CHA Membership
The CHA has the following categories of membership:
- Full receiving the full benefits of membership
- Associate receiving a separately defined set of benefits from membership
Full Membership may be achieved automatically or by Election.
1. Full CHA Membership (Automatic)
The CHA Association offers an automatic, free, life long membership to the following unless the individuals have been explicitly excluded (see below):
- 1.1 Old Blues
- All those who have been Blues (scholars of Christ’s Hospital - irrespective of method of entry, time spent at the school, leaving circumstances, what has happened to them since leaving CH, etc).
- 1.2 Former CH Club Members
- All former CH Club Members (whether Blue or Non-Old Blue).
- 1.3 Current and Past Academic Staff
- All current and past permanent full and part time academic staff (irrespective of time spent at the school, leaving circumstances, what has happened to them since leaving CH, etc). This includes teaching assistants, house parents and part time teaching staff.
- 1.4 Almoners and Governors
- All current and past Almoners, Governors and members of the School Governing Body (irrespective of time spent serving the school or Foundation, leaving circumstances, etc).
2. Full CHA Membership (Elected)
The CHA Association can offer full, free, life long membership to the following on an individual basis and by a specific decision of the CHA Board (unless the individuals have been explicitly Excluded - see below):
- 2.1 Current and Past Foundation, School Administration and Estates Staff
- All current and past permanent full and part time Foundation, school administration and estates staff (irrespective of time spent at the school, leaving circumstances, what has happened to them since leaving CH, etc).
3. Associate CHA Membership (Elected)
The CHA Association can offer full, free, life long Associate Membership to the following on an individual basis and by a specific decision of the CHA Board (unless the individuals have been explicitly Excluded - see below):
- 3.1 CHA Associate members
- Those who, in the opinion of the Board, have demonstrated commitment to the ethos of Christ’s Hospital which deserves recognition. It is the expectation of the board that Associate Members will number between 20 and 30 people.
4. Clarification of Membership
For the avoidance of doubt, there is no automatic qualification of CHA Membership of the following (but could qualify under one of the other categories above):
- Past or current parents
- Spouses of Old Blues
For clarification, an individual could be recorded on the database of the Development Office (receiving a range of benefits) but only specific individuals will be identified as CHA members receiving CHA member benefits.
5. Election
Individuals may be elected by the CHA Board to Associate membership by the following procedure:
- An application form being circulated by the Secretary to the CHA Board or a Board member to the CHA Board at least 10 days before one of the scheduled CHA Board meetings throughout the year. This form should contain details of the applicant (as being required from time to time).
- Each application should be nominated and seconded by two Full Members of the CHA who have been members for at least twelve months.
Decisions on applications will be determined in the same way as all other Board decisions.
Within two weeks of a Board meeting which considered applications for membership, the Secretary of the CHA Board or another person designated by the Board will write to the applicant to inform them of the outcome of their application and to confirm the benefits available to those successful candidates.
6. Exclusions and Appeals
- 6.1 Exclusions
- At its sole discretion, the CHA Board (properly constituted and following the voting procedures laid down) may remove a member from Full or Associate Membership of the CHA. Circumstances may include but are not limited to members who are subject to criminal proceedings and members who, in the opinion of the CHA Board, harm the name or reputation of Christ’s Hospital.
- Any application to exclude a Full or Associate Member of the CHA should be made in writing to the Board at least ten days before it meets to consider it. The application to Exclude needs to be proposed and seconded by two CHA Board Members. The member subject to the application to exclude shall be notified of the intention to consider the application at least five days prior to the meeting but shall not be allowed to be present at the Board meeting which considers it. Within two weeks of the Board meeting which considered the application to exclude, the Secretary of the CHA Board or other person designated by the Board will write to the subject informing them of the outcome.
- 6.2 Appeals
- In the event that:
- A person believes that they should qualify for CHA membership automatically or by election but this is not recognised by the CHA Board, or
- A person has been Excluded and believes that this was an incorrect decision,
7. The Privileges of CHA Membership
- 7.1 Full Membership
- CHA Members will enjoy the privileges of the Association without charge as determined from time to time by the CHA Board. These can be varied by the Board without notice from time to time. They may include:
- A copy of The Old Blue
- Invitations to selective Old Blue events
- Purchase and display of Old Blue memorabilia
- Access to Who Is Blue On Line.
- 7.1 Associate Membership
- CHA Associate Members will similarly enjoy the privileges of the Association without charge as determined from time to time by the CHA Board. These can be varied by the Board without notice from time to time. They may include:
- A copy of The Old Blue
- Invitations to selective Old Blue events
- Purchase and display of Old Blue memorabilia
- Access to Who Is Blue On Line.