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January 01, 2008:
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Constiution

Committee list

The Club shall be known as the British Amateur Television Club or BATC in short form. Herein referred to as 'The Club'. Definitions; G.M. shall mean General Meeting; E.G.M. shall mean Extraordinary General Meeting; "Works" shall include Hardware, Software, the printed word, magnetic recordings, and electronic signals; CQ-TV shall be the name of the Club's journal. Where appropriate the singular shall include the plural and the masculine the feminine. The Club shall be affiliate to the Radio Society of Great Britain.

Objectives

  1. The aims and objectives of the Club shall be:- to inform, instruct, co-ordinate and represent the activities of amateur and professional television enthusiasts in the U.K. and Overseas. To promote the advancement and practice of television in all its forms including: Transmitting, Receiving, Closed circuit, Video recording methods, High definition television, Standard definition television, Slow scan television, Narrow band television, Satellite television, Special effects generation, all in colour or monochrome, ancillary sound, control and data systems, and any other systems for the ion of images in any form. To publish and sell books, pamphlets, video tapes, audio tapes, or any other medium associated with the objectives. To supply components or assemblies, or any other items for members use, associated with the objectives. To organise meetings and events, competitions and awards of any fund for the mutual benefit of members.

Membership Top of page

  1. Membership of the Club shall be open to any person or group interested in amateur television, or the technical aspects of professional television, in the U.K. or overseas, subject to the provisions of Rule 9.
  2. The Club may form sections of its members, united in pursuit of some common interest at the discretion of the committee. The request to form such sections being considered on the written request of not less than ten club members.
  3. A group may affiliate to the Club by paying a subscription as one member; the affiliated group shall have one vote and be entitled to all benefits as if it were one member. The aims and objectives of any member group should support the Club and be compatible with the objectives of the Club.
  4. In addition to ordinary membership, the committee of the Club shall have the authority to grant life membership, honorary membership (voting and non-voting), complimentary membership (non voting), complimentary membership (non-voting), associate membership (non voting) and patron status (non-voting) .
  5. The Club reserves the right to refuse membership to any person or group, such refusal(s) to be voted on in accordance with the rules of the committee of the Club. The committee of the Club shall not be required to give any reasons or explanations for any such refusal(s). Any person or group who is refused admission shall have any subscriptions received returned to them.
  6. Any member wishing to resign from the Club shall write a letter of resignation to the Membership Secretary of the Club, such resignation not being effective until it is received by the Membership Secretary. Any portion of that persons subscriptions that is paid in advance of the date of resignation shall be refunded, less postage, if requested in the letter of resignation.
  7. The journal, CQ-TV, is available to members free of charge in either printed or electronic format along with any other services or benefits the committee may from time to time, at it's absolute discretion, deem appropriate

Subscriptions

  1. There are two levels of subscription payable in advance, either £15.00 per annum or £10 per annum, The £15 subscription entitles that person or group to a printed copy of CQ-TV. The £10 subscription entitles that person or group to an electronic copy of CQ-TV only. These fees are determined by the committee of the Club, and charged to each ordinary member or group of the Club. Any increase in the level of subscriptions, or authority to set a new maximum, shall be approved at a G.M., or at an E.G.M., of the Club. The committee shall have the power to waive the subscription fee in cases of hardship Members who's subscriptions are in arrears shall not be entitled to any of the benefits of membership or be eligible to vote at any meeting.

Expulsions Top of page

  1. The Club reserves the right to expel any member or group who breaks the rules of the Club or, in the opinion of the committee, brings Amateur Television or the Club into disrepute, or for such other reasons as the committee of the Club might, in it's absolute discretion, decide, such expulsions to be voted on in accordance with the rules of the committee of the Club at a meeting specially convened for the purpose of hearing the motion for expulsion. No person or group shall be expelled unless and until 4 weeks notice of the meeting at which his expulsion is to be proposed is given, such notice being sent by recorded delivery, and is afforded a proper opportunity of being heard at such a meeting in his own defence. The committee of the Club shall not be required to give any reasons for such an expulsion except at such a meeting. The date and venue of such a meeting shall be decided by the committee. Any person or group expelled shall not be entitled to the return of any moneys paid to the Club. No motion for expulsion shall be for more than one member or group member, but there is no limit to the number of expulsions which can be proposed at any such meeting of the committee of the Club.

