Club Constitution


​Club Name & Purpose
The club shall be called “Thatcham Photographic Club”, referred to from here on as “TPC”, and shall be a community based club, based in Thatcham Berkshire for anyone with an interest in photography.

TPC is unincorporated (not a limited company, thrift club or charity) and operated as a non-profit organisation.

Our purpose is to help members improve their skills and confidence in taking photographs and to encourage enjoyment of their hobby with like-minded people. We also support local community groups and youth organisations to learn new skills, to improve the photographs they take and to look at the world around us in a different way.

Committee
The club will be run by a management committee comprising two officers and at least four other members.
Members of the committee must be paid up members of TPC. They are proposed and approved at the AGM by a majority vote of attendees. The committee can elect new committee members in between AGMs where it makes operational sense to do so.

The current club officers are:
  • Chairperson: Ray Buckland
  • Treasurer: Patrina Smith

Membership
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in photography. All ages and skill levels are welcomed. People under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.

TPC holds meetings twice a month. Between meetings, many field trips and events are organised for members.

Membership is based on a one year period from the beginning of January to the end of December. New members joining will be charged on a pro-rata basis calculated to the end of December. There are currently three membership types:
  • Single: defined as one adult (18+)
  • Joint: defined as two adults (18+) living at the same address
  • Junior/SEND: defined as one person under the age of 18. SEND refers to a person (any age) diagnosed with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Code of Behaviour
To ensure the club offers a safe place of mutual respect and friendly cooperation, and to help preserve the reputation of the Club within the community, all members are expected to observe the TPC code of behaviour which is published in the members only section of our website.

AGM 
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) for all members is held at the end of January each year. The content of the AGM gives members the opportunity to :
  • hear the financial report from the Treasurer
  • hear a summary report from the Chairman
  • join the committee
  • confirm the members of the committee for the year ahead


Finances
All withdrawals and amendments must be signed by the Treasurer and the Chairperson.

TPC is entirely self funded by membership fees and donations. Funds may be used to pay for operating expenses of TPC including: venue hire, guest speaker fees, shared equipment, exhibition costs, photo printing costs.

TPC holds two fund raising events each year where all proceeds are donated to local charities.

Members are consulted before any major financial decisions are taken. All financial transactions are audited annually by an independent authorised auditor and presented to members at the AGM.


Dissolution
If it is agreed to dissolve TPC, the members at the time will be consulted regarding how the funds would be distributed and a consensus agreed. Given the community nature of TPC, the committee would be recommending all remaining money and other assets, once outstanding debts have been paid, to be donated to the local charities supported by TPC.