Dutch Cavy Club Rules.
RULE 1: NAME.
The Club shall be called “The Dutch Cavy Club”
RULE 2: OBJECTS.
The objects of the Club shall be: -
- To encourage the breeding, showing and improving of Dutch cavies.
- To maintain a standard of excellence by which fanciers shall be guided in the building up of a stud.
- The suppression of fraud and dishonourable conduct.
- The advancement and protection of the interests of Dutch cavy breeders and exhibitors.
RULE 3: MEMBERSHIP.
The membership shall be open to any person.
A. The Executive shall have power to refuse to admit or continue the membership of any person if they are not satisfied or have good reason to believe that it will not be in the interests of the Club to admit or continue such membership. If the continuance of such membership is refused, notice of such refusal shall be given to the person concerned and, such person shall, on giving notice to the Secretary within seven days from the receipt by him or her of the first mentioned notice, have the right to appeal to the whole of the members against such decision. The decision of the members shall be final and conclusive.
B. Any member whose membership is terminated under the foregoing clause shall forfeit all right and claim as a member of the Club and all right and interest in the property and effects of the Club and if such person shall, at the time of such termination of membership, hold or have in his or her possession, any of the Club’s challenge trophies, cups or any of it’s property or effects, such person shall forthwith deliver up the same into the possession of the Secretary.
RULE 4: SUBSCRIPTION
The annual subscription shall be payable in advance on the first day of January in each year unless a person or partnership joined the previous year after the end of September. In such a case, the subscription will cover membership to the end of the following year. There shall be the following classes of membership: -
1. Individual.
2. Partnership (limited to two).
3. Senior Citizen.
4. Juvenile (7 years old to 16 years of age on 1st January, eligibility for juvenile classes lapses on 17th birthday).
5. Family membership (Two adults and all juvenile children).
6. Life Member (as decided by the members at an A.G.M.) – total 3 as agreed at 2006 AGM
The subscription for each class of membership (other than free life membership) shall be as fixed at the Annual General Meeting in the preceding year
Membership shall be considered to have become lapsed if not paid by the end of March and any member, whose subscription is in arrears, shall not be eligible to compete for any cup or special prize offered by the Club, or in any way enjoy the privileges of membership or be eligible for election to any Club office or position.
RULE 5: OFFICERS, JUDGES, ETC.
The Officers of the Club shall consist of a President, two Vice Presidents, a Secretary and Treasurer (which may be combined), a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, and a Committee of nine members who shall be elected every two years and are referred to collectively in these rules as “the Executive”. In addition there shall be three Life members/Judges (appointed at an AGM) and a national panel of 16 judges, an Auditor and a Scrutineer (who must not be a member of the Club) shall be elected at the same time as the Officers mentioned above.
RULE 6: ELECTION OF OFFICERS, ETC.
A voting paper shall be issued every two years to all UK members who have paid subscriptions during the current year (only one vote per partnership as decided at 2000 A.G.M.), for the election of members to the various offices and positions named in Club Rule 5. Overseas members do not have voting rights as agreed at the 2009 AGM. The election shall take place toward the end of the second year, shall be decided by the majority of votes recorded on the papers returned to the Scrutineer and shall take effect from the next 1st January.
RULE 7: DUAL OFFICE.
No member shall hold two offices in the Club at the same time except as Secretary and Treasurer (which may be combined). The positions of Club Judge and/or Area Representative are not offices for the purpose of this rule.
RULE 8: MANAGEMENT.
The management of the Club shall be vested in the Executive and any business requiring a majority decision may be transacted by post, telephone or email. The decision of a majority of the replies received by the Secretary shall be accepted as final.
RULE 9: VACANCIES.
Any vacancy, which may occur between elections in the Officers and Judges referred to in Club Rule 5, shall be filled by the next highest placed unsuccessful candidate for the position vacated provided he or she is a member at the time. If no such candidate exists, the Executive may co-opt any member of the Club to fill the vacancy.
RULE 10: ANNUAL MEETING.
A General Meeting of the members shall be held each year in conjunction with the Club’s Annual Stock Show when any business brought forward shall be dealt with by the members present.
RULE 11: SUPPORT OF SHOWS.