Committee

  1. The committee of the Club shall consist of not more than twenty-two and not less than thirteen elected ordinary members. All such committee members shall be unpaid. From these the committee shall select the following Officers of the Club; a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, Membership Secretary, Publications and Members Services.
  2. All Officers and committee members having been in office for two sessions, i.e. approximately four years, must retire, but shall be eligible for re-election. A minimum of half of the committee members and half of the Officers shall retire at each G.M. (in order to meet this requirement committee members and Officers may retire one session early or late to restore the balance) and sufficient committee members shall be elected or re-elected to make the committee up to the required number.
  3. The committee shall have the power to co-opt members of the Club to serve as Officers or as committee members. All such co-opted Officers and committee members shall be required to retire at the next G.M., but shall he eligible for election at that G.M.
  4. Nominations for election to the committee shall be proposed and seconded by two paid-up members of the Club with the consent of the nominee. Nominations should be submitted to the General Secretary nine weeks in advance of the G.M. ( to allow publication in CQ-TV ), however, nominations from the floor of the G.M. shall be accepted if insufficient nominations have previously been received by the General Secretary. If too many nominations are received the meeting will select by show of hands, the successful candidates. The chairman of the meeting will supervise the voting.
  5. The committee, shall have the power to make grants of money, books, medals, apparatus or otherwise for the purpose of promoting invention and research into television or its applications or in subjects connected with the objectives of the Club.
  6. Members of the Club elected to the committee shall be subject to the additional "rules of committee", which are listed in appendix A, B and C.

President

  1. A President shall be appointed by the committee; such President to hold office for not more than four years, but may be re-appointed by the committee for one further term. Retiring Presidents are to be listed as past Presidents of the Club, Honorary members and Patrons of the Club are also to be listed. This list to be kept in a bound volume by the current chairman

General MeetingsTop of page

  1. General Meetings of the Club shall be held biennially at one of the conventions or such other meeting place that shall be organised from time to time by the committee, at intervals of not more than three years. Notice of General Meetings and the agenda shall be published in CQ-TV, Will be made available to all paid up members at least 21 days before the date of the G.M. The business of the G.M. shall be to: a) Receive and approve reports on the activities of the last two years from the Chairman, b) Receive the audited accounts of the Club for the last two years, c) Elect committee members. d) Appoint Auditors for the next two years. e) Set the maximum level of subscriptions, f) Transact any other business on the agenda.
  2. An E.G.M. may be called by 24 ordinary paid up members of the Club provided that they give 3 months notice in writing to the Secretary of the Club. Such an E.G.M. shall be held at a venue mutually agreed by those calling for the E.G.M. and the committee. In the event of failure to agree on a venue, the venue shall be that of the last G.M. or in the case of the E.G.M. to be held on the same day as a forthcoming G.M., the venue to he the same. The cost(s) or additional cost(s) of the E.G.M. shall be borne by those calling it and not by the Club or members of the committee, unless a resolution to pay for the meeting from Club funds is passed at that E.G.M. The committee shall have the power to call for an E.G.M at a committee meeting subject to a two-thirds majority of those present, in such a case the costs to be met from Club funds.
  3. The date, venue and agenda of an E.G.M. shall be published in CQ-TV and made available to all paid up members at least 21 days before the date of the E.G.M. In the event of failure to publish CQ-TV, all paid up members shall be informed by inland post or Air mail post outside the U.K.
  4. The only business conducted at a G.M. or E.G.M. shall be as listed on the published agenda. An informal discussion of business may take place after a G.M. or E.G.M. at which members questions may be heard and their views noted.
  5. All resolutions at a G.M. shall be carried by a simple majority, or in the case of a E.G.M. shall be carried by a two thirds majority of those present, unless otherwise stated elsewhere in this constitution. In event of a tie the chairman of the meeting shall cast the deciding vote. A quorum at a G.M. shall comprise forty ordinary members and committee members. A quorum at an E.G.M. shall comprise sixty ordinary and committee members. Only members whose subscriptions are fully paid up 21 days prior to the meeting may vote at a G.M. or E.G.M. In the event of failure to achieve a quorum all resolutions on the agenda will be deemed to have failed.
  6. Any member may cast a proxy vote. The recommended method is to write to the Club chairman appointing him as your proxy and expressing your vote(s). No charges shall be made for admission to a G.M. or E.G.M.

