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NATIONAL OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG COUNCIL (AUSTRALIA)
C O N S T I T U T I O N
1. NAME
The name of the organisation shall be the 'National Old English Sheepdog Council' and shall herein be
referred to as 'N.O.E.S.C.'.
2. OBJECTS
The object of the N.O.E.S.C. shall be:-
(a) To encourage and promote in every way the quality of breeding, care, training and exhibition
of the Old English Sheepdog.
(b) To educate and encourage Exhibitors, Breeders and Judges to abide by the standard for the
Old English Sheepdog as approved by the Australian National Kennel Council.
(c) To enable Member Clubs to take co-operative action on matters which such Clubs agree
are of common interest and for their mutual benefit in the promotion of the Old English Sheepdog.
(d) To allocate the titles of
'Old English Sheepdog National Speciality Championship Show'
and
'Old English Sheepdog Speciality Championship Show'.
For use by Member Clubs, subject always to the approval of both the State or Territory
Controlling Body and the Australian National Kennel Council.
(e) To seek registration with the Australian National Kennel Council, and if recognised, agree
to be bound by the Rules and Regulations, and directions of the Australian National Kennel
Council for the time being in force.
(f) To become associated with overseas Old English Sheepdog organisations with objects
kindred to the objects of the N.O.E.S.C.
(g) To collect, verify and publish information relating to Old English Sheepdogs and the
breeding and exhibitions of Old English Sheepdogs.
(h) To encourage Member Clubs to hold shows, Parades, Trials and other exhibitions as approved
by and under the rules and regulations of their State or Territory Controlling Body and of the Australian
National Kennel Council.
(i) To legislate, to make by-laws and do other acts, matters and things, as may be necessary or
expedient to promote all or any of the objects of the N.O.E.S.C.
3. POWERS
(i) The N.O.E.S.C. shall have power to:-
(a) Acquire a membership fee from Member Clubs to carry out ANY or ALL of the objects of the N.O.E.S.C.
(b) Invest the funds of the N.O.E.S.C., not immediately required, in such manner as the delegates shall
determine.
(c) Hold Breed Seminars, Conventions and Congresses through the sponsorship of the Member Clubs.
(d) Correspond with and become associated with overseas Old English Sheepdog organisations, for the
purpose of the exchange of viewpoints on matters affecting the welfare of the Old English Sheepdog.
(e) Allocate the title 'Old English Sheepdog National Speciality Championship Show' and 'Old English
Sheepdog Speciality Championship Show' to the various Member Clubs, subject always to the
approval of both the State or Territory Controlling Body and the Australian National Kennel Council.
[See By-Laws No. 1 and 2.]
(f) Purchase, hire, lease or otherwise provide and maintain all types of personal property for the carrying
out of the objects of the N.O.E.S.C.
(g) DO ALL SUCH OTHER THINGS WHICH MAY APPEAR TO IT TO BE NECESSARY FOR THE PURPOSE
OF CARRYING INTO EFFECT ITS OBJECTS.
(ii) The N.O.E.S.C. shall not hold Shows or any other type of Exhibitions. Such events shall only be
conducted by the Member Clubs.
(iii) Nothing in this Constitution shall affect the right or authority of an individual Member Club to control
and conduct its Club business in the way usually followed by a Specialist Club.
Nor shall the N.O.E.S.C. affect in any way the normal relationship between a Member Club and
their State or Territory Controlling Body.
4. MEMBERSHIP
(a) Any Specialist Old English Sheepdog Club affiliated with a State or Territory Controlling Body,
which is in turn a member of the Australian National Kennel Council, upon payment of the prescribed
annual membership fee, shall be eligible for membership of the N.O.E.S.C. except in the case of
re-admission which must be in compliance with Clause 12 of the Constitution.
(b) The following specialist Old English Sheepdog Clubs and such other specialist Old English Sheepdog
Clubs as may from time to time be admitted, shall be Member Clubs, entitled to nominate a delegate
to the N.O.E.S.C.
1. The Old English Sheepdog Club of Victoria Inc.
2. The Old English Sheepdog Club (N.S.
3. The Old English Sheepdog Club of Queensland.
4. The Tasmanian Old English Sheepdog Club (T.O.E.S.).
5. The Old English Sheepdog Club of South Australia Inc.
6. The Old English Sheepdog Club of Western Australia Inc.
(c) The membership fee shall be such amount as the N.O.E.S.C. shall from time to time determine.
[See By-Law No. 4.]
5. MEETINGS
(a) Each of the Member Clubs named in Clause 4(b) shall annually appoint one delegate to
the N.O.E.S.C. Each delegate must be a financial member of his Member Club and of the respective
State or Territory Controlling Body. If for any reason it should become necessary, Member Clubs may
appoint a substitute delegate who shall ipso facto be deemed to be a delegate for voting and all other
purposes at a meeting of the N.O.E.S.C.
