution.

(7)  If the Secretary receives a notice under sub-rule 8(6), the Secretary must notify the Committee and the Committee must convene a General Meeting of the Association to be held within 21 days after the date on which the Secretary received the notice.

(8)  At a General Meeting of the Association convened under sub-rule 8(7) -

(a)     no business other than the question of the appeal may be conducted; and

(b)     the Committee may place before the meeting details of the grounds for the resolution and the reasons for the passing of the resolution; and

(c)     the member body, or its representative, must be given an opportunity to be heard; and

(d)     the members present must vote by secret ballot on the question whether the resolution should be confirmed or revoked.

(9)  A resolution is confirmed if, at the General Meeting, not less than two-thirds of the member bodies present vote in favour of the resolution. In any other case, the resolution is revoked.

DISPUTES AND MEDIATION

9.  (1)  The grievance procedure set out in this rule applies to disputes under these Rules between -

(a)     a member body and another member body; or

(b)     a member body and the Association

     (2)  The parties to the dispute must meet and discuss the matter in dispute, and, if possible, resolve the      dispute within 14 days after the dispute comes to the attention of all parties.

     (3) If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute at the meeting, or if a party fails to attend that meeting, then the parties must, within 10 days hold a meeting in the presence of a mediator.

(4)     The mediator must be –

(a)     a person chosen by agreement between the parties; or

(b)     in the absence of agreement –

(i)                   in the case of a dispute between a member body and another member body, a person appointed by the Committee of the Association; or

(ii)                 in the case of a dispute between a member body and the Association, a person who is a mediator appointed or employed by the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria (Department of Justice.)

(5)     A representative of a member body of the Association can be a mediator.

(6)     The mediator cannot be a representative of a member body who is a party to the dispute.

(7)     The parties to the dispute must, in good faith, attempt to settle the dispute by mediation.

(8)     The mediator, in conducting the mediation, must –

(a)     give the parties to the mediation process every opportunity to be heard; and

(b)     allow due consideration by all parties of any written statement submitted by any party; and

(c)     ensure that natural justice is accorded to the parties to the dispute throughout the mediation process.

(9)     The mediator must not determine the dispute

(10) If the mediation process does not result in the dispute being resolved, the parties may seek to resolve the dispute in accordance with the Act otherwise at law.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

10.  (1)  The Committee shall determine the date, time and place of the Annual General Meeting of the Association.

       (2) The notice convening the Annual General Meeting must specify that the meeting is an Annual General

             Meeting.

       (3) The ordinary business of the Annual General Meeting shall be-

(a)     to confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and of any General Meeting held since that meeting; and

(b)     to receive from the Committee reports upon the transactions of the Association during the last preceding financial year; and

(c)     to elect officers of the Association and the ordinary members of the Committee; and

(d)     to receive and consider the statement submitted by the Association in accordance with section 30 (3) of the Act.

       (4)  The Annual General Meeting may conduct any special business of which notice has been given in

              accordance with these Rules.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

11.  (1)   The notice convening the Annual General Meeting shall be given to each member not less than thirty days       before the date of the meeting and shall be accompanied by a form of Nomination of Committee of Management. The notice will state the place, date and time of the meeting.

      (2)  The signature to the notice convening the Annual General Meeting may be written, stamped, impressed, typed or printed.

     (3)  Notice of an Annual General Meeting and the form of Nomination of Committee of Management shall be deemed to have been given to each member body if it has been served upon them personally not less than twenty eight days prior to the date or if  it is sent though the post not less than thirty days prior to the meeting addressed to each member body at the address shown in the Register of Members.

      (4) A notice sent by post to a member body shall be deemed to have been received by it at the time at which the notice would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post.

(5)  The accidental omission to give a member body, or if a member body  shall fail to receive a notice sent in accordance with sub-clause (3), shall not invalidate an Annual General Meeting.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

12.  (1)  In addition to the Annual General Meeting, any other General Meeting may be held in the same year.

       (2)  All General Meetings other than the Annual General Meeting are Special General Meetings.

       (3)  The Committee may, whenever it thinks fit, convene a Special General meeting of the Association.

       (4)  If, but for this sub-rule, more than 15 months would elapse between Annual General Meetings, the Committee must convene a Special General Meeting before the expiration of that period.

       (5)  The Committee must, on the request in writing of members representing not less than 10 per cent of the total number of members, convene a Special General Meeting of the Association.

      (6)  The request for a Special General Meeting must -

(a)     state the objects of the meeting; and

(b)     be signed by the members requesting the meeting; and

(c)     be sent to the address of the Secretary

      (7)  If the Committee does not cause a Special General Meeting to be held within one month after the date on which the request is sent to the address of the Secretary, the member bodies making the request, or any of them, may convene a Special General Meeting to be held not later than 3 months after that date.