Dissolution

  1. A resolution for the dissolution of the Club shall require a postal ballot of the paid up members of the Club. This postal ballot shall require three fourths of those who return their valid ballot papers to have voted in favour of the dissolution of the Club. Such a postal ballot can only be initiated by a resolution to ballot the members heard at an E.G.M., where the resolution is properly and fully described on the agenda and two-thirds of those fully paid up members present voting in favour of the resolution. The postal ballot slips will fully describe the options open under the circumstances leading to the resolution for dissolution and the means of disposing the assets of the Club under Rule 30. The cost of the postal ballot shall be borne by the Club and the ballot will be held not sooner than 4 weeks after the E.G.M. which called for it and not later than 13 weeks after it. The preparation, posting, and counting of the ballot papers shall he supervised by the Club's Auditors or Solicitors or by the RSGB.
  2. In the event of the Club being without funds to pay for a postal ballot for dissolution, the conditions of Rule 28 shall not apply and the resolution for dissolution of the Club may be heard at an E.G.M. Such a resolution being properly and fully described on the published agenda. This dissolution vote supervised by a representative of the RSGB, or other recognised body, and shall require three fourths of those present to vote in favour of the dissolution,
  3. Upon the dissolution of the Club the assets of the Club shall be sold by private, treaty, or by public auction, and these funds together with any and all moneys and deposits will be used to pay the creditors of the Club, refund to paid up members that portion of their subscription remaining, to further the hobby of Amateur Television by distributing funds to other groups, or by starting a new group. Any remaining funds are to be donated to a Registered Charity or the RSGB as decided at the dissolution meeting.
  4. If, at an E.G.M., it is resolved, by two thirds majority, to transfer the assets and operation of the Club into a Limited Company or, a Company Limited by Guarantee with the same or similar aims and objectives, Rules 28, 29, and 30 shall not apply.

Alteration of the Constitution Top of page

  1. These rules or any of them may be added to, amended, or replaced by a two thirds majority resolution of those present and voting at a G.M. or at a E.G.M. called for the purpose.
  2. Any proposed changes to the rules shall be sent to the committee 56 days prior to the relevant G.M. or E.G.M. for the form of such rule changes to be voted against the existing rules and should there be in the committee's view an inconsistency with the remaining constitution then not less than 28 days prior to the G.M. or E.G.M. the committee may ask the proposer of the rule change to reword or withdraw the proposed amendment.
  3. The committee is empowered to add to amend or replace such rules of the club as may in emergency be deemed appropriate all such emergency rule changes being submitted for confirmatory approval at the next G.M. or E.G.M. A proposal for an emergency rule change shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the committee quorum to succeed.
  4. The committee is empowered to add to amend or replace the rules for committee contained in appendices A, B and C without submitting the changes to a G.M. or E.G.M. provided the changes are unanimously agreed at a committee meeting.

Disputes

  1. Any dispute arising out of membership of the Club or the interpretation of these rules shall be referred by the member or members concerned to the committee whose decision shall be final, and binding on all parties.

Copyright Top of page

  1. The Editor, or any committee member, shall not publish or supply any works in the name of the Club that are subject to copyright or any other restriction, unless permission has been obtained in writing from the copyright holder. The committee shall comply with provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
  2. The Club shall retain copyright in original works commissioned, designed, manufactured or published by the Club for which payment has been made, where such payment includes the copyright in the works, or where the copyright has been donated to the Club.
  3. At the discretion of the Editor, or the committee, for written works, permission to use Club copyright material may be granted. The name of the Club, it's logos, badges and "CQ-TV" are copyright and my only be used with the written permission of the committee. Any such permissions to be minuted and the secretary will issue the letter of permission.

Library

  1. The Club shall maintain a library of books, works, manuscripts and pamphlets on Television, electronics and other allied subjects. Artefacts associated with the history of television or the history of the Club shall also be archived.
  2. Members may borrow books and periodicals from the Trustee of the Club Library for a period of 6 weeks, which may be extended by agreement with the librarian to a maximum of 18 weeks. Members who borrow books or periodicals shall be held responsible for their return at the end of the loan period or their replacement Cost(s) if not returned. Certain documents may only be examined or consulted at the library, due to their fragility or value.

Appendix A - General Rules for the Committee Top of page

All committee members will act in the best interests of the Club and in accordance with the Club Constitution. Committee Members shall keep proper records of their transactions in accordance with good practice and the VAT regulations (see note 1), and to comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act (see note 2).

