Club Constitution
The Alyth and Blairgowrie Camera Club (From here on known as ABCC) is firmly committed to fostering a culture of fairness and equality, where every member, regardless of their background, identity, or ability, is treated with respect and has equal access to all Club activities and opportunities.
Objects of ABCC:
The objects of the ABCC:
- These meetings are designed to create a positive platform of learning for the improvement of photographic art and technique amongst its members.
- Obtain financial security through fees and external sources to maintain the membership.
- Website maintenance to promote the Club and have a stage to display members Images.
Membership and Subscriptions:
- Open to anyone interested in photography and willing to support the Club’s objectives.
- Annual subscription for the following season is agreed at the Annual General Meeting.
- Payment is due within the first two weeks of the season starting for existing members.
- New members, given two consecutive meetings to decide, then same as existing members.
- Bank transfer is the preferred subscription payment method, though cash may still be taken.
ABCC Management:
- Management of the Club is vested in the Committee, comprising up to six members, being Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Competition and Social Media Secretary’s and Ordinary.
- All Committee members shall be elected for one year at each Annual General Meeting.
- The Treasurer is authorised to open and manage bank accounts in the name of the Club. Authorisation if required, may be delegated to the Secretary and the Chairperson.
- The Treasurer shall have procedures to commit expenditure and manage accounts, that shall be specified and approved by the Committee.
Club Meetings:
- Are held regularly, either fortnightly or in accordance with member needs in St Catharine’s Hall, George Street, Blairgowrie. If a change of venue is required it shall be sourced by the Committee, put to the membership with any other options before deciding to move.
- To be a mixture of guest speaker talks, competitions, image presentation and tutorial nights.
- Any business raised during a meeting, that needs acted upon shall require a quorum for voting during a meeting, and shall consist of not less than 25% of the paid-up membership. If inconclusive, a Special General Meeting shall be called to deal with the issues.
Annual General Meeting
An Annual General Meeting shall be held each April and shall include:
- Approval of the Minutes of the previous AGM.
- Reports by Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Competition and, Social Media Secretary’s.
- Annual Report/Accounts by Treasurer, including next season subscription fee proposal.
- Any other business proposals, to be with the Secretary fourteen (14) days before the AGM.
- Election and appointment of Committee members (see below).
- A quorum for holding this meeting shall consist of not less than 25% of the paid-up membership.
Election of ABCC Committee Members:
- Committee position nominations by members proposing and seconding candidates.
- The committee are elected by a majority vote of the members at an AGM.
- Committee members may remain in post for three consecutive years, then stand for re-election after a break of at least one year, this may be waived if the club requires it.
- If more than one candidate is up for a Committee post, they shall be removed from the room, while members vote.
- In the event of a tie, the Chairperson or Acting Chairperson has the casting vote.
Special General Meetings
If required a Special General Meeting shall be convened at any time by the Committee or on the requisition of not less than 25% of paid-up members.
Alterations to ABCC Guidance:
Guidance document amendments through member consultation at Special General Meeting.
Dissolution of ABCC:
- The ABCC may be dissolved at any time, but only by the consent 75% of the members present at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose. The meeting shall then appoint a Liquidator (if required) to realise the assets of the Club, with their distribution to one or more organisations with similar objects.
Committee Function:
- The ABCC Committee plans and manages the annual Club programme of events, obtaining guest speakers, organising competitions, Image presentation nights, and promoting learning of photographic techniques for the benefit of the membership.
- The Committee reviews all ABCC documentation on a regular basis (3 yearly, or as needed) and will carry out revisions as necessary and inform membership of changes.
Chairperson Responsibilities:
- Management of the Committee members and has the casting vote in a tied vote.
- Welcoming new members and guests and any other role/duties required by the Club.
Secretary Responsibilities:
- Deputises for the Chairperson as required by running Committee or Club meetings.
- Records and distributes an accurate minute of Committee and Club meetings.
- Maintaining an accurate membership list in line with the ABCC Data Protection Policy.
- The official In/Out communication channel regarding club Business.
- Other duties as they arise, including deputising for other Committee members.
Treasurer Responsibilities:
- Deputises for the Chairperson as required by running Committee or Club meetings.
- Responsible for monies received, payment and banking transactions from Club funds.
- Receiving members subscription fees and issuing receipt with membership ID# card.
- Ensuring annual standing transactions e.g. venue rent, association memberships, Club insurance etc, and consumables are paid timeously.
- Provide Club quarterly income/expenditure, and Annual Report / Accounts at the AGM
Other duties as they arise, including deputising for other Committee members.
Competition Secretary Responsibilities:
- Management of all internal and external Club competitions.
- Facilitates showing of members images on the Club night and manages the processes.
- Organises digital, print and other competitions or project presentations hand-in dates.
- Arranges external judges for all required competitions.
- Collects images / prints and forwards to external Judges for scoring and presentation.
- Maintains a list of external digital image and print Judges.
- Arranges members winner certificates / trophy’s / prizes and payment to Judges.
- Informs members of any external competitions where Club or individual members may want to enter, and collates / sends away said entries if required.
- Updates the guidance for the submission of digital images and mounted prints which is managed by the Committee and found in ABCC Guidance Document Competitions.
Social Media Secretary Responsibilities:
To manage and regularly update;
- Club website content, including developing, amending and website improvement.
- Approve or decline posts on the ABCC Facebook site.
- Website / Facebook email enquiries and inform Committee of new business / communications.
Ordinary Member Responsibilities:
- To assist in the management of the Club at Committee meetings and vote as required on Committee business for approval of motions to go forward.
- Assist any Committee members in carrying out their duties or others as they arise.
- To bring new ideas to the Committee
ABCC Equipment:
- ABCC Equipment is subject to insurance cover renewals managed by the Treasurer.
- All ABCC equipment shall be treated with respect and care in its use.
- Faulty equipment shall be assessed and disposed if determined it is no longer usable.
- If equipment is needed it will first be repaired, or replaced if found to be beyond repair.
Code of Conduct:
- Members shall abide by guidance as provided by the Alyth and Blairgowrie Camera Club (ABCC), when attending any Club event, at the Club meeting venue, or out on Club Day trips, or any other organisation / venue rules.
- It is the responsibility of individual members to be respectful of others personal boundaries and not put others under stress or duress just to get an image.
- Members should be courteous to others and if required ask permission to take images.
- Where any member whose conduct, in the opinion of the Committee, is deemed prejudicial to the interests of the Club, shall, after due notice to that member, may be cautioned or removed from the Club membership list.
ABCC Insurance:
- The ABCC has a public liability insurance to protect members and visitors.
- Hive Insurance is ABCC’s public Liability Insurer, arranged by the Secretary and paid by the Treasurer.
Auditing of Accounts:
- One member independent of the Committee to be appointed to review the Treasurer’s Annual Report and Accounts before they are presented to the Annual General Meeting.
- These members may be called auditors or examiners.
Data Protection:
- The Secretary manages the Members Data Protection Policy for the Club.
TAX:
Not Applicable
ABCC Charity Status:
Not applicable.
This Constitution was adopted on: 18th day of March 2025 (Revision 1)
by the ABCC Members whose names appear below.
Chairperson - Name (Print) Ian Gardiner Signature
Secretary - Name (Print) Peter Messer Signature
Treasurer - Name (Print) Suz Thomson Signature
Ordinary Member (Print) Signature
Ordinary Member (Print) Signature