Union des Clubs Européens du Briard (U.C.E.B.)

COMPOSITION

Article 5 - Membership

The following clubs are founding members of the Union des Clubs Européens du Briard:

• Association du Berger de Brie (A.B.B)
• Nederlandsche Briard Club (NBC)
• Briard Club Deutschland e.V. (BCD)
• Club Für Französich Hirtenhunde e.V. (CFH)
• Belgishe Briard Club (B.Br.C.)
• The Briard Association UK
• Klub of Poland Briard & Beauceron (B&B)
• Briard Vereniging Nederland (BVN)

Candidates may apply to join the Union des Clubs Européens du Briard :

• The European Clubs and Associations of the Berger de Brie, as long as they exist and have a proven activity dedicated to the Berger de Brie breed, affiliated or associated to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale " F.C.I. ". (you can see the list of European member countries on the official F.C.I. website),
• The English Clubs and Associations of the Berger de Brie.

Article 6 - Membership conditions

Clubs and Associations meeting the conditions of Article 6 and wishing to join the Union des Clubs Européens du Briard should send their applications to the U.C.E.B. headquarters.

In order for the U.C.E.B. Committee to be able to decide on their admission, Candidates must enclose with this application a file demonstrating the dog activity dedicated to the Berger de Brie of the said Candidate. More specifically, objective evidence of the implementation of a selection policy for the breed in the aforementioned country:

• Health policy (introduction of tests to improve the health of future breeding stock),
• Temperament tests (introduction of tests to assess the breed's specific temperament traits).
• Organisation of a specific Berger de Brie event (dogshow) to assess the morphology and temperament of the breed and promote the most representative animals.

The application of the breed club wishing to join the U.C.E.B. must provide all the information required to assess the reality of this dog activity dedicated to the Berger de Brie.

Each member club undertakes to comply with these articles of the association, which are communicated to it on joining the U.C.E.B., and to promote the U.C.E.B. and its events in the various communication media it uses. To this end, it has the right to use the U.C.E.B. logos.

They are represented by their Presidents or another person delegated by the Club. In addition, in order to ensure better coordination, each club may also appoint a Referent to prepare the agendas and work of the decision-making with their peers from the other member clubs. These Referents do not have decision-making authority.

Article 7 - Loss of membership

Membership is terminated by decision of the Committee :

• By written resignation addressed to the President of the Union des Clubs Européens du Briard.
• By exclusion pronounced by the Board of Directors. Board of Directors for infringement of these Articles of Association or for serious reasons causing moral or material prejudice to the Union des Clubs Européens du Briard.
• Before any decision to exclude or strike off a member is taken, the member concerned shall first be invited to provide the Committee with written explanations.

Article 8 - Liability of members

No member of the Association shall be personally liable for the commitments entered into by it. Only the Association's assets are liable for its commitments.

ADMINISTRATION - OPERATION

Article 9 - Committee

The U.C.E.B. is managed by a Committee comprising the Presidents or other delegated persons of the Clubs and Associations. The two languages of the Association are French and English

In order to make functionning easier, the executive committee - elected every 3 years - is made up of 4 members:

• President: the President of the French Association in charge of the breed, a member of the Société Centrale Canine, now known as the Association du Berger de Brie (A.B.B).
• 2 Vice-Chairmen,
• 1 Secretary.

Retiring members are eligible for re-election.

Article 10 - Role of the Committee

The U.C.E.B. Committee is specifically entrusted with the following responsibilities :

• The Chairman is responsible for the running of the Association and represents it in legal proceedings and in all civil acts. In the event of impediment, he may delegate his powers to another member of the Committee, on the advice of the Committee. He presents a report to the Committee
• The two Vice-Chairmen support the Chairman in his duties and represent him in his absence.
• The Secretary is responsible for all correspondence, in particular the sending of notices of meetings. He/she draws up the minutes of Committee meetings in his/her mother tongue. He is responsible for translation into the other two languages of the U.C.E.B..

Article 11 - Meetings

The Committee meets once a year, for an ordinary session, either in a member country of the U.C.E.B or via videoconference tools. The speakers discuss all the problems encountered in breeding, standard and temperament of the Briard. The agenda may be supplemented by the work carried out by the referents.

The agenda will be defined by the President, taking into consideration the wishes of the members. The A.B.B., which is responsible for defending and promoting the standard of the country of origin, will put in place all the necessary means in collaboration with the members of the U.C.E.B.

Decisions are taken by a majority of the members present. In the event of a tie, the Chairman has the casting vote. Only items on the agenda may be put to the vote.

All the Committee's deliberations are recorded in minutes and signed by the Chairman and the Secretary. They have the force of a recommendation to the member Clubs and Associations of the U.C.E.B.

Article 12 - Powers

The Committee is generally vested with the broadest powers within the limits of the U.C.E.B.'s objectives.

It decides on all admissions of members to l'U.C.E.B. It also decides on any exclusion or striking off of members.

It decides which country will host the U.C.E.B Show.

It may delegate all or part of its powers to certain of its members.

Article 13 - Accounting

Not applicable.

Article 14 - Accounting

Internal rules may be drawn up by the Committee. Any such rules are intended to set out the various points not covered by these Articles of Association, in particular those relating to the practical operation of the Association's activities.

Article 15 - Disputes

All disputes, in whatever form and without limit, will be referred to the Committee, which will rule in accordance with its own articles of association and French law. By extension, the courts of the headquarters of the U.C.E.B. have exclusive jurisdiction.

ASSOCIATION RESOURCES

Article 16 - Resources

There is no membership fee for U.C.E.B. members. The Association du Berger de Brie will pay the annual administrative costs of the Briard Académie. This annual management includes :

• Domain names,
• Website hosting,
• Correspondence

Should these costs would become too expensive, the members of the U.C.E.B. agree to meet to organise the financing of these additional costs.

EVENT

Article 17 - Conditions for organising the U.C.E.B Show

This Event may take place no more than once a year and must be organised in a member country of the U.C.E.B.

Countries wishing to organise the event must submit a preliminary application to the U.C.E.B. containing at least the provisional organisational details (timetable, location, content) and any additional information they deem necessary.

The committee will then assess the applications and inform the successful candidate.

A final agreement will only be given if the U.C.E.B. receives a second dossier detailing the complete organisation (including the jury) at least 15 months before the planned date of the Event, in order to ensure that the said Event is in line with the Association's objectives and complies with FCI or Kennel Club regulations.

Once this agreement has been obtained, the selected Club will be designated by the U.C.E.B. Committee as the Organiser, and will then be authorised to use the logos and references on all communication media used to inform Berger de Brie enthusiasts and promote the Event.

At the same time, the U.C.E.B and all its members undertake to provide information about the Event on their various media: websites, newsletters, etc.

In the event that the Organiser does not respect its commitments, the U.C.E.B.'s approval may be withdrawn, along with all the facilities granted.

Article 18 - Organisation and content of the U.C.E.B Show

This Event must be in accordance with the regulations of the organising country and comply with the rules of the FCI for member countries or of the Kennel Club. Its financing is the sole responsibility of the Organiser.

It must include at least one show with judges with proven knowledge of the breed (dog career linked to the Briard, experience of judging in significant shows with regard to the breed : Nationale d'élevage, Club show, Mondiale, etc.).

The organiser also has the option of adding one or more conferences on the following themes :

• Breeding and health,
• Work and temperament,
• Standard (France remains the holder).

The U.C.E.B. must be informed of all the constituent elements (including the content of the conferences and speakers) at least 15 months before the event takes place.