THE CONSTITUTION OF THE EREWASH MUSICAL SOCIETY
(An equal opportunities organisation)

A Member of the Co-op Group – Eastern/Central Region

1. TITLE:

The Society shall be called EREWASH MUSICAL SOCIETY

2. OBJECTS:

The objects of the Society shall be :-

• To produce Musicals and Light Operas.
• To practise part songs, choruses and other music decided upon by the Committee.
• To perform at social gatherings, concerts or in aid of any worthy charity.
• To compete in competitions when resolved by the majority of the Society.
• To raise funds to be devoted solely to the continuance of the above (2a-2d) and charity organisations.

3. FINANCE:

• The funds of the Society shall be applied solely to the stated objects of the Society.
• The General Committee shall be empowered to determine the charities or institutions of a charitable nature to which any surplus monies or profits shall be granted.
• If a member of the Society takes on the role of Producer, Musical Director or Choreographer, that member shall receive an honorarium. The amount shall be agreed by the General Committee. Further honoraria may, in exceptional circumstances, be awarded by the General Committee to members of the Society.
• Legitimate expenses incurred on behalf of the Society may be claimed by any member of the Society.
• In the event of the dissolution of the Society, the remaining funds shall be devoted to other purposes approved by the Co-op Group – Eastern/Central Region.
• In the event of the Society being faced with a large debt, all members, with the exception of junior members and life members, shall be equally and jointly liable.
• The Society’s financial year shall terminate on 30th April.

4. CONSTITUTION:

The Society shall consist of a President, acting and non-acting members and may also include, as Honorary Life Members, such other persons as shall have rendered special services to the Society.

5. MANAGEMENT:

The Society shall be managed by a General Committee consisting of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Production Secretary and four other members of the Society, to be elected annually. All shall be elected by the members of the Society at the Annual General Meeting. The President shall be invited to attend all productions/concerts, social functions and the Annual General Meeting. Any person may be invited to attend meetings of the General Committee in an advisory but non-voting capacity

6. ELECTION AND EXPULSION OF MEMBERS:

The election and expulsion of members shall rest solely with the General Committee.

• That a letter be sent to individuals informing them of their election or expulsion as a member of the Society. The said individuals will be informed of their successful or unsuccessful audition with appropriate reasons. The said individuals will be informed of the termination of their membership with appropriate reasons.
• That individuals have the right to appeal against the above decisions within 14 days.
• Appeals will be heard by an Appeals Sub-Committee made up of committee members who were not involved with the initial decision.
• The Appeals Sub-Committee will report its findings to the General Committee, whose final decision will be binding.

7. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP:

Application for acting and non-acting membership shall be made in writing to the Secretary. Applicants for acting membership will be required to pass a musical test and any other tests as the General Committee shall deem necessary. Any new member shall be required to perform in one major production with the Society before being eligible to audition for a named part, at the discretion of the General Committee. The General Committee shall be empowered to request the presence of the Musical Director or Choreographer at any audition.

There will be the following categories of membership: Acting and non-acting, both available in the following categories – junior, full and senior members will be allowed to join at 16 years of age. A member will be required to become non-acting at the age of 75.

8. VOTING ON APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP:

The voting on application for membership shall be taken either by ballot or otherwise as the meeting considering the application shall decide.

9. CHANGE OF ADDRESS:

A member changing their address and/or telephone number must notify the Membership Secretary in writing.

10. CONTINUING MEMBERSHIP:

Membership of the Society, other than Honorary Life Membership, shall be limited to one year. The suitability of members continuing in an acting capacity shall be determined by the General Committee.

11. SUBSCRIPTIONS:

The annual subscription to the Society shall be determined by the Annual General Meeting.

12. PAYMENT OF SUBSCRIPTIONS:

The first annual subscription shall be due and paid to the Treasurer on receipt of letter of acceptance to the Society. All subsequent annual subscriptions shall become due on acceptance of continued membership in each year immediately following the A.G.M. With prior arrangements with the Treasurer, subscriptions may be paid half-yearly. Membership fees must be paid prior to the commencement of any production.

13. NON-PAYMENT OF SUBSCRIPTIONS:

The General Committee shall have power by ordinary resolution to suspend or terminate membership of any member whose subscriptions, or part thereof, remain unpaid three months after acceptance of membership or continued membership.

14. RESIGNATIONS:

Members wishing to resign must give written notice to the Membership Secretary. In the event of the Society being faced with a debt, membership shall not be deemed to have been terminated until six months after the Membership Secretary has received the resignation. Any ex member applying for reinstatement must satisfy the General Committee as to their suitability.

15. HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS:

Honorary Life Members may be elected by the General Committee only.

