Types of Membership

Prospective Member

When you first join Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio you will normally be a Prospective Member. This is a getting-to-know-you period for both you and us. During this time you will meet other members and be involved in helping them with existing programmes. You will also be supported by the Membership Secretary in becoming a Full Member or Associate Member by completing the membership process. You should expect to be a Prospective Member for about six months. You cannot remain a Prospective Member indefinitely and must complete the membership process to become either a Full or Associate Member. After six months as a Prospective Member, your progress in the membership process will be reviewed.

Associate Member

Associate Membership is provided for members who want to support Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio in a non-broadcast capacity. This will include volunteers who deliver our magazines, visit the wards collecting patient's requests, help out in the administration of the station, carry out fund-raising duties, or support us in many other ways by giving their time, without taking part in broadcast work. Associate Membership is free and awarded on completing the membership process.

Full Member

Full Membership is primarily for broadcast related work. This is by far the most common form of membership. Full Membership is awarded on completing the membership process and is subject to an annual membership fee, which goes towards administration costs, mail-shots, membership badge etc. You will need to be a Full Member to perform the following activities….

To continue in broadcast based activities after your period of Prospective Membership

• To present or T/O live or pre-recorded programmes

• To propose a new programme

• To vote at meetings

• To serve on the management committee

Becoming a Full or Associate Member

Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio attracts people from a multitude of backgrounds. Some new members may already have years of radio experience, others may still be at school or university, most will never have been in a radio station before.

There are several reasons for the period of Prospective Membership. Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio has the use of a hospital building to house our studios and their associated equipment. You will eventually be meeting patients and staff within the hospital, so your period as a Prospective Member is there to ensure you feel it is the right thing for you and that SMHR is comfortable with your approach to the patients and staff patients. Your relationship with your colleagues at the station is equally important; after all we are a team.

As a Prospective Member you will be working towards either Full Membership or Associate Membership by following the membership process. In parallel with this, we hope you will get involved with other SMHR activities to broaden your experience, have fun and meet a wide selection of other members.

Honorary Life Member

Honorary Membership may be granted to long serving members or volunteers who consistently demonstrate unwavering support for Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio. Honorary Membership is free for life and is awarded on merit by The Committee. Any Full Member can nominate someone to become an HLM, by informing the committee in writing of the reasons why they believe the nominee deserves to be offered HLM. The nominee must have completed a minimum of ten years continuous service to SMHR.