North East Recorder Orchestra
NERCO CONSTITUTION
NERCO CONSTITUTION
1. Name
The name of the Society shall be The North East Recorder Orchestra (NERCO) hereinafter referred to as the Society.
2. Objects
The object of the Society shall be to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of the recorder orchestra and its music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts; and for the general purposes of such charitable bodies or for such other purposes as shall be exclusively charitable as the Committee may from time to time decide.
3. Membership
Membership of the Society shall be open to any person with appropriate recorder playing ability interested in furthering the objects of the society, and who has paid the annual subscription at the appropriate rate or rates as shall be determined by the Committee. The committee may choose to consult the membership at the AGM on the amount of the annual subscription, however the final decision rests with the committee.
Annual subscription can be paid in a single sum (due the month following the AGM at which the subscription is fixed) or by monthly standing order (starting the month after AGM at which the subscription is fixed, at an amount which will total that of the lump sum subscription by the end of August of the following calendar year).
Members whose subscriptions are up to date (including pro rata for those paying monthly) are entitled to vote at any EGM. Members whose subscriptions were up to date at the end of the preceding year are entitled to vote at the AGM.
Every member present at AGM or EGM shall have one vote. In the event of a ‘tie’ in voting, the chair shall have a second and deciding vote.
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.
4. Officers and Committee
The management of the Society shall be in the hands of a Committee consisting of the following Officers Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Musical Director and not less than one and not more than three other members: 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-
5. Management
All the arrangements for the concerts and other events and the control of finance shall be in the hands of the Committee.
6. Powers
In furtherance of the objects but not otherwise the Committee may exercise the following powers:
i) 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;
ii) 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;
iii) power .subject to any consents required by law to borrow money and to charge all or part of the property of the Society with repayment of the money so borrowed;
iv) power to employ such staff (who shall not be members of the Committee) as are
necessary for the proper pursuit of the objects and to make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and super-
v) power to co-
vi) power to establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects;
vii) power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Committee may think fit;
viii) power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.
7. Meetings and Proceedings of the Committee
i) 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-
ii) 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.
iii) There shall be a quorum when at least one third of the number of members of the committee for the time-
iv) 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.
v) The committee shall keep minutes of the proceedings at meetings of the committee and any sub-
vi) 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.
vii) The committee may appoint one or more sub-
8. Equal Opportunities
No individual shall be excluded from membership of the Society or de-
9. Finance
i) The financial year shall end on 31st August
ii) A banking account shall be opened in the name of the Society. The Treasurer shall administer the bank account and may do so electronically. Cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer and one other Officer. Any electronic withdrawals or transfers from the bank account made by the treasurer must be agreed in advance by another elected member of the committee. A record of such authorization (eg email) should to retained by the treasurer and be available for scrutiny by the auditor.
iii) The Society shall 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.
iv) 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.
10. Annual General Meeting
Within three 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.
11. 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 five members of the Society. The notice must state the business to be discussed.
12. Procedure 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 10 members, whichever is the greater, are present at any general meeting.
13. Accounts
The financial accounts shall be audited or examined to the extent required by legislation or, if there is no such requirement, scrutinized by a person who is independent of the Committee and then submitted to the members at the Annual General Meeting.
14. Alterations to the Constitution
The constitution may be altered by a two-
No amendment may be made to clause 1 (the name of the charity), clause 2 (the objects), clause 9 iv) (distribution of assets), or clause 15 (dissolution), without the prior written consent of the charity commission.
The committee shall send the Charity Commission a copy of any amendment made under this clause.
15. 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 to a charitable institution or institutions having similar objects to those of the Society.