GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC CHOIR
Registered as a Charity No. 1026337
CONSTITUTION
- TITLE
The Guildford Philharmonic Choir forms part of the music scheme of the Guildford
Borough Council. The name of the Choir shall be the Guildford Philharmonic Choir.
. OBJECTS
To advance public education and appreciation of choral music in all its aspects in
particular by the presentation of public concerts and by other such means as the
Committee shall determine in consultation with Guildford Borough Council.
In
furtherance of the said objects but not further or otherwise the Committee may exercise
the following power: To provide a chorus for the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra.
. MEMBERSHIP
The membership of the Choir shall be those aged 18 years or over who pay the annual
subscription at the appropriate rate or rates as shall be determined by the Committee,
all subscriptions being payable in advance, and (in the case of performing members) who
shall provide such evidence of musical ability as the Chorus Master shall require.
. PRESIDENT and VICE-PRESIDENT
The
Choir may appoint a President and a
Vice-President for a period of five
years
subject to reappointment for similar or lesser periods thereafter.
. COMMITTEE
.
The management of the Choir shall be in the hands of a Committee consisting of four
officers (a Chairman, an Honorary Secretary, an Honorary Treasurer and an Honorary
Membership Secretary) and four additional members. The Committee shall be elected by
and
out
of
the
members
of
the
Choir
at
the
Annual
General
Meeting.
Officers shall be elected to a specific office, shall hold that office for one year and
shall be eligible for re-election provided that a member shall not hold the office of
Chairman for more than five consecutive years. In the event of a casual vacancy
occurring in any office during the year the Committee shall appoint one of their number
to act in that capacity until the next Annual General Meeting.
Additional members shall hold office for one year and be eligible for re-election
provided that the additional member who has served for the longest continuous period
shall not be eligible for re-election as an additional member for the following year if
that period is at least three complete years. Should there be more than one member
ineligible for re-election under this rule, the retiring member shall be decided by
agreement amongst those concerned or in default of agreement as the outgoing Chairman
in his/her absolute discretion shall decide.
. The Committee may co-opt members of the Choir to the Committee to fill vacancies or to
assist the Committee when required.
In addition the members of each voice part shall from time to time elect a Part
Representative who will report to the Membership Secretary. A Committee member shall
not also serve as a Part Representative.
. CHORUS MASTER and ACCOMPANIST
The appointment of Chorus Master is made on an annual basis by the Guildford Borough
Council on the recommendation of the Choir. The Accompanist is appointed on an annual
basis by the Choir on the recommendation of the Chorus Master.
Neither the Chorus
Master nor the Accompanist shall be a member of the Choir.
. MANAGEMENT
The management of the Choir and the control of finance shall be in the hands of the
Committee, whilst Guildford Borough Council shall be kept fully informed.
Guildford
Borough Council may send a representative to Committee meetings. Minutes shall be kept
of all Committee meetings and a copy lodged with the Guildford Borough Council.
8.
FINANCE
The financial year shall end on April 30th.
A banking account shall be held in the name of the Guildford Philharmonic Choir and
cheques shall be signed by any two Committee members who have been nominated to the
Bank.
The Choir may receive donations,
any or all of its
concerts
grants in aid and financial guarantees.
and other events shall be
offered for sale
to
Tickets for
the public.
The income and property of the Choir shall be applied solely towards promoting the
objects
of
the
Choir
as
set
forth
above
and no
portion
thereof shall be paid
or
transferred either directly or indirectly to any member or members of the Choir except
in payment of legitimate expenses incurred on behalf of the Choir.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Within six weeks of the end of each financial year the members of the Choir shall be
summoned to an Annual General Meeting of which at least fourteen
days notice in
writing shall have been given.
70. ACCOUNTS
The
financial accounts
shall be prepared by
the
Honorary
Treasurer,
independently
examined and presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting at which time an
Independent Examiner shall be appointed for the forthcoming year.
77. DISSOLUTION
In the event of the Choir being wound up any assets remaining upon dissolution after
payment
of
proper
debts
and
liabilities
shall
be
transferred
to
a_
charitable
institution or institutions having similar objects to those of the Choir.
72. AMENDMENTS
Subject to (b) below, the Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of
members present at an Annual or Special General Meeting, provided that fourteen days
notice of the meeting and the proposed amendments have been sent to all members and
provided that nothing therein contained shall authorise any amendment which shall have
the effect of the Choir ceasing to be a charity.
The OBJECTS of the Choir shall not be amended without the prior approval of Guildford
Borough Council.
Constitution adopted April 26th 1993. Clauses 5 & 10 amended June 3rd 1996.
Guildford Philharmonic Choir
c/o Guildford Philharmonic Office
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Guildford
Surrey GU2 5BB
[shrj..c:\choir\committee\constit1.doc 2 + 2]
6PC Annual
3
June
General
Meeting
1996
CONSTITUTION
Introduction
1.
During the course af
the year
number
minor
of
present
these
relatively
drafted.
problems
It
the draft
that
now by putting
“consideration at
Commission.
feels
the Committee has become aware of
problems
this
it
AGM and,
reported to
and
would
forward
if
The Commission has
proposals
with
the
be
Constitution as
appropriate
some amendments
then approved,
meanwhile been
any comments
by
to
address
for
the
invited
received before
a
at
Charity
to comment
on
the AGM will
be
the meeting.
