Aldbourne Website Group

• Aldbourne Website Group

  Hello and welcome! We are the Aldbourne Website Group and we are responsible for the running of several websites serving the village of Aldbourne in Wiltshire, England. We hope this website provides all the information you require, do please contact us using the details below if we can assist any further.

• What we do

  We are passionate about the internet in general, and in particular the benefits that this modern, global means of communication can bring to a small and thriving village community. Aldbourne can trace its history back beyond a thousand years, and we’re confident that the websites we run can help bridge the past, present and future for many generations to come. We want to ensure these websites remain an indispensable part of village life, across all age groups within the community, and out and beyond to previous residents, friends, relatives and many more.

  We are all volunteers, nonetheless we all commit a large part of our spare time to updating content, gathering news stories, diary events and much other material besides. Some of our members are skilled technically, so they get pushed into the engine room, whilst others are out photographing village life, or back in front of the computer moderating our lively, informative and entertaining forum. We meet regularly (often in the pub) to discuss what we are doing right, and what we are doing wrong, and we are always on the lookout for new members…

• Past, Present & Future

  The original Aldbourne village website was one of England’s first small community websites, and was originally set up in 1999. A group of interested individuals, led by John May, set up the Aldbourne Website Group and began work on an online presence for the village, which eventually went live in January 2000. John’s vision was for a website maintained by a group, not an individual, consequently the site ethos became “For the community, by the community”. That ethos remains.

  The original site, known as the Aldbourne Community Website, served its purpose very well, winning awards along the way. Work has been underway for some time now on a replacement website; one that would continue to serve the village’s best interests. This new site, known as The Aldbourne Net, is now live and can be found at http://www.aldbourne.net. The domain name associated with the Aldbourne Community Website, http://www.aldbourne.org.uk, now redirects to the new site.

  Our objective has been to deliver a new village website that is both fit for its time, and pushing the envelope, as the original site did at its conception. Once fully launched, you will find many of the original favourite features, as well as a range of new ones that we hope will seem indispensable within a very short time. Above all, our aim has been to build the site using technology that ensures not only great flexibility and ease of use, but stability and scope for development as we pass it on to the younger members of the website team in future years.

• Who we are

  Rupert Bound (Chair)
  Dyson Wilkes (Vice-chair)
  Brian Hale (Treasurer)
  Sam Hutchings
  Ed Pope
  Ben Hodson
  Jenny Wales

• Our constitution

  Aims:

  The Aldbourne Website Group is a non-profit making organization, primarily responsible for the Aldbourne village websites, operated for and on behalf of the community, unencumbered by commercial interests. It will be managed by a committee accountable to the community for the websites’ content and development, financial and operational integrity and their support of the services listed below.
  
  

  Purpose:

  The websites are an information utility designed to provide the following services:

  • To advance the understanding and use of the internet for the benefit of both the individual and the community of Aldbourne.
  • To broadcast the history and provide information of general interest about the village.
  • To act as a communications vehicle on issues of interest and value to the community.
  • To provide a vehicle for individuals and special interest groups to broadcast their activities.
  • To enable local businesses/organizations to advertise/communicate their products and services.
    
    

  Terms of reference:

  The Committee will be responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of the websites consistent with their role as a utility for the use and benefit of the community. It will be responsible for the operations of the Aldbourne Website Group formulating policies and good practice for the operation of the sites and their relationship with other sites and the community at large. The committee will maintain editorial and operating independence from any/all external organizations. The committee’s accountability to the community will be achieved through encouraging community participation in its development and annually holding an open meeting to review the status and performance of the sites. The Financing of the Aldbourne Website Group will be sought through grants, sponsorship, sale of advertising and donations. If the Aldbourne Website Group were ever to be dissolved all excess funds would be donated to local charities/interest groups and other good causes.
  
  

  Rules and Constitution:

  The following are the rules and constitution of the committee responsible for the management and development of the Aldbourne Website Group.

  • The committee shall consist of a minimum of four members, to include a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer and co-opted members. The officers will be elected by the members of the committee.
  • No meeting of the committee shall be in quorum unless at least the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson or their nominated representatives are present, together with at least two additional members of the committee.
  • Should a member resign or be removed from office by a motion supported by a majority of the remainder of the committee, a replacement may be co-opted by invitation following the approval of a majority of the committee.
  • The Chairperson controls the working of the committee agreeing and managing agendas and bringing about resolution having a casting vote when appropriate.
  • The Secretary’s role is to record all formal communication between the committee and external agencies and take the minutes of committee meetings and circulate to all committee members.
  • The Treasurer’s principal role is to control and record the use of the finances available to the committee. All receipts and payments must be made through the Treasurer.
  • A bank account will be maintained. Any cheques or other instructions on behalf of the committee must be signed by any two from the four officers namely: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer.

  The financial year will run from November 1st to October 31st. An annual meeting will be held following each financial year-end when the accounts and any donations will be agreed upon and the Chairman’s report will be presented for approval. The committee members will stand for a maximum of 2 yrs after which they can offer themselves for re-election alongside new candidates, which will be voted upon at the annual meeting. An extraordinary meeting can be called by any one officer or other committee member supported by an officer. Notice of such a meeting shall be seven days.
  
  

  Equal Opportunities:

  The Aldbourne Website Group will not discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sexuality, disability, religious or political belief, marital status or age.

• Contact us

  Please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or complete the form.

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