      (8)  If member bodies in accordance with this Rule convene a Special General Meeting, the Association must refund all reasonable expenses incurred in convening the Special General Meeting to the member bodies or member body incurring the expenses.

SPECIAL BUSINESS

13.  All business that is conducted at a Special General Meeting and all business that is conducted at the Annual General Meeting, except for business conducted under the rules as ordinary business of the Annual General Meeting, are deemed to be special business.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

14.  (1) Every Special General Meeting convened by the Committee shall be convened by notice given by the Secretary to each member body of the Association specifying the date, time, and venue of such meeting.  The signature to any such notice may be written, stamped, impressed, typed or printed.

       (2)  At least fourteen days prior notice shall be given in respect of each such meeting.

QUORUM AT ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

15.  (1)  No item of business may be conducted at a General Meeting unless a quorum of members entitled under these Rules to vote is present at the time when the meeting is considering that item.

      (2) Five members personally present (being members entitled under these Rules to vote at a general meeting) constitute a quorum for the conduct of business of a General Meeting.

     (3)  If, within half an hour after the appointed time for the commencement of a General Meeting, a quorum is not present -

(i)       in the case of a meeting convened upon the request of member bodies–the meeting must be dissolved; and

(ii)  in any other case-the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and (unless another place is specified by the Chairperson at the time of the adjournment or by written notice to member bodies given before the day to which the meeting is adjourned) at the same place.

  (4)  If at the adjourned meeting the quorum is not present within half an hour after the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting, the members personally (being not less than 3) shall be a quorum.

PRESIDING AT GENERAL MEETINGS

16.  (1) The President, or in the President’s absence, the Vice-President, shall preside as Chairperson at each General Meeting of the Association.

       (2)  If the President and the Vice-President are absent from a General Meeting, or are unable to preside, 

the members present must select one of their number to preside as Chairperson.      

ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS

17.  (1) The person presiding may, with the consent of a majority of members present at the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time and place to place.

       (2)  No business may be conducted at an adjourned meeting other than the unfinished business from the meeting that was adjourned.

      (3)  If a meeting is adjourned for 14 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given in accordance with Rules 11 and or 14.

     (4) Except as provided in sub-rule 15, it is not necessary to give notice of an adjournment or of the business to be conducted at an adjourned meeting.

VOTING AT GENERAL MEETINGS

18.  (1)  upon any question arising at a General Meeting of the Association, each member body has one vote only.

       (2)  all votes must be given in person; representation by proxy including voting by proxy is expressly precluded.

       (3)  In the case of an equality of voting on a question, the Chairperson of the meeting is entitled to exercise a vote being the casting vote.

      (4)  A member body is not entitled to vote at a General Meeting unless all moneys due and payable by the member body to the Association have been paid, including the amount of the annual subscription payable in respect of the current financial year.

POLL AT GENERAL MEETINGS

19.  (1) If at a meeting a poll on any question is demanded by not less than 3 members, it must be taken at that meeting in such manner as the Chairperson may direct and the resolution of the poll shall be deemed to be a resolution of the meeting on that question.

       (2)  A poll that is demanded on the election of a Chairperson or on a question of an adjournment must be taken immediately and a poll that is demanded on any other question must be taken at such time before the close of the meeting as the Chairperson may direct.

MANNER OF DETERMINING WHETHER RESOLUTION CARRIED

20.  If a question arising at a General Meeting of the Association is determined on a show of hands -

(a)     a declaration by the Chairperson that a resolution has been-

 (i)          carried; or

                 (ii)         carried unanimously; or

(iii)                 carried by a particular majority; or

(iv)               lost; and

(b)     an entry to that effect in the minute book of the Association is evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of, or against, that resolution.

COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT

21.  (1)  The affairs of the Association shall be managed by the Committee of Management.

       (2) The Committee –

(a)     shall, control and manage the business and affairs of the Association; and

(b)     may, subject to these Rules, the Act and the Regulations, exercise all such powers and functions as may be exercised by the Association other than those powers and functions that are required by these Rules to be exercised by General Meetings of the member bodies of the Association; and

(c)     subject to these Rules, the Act and the Regulations, has power to perform all acts and things as appear to the Committee to be essential for the proper management of the business and the affairs of the Association..

       (3)  Subject to Section 23 of the Act; the Committee shall consist of-    

(a)     the officers of the Association; and

(b)      two ordinary members

each of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association in each year.

