1. Name

1.1        The name of the Society shall be ‘The British Veterinary Zoological Society’ (‘BVZS’).

 

2. Objects

2.1        To support and promote veterinary knowledge and scientific advancement in the health, welfare and conservation of free-ranging and captive wildlife, zoo animals and non-traditional companion animals (NTCAs).

2.2        To encourage veterinary input and support for the welfare, care and health of free-ranging and captive wildlife, zoo animals and NTCAs by individuals and organisations responsible for their care.

2.3        To exchange information and encourage other forms of collaboration between this and other Societies in allied disciplines. To this purpose the Society may elect to enter into formal affiliation or other suitable relationship with other Societies and Associations having similar aims and objectives.

2.4        To represent the interests of the Society members, and the animals under their care, in relevant national and international policy making and legislation, including to the British Veterinary Association (BVA) as a Specialist Division of that Association, to UK government and the media.

2.5        The Society may at its discretion award prizes established by the Society or by various sponsors and outside organizations.

2.6        The Society shall be a not-for-profit organisation.

 

3. Membership

3.1        Full Members of the Society shall be Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Nurses registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons who are interested in free-ranging and/or captive wildlife, zoo animals and/or NTCAs. All Full Members will have the right to vote on Society matters at an Annual General Meeting. Full Members who are veterinary surgeons will have the right to hold office.

3.2        Associate Members are welcomed by the Society. This class of membership will include veterinary students, veterinary nurse students and interested parties from other related disciplines. Associate Members will have no right to vote on matters of BVZS Policy or hold office.

3.3        Prospective Veterinary Surgeon and Veterinary Nurse members shall be admitted on application including a current RCVS registration number. Veterinary students and Veterinary Nurse students shall be admitted on application including proof of student registration with the RCVS and/or a RCVS-approved training establishment. The applications of other prospective Associate Members will be formally ratified by Council at the first Council meeting following such an application.

3.4        The annual subscription shall be as determined by an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Society and payable in pounds sterling on the first day of January each year. The amount of the subscription payable by a member joining the Society during the financial year shall also be the full annual subscription.

3.5        Members more than three months in arrears with their subscriptions shall be deemed to have terminated their membership.

3.6        Honorary Life Members

2. a) The Society shall be able to elect Honorary Life Members nominated by the membership and agreed by Council. The title of Honorary Life Member may be conferred upon a past or present member of the Society who has made an outstanding contribution to the relevant species (free-ranging and/or captive wildlife, zoo animals and/or NTCAs) and/or to the Society and its objects as outlined in Clause 2. Honorary Life Members may, as appropriate, be Full Members (Clause 3.1) or Associate Members (Clause 3.2).
3. b) Honorary Life Membership may also be given to those who are not, and never have been, members of the Society, but who have made an outstanding contribution to the relevant species (free-ranging and/or captive wildlife, zoo animals and/or NTCAs) and/or to the Society and its objects as outlined in Clause 2. These individuals may also be nominated by the membership and agree by Council. Membership conferred in this way will be non-voting.

 

4. Offices

4.1        The Officers of the Society shall be the President, Junior Vice President (JVP), Senior Vice President (SVP), Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Meetings Organiser.  At Council’s discretion, two posts may be held by the same member, or posts may be left vacant.

4.2        The President, Junior Vice President, Senior Vice President must have been elected to and served on Council for at least one full term (2 years) before being elected to that Officer post.

4.3        The President shall be elected at a General Meeting of the Society to hold office for a term of two years.

4.4        The Junior Vice President shall be selected from the membership by a process agreed by Council and shall serve a term of one year. The Junior Vice President shall be eligible for election as President for a 2 year term immediately following such Vice Presidency.

4.5        The retiring President shall serve on Council as Senior Vice President for 1 year. At any given time there will be only one Vice President – either a junior or a senior.

4.6        The Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Meetings Organiser shall be elected by Council and ratified at a General Meeting of the Society to hold office for a term of 3 years.

4.7        The Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Meetings Organiser, at the conclusion of their term of office (3yrs) shall, at the discretion of Council and approval by a General Meeting, be eligible for re-election for a further single term (3yrs).

