Midland Players - Constitution

Handbook - Constitution

The The constitutional aim of Midland Players is 'to further the Dramatic Arts by performances of Drama, Plays and Musicals'. Annual fees for Individual Membership are £5 for adults, £2 for under 19s and £8 for Family Membership, payable by standing order on July 20th each year.

The society is run by a committee of between 5 and 11 members, including 3 officers: the Secretary, Treasurer and Chairperson. Elections for all committee positions are held each year at the AGM in September. There is no limit to the number of times a member can be re-elected.

The committee meets roughly quarterly and manages (sometimes by delegation) the society's theatrical and social activities.

The full Constitution (last amended at the Jan 2009 EGM) is below and the Rules can be found here...

CONSTITUTION

TITLE

1.00 The society will be known as Midland Players.

OBJECTIVES

2.00 The object of the Society will be to further the Dramatic Arts by performance of Drama, Plays and Musicals.
3.00 The funds of the Society shall be devoted solely to the stated objects, and no payment, either directly or indirectly shall be made to any member for services to the Society other than reimbursement of legitimate expenses incurred. Small gifts may be allowed in special circumstances – weddings, illness etc. In the event of dissolution, the balance of funds of the Society, after payment of all debts, shall be given to charities nominated by the Committee consistent with the objects stated in 2.00 above.

MEMBERSHIP

4.00 Membership shall be open to all as follows: Single members, on payment of an annual subscription of five pounds for adults or two pounds for the under-nineteens, shall be entitled to participate in all the Society's activities. They will have one vote at all General Meetings. Family membership (husband and/or wife and any children up to 18 years) will be at an annual subscription of eight pounds. Application for membership should be made in writing or by e-mail to the Secretary. Admission to membership shall be at the sole discretion of the General Committee.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

5.00 The management of the Society shall be in the hands of a General Committee, elected by ballot or show of hands at the Annual General Meeting. There will be a maximum of eleven committee members including the Officers (Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary).

5.10 Any one member of the committee must be nominated by the committee as the HSBC contact. This person must be a current or former member of HSBC Bank staff.
6.00 All officers and members shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election by ballot or show of hands at the Annual General Meeting.

7.00 The General Committee shall hold meetings every three months or more frequently as necessary. The quorum for a meeting shall be five members.
8.00 The General Committee shall have powers:

· to carry out the management of the Society in all things, directly or indirectly, in furtherance of the stated objectives.

· to delegate any of its powers to subcommittees appointed by itself, and to co-opt to the General Committee or any subcommittee any member who is not already a member of the General Committee.

· to set out the programme of productions and other activities.

· To appoint acting officers in the event of indisposition of those elected by the Annual General Meeting

SUBSCRIPTIONS

9.00 Subscriptions shall be paid on 20th July annually, any persons whose subscriptions remain unpaid on 20th December shall be deemed no longer members. Changes in the rate of subscription shall only be made at the Annual General Meeting.

BANK ACCOUNT

10.00 All subscriptions and other monies received shall be credited to the Society's bank account
11.00 Any withdrawals shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Chairman or Secretary according to the Society's completed bank mandate, or by equivalent electronic means acceptable to the bank.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

12.00 The Annual General Meeting shall be held between 1st and 30th September each year to transact the following business:

· to receive the Secretary's report on the year's activities, and the Treasurer's statement of accounts for the year ending 30th June, which have been audited by two auditors.

· to elect the Officers and Committee for the ensuing year.

· To elect an auditor for the coming year. If the auditor is indisposed or unavailable, an alternative may be asked, at the committee’s discretion, to audit the accounts.

· to consider any other business

The meeting shall be convened by the Secretary, in writing, at least fourteen clear days before the appointed date. Notice shall be sent to every member, who will have the right to examine the books and accounts. Ten members shall form a quorum at the Annual General Meeting.

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

13.00 Such a meeting must be held within twenty-eight days of receipt of the written or e-mailed request by the secretary. Written or e-mailed notice of the meeting shall be sent to all members not less than seven days before the appointed date. Ten members shall form a quorum.

13.05 Extraordinary General Meetings will have the same powers as the Annual General Meetings.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND RULES

14.00 The Secretary must be notified in writing at least fourteen clear days prior to a General Meeting. Any proposals will be notified to members with notification of the meeting.

COMPLAINTS

15.00 Any complaint or grievance shall be sent to the Secretary in writing, who will bring it to the notice of the General Committee not later than the next Committee meeting.

TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

16.00 Members wishing to resign from the Society shall notify the Secretary before the due date of the annual subscription.

CONSTITUTION AND RULES

17:00 Copies of the constitution and rules shall be available from the Secretary on request and on the society's web site.

DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY

18.00 Termination of the Society shall only be by resolution of an Extraordinary General Meeting convened in accordance with 13.00 for that purpose, and passed by not less than three quarters of the members present.

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The society’s Rules can be found here