Chairman's Report - Autumn 2008
15/09/08 15:46 Filed in: Meetings
| Membership
Hugh Riddick, Co-Chairman, reports;
Since becoming your joint-chairman, with Geoffrey Mantle, I have learnt a lot about the Society and what it achieves. I have also identified several gaps in our activities.
MEMBERS are the key to everything. Without them we do not exist. Yet how often do we hear from them? Are your Committee getting it right? Geoffrey and I would like to hear from you. Why not write a letter with your views for publication in the Newsletter?
TALKS. The Society arranges monthly talks, at present held in the Underground Theatre (see below). Key speakers have been invited on important topics. Yet attendances are poor. Please tell us how we can improve.
EVENTS. We also have coffee mornings and evening talks at the Heritage Centre. Some of these are well-attended, but actual numbers are low because room is limited. The Centre itself is under very serious consideration - a Working Party is preparing a report to your Executive Committee which has to come forward to the Borough Council with ideas and proposals for its long-term future by the end of 2008. What are your ideas?
OUR CONSTITUTION. Your Committee would like to come forward to our next AGM with proposals for revising our Constitution. The new Charities Act offers a possible new framework for how we operate, but the Charities Commission is dragging its feet on advice on how this can be achieved. In any case, my view is that we must first make up our minds on what we want to achieve for the town before we start to tinker with our internal set-up. This is a debate in which everyone can be involved and the next AGM should be the forum for a full-on debate.
There are two main aspects: -
1. We are an unlimited voluntary organisation and we are also registered as a charity. There is a strong argument for converting to limited liability (a private company) as some local organisations have done, but we are aiming probably at changing into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ( a CIO ) introduced under the 2006 Charities Act. Unfortunately, new regulations and advice on procedure from the Charity Commission have been delayed and we are not sure how soon this can be achieved.
2. Most important for the future of the Society is how we operate within our Constitution. Are our objectives the right ones? Do we have a wide enough membership to encourage local organisations (as well as individuals) to take part in our affairs - and, if not, how do we achieve this?
This is where you come in. We want all members to contribute to the debate. Yes, we have an 'eye to the past' (heritage and all that) - but do we sufficiently look to the future? Can we involve young people more in our affairs? Are we sufficiently alive to changes in our town and environment? Until we have decided which way we want to go, it is difficult for your Committee to make recommendations. I am happy to receive your suggestions.
You, the members, are the important people. Please keep us up to the mark!
Since becoming your joint-chairman, with Geoffrey Mantle, I have learnt a lot about the Society and what it achieves. I have also identified several gaps in our activities.
MEMBERS are the key to everything. Without them we do not exist. Yet how often do we hear from them? Are your Committee getting it right? Geoffrey and I would like to hear from you. Why not write a letter with your views for publication in the Newsletter?
TALKS. The Society arranges monthly talks, at present held in the Underground Theatre (see below). Key speakers have been invited on important topics. Yet attendances are poor. Please tell us how we can improve.
EVENTS. We also have coffee mornings and evening talks at the Heritage Centre. Some of these are well-attended, but actual numbers are low because room is limited. The Centre itself is under very serious consideration - a Working Party is preparing a report to your Executive Committee which has to come forward to the Borough Council with ideas and proposals for its long-term future by the end of 2008. What are your ideas?
OUR CONSTITUTION. Your Committee would like to come forward to our next AGM with proposals for revising our Constitution. The new Charities Act offers a possible new framework for how we operate, but the Charities Commission is dragging its feet on advice on how this can be achieved. In any case, my view is that we must first make up our minds on what we want to achieve for the town before we start to tinker with our internal set-up. This is a debate in which everyone can be involved and the next AGM should be the forum for a full-on debate.
There are two main aspects: -
1. We are an unlimited voluntary organisation and we are also registered as a charity. There is a strong argument for converting to limited liability (a private company) as some local organisations have done, but we are aiming probably at changing into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ( a CIO ) introduced under the 2006 Charities Act. Unfortunately, new regulations and advice on procedure from the Charity Commission have been delayed and we are not sure how soon this can be achieved.
2. Most important for the future of the Society is how we operate within our Constitution. Are our objectives the right ones? Do we have a wide enough membership to encourage local organisations (as well as individuals) to take part in our affairs - and, if not, how do we achieve this?
This is where you come in. We want all members to contribute to the debate. Yes, we have an 'eye to the past' (heritage and all that) - but do we sufficiently look to the future? Can we involve young people more in our affairs? Are we sufficiently alive to changes in our town and environment? Until we have decided which way we want to go, it is difficult for your Committee to make recommendations. I am happy to receive your suggestions.
HELP! We are currently trying to function without an Honorary Secretary, which puts additional strains on Geoffrey and me. We need someone to fill this important office and keep us in order. Would anyone, not necessarily with secretarial experience, like to offer to help? We do have some excellent new members on the Executive Committee, but the Society's administration is definitely creaking.
You, the members, are the important people. Please keep us up to the mark!