Club support will be given to clubs and other organisations staging Open Pen Shows provided: -
1. The judge is a recognised panel judge of either the Dutch Cavy Club or the National Cavy Club.
2. The Dutch classification to include at least three separate colour classes and a AC AA Challenge
3. The prize money is guaranteed or at least 75%.
Specials to be awarded shall be: Diplomas to Open Pen Shows, Rosettes to Stock Shows, Championship Shows and like major events. No member shall be allowed to compete for or take any cup, medal or other prize until a period of 31 days has elapsed from the date of joining the Club.
RULE 12: CLUB SHOWS.
The Club shall hold, each year, a combined Young and Adult Stock Show (to be known as the Annual Stock Show) and whatever Area Stock Shows that funds and facilities will allow. Wherever possible, Area Representatives shall be appointed for the purpose of attending to the administration of these events.
RULE 13: COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
A: COMPLAINTS
a. Any member who wishes to make a complaint or allegation must lodge the same within 30 days of knowledge of the event or action with the Chair of the Investigation Panel and or General Secretary together along with a Deposit of £25.00
b. The Investigation panel shall compose of five members including the Chairperson. The members of the panel must have been members of the Dutch Cavy Club for a minimum of 8 years. The Executive will select members who met the criteria to the Complaints Panel If one or more of the Panel have prior personal knowledge of the substance of the complaint then they shall not be eligible to sit on the Panel hearing such complaints, and further members similarly qualified shall be appointed to the Panel by the General Secretary/Chairman of the Dutch Cavy Club. The Chairman of the Investigations Panel need not be the Chairman of the Dutch Cavy Club
c. If the complaint is not upheld then the deposit will be forfeited.
d. Such Complaint or allegation must relate to a breach of the Dutch Cavy Clubs Rules, discreditable conduct relating to cavies or arising out of a show of cavies.
e. Within 7 days of receipt of the complaint, the Chair of the Investigation Panel will acknowledge its receipt from the complainant. The Chair shall within 14 Days of receiving the complaint write to the respondent stating the nature of the complaint giving 14 days to reply to the allegation and where possible act as a mediator in order to settle the matter.
f. If the complaint if refuted, in writing, the Chair of the Investigation Committee must notify both parties and committee that the Investigation Panel will be formed. The Chair will then convene a meeting within 21 days of the receipt of the letter from the respondent refuting the complaint. All interested parties must be given 14 days notice of Investigation Panel Hearing venue offering both parties the opportunity to speak on their own behalf at the hearing if they so wish. They may also bring with them witnesses to the hearing but this will be at their own expense.
g. Once the Panel have heard both parties they will deliberate upon the complaint and decide if the complaint is founded. The Chair of the Investigating Panel will make known the findings of the panel to both parties and the along with any disciplinary action within 7days of the hearing.
Disciplinary action may consist of the following
i. Disqualification of an exhibit
ii. Termination of membership of the Club
iii. Suspension for such time and in such manner and subject to conditions as the panel may decide.
iv. Disqualification for life or any shorter period from being a member of the Club.
v. Disqualification for life or for a shorter period from exhibiting or taking part in any Dutch Cavy Club show.
vi. A censure or warning
vii Imposition of a fine of such amount (not exceeding £50) as the panel may decide
h. Both the complainant and the respondent have the right to appeal against the Investigating Panels decision to the Chair within 14 days of receiving the result. For the purpose of such appeal the Executive shall follow the same procedures and shall have the same powers as the Investigating Panel. No member of the original Panel shall be part of the Appeals Panel. The Appeals Panel has the power to uphold, rescind or increase any disciplinary action taken against a member. The member does have a right of appeal to the British Cavy Council if they do not agree with the findings of the Appeals Panel
i. As soon as possible after the Investigation/Appeal period has expired, if the right of appeal is exercised the Chairman must inform the Secretary of the findings and any disciplinary measures imposed. The Secretary shall then arrange for brief details of the complaint, the decision and disciplinary action imposed, if any, of the Investigating Panel or Appeal Panel to appear in the cavy press.
If the member remains dissatisfied they may appeal to the British Cavy Council – Rule 6 of the British Cavy Council Constitution and Rules (a copy of which may be obtained from the Secretary)
B: MALPRACTICE
Judges are instructed to disqualify any exhibit, which in their opinion has been subjected to practices calculated to deceive or give a false impression of merit. When a judge has disqualified the cavy held under DCC rules or support, the judge must take the exhibit to the show secretary. The show secretary should, if possible, notify the exhibitor of the occurrence on the day. The judge officiating must send a detailed report on the exhibit to the D.C.C Secretary together with confirmatory note from the show secretary (or impartial official) and or photographic evidence supplying the name and address of the exhibitor concerned.