(b) At meetings of the N.O.E.S.C. each Member Club shall have one vote, either by a delegate
in attendance or by a postal vote submitted in writing (including by facsimile transmission) to the
Secretary prior to the meeting.
(c) The quorum for meetings shall be more in number than 50% of the number of Member Clubs.
(d) Member Clubs may bring any business before a meeting of the N.O.E.S.C. by giving 90 days notice
of its intention to the Secretary. The Secretary shall communicate the agenda for a meeting to each of the
Member Clubs at least 60 days prior to the date of the meeting.
(e) Except with the unanimous consent of all Member Clubs, no resolution carried at a meeting of the
N.O.E.S.C. shall be valid UNLESS notice has been given in accordance with Clause 5(d).
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 5(e) the Secretary shall at the discretion of the President, or at the
written request of two Member Clubs, submit any particular matter of urgency to the Member Clubs by post,
facsimile transmission or other method of electronic communication and the vote on any such matter shall
be taken accordingly, at meetings of the Member Clubs.
Also, should, in the opinion of the President or Secretary, N.O.E.S.C. business require urgent action, this
business may be conducted by Conference telephone call provided that a quorum takes part, or by a series
of telephone calls between the President and/or Secretary and each Club's Secretary and/or Delegate. All
telephone calls must be confined to a limited agenda or emergency decisions with prior notification
by the N.O.E.S.C.
(g) The N.O.E.S.C. shall manage its own affairs and hold meetings at such time and place as it deems fit.
The Annual General Meeting shall be held between 1st July and the end of the year.
(h) The President of the N.O.E.S.C. shall be Chairman of all meetings of the N.O.E.S.C. Should he/she not be
present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the holding of the meeting, the delegates shall elect a
Chairman from among their number. The delegate appointed Chairman may record his/her own vote
on any matter, but shall not have a casting vote.
(i) Should the Secretary not be present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the holding of the meeting,
the delegates shall elect a Deputy Secretary, for that meeting, from among their members. The delegate
appointed Deputy Secretary may record his/her own vote on any matter.
(j) Every motion submitted to the meeting shall be decided by a show of hands and taking into account postal
votes received. In the event of equality of votes on any matter the Chairman shall not have a casting vote,
and the motion shall be deemed to be lost.
(k) Each motion to be submitted by a Member Club shall be accompanied by the following details:-
(i) Reason(s)
(ii) Method of Implementation
(iii) Costings (if appropriate).
(l) Member Clubs and their representatives wishing to have reports, documents and other materials circulated
by the Breed Council shall (unless otherwise directed by the National Secretary) provide the National Secretary
with 15 copies of such items.
6. PRESIDENT
The President must be a Club Member of one of the Member Clubs and of the respective State or Territory
Controlling Body, but shall not be a Club Delegate. He shall be formally appointed for a term of two (2) years by the
N.O.E.S.C. delegates at an Annual General Meeting from the nominations received in accordance with By-Law No. 3.
The President shall hold office until the day following that of the Annual General Meeting at the end of the term.
The President shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting of the N.O.E.S.C.
7. SECRETARY
(a) The Secretary must be a Club Member of one of the Member Clubs and of the respective State or
Territory Controlling Body, but shall not be a Club Delegate. He/she shall be appointed for a period
of two (2) years by the N.O.E.S.C. delegates at the Annual General Meeting from nominations received
from the Member Clubs.
The nominations shall be in the hands of the Secretary at least 90 days before the said meeting and
all Member Clubs shall be advised of the nomination 60 days before the meeting.
The Secretary shall hold office until the day following that of the Annual General Meeting at the end of the term.
The Secretary shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting of the N.O.E.S.C.
(b) Duties of the Secretary
The Secretary shall act under the direction of the N.O.E.S.C. He/she shall attend all meetings of the
N.O.E.S.C. and any other meeting where his/her presence may be required, to keep proper minutes
of such meetings; and generally to perform all such duties as are usually performed by any such officer
in a like position.
The Secretary shall be responsible for all monies received on behalf of the N.O.E.S.C. and shall receipt
all monies in a consecutively numbered receipt book or equivalent. All sums received shall be receipted
and deposited into the bank account of the N.O.E.S.C. It shall be a further duty of the Secretary to keep
proper books of account of the N.O.E.S.C.
The Secretary shall be responsible each year for sending annual notices of membership dues to the
Secretaries of all Member Clubs as listed in Clause 4(b) of the Constitution, two months prior to the date
specified in By-Law 4.
8. HEADQUARTERS
The headquarters of the N.O.E.S.C. shall be the residential address of the Secretary where the books, records
and property of the N.O.E.S.C. shall be kept.
