Rules
REX CAT ASSOCIATION RULES
The Association shall be known as ‘THE REX CAT ASSOCIATION’ and referred to hereinafter as ‘The RCA’.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
a) To encourage the care, protection and maintenance of healthy breed lines of Rex coated cats in accordance with the standard of points as defined by the GCCF.
b) To promote interest in the breeding and exhibition of Rex coated cats and to stage an annual show. To take part in the GCCF Judge Appointment Scheme by joining the relevant Breed Advisory Committee(s).
c) To propose to the GCCF in conjunction with other Rex specialist clubs through the appropriate BAC/Joint Committee such changes to the Breed Standard as may be deemed necessary from time to time.
d) To work for the welfare of all cats.
e) To provide guidance for members.
f) The RCA is a non-profit making organisation.
AFFILIATION
a) The RCA shall belong to the GCCF and shall abide by the Bye-laws and regulations of the Council as may be amended from time to time.
b) Members of the RCA shall be bound by the rules and disciplinary powers of the GCCF in accordance with its Bye-laws.
c) The RCA shall belong to International Cat Care in accordance with the wishes of its members.
d) The RCA shall participate in any joint body recognised by the GCCF which furthers its aims and objectives.
MEMBERSHIP
a) The RCA shall consist of an unlimited number of members which will be in one of the following categories.
i) Single Membership shall enjoy all privileges of the RCA and shall be entitled to vote at all meetings or postal ballot.
ii) Joint Membership shall be available to two persons sharing the same domicile, or joint prefix. Joint members shall be entitled to full privileges of the RCA and shall receive one copy of literature other than ballot papers.
iii) Life Memberships – those already granted life membership shall continue to be entitled to full privileges of the RCA and shall be entitled to vote at all meetings or postal ballot.
iv) Family membership shall be available to three or more persons sharing the same domicile, including persons under the age of sixteen years. Family Members under
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the age of sixteen years shall have no vote. Family members over the age of sixteen years shall be entitled collectively to the full privileges of the RCA as allowed for a Single member only, and shall receive one copy of literature including ballot papers.
v) Honorary Membership may be conferred on individuals as a recognition of their work towards the furtherance of the RCA aims, but they shall not be entitled to vote. Nominations will be proposed by the Committee and if accepted by the nominee, must be ratified by a General Meeting of members.
b) There shall be three classes of subscription fee:
i) Single
ii) Joint
iii) Family
c) All fees shall be fixed at a level determined from time to time by the Committee and shall be ratified by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. Any alterations shall take effect from the next financial year.
d) Application for Membership shall be made in writing in a form approved by the Committee. Membership shall be granted subject to ratification by the Committee. In the event that an application for membership is rejected, no reason need be given.
e) Membership of the RCA implies acceptance by the member of the aims and objectives of the RCA and its rules.
f) Any member may resign his/her membership at any time by notifying his/her intention in writing to the Honorary Secretary. Resignation will forfeit any paid subscription fees.
g) Any member suspended by the GCCF shall automatically cease to be a member of the RCA. At the end of the term of suspension, membership may be re-applied for to the Committee.
h) The Committee shall have the power to refuse to renew or expel any member whose words or actions may be considered detrimental to the RCA or to cats in general. This decision shall not be taken lightly and only after full consideration of the available facts. The member shall have the right of appeal to the membership at a General Meeting, upon giving six weeks’ notice to the Secretary.
i) Member(s) requesting a signature from the RCA Secretary on a GCCF prefix application form should be fully paid up member(s) of the RCA of a minimum of one year’s standing – this is subject to the current and forthcoming year subscription being paid in full. The application to be then approved by the Committee.
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
a) The Committee shall nominate a President for the RCA, subject to approval by the membership at an Annual General Meeting. The President shall remain in position until such time as the Committee determine that a change in President is required. The President shall have no vote and the position shall be purely Honorary.
b) The Committee shall nominate up to a maximum of two Vice Presidents subject to approval by the membership at an Annual General Meeting. The Vice President(s) shall remain in position until such time as the Committee determine that a change in Vice President(s) is required. The Vice President(s) shall have no vote and the position shall be purely Honorary.
c) The management of the affairs of the RCA shall be vested in a Committee of eight elected members which shall include a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer (hereinafter called the Officers).
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d) The Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall be elected for a period of three years. Three of the Committee shall retire annually, on rotation, but shall be eligible for re-election.
e) All nominations to serve on the Committee must be made in writing and must be received by the Honorary Secretary at least six weeks before the date of the Annual General Meeting. The nomination paper must bear the signatures of the nominee, proposer and seconder all of whom must be fully paid up members of the RCA.
f) Nominees to the Committee must have been fully paid up members of the RCA for a minimum of one year before they are eligible for nomination to the Committee. In the event of more than one nomination being received for any one vacancy, voting shall be as advised by the Secretary to all members prior to the Annual General meeting.
g) In the event of a vacancy arising for any reason before the completion of a term of office, the Committee may co-opt a RCA member to fill it until the following Annual General Meeting when any remaining part of the original term shall be an additional vacancy in the annual elections. The Committee may not co-opt any more than two persons to serve on the Committee. Such persons shall have the right to vote on all matters.
h) At the first Committee meeting held after the Annual General Meeting the newly elected Committee will appoint from amongst their number a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary and an Honorary Treasurer, who shall hold office for one year and shall be eligible for re-appointment. The Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall have full voting powers. These appointments and elections are not subject to the ratification of a General Meeting of the RCA.
