We are pleased to report, that after a number of written exchanges with different institutions, we are now a formally incorperated non-profit organisation limited by guarantee under the statutes of English law. Special thanks go to RichardH and RegimentalPyro who worked long and hard in getting the registration approved.
One significant change has been forced by Companies House, and the society will now be known as the UK Pyrotechnics Society. We do take great pride in being British, and hope that in the future, we might be able to rename the organisation once our pre-eminence is established.
Below is a list of information about the society. We hope this will satisfy many of the questions that were raised by members in recent months. It is vital that the society enjoys a good subscription rate, and naturually we urge all serious forum members to join the society!
The Society Aims:
This is a rather long extract from our incorperation documents that were sent to Companies House, but we think it answers a number of questions nicely:
? To preserve the heritage, science, history and art of British fireworks manufacture.
While Britain has a glorious past of firework manufacture, modern publications (other then those in the UK), seem to largely ignore it, and focus more on America and European countries like Italy and Spain. There is a real spirit among many of the members to put time and effort in collecting, documenting and researching the history of some of those famous British manufacturers like Standard Fireworks, Brocks, and many others. Many of our events are planned around visiting such sites of historical interest.
Needless to say, there is only one remaining major manufacturer of display fireworks in the country, with much production now outsourced to the Far East. It is of the utmost importance that our British heritage is not lost.
? To promote and encourage the education, research, advancement, and dissemination of theoretical and practical pyrotechnic science.
From a manufacturing perspective, Britain is on the decline. With almost all production now outsourced to the Far East, British manufacture is gradually becoming obsolete, perhaps with the exception of military pyrotechnics, maritime distress signals, and pyrotechnic actuators which are still largely made in the UK or imported from European countries.
The British Pyrotechnics Society endeavours to support new small-scale academic research, particularly relating to fireworks and special effects. Such research in the UK is practically non-existent, and where it does occur it is carried out behind closed doors in commerce. The society wishes to contribute towards the greater understanding of firework chemistry and publish it within the international community.
? To promote the safe and responsible storage and use of fireworks by members of the general public through various means, including but not limited to training programs, educational programs, and information leaflets.
We are quite dismayed by the fact, that while many institutions take active approaches in publishing guidelines, there is little in the way of public safety training courses, lectures, or seminars. It is odd to see so many public and government organisations busy trying to minimise accidents through legislation rather then through education.
? To provide simplified instructions and provide guidance for the registration of firework manufacturing facilities by individual enthusiasts in accordance with the Manufacture & Storage of Explosives Regulations.
It is unfortunate, but many small-scale enthusiasts whose interest concerns the manufacture and development of fireworks break the law by simply not understanding it. The explosives legislation is complex and involving, and most small-scale enthusiasts do not know how they can even get started in becoming compliant. Since many of those small-scale enthusiasts commonly seek advice on the society forums, we feel it is necessary for us to publish information on the matter, for those interested companies and individuals who wish to establish legal facilities so that they may pursue their interests.
? To negotiate exemptions with regulatory executives on the behalf of the membership for the small-scale manufacture of fireworks in premises detailed in such exemptions and to establish the society as the liasing body with the Health and Safety Executive, the British Pyrotechnists Association, the Emergency Services and other interested parties in relation to the subject of firework construction by enthusiasts. (The BPS would like to contend for a role in administering this and being responsible for the inspection and approval of enthusiast manufacture sites).
Probably the most controversial area of our organisation is our support of small-scale enthusiast manufacture. There exists a group of talented, and ingenuitive individuals who conduct research into fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices for the purposes of entertainment. While some consider it a strange hobby, it is not deniable that many of the great inventions of modern times are of individuals, and not governments or academic institutions.
Unfortunately, the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations limit what can be done by an enthusiast well below the level where proper small-scale research can be conducted. Since this is probably the only area in which British manufacture (in the form of research and development) can still hold its own, we intend to negotiate on behalf of our members, exemptions with the HSE. While nothing is guaranteed, we believe that an adequately equipped organisation such as ours, can hope for some relief in this area, very much in the same way that the United Kingdom Rocketry Association has and is negotiating exemptions today with government departments like the HSE.
