THE ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS MUSEUMS AND HERITAGE NETWORK TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. Name. The name of the body will be The Royal Armoured Corps Museums and Heritage Network referred to hereinafter as “the Network”. The Network refers to those Museums whether MOD funded, independent, a mix of these or cared for by a local authority.  It includes those museums and collections containing military related objects, artefacts or archives that are or have been directly associated with The Royal Armoured Corps.

2. Objectives. The Objectives of the Network shall be:

    1. To provide regular meetings at which members can discuss matters relating to the management of military museums and collections, encouraging collaborative working to ensure that relevant Objects, Artefacts and Archives are recorded, displayed and conserved for future generations.
    2. To promote the exchange of ideas between members encouraging a spirit of cooperation ensuring that the objects, artefacts and archives of each collection are accessible for the benefit and education of the public and military communities, including special interest groups and organisations.
    3. To develop and exploit complementary policies, practices and collaborative working opportunities that best support the objects, artefacts and archives within the Network collections.
    4. To encourage joint publicity and mutual promotion of facilities and exhibitions.
    5. To collaborate on projects which improve intellectual or physical access to museum collections.
    6. To investigate joint funding opportunities to support any of the above activities.
    7. To maximise the knowledge and capability of the Network for the benefit of Military Heritage.
    8. To discuss future heritage strategy and how this might be presented across the Network.

3. Membership. Membership shall be open to all Royal Armoured Corps Museums and Collections that are Accredited or working towards accreditation with Arts Council England [1]. 

4. Invited Attendees. The Network may invite any relevant organisations to appoint representatives to attend meetings on a regular or irregular basis. In addition, invitations may be extended to individuals with specialist knowledge to be present at specified meetings.

5. Officers. The officers of the Network shall be:

    1. Chairman. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Group.  Any member of the Network shall be entitled to hold the post of Chairman.  In the absence of the Chairman from any meeting, the members present shall appoint one of their number to chair the meeting.  It is anticipated that this post will be filled as a two year appointment.
    2. Secretary. The Secretary will act as the main point of contact for the Network and will deal with all correspondence and general administration including the taking of Minutes and the preparation of agendas.  In the absence of the Secretary from any meeting, the members present shall appoint one of their number to take Minutes and pass these on to the Secretary for circulation.  It is anticipated that this post will be filled as a three year appointment [2].

Officers shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible for re-appointment for a minimum of two terms.   In the event of a vacancy arising between Annual General Meetings an interim appointment may be made at any meeting of the Network.

6. Meetings. The Network shall meet a minimum of twice a year. The first meeting of every calendar year shall be designated the Annual General Meeting.  In addition, the officers may call a special meeting to deal with urgent matters. Four representatives shall form a quorum at any meeting.

7. Sub-Committees. The Network may appoint sub-committees to work out the details of any project. Such committees shall be responsible to the Network.

[1] This includes all RAC Yeomanry Collections / Museums. | [2] Or sit with SO1 Heritage HQ RAC once this post is established (at time of drafting these ToRs a case has been staffed to HC).