Our Society Constitution
Stuart Gain
Secretary Stuart Gain

Our Society Constitution

The Society provides a forum that stimulates a free exchange of ideas in all aspects of the television profession. It promotes discussion on techniques and the use and design of equipment.

We aim to help and encourage the training and assistance of students and others wishing to pursue a career in the Television Lighting Industry. We actively seek to maintain contact with places of lighting education and to involve students in STLD activities where possible. We can use our connections to all quarters of the industry to help newcomers find their paths to work in the television lighting industry as a service to them and to the business as a whole.

Our rules have been in place since the formation of the Society and provide both an agreement between the Society and its members as well as depicting the purpose of the Society.

All our members agree to these rules and they're updated regularly so the society stays at the forefront of our ever-changing industry

Inclusivity

The STLD embraces and encourages equality, diversity and inclusion, and is committed to promote these values amongst our membership and associated companies and organisations. 

We define diversity as people of different backgrounds, races, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, beliefs, religions, socio-economic statuses, and more, and inclusivity as an approach where we respect, welcome, encourage, and engage diverse perspectives. We value and promote a wide range of perspectives and experiences.

Meeting at Strictly Come Dancing

Our Constitution's Rules

1) Name The society is called the Society of Television Lighting and Design and is also commonly known as the STLD.
2) Aims a) To provide a forum neither political nor union-affiliated, to stimulate a free exchange of ideas in all aspects of our profession and to encourage discussion on the use and design of new equipment and techniques. b) To organise a professional and social events calendar throughout the country. c) To publish a periodical Journal reporting the meetings. d) To acquire affiliated membership to other Societies and Guilds so that our members may gain advantageous access to all art forms and activities both at home and abroad. e) To actively help and encourage the training and assistance of students and others wishing to pursue a career in the Television Lighting Industry.
3) Membership Any application for membership shall be ratified by the Committee. The membership shall consist of the following categories:
3.1) Honorary Membership This will be awarded at the discretion of the Committee
3.2) Full Membership Those who are, or have been, actively engaged in the Direction and Design of the creative craft of Television, or anyone whose occupation is associated with our profession.
3.3) Affiliate Membership Affiliate Members fall under the following subcategories:
a) Retired Any Member who is no longer working in the industry.
b) Overseas Open to those who come under the Full category of Membership, but who reside outside the United Kingdom
c) Student Membership Must be studying a full-time course in lighting or visual design. On graduation Students will automatically progress to Graduate Membership, which in turn progress to Full Membership (see section 4 Subscriptions).
3.4) Places of Education To enable the STLD’s communication to Places of Education the committee can give complimentary membership to lighting tutors and educators at places of education where they see appropriate. Tutors and Educators will receive the magazine and invitations to meetings where it is appropriate to invite students who are not members. Students who are members will be invited to all meetings.
3.5) Sponsor Nominee Membership The Society will be supported by Sponsor Companies at the discretion of the committee. Sponsoring companies will be allowed to nominate members of their staff as Society members subject to payment of a subscription agreed by the Committee.
Membership Voting Members and Affiliates (excluding Students and Overseas) only shall be entitled to vote at General Meetings.
4) Subscription Annual Membership per annum Members: £75.00 Affiliates: Retired £50 Overseas £25.00 Nominee Members: £35 Student membership is free, and on graduation they will progress to Graduate membership: Year 1 £15, Year 2 £35, Year 3 £55, and at year 4 they progress to Full Membership. These sums may be altered from time to time, as shall be agreed at the AGM (or EGM if the committee feel necessary), and take effect from the end of the following month after the AGM or EGM, the change becoming due on the Member’s next renewal date. Subscriptions becoming due on the annual anniversary of the member joining. If a member has not paid within four months of the subscription becoming due, they are deemed to have lapsed. Acceptance of an application to re-join shall be at the discretion of the Committee. Members becoming eligible to change the category of membership to one with a higher annual subscription during the first six months of the Society’s year shall pay an additional subscription pro rata. Members changing to a category with a lower subscription will not be entitled to a refund, but will pay the appropriate subscription when it falls due. Subscriptions must be paid by direct debit, by BACS, or by bank card.
5) Management The affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Committee of not exceeding fifteen members, the majority being Full Members, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, and hold office for one year, and shall include the following nominated officers: Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Deputy Chair and Administration Officer. The Committee may co-opt three members as they consider appropriate. The committee may co-opt any Member to fill a vacancy on the Committee that may occur during the year until the next Annual General Meeting. The Committee may also appoint subcommittees for specific purposes. A quorum of the Committee shall be five (5) Members, at least one of whom, must be an Officer of the STLD. Nominations for Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Deputy Chair, Administration Officer and the remaining members of the committee must be received in writing by the Secretary prior to the Annual General Meeting and must be proposed and seconded by two members. The proposer must ascertain that the nominee is willing to stand for election. All members of the Management Committee are deemed to have full voting rights. The Secretary shall keep records in writing of the proceedings at all General meetings and Committee meetings of the Society.
6) Accounts The committee shall cause to be kept true accounts of the receipts and expenditure of the Society. Cheques shall require the signature of any two of the following: Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer. To reflect the modernisation of the Banking system, the Treasurer may use Electronic Transfer of funds for payments, prior notification of which must be sent to the other two Nominated Officers. The accounts shall be closed on 31st August annually and shall be prepared for auditing by an Auditor who is not a member of the Society. The Auditor shall be appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting.
7) General Meetings An Annual General Meeting shall be held once every calendar year. Notice of this meeting and agenda shall be given not less than twenty-one days prior to the meeting. At this meeting the chairman’s report and accounts for the preceding financial year ending 31st August shall be presented, having been duly audited. By resolution of the committee, or upon notice in writing by not less than twenty paid up Members, the Secretary shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting at not less than twenty-one days’ notice stating fully the reasons for which the meeting is called. At any General Meeting a majority of votes shall decide a resolution and if the Committee deem if necessary a postal vote may be taken and these votes included with those cast at the Annual General Meeting. The Chairman will have the casting vote.
8) Alteration of Rules These rules may from time to time be altered, rescinded or new rules added, by a two thirds majority of those voting by email and at the AGM or EGM. Notice of any change of rules must be submitted in writing to the Society Secretary, at least sixty days prior to the meeting.
9) Dissolution If at any General Meeting a resolution for the dissolution of the Society shall be passed by a majority of the members present and such resolutions shall be confirmed by a majority at a Special General Meeting held not less than one calendar month thereafter, the Committee shall thereupon or at such future date as shall be specified in such resolution proceed to realise the property of the Society and after discharge of all liabilities shall divide equally the same among all paid up Members of the Society and upon completion of such division, the Society shall be dissolved.
10) General Every member binds themself by the Rules of the Society. In all cases of dispute or disagreement as to the interpretation of the Rules of the Society, the decision of the Committee is final and binding.

Society Constitution Revised:  March 5, 2024 AGM