OFFICER HOLDERS

22.  (1) The officers of the Association shall be-

(a)     a President

(b)     a Vice- President

(c)     a Treasurer; and

(d)     a Secretary

(e)     two ordinary Committee Members

        (2)  The provisions of Rule 24, so far as they are applicable and with the necessary modifications, apply to and in relation to the election of persons to any other offices referred to in sub-rule 1.

        (3)  Each officer of the Association shall hold office until the Annual General Meeting next after the date of his or her election but is eligible for re-election.

        (4)  In the event of a casual vacancy in any officer referred to in sub-rule 1, the member bodies at the next available General Meeting voting in person will appoint a member to the vacant office and the member appointed may continue in office up to and including the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting next following the date of the appointment.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND ORDINARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

23.  (1) Nominations of candidates for election of officers of the Association or as ordinary members of the Committee must be-

(a)     made in writing, signed by two member bodies of the Association and accompanied by the written consent of the candidate, (which may be endorsed on the form of nomination); and

(b)     delivered to the Secretary of the Association not less than twenty-one days before the date fixed for the holding of the Annual General Meeting.

(2)    (a)   a candidate may only be nominated for one office, or as an ordinary member of the Committee, prior               to the Annual General Meeting.

(b)   no more than two persons from any Member Body may be, nominated for election to office or as an ordinary member of the Committee.

       (3)  If insufficient nominations are received to fill all vacancies on the Committee, the candidates nominated shall be deemed to be elected and further nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting.

      (4)  If the number of nominations received is equal to the number of vacancies to be filled, the persons nominated shall be deemed to be elected.

      (5)  If the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled, a ballot must be held. 

      (6)  The ballot for the election of officers and ordinary members of the Committee must be conducted at the Annual General Meeting in such manner as the Committee may direct.

VACANCIES

24.  The office of an officer of the Association, or of an ordinary member of the Committee, becomes vacant if the officer or ordinary member’s member body ceases to be a member of the Association;

 or the officer or ordinary member;

(a)     becomes an insolvent under administration within the meaning of the Corporations Law; or

(b)     resigns from office by notice in writing given to the Secretary.

MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

25.  (1) Meetings of the Committee shall be held at such place and at such time as the Committee from time to time determines.

       (2) The Secretary or representative shall attend all meetings of the Committee. The minutes of such meetings signed by the Chairperson thereof or by the Chairperson of the confirmatory meeting shall be accepted as sufficient evidence of the proceedings of such meeting.

       (3) The quorum for a Committee meeting shall be not less than one half of the members thereof present in person.

        (4) The Secretary shall call a meeting of the Committee whenever requested to do so by the President or by three members of the Committee.

PRESIDING AT COMMITTEE MEETINGS

26.  At meeting of the Committee-

(a)     the President, or in the President’s absence, the Vice-President presides; or

(b)     if the President and the Vice-President are absent, or are unable to preside, the members present must choose one of their number to preside.

VOTING AT COMMITTEE MEETINGS

27.(1) Questions arising at a meeting of the Committee, or at a meeting of any Sub-committee appointed by the Committee, shall be determined on a show of hands or, if a member requests, by poll taken in such manner as the person presiding at the meeting may determine.

     (2)  Each member present at a meeting of the Committee, or at a meeting of any Sub-committee appointed by the Committee (including the person presiding a the meeting), is entitled to one vote and, in the event of an equality of votes on any question, the person presiding may exercise a second or casting vote.

      (3)  A member of the Committee shall not vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract with the Association in which he or she is interested or in respect of any matter arising there from, and if he or she does so vote, the vote shall not be counted..

REMOVAL OF COMMITTEE MEMBER

28.  (1)  The Association in General Meeting may, by resolution, remove any member of the Committee before the expiration of the member’s term of office and appoint another member in his or her place to hold office until the expiration of the term of the first-mentioned member.

        (2)  A member who is the subject of a proposed resolution referred to in sub-rule (1) may make representations in writing to the Secretary or President of the Association (not exceeding a reasonable length) and may request that the representations be provided to the member bodies of the Association.

        (3)  The Secretary or the President may give a copy of the representations to each member body  of the Association or, if they are not so given, the Committee member may require that they be read out at the meeting.

MINUTES OF MEETINGS

29.  The Secretary of the Association must keep minutes of the resolutions and proceedings of each General Meeting, and each Committee meeting, together with a record of the names of persons present at Committee and General Meetings.

FUNDS

30.  (1) The Treasurer of the Association must-

(a)     collect and receive all moneys due to the Association and make all payments authorised by the Association; and

(b)     keep correct accounts and books showing the financial affairs of the Association with full details of all receipts and expenditure connected with the activities of the Association.

      (2)  All cheques, drafts, bills of exchange, promissory notes and other negotiable instruments must be signed by the Treasurer  together with either the Secretary or President.