? To represent and also be an acting voice for members of the general public in all matters concerning new legislation relating to the sale and use of fireworks.
As mentioned before, there are no organisations to lobby in favour of the usage of fireworks by members of the general public other than the trade associations like the BFA. We intend to be that publicly accessible lobby.
Events and Activities
The society plan on having one major event and two to three smaller scale events every financial year. The major event will be the UKPS convention ? a full day of lectures, demonstrations, screenings and workshops, finishing (naturally) with a large fireworks display. Smaller events may include visits to historical places of interest past and present, lectures by industry figures and demonstrations of pyrotechnic chemistry principles as well as commercial materials. These events might have limits on the number of participants, so early booking is recommended. We will also examine the possibility of international trips later on.
Our first two events are already being prepared, and we will provide more information during the month of April.
SOme events will be free, but in most cases there will be a modest cost to cover administration of that particular event. If the event is also open to non UKPS members ? then UKPS members will enjoy a significant discount.
Other activities will include the commission of research, acquiring important historical items such as movies and manuals relating to the British industry, running safety demonstrations and lectures for the general public, discussing the legal status of the hobby, publishing guidelines, lobbying against any unreasonable legislation affecting the general public and the hobbyist, and many others beside this.
One area that we are often asked about is if the UKPS plans on providing a society manufacturing facility and supplies to members. For the time been, the answer is a very clear cut no. The legal implications and the costs do not make it a viable possibility at the moment. However, part of the society activity is lobbying and arguing for exemptions for people interested in the hobby, and we hope to be able to provide a lawful situation in which registering sites by individuals is a viable option.
Benefits of Memberships:
1) Access to the annual convention, and all society events
2) Right of voting
3) Right to stand for office
4) Newsletter (published twice a year)
5) Discount at selected retailers (subject to negotiations of course)
6) Access to the society website and private forums.
7) Comprehensive access to all literature and items obtained by the society for the use of members.
Even if you are never going to use what the society has to offer, membership is important to boost our efforts as the only British organisation who shall argue for fair legislation in both the public use of fireworks as well as the general status of our unique hobby. Our strength is in numbers.
Membership Registration and costs:
Membership is set at ?20.00 per year. Similar rates apply for trade members. Cost for junior membership is ?15.00 per year.
Trade membership is available for individuals whose main income is from activites relating to the trade. They have the same benefits as a regular member, but they are limited to a maximum of 25% of the total membership. Junior members do not have voting rights and can not stand for office, but otherwise enjoy the same benefits as regular members do.
The money is very much needed for the daily running of the society, as well as funding some of the activities we plan for the benefit of members. It shall also used to obtain much needed legal advice with respect to current legislation.
Our registration procedure is quite involved. However, the society does suffer from a level of scrutiny that is not reserved for most hobbies.
Those who wish to register will have to go to the society web page, and ask for a registration pack by providing basic details (name, address etc). The registration pack will then be sent to their address, and they will have to complete it ? attach payment and send it back to the treasurer with two passport size photographs. If the registration is accepted, they will be sent back a membership card with photograph which they must present every time they want to join an activity.
We take the security of members personal details very seriously, you can be assured of that.
Registration pages will be available officially from April.
Society Structure
The society has the following roles covered as a part of its structure:
President
Vice- President
Secretary
Treasurer
Government/Political Liaison Officer.
Commercial Liaison Officer
Safety Officer
None of the executive board are paid a salary. The society runs as a non-profit organization with equal voting rights. Elections take place once every two years, and everyone is allowed to come and vote at the annual meeting. The Society exact procedures are available in the memorandum of association, and a summary of that document will be available on the society site and as a part of the registration pack.
Please use this thread to ask any questions about the society.
Edited by BigG, 15 March 2006 - 05:56 PM.
