British Titanic Society Constitution

1. Name 

The full title of the Society is the British Titanic Society (hereafter called “the Society”). 

2. Aims 

The Aims of the Society are: 

i. To extend public interest in the history and culture surrounding RMS Titanic, the White Star Line and all aspects of maritime history 

ii. To act as a forum for persons interested in all the above listed aspects. 

3. Objectives 

3.1 The Society will fulfil the above Aims by: 

I. Publishing a quarterly Society Journal (entitled the Atlantic Daily Bulletin) including Members’ articles and news (hereafter called “the ADB Journal”) 

II. Organising an annual Convention for Members (and interested parties who contact the current Honorary Secretary) 

III. Promoting the Aims (as set out in Clause 2) at appropriate functions and events.

4. Membership 

4.1 Membership of the Society will be open internationally to anyone who is interested in helping the Society to achieve its Aims and willing to abide by the Constitution of the Society. 

4.2 Every Single Membership shall have one (1) vote. 

Joint Memberships, having paid only one (1) Membership fee, will have only one (1) vote. 

4.3 The Committee shall have the power to refuse Membership to an applicant where it is considered such Membership would be detrimental to the Aims, purposes or activities of the Society. 

4.4 Registration and termination of Membership: 

I. Any Member of the Society may resign his/her Membership through suspension of subscription payment or by writing to the Membership Engagement Officer. 

II. The Committee may, by resolution passed at a meeting thereof, terminate or suspend theMembership of anyMember if, in its opinion, his/her conduct is prejudicial to the Aims of the Society, PROVIDED THAT the individual Member shall have the right to be heard by the Committee before the final decision is made.

5. Finance 

5.1 A Membership fee is required from all Society Members. The Committee will set this Membership fee annually. Membership is on a rolling twelve-month basis and members can join at any time. If membership fees are not paid within a month of the anniversary of membership it shall be deemed to have lapsed. 

5.2 Any money obtained by the Society shall be used solely for the Society’s reasonable purposes. 

5.3 Any Bank accounts opened for the Society shall be in the name of the Society and used solely for the Society’s reasonable purposes. 

5.4 The Committee will ensure that the Society stays within its credit limit and does not default on any payments. The obtainment of any loans or the charging of any Society property is not permitted under any circumstances and shall be deemed ultra vires. 

5.5 Officers undertaking business on behalf of the Society may claim expenses provided they are within reason. Amounts in excess of £50 will require approval from two other Officers. 

5.6 An account of the Society’s finances will be presented annually and will be made available to view on the society’s website.

6. Committee 

6.1 The Society shall be administered by a Committee of not less than three (3) Officers. Committee Officers must be at least 18 years of age. 

6.2 All Committee Officer posts are Honorary and therefore are temporary positions that are renewed by re-election as defined in Section 7. 

6.3 The Officers of the Committee are: 

• Chairman 
• Editor of the ADB Journal 
• Membership Engagement Officer 
• Merchandising Officer 
• Sales and Exhibition Logisitics Officer 
• Secretary 
• Treasurer 
• Vice-Chairman 

Committee Officers may hold more than one of the above positions. 

6.4 The position of President does not have powers above those of any regular Member of the Society. The post is therefore exempt fromelection and shall be appointed by the Committee. 

6.5 Power is granted to the Committee to set up sub-groups and working parties as deemed necessary, which shall be accountable to the Committee. 

6.6 Any Committee Officer may resign his/her position, by giving to the Chairman three (3) months written notice to that effect, so that an alternative Member can be elected to take on the position after the three (3) months period has expired. 

6.7 The Committee may, by resolution passed at a meeting, remove a Committee Officer or the President from office if in its opinion his/her conduct is prejudicial to the interests and objects of the Society, PROVIDED THAT the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Committee before the final decision is made, which decision will be given in writing and take effect twenty eight (28) days after the date of that decision so that an alternative Committee Officer or President can be elected to take on the position after the twenty eight (28) days period has ended.

7. Voting/election of Committee

7.1 Committee Officers are be re-elected from one year to the next and any Member of the Society may stand for election. Committee Officers may be re- elected to the same office or another office. This will normally take place at the AGM. 

7.2 The Committee may co-opt members to the Committee as required for whatever temporary period they shall elect. 

7.3 Only current Members shall be entitled to one (1)vote. Joint Memberships, having paid only one (1)Membership fee, will have only one (1) vote. 

7.4 Should there be no others wishing to stand for election the Committee Officers already in post shall remain in their roles for a further year. 

8. Committee Meetings

8.1 The purpose of these meetings is to: 

i.Receive reports of matters arising since the last meeting.

ii.Ensure the general smooth running of the Society.

8.2 The Committee shall meet a minimum of three times a year at a venue to be decided by agreement of the majority. 

8.3 The quorum for a Committee meeting shall be three (3) Committee Officers. 

8.4 Voting at Committee meetings shall be by show of hands on a majority basis. If there is no majority then the Chairman shall have a casting vote. 

8.5 The Committee shall be accountable to the Members of the Society at all times. 

8.6 All Committee meetings will be recorded in minutes and these will be available to any Member on reasonable request. 

9. Annual General Meeting (hereafter called “the AGM”)

9.1 The purpose of the AGM is to: 

I. Receive an annual report. 

II.Present a financial report.

III.Elect/Re-elect the Committee Officers for the following year.

IV.Consider any other matter as may be deemed appropriate.

9.2 The Society shall hold the AGM at its annual Convention to be held each year. 

9.3 Should it not be possible to hold the AGM at an annual convention then an alternative way of holding the AGM will be investigated and communicated to the Members in good time. 

9.4 The quorum for the AGM shall be at least twenty (20) Members of the Society of which no more than four (4) shall be Committee Members. Should there be insufficient Members present to make the quorum, then the AGM will either be held or postponed at the discretion of the Committee and the Members present. 

10. Amendment of the Constitution

10.1 Proposals for amendments to this Constitution or the dissolution of the Society (see Clause 11) must be delivered to the Chairman in writing. The Chairman in conjunction with all other Officers shall then decide on the date of an Extraordinary General Meeting to discuss such proposals, giving at least four (4) weeks clear notice. 

10.2 Any changes to this Constitution must be agreed by at least two thirds of those Members with voting rights present with voting at the AGM or any Extraordinary General Meeting. Joint Memberships, having paid only one (1) Membership fee, will have only one (1) vote. 

10.3 A copy of the Constitution will be published on the website and shall be available to all Members on reasonable request. 

11. Dissolution

11.1 The Society may be wound up at any time if agreed by at least two thirds of those Members with voting rights present at any AGM or Extraordinary General Meeting. Any remaining monetary assets shall first be used to pay off all debts and outstanding obligations with any remaining net balance transferred to an appropriate charity as agreed by the Committee. 

11.2 All items of donated artefacts listed on the Society register shall in the case of the Society being dissolved be donated to a body whose aims are to further legacy and history of the Titanic as agreed by the Committee. 

12. Adoption of the Constitution

This Constitution was adopted following the meeting held on 28/01/2021 and subsequent email confirmation. 

Signed: 

• David Scott-Beddard (Chairman) 
• Clive Sweetingham (Vice-Chairman and ADB Editor) 
• Jess Sweetingham (Membership Engagement Officer) 
• Nigel Mumford (Treasurer and Secretary) 
• Bob Angel (Sales and Exhibition Logistics Officer) 
• Nigel Voisey (Merchandising Officer)