Our Constitution

 

  1. THE society shall be called "The Otley Players".
  2. THE object of the society is to educate the public in the dramatic and operatic arts to further the development of public appreciation and taste in the said arts and in furtherance of this object but not otherwise the Society through its management committee shall have the following powers:-

a) To promote plays, drama, comedies, operas, operettas and other dramatic and 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 works.

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

d) To raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscription, donation and otherwise; provided that the Society shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds.

e) To do all such other things as shall further the objects of the Society.

  1. THE society shall be managed by a Committee of members consisting of the following Officers namely:- Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. If a vacancy shall occur on the Committee then the remaining members of the Committee may appoint a member of the Society to fill it pending the next annual general meeting.
    The annual general meeting will also elect the following Officers from amongst members of the Society:- Publicity Officer, Correspondent, Theatre Trip Organiser, Community Council Representative.
  2. 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 entrance fee and annual subscription prescribed by the Rules.
  3. APPLICATIONS for membership shall be made in writing, signed by the applicant, to the Secretary, who shall submit the same to the Committee for its decision.
  4. PRIOR to election all candidates for membership shall satisfy the Committee as to their histrionic and/or musical ability.
  5. a) ANY member of the Society who in the opinion of the Committee confirmed by an Extraordinary 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 disrepute may be suspended or expelled from the Society.

    b) The Committee may, by a unanimous vote, remove from the list of members the name of any member who has persistently neglected the work undertaken by the Society and the name of any member whose conduct they consider likely to endanger the welfare of the Society.

  6. SUBSCRIPTIONS shall be fixed for each year at the annual general meeting. There shall be a reduced rate for families. Subscriptions shall become due on 1st July in each year.
  7. 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.

  1. THE annual general meeting of the Society shall be held in the month of May when the report of the Committee and the accounts for the past year, shall be presented, the members of the Committee and other Officers for the ensuing year, elected, the annual subscription for the year determined and all general business transacted.
  2. AN Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society may be called at any time at the discretion of the Committee and shall be called within 14 days after the receipt by the Secretary of a requisition in writing to that effect signed by at least 5 members. Every such requisition shall specify the business for which the Meeting is to be convened.
  3. 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 5 persons present and entitled to vote.
  4. ALL productions shall be approved by a General Meeting of the Society which shall also appoint a producer and other officials for each production.
  5. THE Society shall only be dissolved by by resolution passed by a majority of at least five-sixths of the Members present and voting at a 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 to such charitable institutions or be paid distributed or transferred to such charitable institutions or institution having objects similar to the objects of the Society as the Committee with the consent of the meeting shall determine.
  6. 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 of 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 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, 15 and 16 without the approval of the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales or other authority having charitable jurisdiction from time to time.

Adopted April 1991

© The Otley Players 2001.
Last revised: 07 August, 2001.