ARTICLE I – NAME

Section 1The name of this organisation shall be: The SCCGB (The Savannah Cat Club of Great Britain).

ARTICLE II – Purposes

The purpose of The SCCGB shall be:

1. To promote the SCCGB and integrate the welfare of all breeds of domestic, wild, hybrid, and none pedigree cats with a precise interest in the Savannah Breed of Cat;
   
   

2. To sponsor cat shows that promote and support the Savannah breed of cat, and the SCCGB.  In turn, the SCCGB will support all legal special programmes, and promote any ethical criteria that increases understanding of cats to owners and the general public, with the exception of any programme that may bring the SCCGB into disrepute;
   
   

3. To cultivate friendship among and promote the interest of Cat Owners, Fanciers, and Breeders;
   
   

4. To encourage breeding toward the TICA Standards and encourage the registration of cats within TICA;
   
   

5. To promote and encourage kindness to all animals and to assist in the prevention of cruelty and maltreatment of animals;
   
   

6. To encourage the spaying and neutering of any and all cats not specifically being used as part of a viable breeding program in order to reduce the excessive trend to over-population of, and tragedy among, unwanted domestic cats.

ARTICLE III – Membership

Section 1 Persons interested in the purposes of The SCCGB club shall be eligible to apply for membership providing they agree to adhere to the code of conduct of the club.  Membership will be at the discretion of the Board.

Section 2 Membership applications shall be acted upon separately by secret ballot at the next regular meeting following the application of the prospective member.

Section 3 A simple majorities of votes shall be sufficient to elect or reject applications. Tie votes shall be considered as a rejection.

Section 4 Notice shall be sent to each elected or rejected applicant by the Secretary.

Section 5 Honorary Membership may be granted at the discretion of the Board.  Such members shall not have voting rights.

Section 6 The Board shall have the right to refuse membership and expel any member whose words or actions might be considered detrimental to the club or cat fancy in general; subject to the right to appear at the next Board Meeting, and if necessary a further appeal at the next Annual General Meeting.

Section 7 The dues of this club shall be £10.00 per year for a single regular membership payable on or before (January 1) of each year for the ensuing year.

Dues for two or more regular members of an immediate family residing at the same address shall be £15.00 per year payable on or before (January 1) of each year for the ensuing year.

Section 8 Upon failure to pay dues within 3 months after the due date, the delinquent member shall be automatically dropped from membership. Notice shall be sent to the delinquent member by The SCCGB Secretary at least 2 weeks before the grace period expires.

 Section 9 It shall be the duty of each member to uphold the purposes of The SCCGB 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 breeders or with the public at large. Upon receipt of written complaint from any injured party, the member may be subject to disciplinary action.

ARTICLE IV - AFFILIATION

Section 1 The SCCGB club shall be affiliated with The International Cat Association (TICA). All officers of the club shall be TICA members in good standing; there must be at least five members of the club who are members of TICA in good standing (including the officers).

ARTICLE V - LOCATION

Section 1 This SCCGB club is intended primarily to serve the interests of the owners, fanciers and breeders of cats residing in the UK area (and environs).

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1 Regular meetings shall be held on such dates and at such time and place as the Board of Directors shall designate.  The Board shall meet no fewer than four times a year, and the quorum shall be five of the elected positions.  The President or in absence the Vice-President must be present as the Chairperson.

Section 2 The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than February 20^th in each year.  All nominations and matters for the agenda must be received in writing by the Secretary by January 30^th.

Section 3 A Special General Meeting shall be called upon written demand of five or more paid up members specifying the business to be discussed, on a surety of £50.  This sum of money may be returned or disbursed at the discretion of the Board.  Such a meeting is to be held within six weeks of notice being received by the Honorary Secretary.

Section 3 Notice of a General Meeting and the Agenda for it, shall be sent to all fully paid members who shall be eligible to participate in or vote at any General Meeting.  Such members will be notified of the time and place of the General Meeting by email, telephone or in person by The SCCGB Secretary.

Section 4 Two Members in addition to a Board quorum shall constitute a quorum for a General Meeting.

Section 5 Only fully paid up members shall be eligible to vote at any General Meeting.

ARTICLE VII – THE BOARD AND THE DIRECTORS

Section 1 The SCCGB Board Members shall consist of Five Directors, these being:  President, and Vice President.  The Named Officers:-  Membership Secretary, Treasurer, and Counsellor (and one General Director).  Any one Officer position may be combined at the discretion of The SCCGB.

Section 2 The management of the business and affairs of The SCCGB club shall be under the direction of a Board of Directors as in Section 1.

Section 3 Officers and Directors shall be elected at the January meeting and shall take office on (February 1) to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly elected. No officer shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 4 If an Officer position is vacated, either an existing Board Director may assume the vacated position, or the Board may co-opt a general club member to fulfil the Directors position if particular skills are required for the remainder of the club year.

Section 5 Any General Director elected (or co-opted) shall agree not to serve on more than two other TICA affiliated club boards of committees, and none of other Affiliations.

Section 6 Co-opted Directors; the Board may co-opt a Director as Section 4, this Director would have full voting rights.  They may also co-opt an additional two Directors as required.  These positions may be of a variable duration to a maximum of one year; these positions may or may not have full voting rights.

Section 7 The Board may appoint such sub-committees as may be found necessary to further the work of the club.  Such committees shall be Chaired by the President or the Vice-President in his/her absence.  Such committees are responsible to the Main Board.

ARTICLE VIII – FINANCE

Section 1 The funds of the Club shall be deposited in a Bank or Building Society approved by the Board and all cheques shall be signed by two of the following:  President, Honorary Secretary, and Honorary Treasurer.

Section 2 The financial year of the Club shall be from 1^st January ie. The calendar year.

Section 3 The Honorary Treasurer shall present an annual income and expenditure account and balance sheet having been examined in accordance with the Club rules by an ‘independent person’ who has been appointed at a previous Annual General Meeting.

Section 4 All expenses incurred on behalf of the Club shall be repaid out of the Club funds, subject to approval by the Board.

ARTICLE VIIII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1 The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as are incidental to his office. He shall be ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 2 The Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President in the absence of that officer.

Section 3 The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the members and the Board of Directors, and shall present them at ensuing meetings when requested.

Section 4 The Secretary shall conduct all correspondence of the Club.

Section 5 The Secretary shall call the General Meeting and the Board Meetings as required and shall keep a minute book in which the meetings of the Club and its Board shall be recorded.

Section 6 The Secretary shall present an annual report at the Annual General Meeting.

 ARTICLE X – ALTERATION OF BY-LAWS

Section 1 No alteration shall be made to these by-laws except at a General Meeting and notice of such a motion must appear on the Agenda for that Meeting.  Any such alteration shall require a two thirds majority.

Section 2 The SCCGB Club may be wound up or amalgamated with another Cat Club at a General Meeting and notice of such a motion and a proposal for the disposal of Club assets, must appear on the agenda for that meeting.  Any such alteration shall require a two thirds majority.