      (3)  The funds of the Association shall be derived from joining fees, annual subscriptions, donations, investments, dividends,  distributions and such other sources as the Committee determines.

     (4) The Treasurer shall cause to be opened a banking account and such other accounts or investments as the Committee shall from time to time determine.

SEAL

31.  (1) The common seal of the Association must be kept in the custody of the Secretary.

       (2)  The common seal must not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of the Committee and the affixing of the common seal must be attested by the signatures either of two members of the Committee or, of one member of the Committee and of the public officer of the Association.

PUBLIC OFFICER

32.  (1) The Public Officer of the Association must-

(a)     Notify the Registrar of  his or her appointment within fourteen days of same.

(b)     Notify the Registrar of any change of address within fourteen days.

(c)     Notify alternations to the statement of purposes or rules within one month to the Registrar.

(d)     Make application for approval of a change of name, if any, within the prescribed time;

(e)     Lodge with the Registrar the documents required by – s.30(4) in respect of the Annual General Meeting within one month of the date of the meeting or such further period as the Registrar may allow.

(f)      Produce any book to the Registrar or an authorised officer on being required so to do.

(g)     Tell the Registrar of or an authorised officer where a book is at the time a request is made.

(h)     Not hinder or obstruct the Registrar or an authorised officer whilst they are exercising powers of inspection; and

(i)       Ensure that the incorporated Association complies with its obligation to lodge with the Registrar particulars of Trusts within fourteen days of becoming a trustee of the Trust.

AUDIT AND AUDITOR

33.  (1) subject to any regulation that may be made under the Act, the members at the Annual General Meeting shall appoint each year a person with accountancy knowledge to be the Auditor of the Association and a person so appointed shall hold that office until the next Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall fill a casual vacancy occurring in the position of Auditor.

        (2) Notice of the nomination of any person other than a retiring Auditor for appointment, as Auditor shall be given to the member bodies not less than twenty-one days before the Annual General Meeting at which the appointment of the Auditor is to be made.

NOTICE TO MEMBERS

34.  Except for the requirement in Rules 11 and 14, any notice that is required to be given to a member body, by or on behalf of the Association, under these Rules may be given by-

(a)     Delivering the notice to the member body personally; or

(b)     Sending it by prepaid post addressed to the member body at the member body’s address shown in the register of members; or

(c)     Facsimile transmission, if the member body has requested that the notice be given to it in this manner; or

(d)     Electronic transmission, if the member has requested that the notice be given to it in this manner.

WINDING UP OF ASSOCIATION

35.  In the event of the winding up or the cancellation of the Incorporation of the Association, the assets of the Association shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the Act and Clause 36 of these rules.

PROPERTY

36.  The property assets and income of the Association, wherever derived, shall be applied towards the promotion and achievement of the objectives of the Association as specified in  the Statement of Purposes of the Association.   Provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration or reimbursement to any officers or servants of the Association or any member body in return for services actually rendered or for authorised expenses incurred nor prevent the payment of interest on money borrowed from any member body of the Association.  Should the Association for any reason whatsoever, cease to function, the members may, at a meeting specially convened for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the Association, direct by resolution, passed by a majority of three fourths of financial members, that funds be donated to an approved animal welfare organisation or registered charity.

CUSTODY AND INSPECTION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS

37.  (1) except as otherwise provided in theses Rules, the Secretary must keep in his or her custody or under his or her control all books, documents and securities of the Association.

      (2)  All accounts, books securities and any other relevant documents of the Association must be available for inspection free of charge by any member upon request.

      (3)  A member may make a copy of any accounts, books, securities and any other relevant documents of the Association.

FINANCIAL YEAR

38.  The financial year of the Association shall commence on the first day of July in each year, and terminate on the last day of June the following year.  Members’ fees must be paid on or before the 1^st day of August each year, for continuity of membership.

ALTERATIONS OF RULES AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

39.  These Rules and Statement of Purposed of the Association shall not be altered except in accordance with the Association Incorporation Act.

BY-LAWS

40.  Subject always to the Associations Incorporations Act, and these Rules, members in General Meeting by resolution passed by a majority of not less than three fourths of the member bodies  present and voting in person may make By-Laws and may from time to time amend such By-Laws by variation, deletion or addition as they shall think fit in respect of: -

(a)     nomination of members

(b)     amount of joining fee, if any, and the annual membership subscription;

(c)     the conducting of ballots

(d)     the holding and conducting of events by the Association

(e)     the granting of awards and prizes at such events.

(f)      The manner and procedure of dealing with protests and objections made at such events

(g)     Meetings of members and of the Committee

(h)     The publication of a newsletter or journal

(i)       Any matters the members consider necessary.