The Officers:

The Teams

The Constitution

1.                  The name of the Association is Sheffield Talking News (hereinafter referred to as “the Association.”) 

2.                  The objective of the Association is to relieve the blind, the visually impaired, or those who have some temporary or permanent incapacity or disability which makes reading a strain, by the provision of audio recordings. In furtherance of this object, but  not further or otherwise, the Association through its Committee shall have the following powers:-

 
a.    To take and accept, any gifts of property, whether subject to any special trusts or not.

b.   To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscription, donation or otherwise; provided that the Committee shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for the said object.

c.    To seek authorization from the postal services to use the free postage facility available      under Post Office Regulations, and, if such authority is granted, to use this facility for the distribution of audio recordings to those people to whom the Regulations currently apply.

d.    To distribute the audio recordings by means other than the use of the free  facility mentioned  in 2c(above) to people other than those covered by the Post Regulations relating to this facility.

e.    To do all such  other things as shall further the object of the Association.

3.                 Membership of the Association shall be available:-

a.   Automatically to those blind, visually impaired or disabled people in receipt of the   Association’s audio recordings; and

b.   by invitation of the Committee, on an annual basis, to those actively involved in the running of the Association; and

c.    by invitation of the Committee, on an annual basis, to those who make a regular contribution by way of subscription, donation , or otherwise.

4.    a   The Committee of the Association shall consist of:- 

1. A maximum of 14 elected Members at least one of whom shall be a blind, visually impaired or disabled recipient of the Association’s audio recordings.  From these Members, four shall be Officers holding the following posts:-  Chair,  Vice-Chair,   Secretary,  Treasurer.

2. A maximum of three co-opted Members (with full voting rights),

3. The Trustees as ex-officio Members.  

           b    The four Main Officers  ( Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, & Treasurer) and other Committee Members shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association.  Retiring Members of the Committee shall be eligible for re – election.  

5.                    The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held in the month of August or  September each year and every member shall receive not less than fourteen days notice of such meeting.  Extraordinary meetings may be convened by the Secretary upon a  request by the Committee or three members of the Association upon a similar notice, which shall state the business to be considered at the meeting.  The quorum at an Annual General Meeting shall be twenty members of the Association.

6.                  At the Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary Meeting every member including the Chair shall have one vote and in case of equality of votes the Chair shall have a second or casting vote.

7.                  The Committee of the Association shall meet once each month and additionally as required. Each member of the Committee, including the Chair shall have one vote and in case of equality of votes the Chair shall have a second or casting vote.

8.                  All sums collected shall be handed over to the Treasurer or Secretary who shall pay the sum into the account in the name of the Association at the National Westminster Bank plc.  Withdrawal applications and/or cheques shall be signed by two Members of the Committee duly mandated for that purpose from time to time.

9.                  The Trustees shall invest in the name of the Association any moneys  not required for the immediate purpose of the Association in securities in which Trust may by law be invested in  Securities authorised by Law with power from time to time to transpose such investments.

10.              Any property purchased by the Association shall be vested in the Trustees.

11.              The Trustees shall with such consent as is by law required deal with the property so vested in them by way of sale, lease or otherwise howsoever as directed by the Association.  Such direction shall be given by a resolution of the Members of the Association passed by a majority of the Members present at a duly convened meeting of the Association and when so passed shall in favour of a subsequent purchaser, mortgagee, chargee, or grantee be binding upon all members of the Association.  A certificate purporting to be signed by the Secretary for the time being of the Association shall in favour of a purchaser, mortagagee, chargee, lessee or grantee be conclusive evidence  that such a direction was duly given.

12.              In the event of the dissolution of the Association, any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid or distributed among the  Members of the Association, but shall be given or transferred to a charitable organization or organizations having objects similar to the Association.

13.              The Constitution may be amended by a three fourths majority of the Members present at the Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting provided that fourteen day  notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to all Members, and  provided that no alteration is made, the effect of which would cause the at any time to cease to be a Charity in Law and no alteration to clause 2, 12 or clause is made without previously consulting the Charity Commissioners.