Constitution of the Telecommunications Heritage Group

1. Name: The Name of the Group shall be The Telecommunications Heritage Group, hereinafter referred to as the THG.

1a. Neither the full designation nor any abbreviation shall be used by Members for Trade or Business without the express consent of the Committee.

2. Aims and Objects: To promote the study, preservation and collection of the Heritage of Communications or any such other activity related thereto.

3. Affiliations: The THG may be affiliated to any other Group or Organisation, as may be determined by the Committee.

4. Officers: The Officers shall be a Chairman (or Chairwoman), a Vice-Chairman (or Vice-Chairwoman), a Treasurer, a Membership Secretary, and a General Secretary who shall be Honorary Officers of the THG. The five Honorary officers, together with five additional members of committee shall constitute the Full Committee of the THG. A quorum of Committee shall consist of at least three of its members, of whom at least two shall be Honorary Officers.

4a. Any Chairman or Chairwoman having served in that Office for five years continuous or broken service shall be offered the Honorary Office of Vice-President of the Telecommunications Heritage Group.

4b. Should there already be Honorary Vice-Presidents, a vote shall be taken at the Annual General Meeting to determine which shall serve as Honorary President.

4c. Should there be no other Vice-Presidents, then the Office of Honorary President be assumed.

5. Management: The day-to-day Management of the THG shall be vested in the Committee which shall have the power to Co-opt, and to authorise the establishment of Sub-Committees for any function which it deems necessary.

5a. If at any meeting of the Committee the Voting is tied then the Chair shall have the casting vote.

6. Membership: Any person having an interest in the Aims and Objects of the THG shall be eligible for membership on payment of the required Fee(s), the rate of which shall be determined by the Committee.

6a. The THG Committee reserves the right to refuse membership. A simple majority of the Committee shall signify the acceptance or expulsion of THG members. There shall be an Appeal procedure (see 7b).

6b. Membership shall comprise: Ordinary; Un-remunerated grade; Associate/Honorary/Life, which grade may be proposed by a majority decision of the Committee.

6c. The date for renewal of all subscriptions shall be first June annually. New entrants to pay the Joining Fee plus a ‘pro-rata’ per quarter subscription.

7. Suspension and Expulsion: Any member whose Subscription is three months in arrears shall automatically be suspended from membership. Re-admittance only on payment of the normal Fees.

7a. A member shall have his/her name removed from the Register for behaviour which is considered by a majority of the Committee to be detrimental to the interests or the reputation of the THG.

7b. Appeals: Any appeal by a THG member shall be subject to Arbitration. The Hon. General Secretary shall, at the request of the Appellant, convene a Tribunal which shall consist of 1) One ordinary member of the THG nominated by the Appellant, and 2) One member of the THG Committee, and 3) a ‘President’ who shall be any person invited by the agreement of 1) and 2). The decision of the Tribunal shall be final.

8. The THG provides an e-mail group which any member may join and to which they may post messages. Messages may be posted freely and should relate directly to the discussion of telecommunications heritage, its study, preservation and collection. Personal messages between individual members should not be posted, nor should abusive or defamatory remarks. The e-mail group may not be used for the resolution of members’ disputes.

8a. Any member who posts inappropriate, abusive or defamatory messages, or who attempts to use the e-mail group to resolve personal disputes will have their access to it temporarily suspended (“moderated”) and the offending material will be removed. The Moderator will be an Honorary Officer of the THG Committee who will take this action after discussion with the THG Committee. Re-instatement will be allowed only when the Committee has been satisfied that there will be no repetition of this, or similar, action.

8b. If, following a temporary suspension, a member attempts to post similar, inappropriate messages their access to the e-mail group will be permanently withdrawn. Any Appeal against such a decision will be subject to the procedure laid down in paragraph 7b of the Constitution.

9. Meetings: Shall be of four kinds, viz,

i) Ordinary. To be held from time to time as deemed necessary and to be convened by any three Committee members at least two being Honorary Officers of the Group.

ii) Extra-ordinary General. At any time at the written request of not less than twenty fully paid-up members. At least 21 days’ Notice to be given to the Hon. General Secretary, in writing. Members shall be sent an Agenda for such Meetings not less than 14 days prior.

iii) Annual General Meeting. To be held annually, at least 21 clear days Notice to be given to the members of the Venue. The Hon. General Secretary shall prepare an Agenda

sufficient copies for the Full Committee and shall cause to be displayed at least two copies in or near the place of the Meeting on the day.

iv) Committee. May be convened from time-to-time by any two Committee members one of whom shall be an Honorary Officer of the THG.

10. Minutes: Shall be kept by the Hon. General Secretary of all Committee and General Meetings.

11. Accounts: Shall he prepared by the Hon. Treasurer to 31st August of each year for submission to and acceptance by the members of the THG at their Annual General Meeting.

11a. An Internal Audit by a Duly Authorised person shall suffice.

12. The Annual General Meeting shall:

i) Receive and adopt Reports from the Officers of the Group.

ii) Adopt the Accounts for the financial year as Certified by the Auditor(s).

iii) Discuss any Reports, Communications, or Correspondence.

iv) Discuss and, if necessary, Vote on any Motion or Resolution by a show of hands, or if necessary, by a Ballot. Formal Notice is not required.

v) Require fourteen days Notice in writing to the Hon. General Secretary of any Motions or Resolutions proposing Amendments having the effect of changing the Constitution. Such Proposer and Seconder to be fully paid-up members of the THG.

vi) Elect any Officers required, by a show of hands, or Ballot, with a simple majority, for the ensuing year.

13. Winding Up: The THG may be dissolved by an Extra-ordinary General Meeting after six months’ notice has been served to all its members. If, upon the winding-up, and the discharge of the Group’s debts and liabilities (including the return to members of their unused subscriptions which have been paid in advance) there remain any assets whatsoever, these shall be divided equally between all THG members whose subscriptions are up to date. Nothing shall be paid to holders of complimentary or other free memberships.

Version copied from Googlegroup 17/10/2007

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