Ruskin Fellowship
Encyclopedia
The Ruskin Fellowship is an alumni association
for former students and staff of Ruskin College, Oxford
, England. The fellowship was established at Whitsuntide 1912. The Ruskin College Annual Report for 1911/1912 says: "The bond between present and ex-students has been strengthened by the formation of the Ruskin College Fellowship,which had its first meeting at the College at Whitsuntide. It was resolved that the Meet should be an annual one, that the Fellowship should organise the collection of funds for the old students' scholarship in memory of Charles Sidney Buxton and that propaganda work should be carried on."
The Fellowship is independent of, but associated with, Ruskin College, and seeks to support the work and ethos of the College: namely to offer basic skills to university level education to disadvantaged adults in Britain. There is also a postgraduate programme and an international section involving International Labour and Trade Union Studies, Webb and Chevening Scholars
. Throughout the year the Fellowship co-operates with the College Newsletter, fundraising and advertising the benefits and opportunities at Ruskin.
Fellowship members are governed by an Executive at the head of which is the President. The Fellowship holds an annual Reunion in September where an Annual General Meeting
(AGM) is held and the officers elected: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Co-Editor of the (Ruskin) Newsletter and Representatives to the College's Governing Council. However, over recent years other areas of Britain have been included to hold small reunions, due to members having difficulty in attending the main site.
The present Ruskin Fellowship President is Debbie Hollingsworth.
1. Membership
i. Membership is open to:
a. All past students of Ruskin College;
b. Members and past members of Ruskin College;
c. Such honorary members as may be elected at the annual general meeting
ii.
a. With the exception of those described in sub-clause b. below, membership of the Fellowship shall be subject to the payment of either an annual subscription or a life membership fee. The level of annual subscription and life membership fees shall be prescribed by the annual general meeting.
b. Ex-Ruskin students who have attended the college for a period of not less than one academic year and who, upon leaving the college, are either unemployed or engaged in further full-time study, may be non-paying members of the Fellowship for a period not exceeding three years if they so wish.
2. Aims
a. The furtherance of the work of Ruskin College by making it more widely known and by helping the college and its students by providing or obtaining financial support.
b. The bringing together of members for social and educational purposes.
c. The advancement of the college and adult education in order that more men and women shall have the opportunity to develop their talents to the full.
d. The encouragement and provision of financial and other means of support for the work of bodies associated with these aims.
3. Methods
a. Publicity by all means especially amongst working class organisations, educational bodies and local authorities.
b. Drawing the attention of eligible students to scholarships tenable at the college.
c. Promoting and encouraging the circulation of a college magazine and other publications associated with the college.
d. Arranging social and educational functions for members and friends.
e. Organising regional groups of members for the purpose of furthering the aims of the Fellowship.
f. Such other measures as may be appropriate to the aims.
4. Administration
a. There shall be an annual general meeting open to all members where policy is decided.
b. The following officers shall be elected at each annual general meeting:
i. A president who shall hold office for not more than two years
ii. A secretary
iii. A treasurer
iv. A deputy president who shall act in the absence of the president, who may hold office as the deputy president for no more than 3 years
v. A membership secretary
vi. Editor of the newsletter
vii. And other officers as are deemed necessary
c. Administration of the Fellowship's activities shall be the responsibility of an executive committee.comprising the following:
i. The officers referred to in item 4. b. above;
ii. Not more than eleven members elected at the annual general meeting;
iii. Such former presidents and or other persons elected to the office of vice-president for life under the provisions of paragraph 5. a. below;
iv. The principal and vice-principal, for the time being of the college;.............................................................................................................. one representative of the current members of the college staff, nominated by the college staff meeting;
v. Two representatives of the current student membership of the college, nominated by the student body.
d. The president and deputy president will normally represent the Fellowship at the Ruskin council. Should the president or deputy ..........president, at the AGM or a following Fellowship executive meeting.declare themselves unable to attend, the Fellowship executive..........will elect substitutes form the.executive who will represent the Fellowship at the council until the following AGM.
..... ...A third member of the Fellowship executive shall be elected to represent the Fellowship at the.Ruskin council.
5.Vice-presidents
a. Subject to the approval of the annual general meeting at the expiry of his/her term of office, a retiring president or other officer may be elected to the office of vice-president for life.
b. The annual general meeting shall be empowered, at its discretion, to elect to the office of honorary vice-president, such former members of the staff of the college or other persons with appropriate experience
6. Finance
a. The treasurer shall present to the annual general meeting a financial statement for the preceding year. The financial year shall date from 1st January to 31st December. The financial statement shall be subject to audit by a person appointed as auditor at the annual general meeting.
b. The Fellowship shall not be responsible for expenditure by regional groups but special grants may be made by the executive committee to regional groups, at its discretion.
7. Amendment of the constitution
......... Any amendment of the constitution shall be subject to approval at the annual general meeting and.shall be subject to a two thirds ......... majority.>
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Alumni association
An alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students. In the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools , fraternities, and sororities often form groups with alumni from the same organisation...
for former students and staff of Ruskin College, Oxford
Ruskin College, Oxford
Ruskin College is an independent educational institution in Oxford, England. It is named after the essayist and social critic John Ruskin and specialises in providing educational opportunities for adults with few or no qualifications...
