DUALCHAS BRAIGH LOCH ABAIR/ BRAE LOCHABER HERITAGE
1. BUN-STEIDH / CONSTITUTION
(1) Name
The group shall be known as DUALCHAS BRAIGH LOCHABAIR/ BRAE LOCHABER HERITAGE (hereinafter referred to as the "Group"). Braigh Loch Abair/ Brae Lochaber /the Braes is to be understood here to include the ancient Clan lands of the MacDonalds of Keppoch extending primarily to all of Glen Roy with Colaraig, Glenturret and Luib Connaill and all of Glen Spean as far the Badenoch March Wall, with Strathossian, Corrour, Loch Treig and along the side of the Grey Corries as far as Lianachan, Brackletter and Achnaboban also the areas bordered by Glengloy including Both Loin, Inverroy, Tirindrish, and all Blarour as far as the Commando Monument and High Bridge.
(2) Objects
The objects of the Group shall be as follows:
a) to promote an active interest in the history, heritage and culture of the Braes of Lochaber for the common good and the advancement of public education.
b) to bring together all individuals and organisations which share such interests.
c) to collect, identify and preserve documents, artefacts, photographs, songs, stories and other oral material, moving images and other material of historical value for the benefit of the community.
d) to participate in, and maintain records of, all historical investigations of sites and buildings in Brae Lochaber, and to preserve a collection of all scientific reports and papers covering investigations carried out wholly or partly in the area .
e) to organise and arrange exhibitions, displays, lectures and other events relating to the work of the Group and its collections.
f) to co-operate with universities, colleges, schools, museums and other organisations which have an interest in the work and aims of the Group.
(3) Membership
Membership of the Group shall be open to all individuals and Bodies who are interested in furthering the objects of the Group.
(4) Funds
All funds, subscriptions and other revenue shall be held for and devoted to the furtherance and promotion of the aims and objects of the Group. No dividend, gift division, or bonus in money shall be made to or between any of the members of the Group.
(5) Management
The general and financial management and direction of the affairs of the Group is vested in a Management Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Committee), composed of office bearers and members of the group duly elected.
(6) Property .
All heritable and movable property in the ownership of the Group and all funds and securities shall be vested in the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and their successors in office ex-officio.
(7) In furtherance of the objects of the Group, the Committee shall
a) In respect of a collection, material or archival, rigorously preserve a strong presumption against the subsequent disposal of any items.
b) Provide for the protection of the items comprising the collection from deterioration, damage, loss, accidental destruction or unauthorised disposal.
c) Adopt a written collecting policy defining the principal types of material to be acquired together with the geographical area from which such material is to be drawn .
d) Maintain an accurate and current register of all items acquired or removed from the collection.
e) Insure against loss or damage by fire or any other risk, any property for the time being comprising the collection or any other
f) Gather in, hold and disburse the Group's funds only in furtherance of the Group's objects set out above but in such a manner as the Committee, in its discretion, thinks fit2.
1. RULES
a) Members
There shall be a body of members who shall be entitled to receive any annual report and to be summoned to and entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting. They will pay subscriptions at a rate decided at any Annual General Meeting Members in arrears of subscriptions for two years shall be considered to have resigned
b) Committee
The Committee will comprise a Chair (hereinafter referred to as the Chair): Vice-Chair (hereinafter referred to as the Vice-Chair), Secretary, Treasurer and five other members all elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Group. The Committee shall co-opt additional members (non-voting) to render special service to the Group.
c) Meetings
i. The Management Committee shall meet as often as required and in any event not less than four times in each calendar year. The quorum for meetings of the Committee shall be three, one of whom should not be an office bearer. Agreement shall be reached on the basis of consensus. The minutes of the Committee and Sub-committees shall contain a record of all proceedings, resolutions and decisions. The Annual General Meeting of the Group shall be held once in each calendar year for the purpose of hearing and considering reports and accounts, the election of Office bearers and committee as hereinto fore provided, and any other competent business. Not less than fourteen days' notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given by newspaper advertisement or post. Any other General Meeting of members held in a calendar year shall be an Extraordinary General Meeting.
ii.Extraordinary General Meetings may be convened for any particular purpose by the Chair at the request of the Committee or upon receipt of a requisition in writing signed by at least six members: Fourteen days' notice of such meetings shall require to be given and such notice shall specifiy the purpose of such meeting.
d) Sub-committees
Sub-committees formed by the Management Committee shall in the exercise of the powers delegated to them, conform to all regulations which shall be imposed upon them by the Management Committee.
e) The Secretary
The proceedings of the Management Committee and its sub-committees shall be recorded by the Secretary who shall keep a register of the members and shall summon meetings
f) Treasurer
The Treasurer shall keep accounts for all monies belonging to the Group. Such accounts he/she shall cause to be audited annually by a suitably qualified auditor appointed from time to time by the Annual General Meeting. A statement of accounts shall be prepared by such an auditor and shall be presented to the Annual General Meeting by the Treasurer.
g) Accounts.
All funds of the Group shall be lodged in a Bank Account opened in the name of the Group at an insitution to be appointed by the Committee. Such an account shall be operated by the Treasurer with the counter-signature of either the Chair or the Vice Chair under mandate from the Committee.
h) Alterations to the Constitution:
No part of the foregoing constitution and rules may be altered, deleted or extended except at an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting called for the purpose. A clear majority of two-thirds of members present, entitled to vote and voting, shall effect such change after such amendment has been proposed and carried.
i) Dissolution:
If the Commitee by a simple majority of those present at the meeting decides at any time that on the grounds of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Group, it shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting. If such a decision shall be confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present, Committee shall have power to dispose of any assets held by or on behalf of the Group. Any properties, induding artefacts, documents, archives etc. remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to the Lochaber Archives or the West Highland Museum or such charitable organisation or organisations as the Committee may determine, having objects similar to the objects of the Group and subject to consultation and approval by any Funding Body which may have a claim as a condition of its funding.
Constitution Adopted 26/2/2020 Signed
Ian Peter MacDonald Chairman __________________________
Kenneth Mackintosh Secretary __________________________
David MacFarlane Treasurer __________________________ Date ___________
