AS AT MARCH 2005
CLAREMONT DRAMATIC SOCIETY
CONSTITUTION
1. NAME
The name of the Society shall be CLAREMONT DRAMATIC SOCIETY
2. OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY
2.1 To promote interest in live theatre
2.2 To arrange and present plays, play readings, concerts and other performances for the entertainment of members and the public.
2.3 To raise funds for charities and other bodies meriting financial support
2.4 To promote personal and friendly social intercourse between members
2.5 To purchase, rent, lease hold and dispose of any land, building or other property movable or immovable for the achievement of the objects of the Society.
2.6 To do all such other lawful things that are incidental or conducive to the attainment of any of the above objects.
3. MEMBERS
The Members of the Society shall be all such persons who are members at the date of the coming into operation of this constitution and such other persons who thereafter are elected to membership by the Committee.
4. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The annual subscription payable by members shall be fixed each year at the Annual General Meeting and shall be due on election or on 1st March annually.
5. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership automatically lapses on failure to pay the current year’s subscription within that calendar year and furthermore no member not in good standing shall be entitled to any rights of membership after 30th April of any year.
6. VOTING RIGHTS OF MEMBERS
Only members in good standing shall have a voice and vote in the management and control of the Society.
7. COMMITTEE
The control and management of the Society shall be vested in a committee elected from amongst the members at the Annual General Meeting.
The Committee shall consist of:
(a) A Chairman
(b) A Vice-Chairman
(c) An Honorary Secretary
(d) An Honorary Treasurer
(e) An Honorary Publicity Officer
(f) And 3 (THREE) additional members
A quorum shall consist of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman and 3 (THREE) others.
The offices (b) to (e) may be combined if necessary provided that the office of Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall not be held by one person.
Members of the Committee shall be elected for a period of two years and shall be eligible for re-election.
At the next Annual General Meeting following the election of the first Committee under this constitution, half the Committee shall resign but shall be eligible for re-election. If necessary those to resign shall be decided by lot.
The executive committee shall have power to fill casual vacancies and to co-opt not more than two additional members.
A member elected to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible for re-election.
8. MEETINGS OF COMMITTEE AND DUTIES
The executive committee shall hold regular meetings, keep proper minutes of its decisions and see that a proper record of members and proper accounts are kept.
All decisions of the committee shall be by majority vote of the members present.
9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The financial year of the Society shall end on 31st December each year and the Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 28th February each year.
At least twenty-one days’ notice with an agenda of matters to be discussed shall be given to all members in good standing.
The business at such meeting shall be:
(a) To receive and consider the Committee’s Report and Financial Statement for the year ending 31st December last.
(b) To consider any notice of motion from any member of which due notice has been lodged with the Honorary Secretary at least fourteen days prior to such meeting.
(c) To consider any business or proposed alterations to this constitution which the Committee may consider proper to bring before the meeting.
(d) To elect the committee as laid down in clause 7.
(e) To fix the annual subscription for the ensuing year.
(f) To elect an Honorary Auditor for the ensuing year.
(g) To deal with general business
10. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
The committee may at any time and shall on receipt of a request signed by not less than 10 members in good standing, convene a Special General Meeting to consider such proposals as it intends submitting to such meeting or which are clearly set forth in such request.
At least fourteen days’ notice specifying the business to be discussed shall be given to all members in good standing.
11. QUORUM AT GENERAL MEETINGS
(a) Twenty percent (20%) of the members in good standing shall constitute a quorum at any Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting convened by the committee. If such quorum be not present within 30 minutes of the time fixed for the holding of the meeting, it shall be adjourned to the same day and time of the following week, or if such a day be a Public Holiday, to the next succeeding day. No fresh notice of the adjourned meeting need be given. At any such adjourned meeting those present will, irrespective of number, constitute a quorum.
(b) In the case of a Special General meeting convened in consequence of the receipt of a request in terms of Clause 10, 20% of the members in good standing shall constitute a quorum. If such number be not present within 30 minutes of the time fixed for the holding of the meeting, it shall be dissolved and the proposals shall be regarded as defeated.
12. CHAIRMAN AT MEETINGS
At all General Meetings and at all Committee meetings the Chairman shall preside or in his absence the Vice-Chairman. In the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman the meeting shall elect a Chairman to preside at the meeting. At any meeting the Chairman shall have a casting as well as a deliberate vote.
13. VOTING AT MEETINGS
At all General meetings voting shall take place by show of hands unless by a majority vote the meeting decides that the voting shall be ballot, and the Chairman shall announce whether or not any proposed resolution is carried. On such announcement any 10 members may immediately demand that the resolution be submitted for decision to all members of the Society entitled to vote. On such demand the committee shall cause the proposed resolution to be submitted for decision to all members of the Society entitled to vote in such manner as they shall decide and thereafter shall communicate the result to all members of the Society.
14. AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION
The constitution of the Society shall be altered only by a resolution of which fourteen days’ notice shall have been given to all members in good standing and which shall have been passed by two thirds of the members present and voting at a General Meeting.
15. WINDING UP OF THE SOCIETY
A decision to wind up the society may only be taken by fifty percent (50%) of the members in good standing voting at a Special General Meeting convened in terms of Clause 10 of the constitution. In such event the total assets of the Society shall be liquidated and distributed to the Masque Theatre or such similar theatrical non-profit organisation nominated at such a special General Meeting.
JULY 1972
Including amendments passed at the Annual General meeting on 22.2.72.
Including amendments passed at the Annual General meeting on 25.2.94.
Including amendments passed at the Annual General meeting on 26.2.05.
Claremont Dramatic Society 