16. A.G.M.:

The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held in June each year, when the report of the General Committee and the Accounts for the year, duly audited, shall be presented. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Production Secretary, other members of the General Committee and internal auditors shall be elected. A Social Committee consisting of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and two other members shall be elected. All other A.G.M. business shall be transacted.

17. VOTING:

At all meetings of the Society, the General Committee or any other committees or sub-committees, the questions before such meetings shall be decided by the majority of the voting members present. In the case of equality of votes, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the casting vote.

18. EXTRA-ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING:

An extra-ordinary general meeting of members may be called at the discretion of the General Committee or at the written request of fifteen or more members. Such requests, which must state the business to be brought before the meeting, must be forwarded to the Secretary who shall give seven days’ notice of such a meeting by placing the said notice on the Society’s Notice Board. The note shall set out the business to be transacted. No other business shall be transacted at such an extra-ordinary general meeting.

19. QUORUM AT A GENERAL MEETING:

No business, other than the formal adjournment of the meeting, shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum be present and such a quorum shall consist of not less than one third of the total membership being persons present and entitled to vote.

20. MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE:

The first meeting of the General Committee shall be called by the Secretary and shall be held within 21 days of the A.G.M. All subsequent meetings of the Committee shall be called by the Secretary in accordance with any resolution to that effect passed by the Committee and failing such resolution at the discretion of the Chairman and Secretary. Five shall form a quorum.

Minutes of all Committee Meetings will be available to any member of the Society upon request to the Secretary, on the Monday following the meeting of the Committee, which confirms the said minutes as a true record and having been duly signed.

21. THE GENERAL COMMITTEE’S POWERS:

• The General Committee shall appoint for each production undertaken a Musical Director, Stage Director, Choreographer, Stage Manager, Lighting Manager, Sound Manager and Wardrobe Manager and all other necessary appointments. In areas of question, dispute or disagreement, the General Committee and Production Team (as appointed above) shall work together to achieve an amicable final agreement/settlement.
• The Committee shall have the power to decide any matters arising out of these Rules or connected with the Society (other than those that can only be dealt with by the Society in a general meeting) and make, maintain and publish all necessary regulations and notices in connection therewith.
• The General Committee has the power to oversee costs associated with any production.
• The General Committee shall appoint the Casting Panel and its Chairperson.

22. APPOINTMENT OF SUB COMMITTEES:

The General Committee shall have the power to appoint Sub Committees, to delegate to Sub Committees all or any of its powers and shall continue to hold office until the conclusion of the A.G.M.

23. OBLIGATIONS OF ACTING MEMBERS:

Acting members shall, to the best of their ability, play the parts assigned to them, whether principal or chorus and obey the directions of the management at all rehearsals and performances.

24. CONTROL OF REHEARSALS:

The Musical Director, or assistant, shall conduct and control all musical rehearsals and the Stage Director, or assistant, shall control all stage rehearsals.

25. ATTENDANCE AT REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES:

Rehearsals will be held weekly on Monday nights. Friday and Sunday rehearsals may be necessary. Rehearsals will commence at 19.30 hours unless notified otherwise. Members are expected to attend regularly and punctually. Any members missing three consecutive weeks will be required to notify the General Committee of their absence by letter to the Secretary.

26. ACTING MEMBERS IN EXCESS OF REQUIREMENTS:

If at any time the number of members wishing to take part in a production exceeds the number required, preference will be given to members who, in the opinion of the Production Team and the General Committee, are considered to be the most appropriate for that particular production. This may entail auditioning members wishing to take part in that particular production.

27. SELECTION OF WORKS:

The General Committee shall select the works to be produced from time to time by the Society.

28. PRIVILEGES OF NON-ACTING MEMBERS:

The privileges of non-acting members, other than and except the right to attend and vote at the A.G.M. of the Society, shall be determined from time to time by the General Committee. Non-acting members shall be permitted to attend all general rehearsals except when the General Committee decides that such attendance shall be impractical.

29. ALTERATIONS IN RULES:

No alteration of these Rules shall be made at an A.G.M. unless 21 days prior to such a meeting a written notice of the proposed alteration shall have been given to the Secretary. The Secretary shall give 14 days’ notice thereof to the members and the resolution shall be carried by a majority of at least two thirds of the votes recorded thereon at the meeting.

30. CO-OPTING OF MEMBERS TO COMMITTEE:

• In the event that the requisite number of committee members is not elected at the A.G.M., the General Committee shall have the power to co-opt members from the Society, at its discretion, to fulfil the committee membership.
• If a vacancy occurs during the year, the Committee will have the power to co-opt a member to bring the Committee up to the required number.

31. CONSTITUTION OF THE SOCIETY:

All members shall be given a copy of the Rules / Constitution of the Society.

Amended, as agreed, at the Annual General Meeting dated 12th June 2006

Signed by: Chairperson