On receiving such notification of the disqualification of the exhibit, the D.C.C. Secretary must note the alleged malpractice in the Clubs records and then write to the member in question giving confirmation of the action taken and inviting him or her to give an explanation of the occurrence. The matter will be placed before the Executive Committee to consider if the disqualification of the exhibit was just and what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken against the exhibitor/member (See Complaints Procedure paragraph g.i - g.vii). .
RULE 14: ALTERATION OF RULES.
No alteration, deletion or addition shall be made to these rules except by a majority of votes cast at an A.G.M. of the Club or by any changes and additions decided by the British Cavy Council. Any existing or new rules of the Club must not conflict in any way with British Cavy Council Rules. Notice of any proposed change to these rules by a member must be advised the Secretary in sufficient time to allow the membership to be notified through publication by the Club. On any matter of urgency that infringes these conditions, the Chairman has the discretionary power to include any such proposal on the A.G.M. Agenda for discussion by the members present.
RULE 15: CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Championship certificates shall be awarded to members of the Club who are owners of Dutch cavies, which have won five open first prizes under D.C.C. or N.C.C. judges with at least four exhibits per class and three exhibitors per class. Two of these wins may be in u/5 mths or 5/8 mths classes. At least two of the wins must be at D.C.C. stock/area shows.
Where a breed class win at a D.C.C. event has insufficient entries, a win in a Red or A.O.C. Challenge of any age group (minimum of four exhibits) may count toward a championship. If there are insufficient breed class entries at other open Pen shows, the award of Best Non Self may count provided other conditions are met. All applicable awards shall be verified by the judge’s signature on the back of the cards. The fee for the certificate shall be £2.00.
RULE 16: PROCEDURE FOR NEW COLOUR/BREED ACCEPTANCE
As agreed at the 2008 AGM
a. New colour must adhere to the relevant ESCC/NACC standard for colour and ticking.
b. Three generations must have been bred true to standard and shown in the New Colour Class of the current schedule for a period of three years prior to proposal for acceptance.
c. An official proposal for acceptance and seconded should be made at the AGM for inclusion into the Annual General Meeting Agenda.
d. Examples of the breed concerned must be made available (in three age groups) for inspection at that Annual General Meeting.
e. On acceptance by the DCC members, the British Cavy Council must be informed by the Secretary
f. On acceptance by the British Cavy Council the new breed can be included into the schedule for the following January
RULE 17: OTHER MATTERS.
1. British Cavy Council
As the Dutch Cavy Club is a composite part of the British Cavy Council, it adheres to the BCC Constitution and Rules. Two of particular interest and benefit to members are: -
Clause 5 ' Code of Practice for Clubs Affiliated to the Council '
Clause 6 ' Disciplinary Action by Specialist Clubs against Members
For more information, refer to the BCC website (www.britishcavycouncil.org.uk)
or Contact the DCC Secretary."
2. Exhibition of Stock
All exhibition stock must be a minimum of 12 weeks before showing (as agreed at the 2007 AGM)
3 Should any question arise which is not covered by the foregoing or the rules of the National Cavy Club or the British Cavy Council, it shall be referred to the Executive, whose decision shall be final and binding on all parties.
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Rules relating to Dutch Cavy Club Trophies, Awards.
The Mortimer Appreciation Bowl and Challenge Cup
Extract from the 1998 Annual General Meeting Minutes: -
Winners of The Mortimer Appreciation Bowl and Challenge Cup are responsible for the safe keeping of the trophy whilst in their care and for the safe return of the trophy the following year. To this end, they are expected to arrange for insurance protection to be included within their household contents cover. Reimbursement to the Club is to be made in the event of loss. Agreement to this arrangement is implied by the acceptance of the trophy on the show day.
All other trophies remain the property of the Dutch Cavy Club and winners are responsible for the safe keeping of the trophy whilst in their care and for the safe return of the trophy the following year. They will also be responsible for the replacement of the trophy if it is lost or damaged whilst in their care.
