constitution
CONSTITUTION
1. Title
The group shall be called ELECTRO ACOUSTIC ENSEMBLE, hereafter shall be referred to as ‘the Group’.
2. Aims and Objectives
The primary aim of the Group is to foster, promote and offer seminal contemporary music of the last 50 years to as wide as possible audience – to this end concerts, open rehearsals, seminars and workshops are free to all.
The Group will be non-profit making and will seek funds to enable its promotions and events to be free to the public.
3. Membership
Membership of the Group is open to any person regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.
Membership can be applied for, in writing, to any of the Executive Officers, stating compliance with the Groups Aims and Objectives, and describing what such person could offer the group.
In the event of a request for membership, the Executive Officers will set up a meeting to discuss and decide on such an application and write to the applicant within a reasonable time as to their decision.
There shall be 4 classes of membership:
Full Member
Associate Member
Honorary Member
Co-opted Member
4. Officers
4.1 The Officers of the Group shall be as follows:
Chairperson
Secretary
Treasurer
5. Election of Officers
All officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Group, from and by, the Members of the Group.
All Officers are elected for a period of one year, but may be re-elected to the same office or another office the following year.
6 Management Committee
6.1 The affairs of the Organisation shall be controlled by a Management Committee comprising the Executive Officers of the Organisation and other Members elected from, and by, the Full Members of the Organisation. The Management Committee shall meet at agreed intervals and not less than twice per year. These meetings can be via internet conferencing if agreed by the Management Committee.
6.2 The duties of the Management Committee shall be:
6.2.1 To control the affairs of the Group on behalf of the Members.
6.2.2 To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the Group through the Treasurer. These should be available for reasonable inspection by Members. The Group shall maintain a bank current account and the following Officers shall be authorised to sign Group cheques: Chairperson and Treasurer.
6.2.3 To co-opt additional members of the Committee as the Committee feels this is necessary. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to a vote on the Committee.
To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the case of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.
General meetings
7.1 The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the end of February each year. 21 clear days’ written notice shall be given to Members of the Annual General Meeting by circulating a copy of the notice to every member at their home address. Members must advise the Secretary in writing of any business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting at least 14 days before a meeting. The Secretary shall circulate or give notice of the agenda for the meeting to Members not less than 7 days before the meeting.
7.2 The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
7.2.1 Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting.
7.2.2 Receive the audited accounts for the year from the Treasurer, which are then, if agreed, signed by the Treasurer and Chairperson.
7.2.3 Receive the annual report of the Committee from the Secretary.
7.2.4 Elect the Officers of the Group ie. Chairperson; Secretary; Treasurer and other Management Committee Members including Artistic Director.
7.2.5 Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from Members 14 days prior to the meeting and included on the agenda.
NOTE: The agenda could provide for "Any Other Business", but Members should be encouraged to refer other items to the Management Committee and give the required notice for important Annual General Meeting business.
7.3 Special General Meetings may be convened by the Management Committee or on receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing from any Full Member of the Group. At least 14 days’ notice of the meeting shall be given.
Nomination of candidates for election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting date. Nominations can only be made by Full Members and must be seconded by another Full Member.
7.5 At all General Meetings, the chair will be taken by the Chairperson or, in their absence, by a deputy appointed by the Group or by Full Members attending the meeting.
7.6 Decisions made at a General Meeting shall be by a simple majority of votes from those Full Members attending the meeting. In the event of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.
7.7 A quorum for a General Meeting shall be 1 Full Member and 3 Officers of the Group including Chairperson; Secretary and Treasurer.
7.8 Each Full Member of the Group shall be entitled to one vote at General Meetings.
Alterations to the Constitutions
8.1 Any proposed alterations to the Group Constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Special General Meeting convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Full Member of the Group and seconded by another Full Member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Full Members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved.
Dissolution
9.1 If, at any General Meeting of the Group, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Group, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the Group to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.
9.2 If, at that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Full Members present at the meeting, the General Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the Group and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Group.
9.3 After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Group, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the Full Members of the Group, but shall be given or transferred to some other voluntary organisation having objects similar to those of the Group.
On behalf of the Group
John Stead
(Chairperson)
16th. February 2008