, England. The fellowship was established at Whitsuntide 1912. The Ruskin College Annual Report for 1911/1912 says: "The bond between present and ex-students has been strengthened by the formation of the Ruskin College Fellowship,which had its first meeting at the College at Whitsuntide. It was resolved that the Meet should be an annual one, that the Fellowship should organise the collection of funds for the old students' scholarship in memory of Charles Sidney Buxton and that propaganda work should be carried on."
The Fellowship is independent of, but associated with, Ruskin College, and seeks to support the work and ethos of the College: namely to offer basic skills to university level education to disadvantaged adults in Britain. There is also a postgraduate programme and an international section involving International Labour and Trade Union Studies, Webb and Chevening Scholars
Chevening Scholarship
Chevening Scholarship is a prestigious and highly competitive scholarship scheme for international students who demonstrated leadership potential and a commitment to public service. The Chevening Scholarships are named after Chevening House in Kent, the official country residence of the Foreign...
. Throughout the year the Fellowship co-operates with the College Newsletter, fundraising and advertising the benefits and opportunities at Ruskin.
Fellowship members are governed by an Executive at the head of which is the President. The Fellowship holds an annual Reunion in September where an Annual General Meeting
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
(AGM) is held and the officers elected: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Co-Editor of the (Ruskin) Newsletter and Representatives to the College's Governing Council. However, over recent years other areas of Britain have been included to hold small reunions, due to members having difficulty in attending the main site.
The present Ruskin Fellowship President is Debbie Hollingsworth.
Other Areas Where Small Reunions Are Held
The Ruskin Fellowship Constitution
1. Membership
i. Membership is open to:
a. All past students of Ruskin College;
b. Members and past members of Ruskin College;
c. Such honorary members as may be elected at the annual general meeting
ii.
a. With the exception of those described in sub-clause b. below, membership of the Fellowship shall be subject to the payment of either an annual subscription or a life membership fee. The level of annual subscription and life membership fees shall be prescribed by the annual general meeting.
b. Ex-Ruskin students who have attended the college for a period of not less than one academic year and who, upon leaving the college, are either unemployed or engaged in further full-time study, may be non-paying members of the Fellowship for a period not exceeding three years if they so wish.
2. Aims
a. The furtherance of the work of Ruskin College by making it more widely known and by helping the college and its students by providing or obtaining financial support.
b. The bringing together of members for social and educational purposes.
c. The advancement of the college and adult education in order that more men and women shall have the opportunity to develop their talents to the full.
d. The encouragement and provision of financial and other means of support for the work of bodies associated with these aims.
3. Methods
a. Publicity by all means especially amongst working class organisations, educational bodies and local authorities.
b. Drawing the attention of eligible students to scholarships tenable at the college.
c. Promoting and encouraging the circulation of a college magazine and other publications associated with the college.
d. Arranging social and educational functions for members and friends.
e. Organising regional groups of members for the purpose of furthering the aims of the Fellowship.
f. Such other measures as may be appropriate to the aims.
4. Administration
a. There shall be an annual general meeting open to all members where policy is decided.
b. The following officers shall be elected at each annual general meeting:
i. A president who shall hold office for not more than two years
ii. A secretary
iii. A treasurer
iv. A deputy president who shall act in the absence of the president, who may hold office as the deputy president for no more than 3 years
v. A membership secretary
vi. Editor of the newsletter
vii. And other officers as are deemed necessary
c. Administration of the Fellowship's activities shall be the responsibility of an executive committee.comprising the following:
i. The officers referred to in item 4. b. above;
ii. Not more than eleven members elected at the annual general meeting;
iii. Such former presidents and or other persons elected to the office of vice-president for life under the provisions of paragraph 5. a. below;
iv. The principal and vice-principal, for the time being of the college;.............................................................................................................. one representative of the current members of the college staff, nominated by the college staff meeting;
v. Two representatives of the current student membership of the college, nominated by the student body.
d. The president and deputy president will normally represent the Fellowship at the Ruskin council. Should the president or deputy ..........president, at the AGM or a following Fellowship executive meeting.declare themselves unable to attend, the Fellowship executive..........will elect substitutes form the.executive who will represent the Fellowship at the council until the following AGM.
..... ...A third member of the Fellowship executive shall be elected to represent the Fellowship at the.Ruskin council.
5.Vice-presidents
a. Subject to the approval of the annual general meeting at the expiry of his/her term of office, a retiring president or other officer may be elected to the office of vice-president for life.
b. The annual general meeting shall be empowered, at its discretion, to elect to the office of honorary vice-president, such former members of the staff of the college or other persons with appropriate experience
6. Finance
a. The treasurer shall present to the annual general meeting a financial statement for the preceding year. The financial year shall date from 1st January to 31st December. The financial statement shall be subject to audit by a person appointed as auditor at the annual general meeting.
b. The Fellowship shall not be responsible for expenditure by regional groups but special grants may be made by the executive committee to regional groups, at its discretion.
7. Amendment of the constitution
......... Any amendment of the constitution shall be subject to approval at the annual general meeting and.shall be subject to a two thirds ......... majority.>
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