ASHBOURNE SINGERS
CONSTITUTION
1) TITLE
The name of the Society shall be the Ashbourne Singers, hereinafter referred to as the Society.
2) OBJECTS
The objects of the Society shall be:
To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by any means the Committee see fit, including the presentation of public concerts and recitals.
3) MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Society shall be open to any person over the age of 18 interested in furthering the objects of the Society and who pays the subscription at each rehearsal at the appropriate rate as determined by the Committee The amount to be decided by the Committee at the beginning of each performance year (September). The Musical Director and Accompanist will be exempt from subscriptions.
Membership of the Society shall also be open to any young person from Year 10 to 18 years of age interested in furthering the objects of the Society and who pays the subscription for each term at the appropriate rate as determined by the Committee The amount to be decided by the Committee at the beginning of each performance year (September). These members will be known as the Young Ashbourne Singers.
The Musical Director and Accompanist will be exempt from subscriptions.
The Committee has the power to terminate the membership of any individual, provided that the decision of the Committee (with the exception of (i) the individual concerned if a member of the Committee and (ii) any member of the Committee making or connected with the complaint against the individual) is unanimous both as to the termination and as to there being good reason for it, and provided that the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Committee, accompanied by a friend if desired, before a final decision is made.
Participation in concerts and other performances is at the discretion of the Musical Director who will inform the committee of any decisions made.
4) OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
The management of the Society shall be in the hands of a Committee consisting of the following officers - Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and at least three and not more than seven other members as the Annual General Meeting shall from time to time determine.
The Officers and the other Committee members shall be elected by and out of the Society's members at the Annual General Meeting; they shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting and be eligible for re-election, provided that no Officer shall hold office for more than three years consecutively. If an Officer has held office for a period of three years and there is no other Society member willing to stand for that Officer post, any Annual General Meeting or Special (Extraordinary) General Meeting may agree to the three year rule being waived and such existing Officer of the Committee can become eligible for re-election for a further term of three years.
Other Officers may be appointed as seen fit by the Committee either from within the Committee or co-opted from the Society as a whole.
A quorum shall be three Committee members.
5) POWERS
To further the aims of the Society the Committee may exercise the following powers:
l Employ staff (who shall not be members of the Committee) as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the aims.
l Do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the aims.
l Power to raise funds and to invite contributions provided that in raising funds the Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law.
l Power to buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the objects and to maintain and equip it for use.
l Power to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them
6) MUSICAL DIRECTOR
The Musical Director of the Society will be an ex officio member of the Committee but without voting rights. The Musical Director will have ultimate responsibility for the choice of music after consultation with the Committee and other Society members.
In the event of the Musical Director relinquishing the position the Committee may appoint a successor and advertise for same if necessary.
7) MEETINGS & PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee shall hold at least two ordinary meetings each year. A special meeting may be called at any time by the Chairman, or by any 2 members of the Committee, upon not less than 4 days' notice being given to the other members of the Committee of the matters to be discussed but if the matter includes the appointment of a co-opted member then not less than 21 days' notice must be given.
The Chairman shall act as Chairman at meetings of the Committee. If the Chairman is absent from any meeting, the members of the Committee present shall choose one of their number to be Chairman before any other business is transacted.
There shall be a quorum when at least one third of the number of members of the Committee for the time-being, or three members of the Committee (whichever is the greater), are present at a meeting.
Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the Committee present and voting on the question, but in the case of equality of votes, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or 'casting'vote.
The Committee shall keep minutes of the proceedings at meetings of the Committee and any sub-committee, and shall ensure that these are stored safely, and that they are available for inspection as required.
The Committee may from time to time make and alter rules for the conduct of their business, the summoning and conduct of their meetings, and the custody of documents. No rule may be made which is inconsistent with this constitution.
The Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees, consisting of three or more members of the Committee, for the purpose of making any enquiry or supervising or performing any function or duty which, in the opinion of the Committee, would be more conveniently undertaken or carried out by a sub-committee: provided that all acts and proceedings of any such sub-committee shall be fully and promptly reported to the Committee.
8) MANAGEMENT
All arrangements for concerts and other events and the control of finance shall rest with the Committee.
9) EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
No individual shall be excluded from membership of the Society or de-barred from any official capacity on the Committee on the grounds of sex, race, colour, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability or political affiliation.
10) FINANCE
l The financial year shall end on 30 September.
l A banking account shall be opened in the name of the Society and cheques shall be signed by any two of the Chairman, the Treasurer and two other nominated Committee members.
l The Society may receive donations, grants in aid and financial guarantees. Tickets for any or all of its concerts and other events shall be offered for sale to the public.
l The income and property of the Society whencesoever derived shall be applied solely towards promoting the objects of the Society as set forth above and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred either directly or indirectly to any members of the Society except in payment of legitimate expenses incurred on behalf of the Society.
l Payment of expenses can be made to the Musical Director and others from the Society's funds at the discretion of the Committee.
l The financial accounts shall be submitted to the members at the Annual General Meeting.
11) REHEARSALS
Rehearsals shall be held weekly during term time and at such other times as the
Society and Musical Director shall determine.
12) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Within two months of the end of each financial year the members shall be summoned to an Annual General Meeting of which at least 21 days' notice in writing shall be given to all members.
The Committee shall present to each AGM the report and accounts of the Society for the preceding year.
Nominations for election to the Committee must be made by members of the Society in writing and must be in the hands of the Secretary of the Committee at least 14 days before the AGM. Should nominations exceed vacancies, an election shall be held.
13) SPECIAL (Extraordinary) GENERAL MEETING
A Special General Meeting (also known as an Extraordinary General Meeting), of which at least 21 days notice in writing must be given to members, may be called for by the Committee or upon written request to the Secretary signed by at least 7 members of the Society. The notice must state the business to be discussed.
14) PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
The Secretary or other person specially appointed by the Committee shall keep a full record of proceedings at every general meeting of the Society.
There shall be a quorum when at least 10% of the members of the Society at the time or 7 members, whichever is the greater, are present at any general meeting.
15) ACCOUNTS
The financial accounts shall be audited or examined to the extent required by legislation or, if there is no such requirement, scrutinised by a person who is independent of the committee and submitted to the members at the Annual General Meeting
16) ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The constitution may be altered by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting at any General Meeting, provided that fourteen days' notice of the proposed alteration has been sent to all members and provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise any amendment which shall have the effect of the Society ceasing to exist.
16) DISSOLUTION
In the event of the Society being wound up any assets remaining upon dissolution after the
payment of proper debts and liabilities shall be transferred
o a charitable institution or
institutions having similar aims to those of the choir.