Members

BPSCA Membership Rules

• The Association shall be designated "British Police and Services Canine Association".
• There shall be a President and Vice President nominated by the membership
• Membership of the Association will be confined to serving and retired members of Dog Sections from the British Police, HM Prison Service, HM Forces, Ministry of Defence Police, British Transport Police, Customs and Excise, the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Immigration, Fire Service and the MOD Guard Service.

Membership will be allowed to handlers from similar bodies overseas or overseas associations. All membership is subject to the approval by the Committee.

• Associate membership may be granted on a non-voting basis to people or sections that the Committee decides to approve. If an Associate Member is accepted, after a vote, onto the committee then that member has voting rights for the period they remain as a member of the Committee.
• Honorary Members of the Association will be allowed under certain specialised circumstances. They should not exceed 10% of the total membership and must be proposed and approved at the Annual General Meeting.
• The objects of the Association will be:
• To promote friendship and welfare of members.
• To arrange seminars and events both national and international.
• To encourage an interchange of ideas through the publication of a newsletter or magazine and to circulate information from home and overseas.
• Promote advice on professional matters.
• Special advice to members either via the magazine, newsletter or helpline.
• A Committee shall be appointed to run the functions of the Association and shall consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, an Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer may be appointed by the Committee.
• The officers of the Committee will be appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting, which will be held in the month of September or October each year.
• All members will pay a subscription of £10.00 per annum, £30.00 for five years. Subscribing membership can be obtained by dog sections, etc, to allow them to receive more copies of the Service Dog Magazine at a cost of £12 per annum.

Membership will run from 1 January to 31 December or 1 July to 30 June each year. Annual General Meeting to be held within two months of the end of the financial year which ends 31 August. There may be an increased fee for overseas members.

• Annual subscriptions, sponsorship and advertising fees will be utilised to run the everyday functions of the Association as decided by the Committee.

An audited balance sheet will be prepared annually and will be presented at the Annual General Meeting.

• Committee meetings will be held at the discretion of the committee. Sub-committees may be appointed to look into special aspects of the Association.
• The Committee, or at least eight members of the Association, may call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association as and when required by giving 28 days written notice to the Secretary and notifying him of the reasons for calling the meeting.

The Secretary will give 28 days notice to the members.

• The Association Constitution and Rules may only be altered or amended at the Annual General Meeting.

Rights of ownership of property and funds will be vested in the Committee.