CONSTITUTION
adopted on the…….1st April 1994
PART 1
1 Adoption of the Constitution.
The association and its property will be administered and managed in
accordance with the provisions in Parts 1 and 2 of this constitution.
2 The Name.
The association’s name is
‘The Lakes Players’
3 The Objects.
The society’s objectives (the Objects) are:
To entertain our local community
To promote an opportunity for individuals/groups to execute their aspirations
To promote a forum for local talent
To encourage community spirit
4 Equal Opportunities.
The Lakes Players are committed to being an Equal Opportunities Organisation. It is our policy to
ensure that all committee members, associated organisations, receive the same treatment
regardless of their gender, culture, sexual orientation, marital status, age, race, colour, ethnic or
national origin, religious belief, disability or background. Nobody should be disadvantaged by any
conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified.
5 Application of the Income and Property.
(1) The income and property of the society shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the
Objects.
(2) A committee member may pay out of, or be reimbursed from, the property of the society
reasonable expenses properly incurred by him or her when acting on behalf of the society, but only
when agreed in advance of expenditure by the committee.
6 Dissolution.
(1) If the members resolve to dissolve the society the committee members will remain in office as
committee members and be responsible for winding up the affairs of the society in accordance with
this clause.
(2) The committee members must collect in all the assets of the society and must pay or
make provision for all the liabilities of the society.
(3) In no circumstances shall the net assets of the society be paid to or distributed among the
members of the society.
(4) If the society is dissolved any remaining funds will be given to a charity of the committee’s
choice on behalf of the society.
7 Amendments.
(1) Any provision contained in Part 1 of this constitution may be amended provided that:
Any resolution to amend a provision of Part 1 of this constitution is passed by not less than
two thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting.
(2) Any provision contained in Part 2 of this constitution may be amended, provided that any such
amendment is made by resolution passed by a simple majority of the members present and voting
at a general meeting.
PART 2
8 Membership.
(1) Full membership is open to individuals over 16. Only members over 18 may vote. Junior
membership is open to individuals under 16.
(2) The committee may only refuse an application for membership if, acting reasonably and
properly, they consider it to be in the best interests of the society to refuse the application.The
committee must inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for the refusal within twenty-one days
of the decision.
(3) Membership is not transferable to anyone else.
(4) The committee must keep a register of names and addresses of the members which must be
made available to any member upon request on written application and with valid reason.
9 Termination of Membership.
Membership is terminated if:
(1) the member dies or, if it is an organization, ceases to exist;
(2) the member resigns by written notice to the society unless, after the resignation, there would be
less than two members;
(3) any sum due from the member to the society is not paid in full within six months of it falling due;
10 General Meetings.
(1) The society must hold a general meeting within twelve months of the date of the adoption of
this constitution.
(2) An annual general meeting must be held in each subsequent year and not more than fifteen
months may elapse between successive annual general meetings.
(3) The committee may call a general meeting at any time.
11 Chair.
(1) General meetings shall be chaired by the person who has been elected as Chair.
(2) If there is no such person or he or she is not present within fifteen minutes of the time
appointed for the meeting a committee member nominated by the committee shall chair the
meeting.
12 Votes.
(1) Each full member shall have one vote but if there is an equality of votes the person who is
chairing the meeting shall have a casting vote in addition to any other vote he or she may have.
(2) Members may only vote if membership fees have been paid.
(3) Charity, The nominee may continue to represent the organization until written notice to the
contrary is received by the Charity.
(4) Any notice given to the Charity will be conclusive evidence that the nominee is entitled to
represent the organization or that his or her authority has been revoked. The Charity shall not be
required to consider whether the nominee has been properly appointed by the organization.
13 Officers and Committee Members.
(1) The society shall be managed and administered by a committee comprising the Officers and
other members elected in accordance with this constitution.
(2) The society shall have the following Officers:
A chair,
A secretary,
A treasurer.
(3) The number of members shall be not less than three (unless otherwise determined by a
resolution of the society in general meeting) but shall not be subject to any maximum.
(4) The first committee members (including Officers) shall be those persons elected at the meeting
at which this constitution is adopted.
14 The Appointment of Committee Members.
(1) The society in the annual general meeting shall elect the Officers and the other committee
members.
