News  |  Posted September 27, 2021

Request for Fellows to stand for Council

The Society is seeking at least three committed and passionate Fellows to put themselves forward to be Councillors. As a registered charity the Councillors form the Board of Trustees of the Society.

Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland are invited to put themselves forward by the submission of an application form (details below). The normal term of office is three years, but Fellows who choose to can thereafter seek re-election. These are voluntary, unremunerated positions, elected by the Fellowship.

It is in the Society’s interests to have a diverse range of Councillors, with wide interests in Scottish heritage and a willingness to contribute to aspects of the governance of a national society. Given the balance of interests of current Council members, it would be ideal (but is not essential) if candidates have experience of either of the following:

  • Human resources and/or equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Fundraising

Council acts as the Board of Trustees and governs the strategic direction of the Society, delivering (and when necessary reviewing) the Strategic Plan, and taking forward an exciting programme of activities, including the acquisition and development of accommodation to enhance the Society’s role as an independent hub for heritage, providing expertise, support and resources to facilitate, disseminate and promote research into Scotland’s past. The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland aims to maintain gender balance on its Council and is actively seeking to increase diversity amongst the Board of Trustees; it is thus particularly keen to encourage candidates amongst Fellows from minority communities regardless of ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.

Previous experience of serving on the management group of a learned society and/or as a charity trustee is not essential; Society staff will provide new Councillors/Trustees with full support. Reasonable travel and subsistence expenses related to the work of Council will be reimbursed.

Currently Council meets seven times a year on Monday afternoons online via zoom, with most meetings lasting 90 mins and two longer afternoon sessions scheduled to examine budget and audit results respectively. In future these longer meetings will revert to in-person meetings in Edinburgh, with remote participation possible online. Most Councillors also take part in the deliberations of at least one committee, again conducted in the main over the internet. Help with provision of remote communications equipment may be possible if required. Councillors do not have to be ordinarily resident in Scotland.

Councillors are required to be Society Fellows (members) as stipulated in Law 10 of the Society and, as Trustees, are crucial to the implementation of the Society’s charitable purposes, ensuring its strategic direction, effectiveness and accountability. General information on Trustee duties is available from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator here: https://www.oscr.org.uk/managing-a-charity/trustee-duties/ and a short summary document is available from the Society HERE.

Applications should be made on the form available HERE, or from the website in the Fellows’ area, or from the Director by email. To discuss this opportunity in confidence please contact the Society Director at director@socantscot.org or telephone +44(0)7799 691981.

The President’s Committee of the Society (consisting of the President and the two Vice Presidents) will examine all applications but only to ensure the Fellow is currently in good standing with the Society and is eligible to be a trustee in Scotland (see Section 9 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005). Candidates will then be placed before the Fellowship for election by ballot at the Anniversary Meeting.

Deadline for receipt of applications is midnight BST on 18 October 2021.