MONTGOMERYSHIRE YOUTH THEATRE
Charity Number 516040
1. CONSTITUTION
The Society shall be known as ‘MONTGOMERYSHIRE YOUTH THEATRE’
(hereinafter referred to as ‘The Society’).
2. OBJECTS
The objects of the Society are to foster and promote the education of young people, in Welsh and in English, in the appreciation and practice of Drama in all its aspects, and to co-operate with Local Authorities, Educational Institutions and Cultural Societies relating to the practice and presentation and study of Drama in order inter alia to promote better knowledge and more widespread interest in the practice of the performing Arts.
In furtherance of the above objects, but not further or otherwise, the Society may:
i. arrange and provide for, or join in arranging and providing for, the holding of exhibitions, arts festivals and professional and amateur theatrical shows and performances;
ii. raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person, persons, or organisation whatsoever by way of subscription, donation or otherwise for the above objects;
iii. purchase, take on, lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and any rights or privileges for the promotion of the said objects and construct, maintain and alter any buildings or erections necessary for the work of the Society;
iv. employ and pay any person or persons not being on the management committee to supervise, organise and carry on the work of the Society and make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and superannuation to or on behalf of employees and their widows and other dependents;
v. do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said objects.
3. MEMBERSHIP
There will be four categories of membership:
a. Full : any person over the age of 18 who supports the objects of the Society.
b. Junior: any young person between the ages of 5 and 18 who supports the objects of the Society.
c. Associate: non-performing members who support the objects of the Society.
d. Honorary: honorary members to be invited by the Committee for services to the Society.
Only full, junior and honorary members may take part in any production.
Only full members may be entitled to vote at or serve on the Committee.
4. VOTING
Every matter shall be determined by the majority of the members present and voting on the question. In the case of the equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. The quorum for any general meeting of the Society shall be one-third of the total membership.
5. COMMITTEE
a The Committee shall consist of the officers and elected members, one of whom should be elected by the Youth Committee, and up to three co-opted members.
b Seven elected members of the Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting to be held as set out in the Constitution for a term of office commencing at the end of the Annual General Meeting at which they are elected and expiring at the end of the Annual General Meeting in the following year.
c The Committee, at their first meeting in each year after the Annual General Meeting, shall elect one of their number to be Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and may elect one of their number to be Vice-Chairman. The Officers shall continue in office until their successors are respectively elected. If the Chairman is absent from any meeting, the Vice-Chairman (if any) shall preside, otherwise the members present shall, before any other business is transacted, choose one of their number to preside that meeting.
d Any members of the Committee may be reappointed or reselected.
e The quorum shall be no less than one-third of the total membership of the Committee.
f The Committee shall have power to co-opt not more than THREE members to hold office for a period of time at the discretion of the elected Committee.
g The Executive Committee shall appoint such sub-committees as they shall consider necessary from time to time. The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt on to these sub-committees up to three persons who have particular knowledge or expertise. The sub-committees must report their acts and proceedings fully and promptly to the Executive Committee.
h The Honorary Secretary shall give to every Committee member entitled to receive the same not less than SEVEN clear days’ notice in writing of the time and place of meetings of the Committee or any sub-committee, specifying in such notice the business to be transacted.
i Any inhabitants of the area of benefit shall be entitled, with the approval of members present at any meeting, to attend that meeting and take part in the discussions on any matter but they shall not be entitled to vote.
j The Committee shall carry out the policy of The Society and, subject to any conditions imposed or directions given from time to time by The Society, provide for the conduct, administration, management and control of the affairs of the Society.
k The Committee shall meet FOUR times a year at regular intervals.
6 YOUTH COMMITTEE
There shall be a Youth Committee to consist of six members, elected by the members of the Youth Theatre, and two Youth Theatre leaders (ex officio). They shall have the right to elect one member over the age of 18 to the Management Committee. The function of the Youth Committee shall be to decide on artistic policy and programme, and to liaise with the Management Committee.
The Youth Committee shall meet four times a year. The quorum of meetings of the Youth Committee shall be one-third of the members entitled to vote thereat.
7 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
a There shall be an Annual General Meeting in September of each year or as soon as possible thereafter.
b All members of the Society shall be entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting.
c The Secretary shall give no less than 21 days’ notice of the date, time and place of the Annual General meeting to all members of the Society.
d The Chairman of the Annual General Meeting shall be the Chairman for the time being of the Committee. In his absence, the Vice-Chairman (if any) shall take the chair, but if neither is present, the persons present shall, before any other business is transacted, appoint a Chairman of the meeting.
e The Committee shall present to each Annual General Meeting the report and accounts of The Society for the preceding year.
f The matters to be dealt with at the Annual General Meeting shall include:-
i the appointment of the Committee;
ii the receipt of the report of the Committee on the previous year’s work.
8 EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS
Extra ordinary meetings may be summoned by any member of the General Management Committee with the backing of not less than one-third of the General Management Committee (including the member calling the meeting) and also if requested in writing by no less than eight members of the Society. Prior notice of seven clear days must be given to all members, and on the matters to be discussed.
9 FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
a The Society’s financial year shall be 1st September to 31st August.
b The Committee shall administer all the Society’s funds as it deems to be necessary or desirable for the furtherance of the Society’s aims and objectives.
c The Committee shall present to the Annual General Meeting an Annual Statement of Account, duly audited.
d A bank account shall be opened in the name of the Society and all cheques drawn upon the said account shall be signed by two officers, one of whom must be the Treasurer or the Chairman.
e The Treasurer shall keep account of all monies received and expended on account of the Society.
f Proper books shall be kept and audited annually.
10 AMENDMENT
a The constitution shall only be amended at an AGM or EGM called for that purpose.
b Any alteration must receive the assent of not less than two-thirds of the members voting.
c The membership must be given 21 days’ notice of any proposed amendment.
d No amendment shall be made to this constitution which will cause the Society to cease to be a charity in law.
11 DISSOLUTION
The Society may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a majority of two-thirds present and voting at any General Meeting convened for the purpose, of which no less than 21 days’ notice shall have been given to all members of the Committee and published in accordance with clause 7 (c).
Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Society, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members but shall be given or transferred to other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the object of the Society as the Committee may, with the approval of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales, determine.