The Society of Heraldic Arts

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THE CONSITUTION OF THE SOCIETY OF HERALDIC ARTS

  1. The name of the Society is “The Society of Heraldic Arts.”
  2. The Objectives of the Society are to:
    • Encourage excellence in the heraldic arts.
    • Encourage understanding and appreciation of the heraldic arts.
    • Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information relating to the heraldic arts.
    • Represent the work and interest of the Members of the Society and act as an interface between Members of the Society and the Members of the public.
  3. Membership of the Society shall be available in the following grades:
    • Craft Member
      • Associate Craft Member
    • Associate Member
    • Fellow
  4. Craft Membership
    • Applications for Craft Membership may be made to the Hon Secretary by artisans and craftspeople whose work must comprise a substantial amount of heraldry, some or all of which at least must be original work by the applicant and not copied from existing sources. The quality of the work must satisfy the Members of the Council. Craft Members may describe themselves as “Member of the Society of Heraldic Arts” and use the suffix “SHA.”
      • Associate Craft Membership
        • An uncommon and unique level of membership for those artisans and craftspeople aspiring to Craft Membership whose work might benefit from the fine-tuning available from the guidance of an established Craft Member. Associate Craft Members may NOT describe themselves as “Member of the Society of Heraldic Arts” nor use the suffix “SHA” or any other suffix relating to the Society.
  5. Associate Member
    • Those individuals who wish to support the Society through annual financial contributions may do so at any amount, though at a minimum of £10 per annum. They will be listed on the Society’s website, though may not describe themselves as “Member of the Socie of Heraldic Arts.”
  6. Fellowship
    • Fellowship may, from time to time, be granted by the Council in recognition of outstanding service to the Society, or to heraldic artistry. The grant of Fellowship is in the sole gift of the Society’s Council and grants the right to recipients to describe themselves as “Fellow of the Society of Heraldic Arts” and to use the suffix “FSHA.”
  7. Applications for Membership
    • On receipt of an application for Craft Membership by the Hon Secretary, the Council shall decide whether the application — which shall include examples of the applicant’s heraldic work — meets the required standard of excellence. The recommendation of the Council shall be subject to the endorsement of the Chairman and his decision communicated to the applicant by the Hon Secretary. Reasons for the rejection of an application need NOT be given to the applicant.
    • An application for Associate Craft Membership shall be considered by the Hon Secretary within 30 days of receipt, who shall decide whether it shall be accepted, such decision to be notified to the Chairman for information, and the applicant notified by the Hon Secretary. Reasons for the rejection of an application need NOT be given to the applicant.
    • All applications for Membership (Craft Member and Associate Craft Member) shall be made on the prescribed form and accompanied by:
    • A Registration Fee, which includes said Member’s 1st-year Annual Fee
    • £35 for Craft Members (to include a page on the Society website)
    • £20 for Associate Craft Members
    • In the event of an unsuccessful application, the Annual Fee shall be returned
  8. The Council of the Society
    • The Council shall be elected at the AGM each year, and shall comprise five Craft Members, each Member to serve for a period of three years. The Council shall meet not less than once in each Society year. A quorum for meetings of the Council may not be less than three, rising to four in the absence of the Chairman. The Council shall elect annually one of its Members to serve as Chairman for a period of one year.
  9. Selection of Council Members
    • Nominations of Craft Members to the Committee may be submitted to the Hon Secretary by the AGM each year. Serving Committee Members are eligible for re-election. Nominations shall be made jointly by two Craft Members and endorsed by the Nominee indicating willingness to accept office if elected. When the number of nominees is in excess of the number of Council vacancies available, a ballot shall be held at the Annual General Meeting of all Craft Members present. The nominee(s) receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to the Council. Where the number of nominees shall be equal to, or less than, the number of available vacancies, the nominated candidates shall be deemed to have been elected. Vacancies falling within the Society year may be filled by co-option, all Members of the Council concurring.
  10. Administration of the Society shall be the responsibility of the Hon Secretary, who shall be appointed by the Council, on which he shall serve as an ex-officio He shall maintain minutes of all meetings of the Council and of the Society. He shall be responsible for all Membership matters and correspondence. He shall keep a record of all enquiries made to the Society, including details of Members to whom enquiries have been made, and the outcome of the enquiry. The Hon Secretary shall be reimbursed by the Hon Treasurer for all outgoing expenditures incurred by him in the performance of his responsibilities.
  11. The control of the financial affairs of the Society shall be the responsibility of the Hon Treasurer who shall be appointed by the Council. He shall maintain financial records of the Society’s Income and Expenditure and shall prepare the financial accounts as of 31st March each year, and submit these accounts, together with a financial report at the Annual General Meeting.
  12. The Income and Expenditure shall be applied solely to the objectives of the Society. In the event of the winding up of the Society, each individual Member’s financial liability shall be One Pound Sterling.
  13. The financial year of the Society shall be from 1st April to 31st March, subscriptions becoming due on the 1st of April from each Member of the Society. A Craft Member whose subscription is not received by the 1st of July of the financial year shall cease to be a Member of the Society and their information on the Society’s website may be removed at the discretion of the Council. At the discretion of the Chairman, such former Members may be re-instated on payment of the appropriate subscription together with a re-registration fee of £10.
  14. The Society shall maintain a current account and a deposit account at a reputable bank. The authorised signatories of the account shall be any one of the following:
    • Treasurer
    • Chairman of the Society
    • Secretary
  15. The Council, at their discretion, may from time to time amend the rate of the registration fee, and of the annual Membership subscription.
  16. Annual General Meeting
    • An Annual General Meeting shall be convened by the Chairman each year within 80 days of the last day of the Society’s year. Notice of the Meeting and Agenda to be forwarded by the Secretary to each Craft and Associate Craft Member within 28 days of the date of the AGM. Craft Members present at the AGM shall be entitled to speak and to vote. Associate Craft Members present shall be entitled to speak.
    • The AGM shall:
      • Receive apologies for absence
      • Approve the Minutes of the Previous AGM
      • Consider matters arising from the Minutes
      • Receive and approve the financial accounts for the year ended 31st March preceding the date of the AGM
      • Receive and approve the Hon Secretary’s report
      • Receive and approve the Chairman’s report
      • Elect Members to the Council
      • Any other business.
  17. Items considered at the AGM shall be approved by a majority of voting Members.
  18. The Constitution of the Society can only be replaced in its entirety by a balloted vote of approval of two-thirds of the Society’s Craft Membership.

 

Rev. 09 October 2025

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