  1. Between meetings routine committee business may be transacted by post, telephone or other means of communication that the committee may from time to time decide. Officers and committee members may act in matters which have received the approval of the majority of the Officers of the committee. Non routine urgent business shall require at a quorum of the committee to be consulted. Any voting shall be supervised by the Chairman or the General Secretary. Decisions made shall be reported to the next committee meeting for minting.
  2. A quorum of the committee shall comprise eight committee members, of which three must be Officers of the Club. Voting shall be by show of hands, and a simple majority shall carry the motion, In the event of a tie the Chairman of meeting shall exercise a casting vote.
  3. The committee shall meet when necessary to carry out the business of the committee.
  4. The Chairman of the Club will send a copy of the agenda for each committee meeting to every member of the committee by first class post, posted at least 14 days before the committee meeting.
  5. Members of the committee shall NOT enter into any contract on behalf of the Club unless properly minuted authority has been obtained at a committee meeting or, in accordance with rule 1.
  6. No member of the committee may obtain credit or, loans or, cash advances of any form, in the name of the Club, excepting as described in the BATC purchase procedure.
  7. BATC purchase procedure shall be as described in appendix B and modified by the Hon. Treasurer and ratified the committee from time to time.
  8. The committee of the Club shall obtain public liability insurance and maintain it in force.
  9. The main Club current account shall be held in a bank and require the signatures of two of the following Officers, 1) The Treasurer, 2) The Chairman, 3) The Secretary
  10. The committee will hold on deposit the subscriptions received in advance in a bank, building society or post office account.
  11. Discussions at committee shall be confidential, but the minutes may be published.
  12. Any committee member who slanders of libels any person or group shall be solely responsible for his actions.
  13. In addition to the Officers of the Club, the committee will select committee members for the following posts:- Assistant Editor, Contest Organiser, Librarian, Technical Liaison, RSGB Liaison, Publicity & Promotion, along with any other post the committee may decide upon.
  14. Upon ceasing to be an Officer or committee member of the Club, that person shall hand back to the committee all equipment, hardware, software, documents, papers, and other items rightfully the property of the Club.
  15. The duties of the Officers and committee members of the Club shall be those conventionally and normally performed by those Officers and committee members. Additional duties shall be as described in the Constitution or its appendices, or duties decided upon at committee and minuted.
  16. A resolution for a vote of No Confidence in a committee member or Club Officer may be proposed on the agenda for a forthcoming committee meeting. The agenda to be sent by registered post to the person concerned at least 14 days in advance of the meeting. The effect of a resolution of No Confidence being passed is to remove from Office and or the committee the person concerned.

Appendix B - Purchase Procedure Top of page

Small purchases.

At the committee meeting on 05/03/1989 it was resolved that members of the committee of the BATC shall have the authority to make small purchases to a maximum of £25.00, per quarter, on behalf of the BATC. Receipts must be obtained to support reimbursement claims.

The Hon. Treasurer would be happy to operate small purchases in the same way described in para. four below at the committee members request.

Local purchases.

Purchases in excess of £25.00 are defined as local purchases and all local purchases shall be approved by the committee at a committee meeting or in accordance with appendix A.1 of the constitution of the BATC.

The purchase procedure shall be to choose purchase item(s) and agree a price, then apply to the treasurer for a cheque for the amount of the item(s). At this stage advice as to the correct form of receipt would he given, or by post, write the order and send it to the treasurer to add a cheque to the order. The order would then be forwarded to the supplier.

Normally for items valued over £25.00 three quotes should be obtained and for items valued over £150.00 three quotes MUST be obtained.

The committee approval as described in para 3 above for local purchases shall NOT apply to:-

  1. Regular and normal purchases of stock by members services from suppliers with whom the BATC holds an account.
  2. The purchase of postage stamps.
  3. The printing and packing of CQ-TV by the editorial department.
  4. Exceptional and urgent expenditure authorised by the treasurer for later ratification by the committee of the BATC.

Appendix C - Reimbursement of Expenses Top of page

  1. All routine out of pocket expenses arising from committee business as per appendix B.
  2. The second class rail fare or value of fuel used in attendance at committee meetings.
  3. Expenses for attendance at rallies and exhibitions should be approved in advance at a committee meeting or in accordance with appendix A.1.

Notes

  1. The general principle is that the Club mailing list is confidential and must only be used for Club business. Further guidance to be obtained from the Membership Secretary.