Charity Number 515656

MOULTON DRAMA GROUP - CONSTITUTION:

1. The Society shall be called Moulton Drama Group.

2. The object of the society is to educate the public in the dramatic and operatic arts and to further the development of public appreciation and taste in the said arts, and in furtherance of this object but not otherwise the society shall have the following powers:

a. To promote plays, drama, comedies, opera, operettas, recitals and other dramatic & operatic works of educative value.

b. To purchase, acquire and obtain interests in the copyright of or the right to perform or show any such dramatic or operatic works.

c. To purchase or otherwise acquire plant, machinery, furniture, fixtures, fittings, scenery and all other necessary effects.

d. To borrow money subject to such consent as may be required by law. To raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any persons or persons whatsoever by way of subscriptions, donation and otherwise: Provided that the society shall not undertake any permanent trading activity in raising funds.

e. To do all such things as shall further the objects of the society.

3. The society shall consist of acting and non-acting members, & may also include as life members such other persons as shall have rendered special service to the society.

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a. Honorary Offices:

The Annual General Meeting shall elect a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary and other officers such as a President or Vice-Presidents as it may from time to time determine.

b. Committee:

The policy and general management of the affairs of the group shall be directed by a committee comprising 9 members of the group, who shall be elected by the annual general meeting. The Officers of the group shall be members of the committee ex-officio. In addition the committee may co-opt further members, who shall be members of the group, provided that the number of co-opted members shall not exceed one third of the total number of members of the committee as defined above. Any member of the committee, or such sub-committees as may be formed, who fails to attend 3 consecutive meetings of the committee or sub-committee without offering reasonable excuse shall be deemed to have resigned. All members of the committee shall retire annually but shall be eligible to be appointed or co-opted again.

5. Membership shall be open to all those having sympathy with the objects of the society and desiring actively to further it and to pay the annual subscription prescribed by the rules.

6. Applications for acting and non-acting membership shall be made in writing, signed by the applicant to the Secretary.

7.

a. Any member of the society who in the opinion of the committee confirmed by an extra-ordinary general meeting of the society shall be guilty by his actions of misusing the privileges of the society or of otherwise bringing the society into contempt or disrepute, may be suspended by the society.

b. The committee may, by unanimous vote, remove from the list of members the name of any member who persistently neglected the work he has agreed to undertake for the society and the name of any member whose conduct they consider likely to endanger the welfare of the society.

8. The annual subscription to the society shall be:

£8 for adults, £10 per family (i.e.. man, wife and any children under 18 years & living in the same household) and £1 students receiving full time education, or such other sums as the committee may from time to time decide.

9. Life members may on the nomination and recommendation of the committee only, be elected on such terms as the members of the society at an annual general meeting may decide.

10.

a. The funds of the society shall be applied solely to the stated objects of the society.

b. No member of the society shall receive payment directly or indirectly for services to the society or for other than legitimate expenses incurred in its work.

11. The financial year of the society shall begin on 1st April and an annual Profit and Loss Account and balance sheet shall be prepared within two calendar months after 31st March each year.

12. The committee shall have power by ordinary resolution to suspend any member whose subscription remains unpaid after 30th September in any year, from exercising all or any of the privileges of membership until the subscription is paid.

13. Once in each year in the months of April, May or June the committee shall convene an annual general meeting of the group which all members of the group shall be entitled to attend, for the purpose of receiving the annual report of the committee and the annual audited accounts, of appointing honorary officers of the group, of electing members to serve on the committee, an auditor and whenever necessary, of voting on proposals to amend this constitution in accordance with clause 24 hereof.

14. An extra-ordinary general meeting may be called at any time at the discretion of the committee and shall be called within 21 days after the receipt by the Secretary of a requisition in writing to that effect signed by at least 8 members. Every such requisition shall specify the business for which the meeting is being convened and no other business shall be transacted at such meetings.

15. No business other than the formal adjournment of the meeting shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum be present and such quorum shall consist of not less than 3 persons present and entitled to vote.

16. Unless otherwise provided by these rules all resolutions brought forward at a general meeting shall be decided by a bare majority of votes properly recorded at such meeting and in the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

17. The committee (including the officers) and the auditor shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election All nominations for these positions shall be formally proposed and seconded. If more names are proposed than the number required to fill the vacancies and sufficient names are not withdrawn at such meeting, the election shall be by ballot. If all the before-mentioned positions shall not be filled at such meeting or any casual vacancy shall thereafter occur, the same shall be filled by the remaining members of the committee.

18. A printed notice of every general meeting shall be sent to every member of the group at least 14 days prior to the day fixed for such meeting.

19. The committee shall have the power to appoint such sub­committees as it may from time to time decide and may determine their powers and terms of reference, provided that all acts and proceedings of any such sub-committee shall be fully and promptly reported to the committee. The honorary officers of the group shall be ex-officio members of all sub-committees.

20. The committee shall approve the works to be from time to time produced by the society.

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a. All monies due and owing to the group including the entrance fees and subscriptions of members, shall be recoverable at law in the name of the group and its trustees.

b. The title of all and any real property which may be acquired by or for the purpose of the group shall be vested in Trustees who shall be appointed by the committee and who shall enter into a deed of trust setting forth the purpose and conditions under which they hold the said property in trust for the group. The number of trustees shall not be less than 3 nor more than 4 except that a local council of official custodian may be appointed as sole trustee.

22. The committee shall have the power to decide any questions arising out of these rules and all other matters connected with the society (other than and except those which can only be dealt with by the society in general meeting) and make and maintain and publish all necessary orders, regulations and bye-laws in connection therewith.

23. The society shall only be dissolved by resolution passed my a majority of at least five sixths of the members present and voting at a special general meeting called for the purpose of considering such dissolution. In the event of dissolution any balance of cash remaining in hand after the realisation of assets and payments of debts shall not be distributed among the members of the society but shall be applied for such charitable purposes similar to those of the society or be paid, distributed or transferred to such charitable institutions or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the society as the committee with the consent of the meeting shall determine.

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a. No alteration of these rules shall be made except at a general meeting nor unless 21 days prior to such meeting a written notice of the proposed alteration or one substantially to the like effect shall have been given to the Secretary who shall give 14 days notice thereof to the members and the resolution embodying such proposed alteration shall be carried by a majority of at least two thirds of the votes recorded thereon at the meeting.

b. No alteration may be made to rules, 2, 23, and 24 without the approval of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales or other authority having charitable jurisdiction from time to time.

Adopted 5 May 1981