The Society exists for the following purposes:

1. To organise a public family friendly Bonfire Night for the parishes of Isfield and Little Horsted.

2. To support the aims and traditions of Bonfire in Sussex

3. To attend other societies' Bonfire nights wherever appropriate

4. To arrange various fund-raising events to facilitate the above aims

5. To make donations each year of surplus funds for the benefit of local charitable or other good causes

In addition, the society acts as a social group to offer members and their guests the opportunity to take part in non-bonfire related activities from time to time.

The society is composed of Full Members and Junior Members who must satisfy the conditions of membership stated below. From the membership a small Management Committee will be appointed, and members of this will stand for election each year at the Annual General Meeting.

Conditions of Membership

• Full and Junior Members must pay an annual membership fee. The renewal date for membership and the level of fee will be proposed by the Management Committee for confirmation by majority vote at the Annual General Meeting.

• New applicants should be able to demonstrate a connection with the Society either through a residential or a historical link to the parishes of Isfield and Little Horsted, a strong link to an existing member who would have nominated them, or at the committee’s discretion.

• All Members must complete an application form upon joining the Society.

• For the purposes of insurance, members who may be suffering from any medical condition which could require special treatment during Bonfire events are asked to disclose details on the main application form. This information will be kept confidential.

• On renewal of membership each year members will be asked to confirm any changes to the details already held.

• Members must follow the Code of Conduct of the Society

• The Management Committee reserve the right to refuse membership to any individual, or to set a maximum membership limit from time-to-time which may then result in a waiting list.

The Management Committee

• The Management Committee will comprise Full Members who have stood for and been elected at the Annual General Meeting to the following posts:

  • Chair

  • Secretary

  • Treasurer

  • Safety Officer

  • Commander in Chief

  • Fund-Raising and Social Coordinator

  • Isfest Event Director

  • Captain of Pyrotechnics

  • Representative of the membership

• Apart from the Chair, one of the other Committee members will be nominated as Vice- Chairperson to deputise for the Chair in the event of their absence from any meeting.

• The Management Committee, subject to a quorum of any FIVE members meeting together, can make any decisions affecting the day-to-day operation of the Society. These will only be subject to ratification in the following circumstances:

  • Any decision which materially changes any of the rules, code of conduct, or constitution of the Society

  • Decisions relating to donations to be given by the Society

    In these cases, decisions made will be put to a General Meeting for ratification as soon as is practically possible, but the Committee reserve the right to apply proposed rule changes with immediate effect where it is prudent to do so.

• The general membership will be given a vote on which out-meetings we would like to attend

• Members of the Management Committee unable to attend meetings may appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf.

• Decisions made by the Management Committee will be carried by a simple show of hands. The Chair will not vote, but will hold a casting vote in the event of a tie.

• A summary of the key points from Management Committee meetings will be distributed to all Full Members.

• The Management Committee is responsible for all the activities the society undertakes

General Meetings

• The Annual General Meeting will be held in January or February each year.

• Further General Meetings may be called at any time by the Management Committee where any issues require ratification by the general membership

• If any member not on the Management Committee believes that any additional General Meetings are necessary, they should at first approach the Management Committee. In the event that the Management Committee do not agree that a General Meeting is necessary then a written request from no less than FIVE general members must be made to trigger such a meeting.

• Motions in General Meetings must be proposed and seconded by paid-up members (with the exception of the Chair or their nominated deputy). Once any proposal has been seconded then a vote will be held. A simple majority is necessary to carry any motion, with the Chair (or in their absence the nominated deputy) holding the casting vote.

Roles of the Management Committee

Chair
To manage all meetings of the Society, and to ensure that other members of the Management Committee are given the necessary support by others to carry out their roles. This may be in a “non- executive” capacity in which case the Chair may also take on one of the other Management Committee roles. The Chair should also support the membership and mediate any issues.

Secretary
To ensure that all formalities relating to communication with official bodies and other Bonfire Societies are completed effectively. To maintain a list of Members. To ensure that all regulations and insurances are kept up-to-date. To ensure that effective communication is made to all members.
To assist in this significant area of responsibility the Secretary may at their discretion appoint other members of the society to help in these tasks.

Treasurer
To keep proper records of all items of income and expenditure, to manage the Bank Account, to report financial statements regularly to members, and to prepare an Annual Balance Sheet for presentation at the Annual General Meeting

Safety Officer
To ensure that all necessary steps are taken to protect the safety of both members and public attending any bonfire event, including any requirements imposed by the insurance policy.
To assist in this significant area of responsibility the Safety Officer may at their discretion appoint other members of the society to help in these tasks.

Commander in Chief
To ensure that all arrangements are in place for the safe and successful running of the annual ILHBS Bonfire Night. To assist in this significant area of responsibility the Commander in Chief may at their discretion appoint other members of the society to help in these tasks.

Fund-raising and Social Events Coordinator
To plan all events other than Bonfire Events which are run by the Society either for the purposes of fund-raising or for purely social reasons. This role will also require assistance from other volunteer members.

Isfest Event Director
To plan the annual music event ensuring that all logistics are in place for a safe and successful fund-raising event.

Captain of Pyrotechnics
To coordinate with the Commander in Chief the pyrotechnics used for our bonfire nights. To take responsibility for the design and execution of all the pyrotechnics used for the Societies bonfire night. To purchase pyrotechnic materials for the display, tableau, poppies, crackers etc within the budget agreed with the committee. To coordinate with the safety officer to ensure all safety standards are upheld and are compliant with risk assessment. To ensure the safe storage of all combustible materials and liaise with third parties where required. 

Representative of the membership
To be appointed at the AGM and to voice any issues from the general membership.

None of these roles are intended to be mutually exclusive, and all members of the society must expect to be called upon to assist in any area.