Constitution

NAME

(1) The name of the Association shall be “The Friends of Theatr Colwyn”. It is hereafter referred to as “the Association”.

OBJECTS AND POWERS

(2) The object of the Association shall be to communicate with and inform the Theatre management of the views and opinions of individuals and group users of the theatre facilities for the benefit of the theatre, staff and customers and to provide a group of volunteers to assist the staff as and when required.

(3) In furtherance of this object, but not otherwise, the Association may:
(a) raise money and invite and receive contributions to be applied to the Theatre’s projects including the development and sustaining of the Association.
(b) generally further the purposes of the theatre and encourage the development of the facilities which it affords.
(c) appoint delegates and representatives and subscribe to any other bodies with whom the Association may be concerned.
(d) engage in any other lawful activities to promote the said object.

MEMBERSHIP

(4) Individual membership shall be open to anyone who has attained the age of 16.

(5) Family membership shall be open to any family of one or two parents and any number of named children under the age of 16 living at the same address.

(6) The Committee of the Association may admit to corporate membership any company or business.

(7) All applications for membership shall be made to the Secretary or to an appropriate officer of the Association. The Committee may at their discretion exclude or remove from membership any person who for any reason is considered by the Committee to be unsuitable to be a member of the Association. Any person so removed from membership shall have the right to appeal to the Committee against such removal and the Committee may in their absolute discretion and without giving their reasons accept or reject such appeal.

COMMITTEE – MEMBERSHIP

(8) The Committee shall consist of the following Honorary Officers and other Members:
(a) a Chairman who shall be responsible for ensuring that proper minutes of all meetings are kept by the Secretary or any other appropriate persons:
(b) a Vice Chairman
(c) a Secretary
(d) a Treasurer
(e) not fewer than 2 and not more than 4 other members.

(9) Every member of the Committee and the aforementioned Officers shall
be elected at the Annual General Meeting, apart from the first year of the Association when the elected Committee shall be authorised to co-opt in accordance with 8(c) subject to subsequent ratification at the Annual General Meeting. Any Member of the Committee and the aforementioned Officers shall be eligible for re-election.

COMMITTEEE – POWERS AND DUTIES

(10) The Committee shall have the general management and direction of the funds and affairs of the Association, and may:
(a) subscribe to another organisation or body, and nominate any member of the Association to serve as its representative on that organisation or body;
(b) pay the whole or part of reasonable and proper expenses of any Member of the Committee in or about the execution of any function or duty on behalf of the Association;
(c) make, and from time to time vary, Rules for the Association which are not inconsistent with this Constitution;
(d) fill casual vacancies in its membership by additional co-option. Any person so co-opted shall retire at the next AGM but shall be eligible for election.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

(11) The rates of annual subscription for the different categories of membership of the Association shall be such sums as may be set by vote at the AGM.

(12) A temporary subscription rate, pending the second AGM may be set by the Committee.

(13) Regular volunteers carrying out a minimum of six sessions per annum shall have their membership subscriptions waived or returned.

(14) Annual subscriptions shall become payable immediately following adoption of this Constitution and renewable on the 1st October each year. Membership shall lapse if the subscription is unpaid 3 months after it is due.

FINANCE

(15) All funds and assets in the possession of the Association shall be held, paid out and applied as the Committee may direct in furtherance of the object of the Association. Pending such direction all funds shall be held in a separate book or building society account (or accounts).

(16) All cheques drawn on such bankers shall be signed by any two of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer. All documents requiring endorsement shall be sufficiently endorsed if signed by any one of them.

(17) An auditor or auditors, who need not be members of the Association, shall be appointed at the AGM.

MEETINGS

Annual General Meeting

(18) The AGM of the Association of which not less than 30 days’ notice shall be given to all members by the Secretary, shall be held during the month of October each year.

(19) The business of the AGM shall be:
(a) to receive reports from the Chairman and Officers;
(b) to receive and approve the annual accounts and to appoint
Auditors;
(c) to elect the Officers and other members of the Committee;
(d) to consider any other business of which due notice has been given in writing to the Secretary not less than 10 days before the date of the meeting.

(20) The Committee may at any time, and shall within 28 days of receiving a request in writing from any 20 members who have attained the age of 16, convene a Special General Meeting. Not less than 14 days notice, specifying the business to be transacted, shall be given by the Secretary to each member.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

(21) Committee Meetings shall be held at least three times each year or more frequently if the Committee deem necessary.

(22) A quorum shall consist:
(a) at a General Meeting, of one tenth of the members who have attained the age of 16;
(b) a Committee Meeting, of one third of the elected Members of the Committee.

CHAIRMAN

(30) In the absence of the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman, those attending shall elect a Chairman for the meeting from among their number.

DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Association may be dissolved by a Special General Meeting called for the purpose.

All members shall be notified of the venue, date and time 10 days prior to the meeting.

Irrespective of the number attending, the Association may be dissolved and any remaining funds after any debts or reasonable expenses have been settled shall be donated to charity.

This Constitution was adopted at a General Meeting held in Theatr Colwyn on October 21st 2003.

Dated this …..……………… day of ………………………. 2003

Signed …………………………………………………….Chairman