(2) The committee may appoint any person who is willing to act as a committee member.
(3) Each of the committee members shall retire with effect from the conclusion of the annual
general meeting next after his or her appointment but shall be eligible for re-election at that annual
general meeting.
15 Powers of Committee.
(1) The committee must manage the business of the society and they have the following powers in
order to further the Objects (but not for any other purpose):
To raise funds.
To buy, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and to
maintain and equip it for use;
To set aside income as a reserve against future expenditure but only in accordance with a
written policy about reserves;
To obtain and pay for such goods and services as are necessary for carrying out the work
of the society;
To open and operate such bank and other accounts as the committee consider necessary
To do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objectives
(2) No alteration of this constitution or any special resolution shall have retrospective effect to
invalidate any prior act of the committee.
16 Disqualification and Removal of Committee Members.
A committee member shall cease to hold office if he or she:
(1) ceases to be a member of the society;
(2) becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing and
administering his or her own affairs;
(3) resigns as a committee member by notice to the society (but only if at least two committee
members will remain in office when the notice of resignation is to take effect); or
(4) is absent without the permission of the committee from all their meetings held within a period of
six consecutive months and the committee resolve that his or her office be vacated.
17 Proceedings of Committee.
(1) The committee may regulate their proceedings as they think fit, subject to the provisions of this
constitution.
(2) Any member may call a meeting of the committee.
(3) The secretary must call a meeting of the committee if requested to do so by a member.
(4) Questions arising at a meeting must be decided by a majority of votes.
(5) In the case of an equality of votes, the person who chairs the meeting shall have a second or
casting vote.
(6) If the Chair is unwilling to preside or is not present within ten minutes after the time appointed
for the meeting, the committee members present may appoint one of their number to chair that
meeting.
(7) The person appointed to chair meetings of the committee shall have no functions or powers
except those conferred by this constitution or delegated to him or her in writing by the committee.
(8) The resolution in writing may comprise several documents containing the text of the resolution
in like form each signed by one or more committee member.
18 Delegation.
(1) The committee may delegate any of their powers or functions to a committee of two or more
members but the terms of any such delegation must be recorded in the minute book.
(2) The committee may impose conditions when delegating, including the conditions that:
• The relevant powers are to be exercised exclusively by the committee to whom they
delegate;
• No expenditure may be incurred on behalf of the society except in accordance with a
budget previously agreed with the committee.
(3) The committee may revoke or alter a delegation.
(4) All acts and proceedings of any committees must be fully and promptly reported to the
committee.
19 Irregularities in Proceedings.
(1) Subject to sub-clause (2) of this clause, all acts done by a meeting of committee, shall be valid
notwithstanding the participation in any vote of a committee member:
• Who was disqualified from holding office;
• Who had previously retired or who had been obliged by the constitution to vacate office;
• Who was not entitled to vote on the matter, whether by reason of a conflict of interest or
otherwise,
20 Minutes.
The committee must keep minutes of all:
(1) appointments of Officers and committee members made by the committee;
(2) proceedings at meetings of the society;
(3) meetings of the committees including:
• The names of the members present at the meeting;
• The decisions made at the meetings; and
• Where appropriate the reasons for the decisions.
21 Annual Report and Return and Accounts.
(1) The committee is responsible for
(a) keeping of accounting records for the society;
(b) preparation of annual statements of account for the society;
(c) transmission of the statements of account to the society;
22 Insurance.
The committee must insure suitably in respect of public liability and other insurance needed for
performances.
23 Notices.
(1) Any notice required by this constitution to be given to or by any person
must be:
(a) in writing; or
(b) given using electronic communications.
(2) Notice may be given to a member either:
(a) personally; or
(b) by sending it by post addressed to the member at his or her address; or
(c) by leaving it at the address of the member; or
(d) by giving it using electronic communications to the member’s address.
(3) A member who does not register an address with the society shall not be entitled to receive any
notice from the society.
(4) A member present in person at any meeting of the society shall be deemed to have received
notice of the meeting and of the purposes for which it was called.
24 Rules.
(1) The committee may from time to time make rules or bye-laws for the conduct of their business.
Signatures
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