i) The Committee may appoint Honorary Advisors who need not be members of the RCA, but may be invited to attend Committee meetings.
j) The Committee is empowered to investigate all disputes within the RCA and to deal with any questions not specifically provided for in these rules.
k) The Committee may send electronically (or as otherwise agreed) any paperwork deemed suitable, or ask for it to be placed on the RCA website.
l) The Chairman shall preside over all meetings of the Committee, Sub-Committees and General Meetings as required. He/she shall not have a right to vote, except in the event of an equality of votes, when the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
i) The Chairman can make decisions after consultation with at least one other Officer where such decisions are urgently required, and it is impractical to consult the full Committee. Such powers should not be used lightly and should reflect the general views of the Committee.
m) The Vice Chairman shall deputise in the absence of, or at the request of the Chairman. In these cases the Vice Chairman shall not have the right to vote, except in the event of an equality of votes, when the Vice Chairman shall have a casting vote.
n) The Honorary Secretary shall conduct all correspondence of the RCA.
i) The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Chairman, fix the dates of meetings as required.
ii) The Secretary shall prepare and distribute documents to the members of the Committee, the GCCF and the RCA as the need arises.
iii) The Secretary shall maintain an accurate record of all Committee, Sub-Committee and General meetings of the RCA.
iv) The Secretary shall, together with the Treasurer, maintain an up to date register of members.
v) The Secretary shall, together with the Treasurer, process and submit to the Committee all applications for membership.
o) The Honorary Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial transactions of the RCA.
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i) The Treasurer shall maintain accurate records of all financial transactions of the RCA.
ii) The Treasurer shall present accounts at each Annual General Meeting, and file copies with the GCCF together with the appropriate fee: an independent person to examine the accounts for the coming year to be appointed at each Annual General Meeting.
iii) The Treasurer shall present full details of the RCA’s finances at each Committee meeting.
iv) The Treasurer shall, together with the Secretary, maintain an up to date register of members.
p) The Committee may appoint sub-committees to deal with specific matters. Minutes shall be kept of such meetings and a full report shall be made to the full Committee.
q) The RCA shall elect a delegate or delegates at the Annual General Meeting, in accordance with the terms of Articles 5 and 6 of the GCCF Bye-laws. Delegates will serve for one year and be eligible for re-election.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
a) A minimum of two meetings, which can be electronic or telephonic, of the Committee shall be held each year.
b) A quorum shall consist of five members, two of whom shall be Officers.
c) The agenda and copies of relevant minutes shall be provided to all Committee members at least fourteen days prior to the meeting.
d) Absence from three consecutive meetings may, at the discretion of the Committee, be deemed resignation and the absenting member shall not be eligible for re-election for a period of two years. In the case of illness the absenting member may stand for re election at the next Annual General Meeting.
GENERAL MEETINGS
a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 31st December of each year.
i) All matters for inclusion on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting must reach the Honorary Secretary at least six weeks before the date of the meeting.
ii) The agenda must be provided to all paid up members at least three weeks before the date of the meeting.
b) An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by the Chairman, a majority of the committee, or on the written request of at least twenty fully paid up members, specifying the business to be discussed, accompanied by a deposit of £1.00 per head, which shall be refundable if the motion proposed is successful. No other items shall be discussed other than the motion proposed and the defrayment of costs, both of which shall be decided by members at the meeting.
i) An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called within three calendar months of the request being received by the Chairman.
ii) The agenda must be provided to all paid up members at least three weeks before the date of the meeting.
c) A quorum at all general meetings shall consist of nine fully paid up members including the Officers and Committee.
d) Resolutions, other than matters relating to the RCA Rules and breed standards, shall be passed by a simple majority of members present and voting.
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i) Matters relating to RCA rules, Breed Standards and Registration Policies shall require a two thirds majority of members present and voting by a show of hands for approval, or as considered appropriate by the Committee.
ii) Should the Chairman or two thirds of the members present and voting require it, any resolution may be taken by a paper ballot.
iii) At the discretion of the committee or at the request of a general meeting of members any other matters may be decided upon as a result of a postal ballot.
FINANCE
a) The funds of the RCA shall be deposited in a bank, or otherwise invested at the discretion of the Committee, in account(s) in the name of the RCA .
b) All cheques shall be signed by two out of three Officers of the RCA, as agreed by the Committee.
c) All bona fide expenses incurred on behalf of the RCA shall be defrayed out of the RCA’s funds subject to the discretion of the Committee.
d) The financial year shall begin January 1st of each year.
e) Subscriptions shall be paid by March 31st otherwise membership shall be deemed to have lapsed.
ALTERATION OF RULES
No alteration shall be made to these Rules except at an Annual General Meeting or at a Special Meeting called for that purpose. The notice of such a motion must appear on the agenda of that meeting. The vote on such a proposal may be by secret ballot. Any such motion shall require a two thirds majority of those present and voting for approval.
DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB
Fourteen days’ notice of any proposal to wind up the RCA shall be given in writing to the members, and a Special General Meeting shall be called to consider the question at which a quorum shall consist of twenty paid up members including the Officers and Committee. If the motion to dissolve the RCA is confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, the liabilities of the RCA shall be discharged, and any balance should be paid to a club, organisation or charity, as chosen by a majority of the members present and voting at the Special General Meeting. Cups, trophies and gifts to the RCA shall be deemed to be the property of the RCA and shall be restored to the donors if possible, donated to other clubs, or otherwise disposed of, at the discretion of the Committee.