Roots Community Singers Constitution Roots Community Singers Constitution The Choir shall be called “Roots – Folk On The Farm Community Singers” and abbreviated to “Roots Community Singers” for purpose of the bank account and brevity. It shall be non-political and non-sectarian. It will run in blocks of 5-8 weekly sessions. The object of the Choir shall be: 1. The practice of English and World folk music to foster public knowledge and appreciation of such music by means of singing sessions and occasional public performance. 2. To assist and to support such charitable institutions or purposes as the Committee shall from time to time determine. Membership Choir membership will be open to anyone wishing to join without requirement for audition or formal musical ability. For a good and sufficient reason the membership of any individual may be terminated by decision of the Management Committee PROVIDED that the individual shall have the right to be heard by the said Committee before the decision is final. Fees All Members will be expected to pay a subscription towards the expenses of the Choir. The size of this subscription (or membership fee) shall be agreed by the Choir at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting. The current membership fee is £5 payable annually at the start of the choir year in September. The weekly practice fee is £5 per session payable in advance at the beginning of each monthly block. At the discretion of the Management Committee, weekly payments may be accepted. The Choir may receive donations, grants-in-aid or other financial remuneration for performances or other services provided by it. Such income, however derived, shall be applied solely to the aims and objectives of the Choir and no portion thereof shall be paid directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or professional fee to any member of the Choir. Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by members on the authorised business of the Choir will be reimbursed at the discretion of the Committee. Accounts The financial year of the Choir will be from 1st August to 31st July. The books of account shall be independently examined by 31st July and a financial statement extracted there from shall be presented at the AGM, which shall be held in August or September. Management Committee The Executive Officers of the Choir shall be the Chairman, the Secretary, the Gig Secretary and the Treasurer. The Choir shall be managed by a Management Committee consisting of the four Executive Officers and up to four representatives from the choir. Only these eight Officers are entitled to vote in the deliberations of the Committee. A quorum shall consist of a minimum of four: two Executive Officers and two Choir Representative. This Management Committee will meet a minimum of two times between successive Annual General Meetings. Sub-committees may be established for specific purposes to advise the Management Committee and other Choir officers and members may be consulted by the Committee as required, but these shall have no voting rights in the Committee. Minutes will be taken of all Management Committee deliberations and these will be available to all members on request. The Secretary will hold a file of all minutes for the committee. The Choir will hold an Annual General Meeting at which the business of the Choir will be discussed. At this meeting the Executive Officers and other Officers of the Choir (as deemed necessary at the time) will be elected by simple majority, by ballot if required. The Annual General Meeting shall be held on a date in August or September at a place and time to be decided by the Management Committee. A minimum of twenty-one days’ notice shall be given. All fully paid-up members of the Choir may attend and participate in the election of Officers and other business. A quorum for the Meeting shall be at least 33% of the members plus at least two of the Executive Officers. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at the request of 50% of the members or by the Management Committee, giving a minimum of twenty-one days’ notice. A similar quorum will apply. Music All songs used by the Choir is the property of the Choir or the Music Director and must not be sold or loaned without sanction from the committee or Music Director, unless paid for by members, when it becomes their own copy to dispose of as they wish. Music Director The Music Director will be appointed by the Management Committee and if a professional, will be paid the going rate, plus out of pocket expenses. If the Music Director is not a professional musician, out of pocket expenses will be paid. The choice of music shall be in the hands of the Music Director, who will choose selections which mainly fall within the remit of English and World folk music. He/she will also be open to suggestions from the choir. The Music Director may be invited to attend a management meeting, but will not have the power to vote. The Management Committee will be open to suggestions and ideas for furthering the aims of the choir from the Music Director. Rehearsals All Choir members are expected to attend rehearsals at agreed times and venues. A member who is unable to attend a rehearsal should endeavour to notify the secretary. The Music Director shall have sole control at rehearsals. Public Performances All Choir members are encouraged to participate in public performance at agreed times and venues, but public performance is not compulsory and no-one will be refused membership on the grounds of not wishing to perform publically. A member who is unable to attend a public performance should notify the secretary. A member who has not attended the previous two rehearsals before a public performance is asked not to perform publicly without consulting with the Music Director. Any choir member can request performance from the choir at other organisations to which they belong as long as reasonable notice is given. Performance Dress Code i. Dress code is optional (no one is required to comply or conform to the norm). ii. Suggest during Spring/Summer informal events Roots T shirts (choice from a range of colours) are preferred (available to purchase http://bit.ly/rootstshirtblackprint or http://bit.ly/rootstshirtwhiteprint. iii. Suggest during winter and more formal events the preference is black and white collarless shirts/blouses and bottoms (any permutation, e.g. all black, all white, b/w stripes, spots, patches or any other interpretation). Dissolving The Choir If upon the winding up or dissolution of the Choir there remains any property whatsoever after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, the same shall not be distributed among the members of the Choir but shall be given or transferred to some Charitable Institution or Institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Choir, such institution or institutions to be determined by the members of the Choir at or before the time of dissolution and in so far as effect cannot be given to such provisions then to some charitable object. Any eventuality not covered by these Rules shall be dealt with by the Management Committee. The Rules of the Choir shall be altered only at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting duly called. A copy of these rules shall be available to each member.