Terms and Conditions – Membership

All Members of BRLSI are asked to be aware of

BRLSI’s Terms of Membership

The ‘Objects’ of BRLSI’s Articles of Association:

The promotion and advancement, for the public benefit, of science, literature and art in the City of Bath and its surrounding areas by such means as the Directors of the Company think fit, including, but not limited to:

• The provision and maintenance of a museum in or near the City of Bath for the display of exhibits of historical, scientific, literary, or artistic significance or interest

• The provision of a library, lectures and other facilities for education relating to literature, science and art

• The promotion of research relating to literature, science and art and the publication of the useful results of that research.

BRLSI Code of Conduct

All BRLSI Directors, staff, members and volunteers should create and maintain a welcoming, respectful and supportive atmosphere within the Institution.

Personal interactions should be respectful and polite.

It should be recognised how others might feel if they are not treated with respect and they should be encouraged to express their concerns if they feel any unease.

Some behaviours that might be considered as unsupportive are using an abrupt tone in emails, especially if anyone else is copied in as a recipient; raising one’s voice in discussions and interrupting before a person has finished the point they are making.

Any instances of behaviour that lack respect, or which might be considered to be coercive, should be reported in writing to BRLSI Chair of Management, who in the first instance, will have an informal talk with both parties to avoid any escalation. Subsequently, should it be considered necessary, a formal meeting will be held in accordance with the relevant Policy.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1.1 BRLSI MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the BRLSI includes membership of both the Trustee Company (Co. No. 2857000) and Charity (Ch. No. 304477). The Trustee Company is required by law to maintain a Register of Members.

The Directors may establish different classes of membership, and recognise one or more classes of supporters who are not Members, and so shall not have any rights under the Act including, but without limitation, the right to vote under the Articles. Such a supporter may be termed “member”. The different classes of membership are given in the Appendix.

The main requirements of membership are contained in the BRLSI Trustees Articles of Association S.6, the relevant parts of which are given below:

1.1.1 A Member of the Company shall be any person or organisation that:
a. Is interested in the Objects of the Company
b. consents in writing to become a Member
c. pays the subscription fee set by the Directors (see 1.3 below)
d. is approved by the Directors

1.1.2 The Directors shall have full power and discretion as to the admission or refusal of any person as a Member

1.1.3 Membership is terminated if the Member concerned:
a. gives written notice of resignation to the Company;
b. dies, or if an organisation ceases to exist;
c. is six months in arrears in paying the relevant subscription
d. is removed from Membership by a resolution passed by 75% of the Directors on the grounds that in their reasonable opinion the Member’s continued membership is undesirable in the interest of the Company and/or the Charity (but only after notifying the Member in writing and considering the matter in the light of any written representations which the Member concerned puts forward within fourteen Clear Days after receiving notice)
1.1.4 Membership of the Company is not transferable

1.2 ORGANISATION MEMBERSHIP
Any corporate organisation that is a Member of the Company may nominate any person to act as its duly authorised representative at any meeting of the Company by resolution of its directors or other governing body.

Any unincorporated organisation that is a Member of the Company may nominate any person to act as its duly authorised representative at any meeting of the Company, provided that the organisation gives written notice to the Company of the name of its representative. The nominee shall not be entitled to represent the organisation at any meeting unless the notice has been received by the Company. The nominee may continue to represent the organisation until written notice to the contrary is received by the Company.

Any notice given to the Company will be conclusive evidence that the nominee is entitled to represent the organisation or that his or her authority has been revoked. The Company shall not be required to consider whether the nominee has been properly appointed by the organisation. The duly authorised representative of an unincorporated organisation shall be entered in the register of Members as the Member, with the name of the unincorporated organisation, which they represent, noted alongside.