Composition of Committee - Clause S
bn
As
drafted this
Clause
which unnecessarily
imposes
inhibit
ambiguities amd omissions.
currently prevents
reelection
members,
stand
the
the
they
have
four offices.
retirement
Choir
initial
There
where
is
with the situation
term.
of
least
then or
is
number
action.
3
the
two
full
different.
Again
the year.The Committee
feels
that
addressed by amending Clause &
for
serving
required,
elected
to
to
one of
for resolving disputes
are
in
this
there
an officer has
Clause 5S
standing
years are
are moreover related to
if
restrictions
also contains
longest
subsequently be
no provision
of
It
these problems,
from ever
Again
three or more
provisions
year which
examples
served at
and could not
between members
As
the Choir a
freedom of
any Committee member
after
if
down
on
its
position.
Choir
is
The
season and not
no provision
to resign during
these problems
can best
in the manner as set
to
deal
the course
out
of
be
in the
Appendix.
A distinction
is
drawn between the
additional
members.
of
S:years
in
on
the committee
that
to reelect
office
in
he/she would want
in addition
some other
to
do
so but
and
the office
so restricted
as
it
is
for
these posts
and
it
unfortunate
some
by
either
turnover
Choir
4
so willing.
often
or
office
in Committee
That
The othar 3
to
to
force a
holder.
membership,
To
the
full
years.
It
is
subject
Audit
4,
stressed
that
all
say
the
if
service
that
flexibility
it
so wished
offices
would not
change where
ensure
that
longest
members
holder or additional
to
find willing volunteers
additional members would retire each year if
whether office
is not
occasions
difficult
for a maximum
immediate prior
the Choir would have
a Chairman on a maximum of
holder was
to serve
to any
capacity.
be
wanted
four officer holders and the four
A Chairman would be able
it
is
there
is
serving of
the
4
he/she had served 3
of
the Committee,
member would continue
to be
to reelection
by the Choir each year.
arrangements
The Charity Commission has
regulations
year
it
that
will
will
be necessary
examination”.
Committee
for
to
for the Choir
it
opts
it
so opts,
first
amend
feels
that
this
would be
to
the new
accounts
to appoint
for what
must
the Choir
that under
the Choir's
but
arrangement
If
pointed out
apply
registered Auditor unless
is
for
the coming
(and pay
known as
for)
the Choir can continue with
its present
its Constitution accordingly.
the appropriate course of
The
action
take.
The Committee RECOMMEND that
set
out
in the Appendix.
require
A&M
if
the
it
subsequent
24 April
1996
support
is
of
two
thirds
to be effective.
Charity
the Choir amend Clauses
Under Clause
The
of
!2
5 and
Commission approval.
1@ as
this recommendation will
those members present
changes
will
a
“independent
Recommendations
Bs
not
also require
at
the
6PC Annual General Meeting
3
June
:
a
APPENDIX
1996
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
1.
Clause 5.
Amend Clause
to read as
So
COMMITTEE.
a.
The management
consisting of
of
follows:
the Choir
shall
four officers,
a
be
in
the hands
Chairman,
of
a Committee
AN HONORARY Secretary,
AN HONORARY Treasurer and AN HONORARY Membership Secretary,
four
out
additional
of
members.
the members of
Officers
shall
OFFICE FOR
The
Committee
the Choir at
shall
be
the Annual
elected by
General
he elected TO A SPECIFIC OFFICE,
and
and
Meeting.
SHALL HOLD THAT
ONE YEAR AND SHALL BE ELIGI8LE FOR RE-ELECTION
PROVIDED THAT A MEMBER SHALL NOT HOLD THE OFFICE OF CHAIRMAN FOR
MORE THAN FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
VACANCY OCCURING
SHALL APPOINT
IN THE EVENT OF A CASUAL
IN ANY OFFICE DURING THE
ONE OF THEIR NUMBER
TO ACT
YEAR
THE COMMITTEE
IN THAT CAPACITY UNTIL
THE NEXT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
ADDITIONAL members shall hold office for one year and
eligible
has
served for
eligible
be
for re-slection PROVIDED THAT the ADDITIONAL member who
the
longest continous period shall not
be
for re- election AS AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER FOR THE
FOLLOWING YEAR
IF THAT PERIOD IS AT LEAST THREE complete YEARS.
Should there be more than one member INELIGIBLE FOR RE-ELECTION
under
this rule,
agreement
the retiring member
amongst
shall
be decided by
those concerned OR IN DEFAULT OF AGREEMENT AS
THE OUTGOING CHAIRMAN
IN HIS/HER ABSOLUTE DISCRETION SHALL
DECIDE.
The Committee may coopt members of
the Choir to the Committee to
fill vacancies
or to assist the Committee when required.
In addition
time elect
the members of
a Part
each voice part
Representative who will
shall
report
from time to
to
the
Membership Secretary. A Committee member shall not also serve as
a Part
Representative.
NOTE The significant changes are set out in bold type.
és
Clause 10
Amend Clause to read as
1d.
follows:
ACCOUNTS
The financial
accounts
shall be prepared by the Honorary Treasurer,
independently examined and presented to the members
at
General Meating at which time an Independent Examiner
appointed for the forthcoming year.
CJOR 24 APRIL
1996
the Annual
shall be
.