9. FINANCE
(a) A bank account in the name of the 'National Old English Sheepdog Council' shall be opened with a
recognised Australian bank and kept in the name of the N.O.E.S.C.
(b) All monies payable on behalf of the N.O.E.S.C. shall be paid by cheque drawn upon the bank account
of the N.O.E.S.C. All cheques shall be signed by the Secretary and countersigned by the President or
N.O.E.S.C. Delegate appointed for that purpose.
(c) The financial year of the N.O.E.S.C. shall be from 1st July to 30th June in each year.
(d) At the Annual General Meeting in each year the N.O.E.S.C. shall appoint an auditor, with accountancy
qualifications. Such auditor shall hold office until the first meeting in the following year, but shall be
eligible for re-appointment.
(e) An audited statement of receipts and expenditure and balance sheet shall be forwarded to each Member
Club by 31st August in each year. If the AGM is to be held before 31st August an unaudited statement be
presented at the AGM, an audited statement sent to clubs by 31st August in each year to be accepted by
postal vote.
10. BY-LAWS
Subject always to the Constitution, delegates at a meeting by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than
60% of delegates present and voting on this resolution, may make By-Laws and may from time to time amend
such By-Laws by variation, deletion or addition as they may think fit, in respect of:-
(a) The granting of the title 'Old English Sheepdog National Speciality Championship Show' and 'Old English
Sheepdog Speciality Championship Show'.
(b) The appointment of the President.
(c) The appointment of the Secretary.
(d) Membership fees.
(e) Any matter the delegates consider necessary to carry out the objects of the N.O.E.S.C.
11. ALTERATION TO CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
This Constitution and the By-Laws of the N.O.E.S.C. shall not be altered, waived or amended, except at a meeting
of the delegates at which at least 90 days notice has been given to the Secretary of such amendment and the
Secretary has given 60 days notice to all Member Clubs.
The amendment must be agreed to by a majority of not less than 60% of the delegates present
and voting on this resolution.
12. RESIGNATION
Any Member Club may at any time resign its membership by giving notice to the Secretary. Such resignation
shall not free the Club from liability to pay any subscription which is due and unpaid on the date of resignation.
Should any Member Club that has resigned seek re-admission as a member of the N.O.E.S.C. such re-admission
is to be voted on at a meeting of the N.O.E.S.C. called in compliance with Clause 5(d) of the Constitution. A majority
of not less than 75% of the delegates present and voting in person will be required to re-admit a Member Club.
13. PROPERTY / WINDING UP
No Club or individual shall have any proprietary right or interest in any of the funds or property of the N.O.E.S.C.
Such property or funds shall be devoted to the promotion of the objects of the N.O.E.S.C. However, in the event
of the winding up of the N.O.E.S.C. the property or funds shall be divided equally among the Clubs which are
members at the time of such winding up.
BY-LAWS
BY-LAW NO. 1
'National Speciality Championship Show'
The delegates at any meeting, and in accordance with Clause 3(i)(e) of the Constitution, may grant the title 'Old English
Sheepdog National Speciality Championship Show', to any Member Club.
The granting of the use of the word 'National' must be in compliance with rules and regulations of the Australian National
Kennel Council and/or the National Breed Clubs Liaison Council.
The Judge must be approved by the N.O.E.S.C. and the State or Territory Controlling Body.
BY-LAW NO. 2
'Old English Sheepdog Speciality Championship Show'
The delegates at any meeting, and in accordance with Clause 3(i)(e) of the Constitution, may grant the title 'Old English
Sheepdog Speciality Championship Show', to any Member Club.
The judge must be approved by the N.O.E.S.C. and the State or Territory Controlling Body.
BY-LAW NO. 3
'President'
a) The President shall be appointed in accordance with Clause 6 of the Constitution and shall hold office for one
term of two years, but shall be eligible for another term at a later date, or in compliance with By-Law 3(b).
The position of President shall rotate among the Member Clubs. Each Member Club, in turn, may nominate
one of its members as President of the N.O.E.S.C. Upon the appointment of the initial President the delegates
present at that meeting shall determine the sequence in which Member Clubs may nominate a President in
subsequent years. (The order of sequence shall be New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria,
Queensland and Western Australia).
b) The President's term of office may be extended or the sequence or nominations altered if agreed in compliance
with Clause 5(f) of the Constitution by not less than 60% of Member Clubs.
BY-LAW NO. 4
'Membership'
The membership fee shall be $50.00 per annum. Fees shall be due and payable by 1st July in each year. An initial
joining fee of $100 shall be payable by all Member Clubs.
[Updated to include amendments passed at AGM 11/1996.]
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The NOESC Constitution
