How the British Flute Society works
The BFS is a membership charity. We explain what that means, our mission, and how to get the most out of membership and being part of the BFS community.
The BFS has been around since the early 1980s, and is one of the oldest flute societies in the world. Set up as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, its remit is to act in the public interest, educating in the art and science of music, and in particular the flute.
“To advance the education of the public in the art and science of music and in particular the art and science of flute playing in all its aspects by such ways as the Charity through the charity’s trustees shall determine from time to time”
You’re in charge
The BFS is a membership charity which is governed by its members, who act in the best interests of the charity. Its means that as a member you support the BFS’s charitable aims, and you have the right to have a say in decisions by voting, for example by electing trustees (Council members) or voting on changes to the constitution. A membership charity can only flourish if it continues to have an active, diverse membership. When the BFS thrives, everyone benefits, including members: flute players of all standards, teachers, academics, traders and the public in general.
How can I be more active?
Active members help the BFS to grow. In all our activities we are very reliant on contributions from volunteers. This includes everything from general day-to-day admin, fundraising, and help at events to helping to support our charitable aims. You can help by encouraging new members, sharing our social media posts, organising a fundraising event, contributing content to Pan and/or helping us to grow the flute community and make it stronger. We welcome your ideas, and we encourage you to work with us to help the BFS thrive.
What is my subscription used for?
Your annual subscription is a donation to the charity, which currently supports the essential running costs of the organisation, including activities which help us to achieve our charitable aims, such as the production of our Journal, Pan. Other charitable activities currently have to be self-financing, so the more subscribers we have, and the more active the members are, the greater range of activities we can engage in as part of our portfolio.
What is the role of the Council?
Our Council is the BFS board of trustees, who meet three or four times a year to ensure the smooth running of the charity and to ensure that the BFS is acting in the public interest. They are all volunteers, elected by the membership. Like all charity trustees they may not be paid for their work, but their reasonable expenses may be reimbursed by the charity. Trustees may not use their role within the BFS for their personal gain but are allowed to take up the same opportunities offered to other members. As members of the charity themselves, they too are encouraged to be active; sharing ideas at meetings is helpful but achieves little without the investment of time needed to make things happen.
Membership benefits
Membership of the BFS is open to all. As a charity, it is important that the organisation is outward looking (i.e. acts in the public benefit) and that the members have regard to the wider community. Members can and do benefit from the charity’s activities, and everyone benefits if the BFS is successful in achieving its charitable objectives. If the flute community grows stronger then teachers, performers of all standards and the trade will benefit.
“It is the duty of each member of the CIO to exercise his or her powers as a member of the CIO in the way he or she decides in good faith would be most likely to further the purposes of the CIO”