1. Name
The name of the Society shall be 'Thurrock Operatic Society', hereafter called the Society
2. Objects
The objects of the Society shall be:
a) To present quality amateur performances of operas, operettas, musicals and other works.
b) To encourage the appreciation of all forms of music.
3. Membership
Membership of the Society shall be open to all persons over the age of 12.
a) The classes of membership shall be as follows:
i) Ordinary Members: Persons aged 16 and over admitted to ordinary membership in accordance with sub-paragraph 3b) here-of. Such persons shall be entitled, subject to paragraph 9 below, to take part in all productions and concerts presented by the Society, and shall be entitled to vote at all general meetings of the Society.
ii) Production Members: Persons aged 16 and over admitted to production membership in accordance with sub-paragraph 3b) below. Such persons shall be entitled to take part in one staged production by the Society. Membership is for the period of rehearsal and performances of that production only. Such persons shall not be entitled to vote at general meetings of the Society.
iii) Junior Members: Persons aged from 12 to 15 inclusive admitted to junior membership in accordance with sub-paragraph 3b) below. Such persons shall be entitled to take part in all productions and concerts staged by the Society, subject to the requirements of the said production, and shall be entitled to vote in general meetings of the Society.
b) Admission to membership shall be at the discretion of the committee, whose decision shall be final. The committee may decide that admission to any class of membership and/or re-admission to ordinary membership shall be by way of audition.
4. Equal Opprtunities and Complaints
a) The group will conduct its business in a way that respects others. The group is committed to equality of opportunity, and opposes all forms of discrimination against people because of their age, race, religion, culture, disability, ethnic/national origin, gender, sexual orientation, and marital status.
b) The chair will ultimately be responsible for ensuring that group functions (including rehearsals, committee meetings, and social events) conform to this statement. The director of any production should ensure rehearsals conform to this statement, or seek advice of the chair if they do not.
c) Anyone wishing to make a complaint (related to equal opportunities or any other issue) should bring the complaint to the chair, or any other member of the committee. The chair is responsible for making sure any complaint is investigated, except if he or she is implicated in which case the appellant may nominate a non-associated member to investigate. Adjudication in such a circumstance shall be by the committee at large except for any members of the committee directly implicated in the complaint.
5. Management
a) The affairs of the Society shall be managed by the Committee of the Society.
b) The Committee shall exercise the powers given to it under these rules and shall consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Officer and not less than two other members. All Committee members shall be Ordinary Members of the Society and shall be elected annually by the Ordinary Members at the Annual General Meeting of the Society.
i) Voting for the election of Committee members shall be by ballot.
ii) The Committee may co-opt an Ordinary Member of the Society to fill any casual vacancy.
c) The Committee shall meet at least four times a year to conduct the business as may be necessary. A quorum shall consist of four members.
d) The Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees for any purpose connected with the Society. Any such sub-committee may consist of at least three people, two of whom shall form a quorum. Persons who are not members of the Society may be co-opted on to a sub committee. All resolutions passed in sub-committee shall be subject to ratification by the Committee.
6. Subscriptions
a) The rate of subscription of each category of member, as detailed in 3a), shall be as fixed by the Committee from time to time.
b) The subscription for Ordinary and Junior Members shall be due and payable on 1st April each year. The subscription of Production Members shall be due on the date of the first rehearsal of the relevant production.
i) No reduction in the subscription shall be given for membership which lasts less than the full appropriate period of each class of member.
ii) The Committee may terminate the membership of any member whose subscription remains unpaid two months after the due date.
7. General Meetings
a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held in May each year. Notices of the date and time of each meeting shall be announced at least fourteen days before the meeting. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:
i) To receive and approve the Chairman's report on the year.
ii) To receive and approve the audited accounts of the Society.
iii) To elect the Committee.
iv) To transact any other business, notice of which has been given to the Secretary at least seven days before the meeting.
b) Additional general meetings may be called by the Committee following the expiry of fourteen days notice given by the Secretary.
c) The Secretary shall summon a general meeting, if required by written request signed by at least 10 Ordinary Members of the Society.
d) At all general meetings of the Society voting shall be confined to Ordinary Members who shall have paid their subscriptions for the current year. A quorum will be at least one third of paid-up Ordinary Members.
8. Accounts
The Treasurer shall keep books of accounts and shall present audited accounts at the Annual General Meeting. An auditor shall be appointed for this purpose.
9. Money
The Society's money, which is not invested, shall be kept in an account in the name of the Society at a bank or similar institution to be named by the Committee.
a) All cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer and either the Chairman or Secretary
10. Auditions
All principal roles in Society productions shall be allocated following publicised auditions. In the event of uncertainty, the definition of a principal role shall be referred to the Committee, whose decision shall be final.
a) The Committee may decide that participation in any Society production or concert shall be by audition only.
b) Arrangements for auditions, as above, and for admission/re-admission to membership as in rule 3), shall be published by the Committee. Notice of said auditions shall not be restricted to current Society members.
11. Participants
Participants in Society staged productions shall provide themselves with a copy of the relevant vocal score and libretto. If copies are available, whether owned by the Society or obtained by the Society by hire or loan, they may be lent to participants. The Committee may decide to make a charge or to ask for a refundable deposit in return for such loans. The amount of any such charge shall be decided by the Committee.
12. Alteration of Rules
These rules, or any one of them, may be added to, amended or replaced by a resolution of a two-thirds majority of Ordinary Members present and voting at a general meeting of the Society called for the purpose under Rule 6 hereof.
13. Winding Up
The Society shall be wound up if a resolution to that effect is passed by a three-quarter majority of ordinary Members present and voting at a general meeting of the Society called for the purpose under Rule 6 hereof.
a) Upon the passing of such resolution, the assets of the Society shall be used first to discharge all the debts and liabilities of the Society. All assets remaining shall be donated to the Thurrock Arts Council for use in advancing the provision of music in Thurrock. In the event that Thurrock Arts Council does not exist at the date of the Society's winding up and there is no body which may be regarded as its successor, the Committee may decide upon a charity or charities which exist primarily for the advancement of music, to which the said assets shall be donated.
14. Disputes
Any dispute arising out of, or not covered by, these rules, shall be referred to the Committee, whose decision shall be final.
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