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ALNWICK WILDLIFE GROUP.

How did the group start?

In March 2000 a group of 35 local people attended a meeting to discuss the foundation of an active Wildlife Group in the Alnwick area of Northumberland. There was strong support for the iniative and it was decided to form the Alnwick Wildlife Group (AWG).

Who is in AWG?

Many of the original 35 people still actively support AWG, but they have been joined by many more. Each year since 2000 we have had a membership of between 150 and 175. Most members are local residents but we do have members from far afield  - as far even as Nova Scotia and New Zealand, as well as Newcastle! Influential larger groups such as the Natural History Society of Northumbria "Natural History Society of Northumbria" pay a membership fee each year and our newsletters contribute to their archive of journals. We also have close links with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) Northumberland Wildlife Trust”.

How are we organized?

Roger Manning was the founder leader and sponsor, but since his retirement in May of 2010 arrangements are being made to run the group by a committee. The first AGM is to be held at our September meeting when a constitution will be adopted and a committee elected. Wherever, in this website the word WE is used it must be understood that it is a collective WE. covering all the members.

What do we do?

We hold nine monthly indoor meetings from September to May. Each meeting has a speaker, usually supported by a slide show, although we have had several guests who have brought video presentations. The meetings are well attended, with our record so far being 100 at a talk about Red Squirrels.

We produce what we think is an excellent monthly newsletter.

We encourage all members and non members to send in wildlife sightings and records which we share with all members via the newsletter.

We have occasional field trips to give the opportunity to interested members and guests to visit familiar or new areas of our district, usually with the guidance of someone who has a good knowledge of the site visited.

We encourage a friendly, social environment for all who attend meetings and field trips. Indoor meetings always end with free refreshments and many people stay to discuss the talk and to chat.

What is in the Newsletter?

The main part of each newsletter is the summary of the previous two months sightings sent in by members. You don't have to be any sort of expert to contribute interesting and useful information. We encourage people to report all sightings of interest - not just the rarities - and to include information on the whole range of living things, not just birds and plants. We hope that over a period of years the records of AWG members will provide valuable data on wildlife trends in our area that can be used by conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts. At the moment the newsletter is undergoing a facelift and it is planned to include in each issue:

A page of news with details of forthcoming meetings and field trips. Also brief reports on previous meetings and trips.

Details of sightings, during the last two months, of birds, plants, mammals etc. etc.

Suggestions of what to look out for in the months ahead.

A list of contributors and any other details of interest.

We are keen whenever possible to encourage members to submit occasional or regular short articles for the newsletter in addition to their sightings reports.

AWG Projects

Not everyone wants to get involved in wildlife projects. But some members do enjoy such activities and there are several projects which are in progress and to which new volunteers would be welcome. We are at present conducting several bird surveys and have previously carried out botanical surveys. For more details see the "Projects" page of this website We are always willing to consider suggestions for interesting work of this kind.

Alnwick Wildlife Group is sponsored by Mannings of Alnwick .

 

 

ALNWICK WILDLIFE GROUP

Constitution

 

1   Name

The name of the organisation shall be Alnwick Wildlife Group.

2  Purposes

The purposes of the Group are to:

  • promote and encourage interest in the natural world
  • increase understanding and knowledge of the natural environment
  • encourage observation and action to preserve the local flora and fauna

3  Committee

  The Group shall be managed by a committee who are appointed at the

Annual General Meeting.

4  Powers

In order to carry out the purposes, the committee have the power to:

  • raise funds, receive grants and donations
  • use funds to carry out the work of the Group
  • co-operate with other groups who have similar purposes
  • do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the purposes of the Group

5 Membership

Membership shall be open to any persons or organisations who support the purposes of the Group on payment of an annual fee, such fee to be set annually by the Annual General Meeting.  The committee shall keep a register of members and shall reserve the right to refusemembership to any person or organisation who does not support the Group’s purposes.

6 The Annual General Meeting

An Annual General Meeting must be held every year for which:

  • an agenda must be circulated to all members at least 14 days before the meeting
  • minutes must be taken and kept
  • at least 15 members must be present for decisions to be valid
  • every member or member organisation has one vote
  • any member may stand for election to the committee
  • the committee must present an annual report and accounts
  • the committee must arrange for an annual audit of the account

At the Annual General Meeting members shall elect a Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer (the officers) together with not less than 4 other persons to form the committee.  Officers will serve for the next year and will retire at the next AGM but may stand for re-election.  Other committee members may serve for three years after which they must resign, but may stand for re-election.

7  Committee Meetings

  • The committee must hold at least 2 meetings each year.
  • The committee may act by majority decision.
  • At least 2 officers and 3 other committee members must be present at meetings to be able to take decisions.
  • Minutes must be kept of every meeting.
  • Any committee member who has a conflict of interest on any agenda item must declare it and leave the meeting until the matter has been decided.
  • The committee may make reasonable additional rules to help the Group. These rules must not conflict with this constitution or with the law

8  Money

  • Money raised from fees, grants and/or activities must only be used in the furtherance of the Group’s purposes.
  • The committee must keep accounts.  The most recent annual accounts can be seen by anybody on request.
  • An annual audit must be carried out prior to each Annual General Meeting
  • Funds must be held in a bank account held in the Group’s name.  All cheques must be signed by any 2 of 3 authorised committee signatories.
  • Funds cannot be paid to any committee member except to refund legitimate approved expense

9  Special General Meetings

A Special General Meeting may be called by the committee if urgent decisions need to be made or if such a meeting is requested by a written request from at least 10 members.  All members must be given 14 days notice and told the reason for the meeting.  Decisions require a two thirds majority.  Minutes must be kept.

10  Amendments and Dissolution

Any decision to amend the constitution or to dissolve the Group can only be taken at an AGM or a Special General Meeting for which at least 14 days notice has been given to all members together with proposals which are to be put forward.  If a decision is made to dissolve the group, any assets remaining after all debts have been paid shall be used for purposes similar to the Group’s purposes.