Constitution

1 The name of the group will be Midlands Textile Forum.

2 Aims

2.1 To promote textiles across the East and West Midlands.

2.2 To encourage textile activity through textile events; conferences, exhibitions, workshops, symposia, publications and debates.

2.3 To focus on creating networks, opportunities and collaboration between interested parties, makers, designers, artists, arts organisations, and other relevant agencies.

2.4 To foster a stronger regional identity in relation to the East and West Mmidlands.

2.5 To liase with other textile forums and groups both nationally and internationally as appropriate

2.6 To be committed to a wide range of diversity issues including equal opportunities

3 Membership

3.1 Membership to the forum will be open to anyone with a professional or personal interest in textiles.

3.2 All members are expected to demonstrate a commitment to a wide range of diversity issues including equal opportunities

3.3 The membership secretary shall notify the committee of new members

4 Management Committee

4.1 The committee will consist of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

4.2 The elected individuals may hold office for a maximum of 3 consecutive years at the expiration of which they shall not be eligible for re-election for at least one full year unless no suitable candidate has come forward.

4.3 The committee can identify other officers to serve as coordinators with specialist roles within the organisation.
5 Annual General Meeting

5.1 The chair shall preside over the AGM that shall be held annually in October.

5.2 Quorum will be 3 committee members and 6 members

5.3 The business of the meeting will consist of reports from all committee members on their activities.

5.4 In the event of a committee member being absent from the AGM, a written report detailing their Forum activities should be forwarded to the Chair

5.5 Each member of the forum shall have a vote.

6 Committee

6.1 The general committee shall develop plans and carry out actions in order to pursue the aims of the association.

6.2 General committee meetings should be held a minimum of 4 times a year.

7 Finance

7.1 The general committee advised by the treasurer shall propose the annual subscription which shall be payable by members, which shall then be proposed at the AGM

7.2 Annual subscriptions shall run from 1^st November.

7.3 Accounts will run from 1^st October to 30th September.

7.4The treasurer will appoint bankers and auditors on the decision made by the committee.

7.5 All monies shall be administered by the Treasurer who will pay incoming monies into a Bank Account in the name of Midlands Textile Forum and shall arrange, in consultation with the management committee, for the proper investment of any balance.

8 Events

8.1 Plans and budgets for proposed events can be presented to the management committee by any member in order for them to be assessed for their financial viability and compatibility with the Forum aims.

8.2 All events should aim to be funded by external funds and the committee may be able to identify opportunities for financial support.

8.3 Selection of work

8.3.1 Work submitted by members for exhibition shall be subject to selection by a review committee convened separately for each event. This committee will request volunteers from the membership.

8.3.2 The committee may invite external curators to work on particular projects.

8.3.3 On occasion external organisations may request to have their own selection process.

9 Amending the Constitution

9.1 Any proposal to alter the constitution requires approval at an AGM or an extraordinary meeting can be called

9.2 Such proposals should be submitted to the chair in writing at least one month prior to the meeting or as advance notice to call an extraordinary meeting.

10 Dissolution of the Forum

10.1 The forum may be dissolved only at the AGM or at an extra-ordinary meeting convened for the purpose of dissolution and must be carried by a quorum of 3 committee members and 6 members.

10.2 Before a vote for or against dissolution is taken the meeting will determine how to dispose of any assets; one option might be to split the funds equally throughout the membership or make a charitable donation to other groups with textile interests throughout the region.