Durham Choral Society
Constitution
1 Title The name of the society shall be the Durham Choral Society.
2 Objects The objects of the society shall be the study and practice of
choral music in order to educate the public in the knowledge and appreciation of
such music by presentation of concerts and other activities.
3 Membership The members of the society shall be those persons who pay the
annual subscription at the appropriate rate or rates as shall be determined by
the Annual Meeting, the subscription being payable in advance, and in the case
of performing members, shall provide such evidence of musical ability as the
committee may require. Singing members will be expected to be regular in
attendance at practices. Subject to the committee's discretion, any member who
has failed to attend two thirds of the rehearsals of any concert performance
shall not sing at the performance. Members undertake to provide their own copies
of the music selected from time to time for study and practice.
4 Presidents and Vice Presidents There shall be a President and the
committee may invite Vice Presidents.
5 Officers and Committee The management of the society shall be in the hands
of a committee consisting of a Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer, the Making
Music representative and eight other members. The officers (except for the MM
representative) and other committee members shall be elected by and out of the
society’s members at the Annual General Meeting; they shall hold office for one
year and be eligible for re-election, excepting the Chairman who shall serve for
no more than three consecutive years. The MM representative shall remain in
office until replaced. The committee shall have the power to co-opt such persons
as it may deem necessary from time to time provided that the number co-opted
shall not exceed one third of the total committee. The Musical Director and
accompanist shall be ex-officio members of the committee. At all meetings of the
committee six members shall form a quorum. The Chairman shall have an original
and casting vote.
6 Management All the arrangements for the concerts and other events and the
control of finance shall be in the hands of the committee.
7 Finance
(a) A bank account shall be opened in the name of the society. Any two of three
signatories shall be empowered to sign cheques on be half of the society.
(b) The financial year shall end on 31st August.
(c) The society may receive donations, grants in aid and financial guarantees,
and tickets for any or all of its concerts and other events may be offered for
sale to the public.
(d) 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 member or members of the society except in payment of legitimate expenses
incurred on behalf of the society.
(e) In the event of the winding-up or dissolution of the society any remaining
assets after all liabilities have been discharged shall not be paid or
transferred to any member or members of the society but shall be transferred to
a charitable organisation whose objects are similar to those of the society and
whose rules preclude the distribution of income and assets among its members as
the committee shall decide with the approval of the Charity Commissioners for
England and Wales.
8 General Meeting & Audited Accounts Within six weeks of the end of each
financial year the members shall be summoned to an Annual General Meeting of
which at least fourteen days' notice in writing shall have been given. The main
business of this meeting shall be the election of officers of the society and
members of the committee. The audited financial accounts of the society shall be
submitted to the members at this meeting.
9 Amendments The constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the
members present at an Annual or Special General Meeting, provided that fourteen
days notice of the proposed amendments has been sent to all members and provided
also that nothing herein contained shall authorise any amendment which shall
have the effect of the society ceasing to be a charity at law.
Revised 1983 [2010?] |