4.8        A past President may be eligible for re-election to position of Junior Vice President after three years out of office, at the discretion of Council and approval by a General Meeting.

4.9        The President shall Chair all meetings of the Society and of the Council and where necessary have the casting vote. In the President’s absence, the Senior Vice President shall deputise.

4.10      The Honorary Treasurer shall receive all subscriptions and other monies payable to the Society and shall discharge all accounts and pay all sums of money under the direction of the Council. Annual accounts, duly audited (see 6.4), shall be presented to the General Meeting.

4.11      The President (or other Officer representing the President) must be a member of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) in order to attend BVA Council and input into other BVA business.

 

5. Council & Committees

5.1        The Council of the Society shall consist of the Officers and up to eight, and not less than six, Council members elected at a General Meeting of the Society to hold office for a term of two years. A quorum of the Council shall be three elected members plus two of the Senior Officers (Junior Vice President, President, Senior Vice President).

5.2        Elected Council members, except Officers, shall be eligible for re-election for the term immediately following their terms of office (i.e. a total of four years).

5.3        Council members that are not taking up office for the forthcoming period and have served in office for a period of four years or more will be ineligible for re-election for one full term (2yrs) of Council.

5.4        Council at its discretion may co-opt any member, including Honorary Life Members (Clause 3.6), to serve as a non-voting member of Council, or to take part in sub-committees set up for special purposes, whether or not he or she has served an immediately preceding four-year term as an Officer or an elected Council member. If co-opted members or sub-committees are to continue to serve in the following year passing an Annual General Meeting, they shall be submitted to the Annual General Meeting for approval by the Association.

5.5        The Honorary Secretary, or other person nominated by Council, shall keep the minutes of any meetings of the Society and Council.

 

6. Annual General Meeting

6.1        An Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held once per calendar year, and not more than fifteen months shall elapse between any two Annual General Meetings.

6.2        Proposals for alterations in the rules of the Society must be notified in writing to the President twenty-eight days before an Annual General Meeting, and if agreed at that meeting, shall be subject to ratification at the next Annual General Meeting.

6.3        A nominated member of Council, or other person nominated by Council, shall keep the minutes of the Annual General Meeting .

6.4        The Annual General Meeting shall appoint two members (not being members of the Council during the audited financial year) to act as auditors.

 

7. Extraordinary general meetings 

7.1        Extraordinary General Meetings may be called at the discretion of Council or by the President at the written request of not less than five of the current full members of the Society, specifying the business for which the meeting is called. No business shall be transacted at an Extraordinary General Meeting, other than that for which the meeting is called.

  

8. Voting and elections

8.1.       Motions to be voted upon must be agreed by Council and voting options distributed to the membership by a suitable method agreed by Council, to all Full members eligible to vote as per the latest membership database.

8.2        Council will select two or more BVZS member scrutineer(s) to count the voting returns. The result of the vote will be by a simple majority, announced at the Annual General Meeting and published on the ‘Members only’ section of the BVZS website and, where appropriate, by direct communication with the members.

8.3        Elections of BVZS Council members will be by ballot slips (or other appropriate voting mechanism) at the Annual General Meeting and the results will be announced at the AGM. Election of BVZS Officers may be carried out by a show of hands if the position is unopposed.

8.4        Voting on minor matters (not constitutional or major policy matters) and motions at the Annual General Meeting, proposed by a member and seconded by a second member, shall be voted on at that Annual General Meeting by a show of hands. If the result is not clear-cut, or contentious, then a full vote, as per Clause 8.1, shall be carried out, if more than a tenth of the present full members request this.

8.5        Members may vote in elections/vote by proxy if they are unable to attend the Annual General Meeting by notifying the president of their vote cast in writing by email or other method agreed by BVZS Council, in advance of the vote.

 

9. Dissolution of the society

9.1        Upon the winding up or dissolution of the Society all assets shall be transferred to another non-profit body, to be determined by the British Veterinary Association, with objects similar to those of the Society.

 

10. Changes to the constitution

10.1      Proposed changes to this Constitution must be presented to Council and subsequently approved at an Annual General Meeting.