Constitution

ARTICLE 1 - AIMS

The aims of this club are:

• To sponsor and promote the welfare of all breeds of cats.
• To sponsor cat shows.
• To sponsor projects and otherwise promote interest in and knowledge of all domestic cats.
• To cultivate friendship among and promote the interest of the owners, fanciers and breeders of cats.
• To encourage breeding towards FIFe Breed Standards and encourage the registration of cats with theUK FIFe member organisation, Felis Britannica.
• To promote and encourage kindness to all animals and assist in prevention of cruelty and bad treatment of all animals.
• To encourage the spaying and neutering of any and all cats not specifically being used as part of a viable breeding programme in order to reduce the excessive trend to the over-population of, and tragedy among, unwanted cats.

ARTICLE 2 - MEMBERSHIP

• The club shall consist of:
  Full Members - for individuals eligible to have full registration and voting rights in the FIFe UK Member, and Associate Members - for individuals eligible to participate in club issues only.
• Persons interested in the aims of this club are eligible to apply for membership. Applicants for membership may apply to the Honorary Membership Secretary on the official club application form.
• Membership applications shall be acted upon individually and by secret ballot at the next committee meeting following the receipt by the Honorary Membership Secretary of the application.
• A simple majority of votes are sufficient to elect or reject applications. The Chairman will have a casting vote.
• Notice shall be sent to each elected or rejected applicant by the Honorary Membership Secretary.
• The amount of the annual subscription of this club shall be decided by the committee from time to time. The annual subscription shall run from the 1st January each year.
• Upon failure to pay the subscription within one month after the due date, the defaulting member shall be automatically dropped from the membership. Notice may be sent to the defaulting member by the Honorary Membership Secretary at least two weeks before the period of grace expires.
• It shall be the duty of each member to uphold the aims of the Garden of England Cat Club by carefully fulfilling the terms of all transactions concerned with cats, such as sales, stud fees and pedigrees, whether such business is carried on with other club members or with the public at large. Upon receipt of a written complaint from any injured party, the member will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with Article 8 of these Rules.