Harold Foxcroft
The North Craven Heritage Trust is a registered charity (No. 504029) and is governed by a Constitution established in 1992. Although a copy is available to anyone, from the Secretary, its provisions may not be generally known to Members. It is felt that it would be of general benefit to summarise some of the provisions contained in it, to explain how the Trust runs on a day-to-day basis.
The aims of the Trust are summarised briefly on the back cover of the Journal. The Annual General Meeting is held in or about October each year to receive the Committee's report and the accounts, and to elect Officers and Members of the Committee. The Committee must give 14 days notice of the AGM, and this is achieved by the entry in the Programme Card and in the Journal. A Special General Meeting can be held by the written request of 15 paid up members, for which a minimum of 14 days notice must be given to members. The quorum for the AGM and Special General Meetings is 50 members. A Committee is responsible for the management and administration of the Trust and this consists of the Officers (President, Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer - all of whom relinquish office at the AGM but can be re-elected) and 9 other members. Members are elected for a period of three years, bur can be re-elected. Approximately a third therefore retire each year.
Nominations for the honorary Officers and for the vacancies on the Committee are made by the Committee. Other nominations for Officers and for vacancies in Committee membership can be made, in writing, to the Secretary at least 10 days before the AGM. Such nominations should be supported by a seconder and be made with me consent of the nominee. A ballot at the AGM would resolve matters if nominations exceeded
vacancies.
There is provision to fill casual vacancies on the Committee until the subsequent AGM, to co-opt nonvoting advisors and to set up any necessary subcommittees. Finally there are clauses allowing for change to the Constitution and for the winding up the Trust.
The above is a summary of the Constitution and members should consult the full document for the complete text. Copies are available from the Secretary or Chairman.
The reality of this Committee is not one which is simply supervisory in nature; much practical work and commitment are required on a day-to-day basis by its members. In practice a committee member is expected to take responsibility for the organisation of a particular area of the programme of the Trust's activities.