Stourport-on-Severn Brass Band
Constitution
| Third Edition as adopted by the band on 7th July 1998 |
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Introduction |
| The band shall be known as the Stourport on Severn Brass Band. Hereafter in this document it is referred to as "the band". Other important definitions will be found in the Appendix. |
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Aims of the Band |
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2.1 |
The Band aims to provide musical entertainment for the general public by achieving the best possible musical standards in public performance and for its members to gain satisfaction and pleasure from playing in the Band. |
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2.2 |
Subject to confirmation at the Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.), the Band will be registered with the British Brass Band Registry as a competing band. |
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2.3 |
The Band will promote live musical performance in the locality and especially the Wyre Forest District through the giving of public concerts and participation in other musical events. |
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2.4 |
The Band aims to encourage young people in North Worcestershire to aspire to achieving high musical standards in performance through its association with the North Worcestershire Youth Brass Band (hereafter in this document referred to as the Youth Band - see Addendum 1). |
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Membership of the Band |
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3.1 |
All members have equal voting status at general Meetings. |
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3.2 |
Officers of the Band committee will be elected by the members at the A.G.M. Members who are in arrears of subscription may not vote at Band meetings. Members experiencing financial hardship may be exempted from the payment of subscriptions by the committee. |
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3.3 |
The level of subscription will be determined by the members at the A.G.M. |
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3.4 |
The names and addresses of all members will be recorded in a suitable ledger. The instrument played and any Band property in a member's possession will be recorded. |
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3.5 |
Players may join the Band either through nomination by the musical director to the committee or by a personal audition by the musical director at his or her own discretion. Non-playing persons may be invited by the committee to become members. |
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3.6 |
New players are not required to pay a subscription for a period of 6 months after joining. The date of payment of subscriptions and frequency of payment is determined by the committee at the A.G.M. |
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3.7 |
Members who intend to resign should do so in writing to the Secretary. |
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3.8 |
All members will receive a copy of the Constitution |
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Guest players and deputy players |
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4.1 |
The M.D. is authorised to invite guest or deputy players to rehearse or play with the Band at performances. |
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4.2 |
The names of all guest or deputy players will be notified to the Band Manager. |
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4.3 |
The Treasurer is authorised to reimburse travelling expenses of guest or deputy players. |
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4.4 |
Guest players may include members of the Youth Band. |
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The Musical Director |
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5.1 |
The M.D. shall be appointed by the Band by a majority vote. |
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5.2 |
The M.D. shall receive an annual fee, paid monthly, the level of which is determined by the Committee through consultation with the Trustees and the M.D. |
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5.3 |
The M.D. has discretion over Band repertoire but will consult the Band. |
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5.4 |
The M.D. may nominate to the committee an assistant conductor. The assistant shall be renumerated at the same rate (Pro Rata) as that of the M.D. |
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5.5 |
The M.D. or his/her deputy has full control of the Band during musical engagements. |
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5.6 |
The M.D. is not required to attend committee meetings unless requested by the secretary. |
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Conduct of players |
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6.1 |
Players shall maintain their instruments in good playing order. |
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6.2 |
Players are responsible for the care and safe keeping of Band property on loan to them |
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6.3 |
Players should discuss with the M.D. any musical activities outside the Band that may affect their commitment to the Band. |
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6.4 |
When in Band uniform players will uphold the dignity of the Band and not do anything which would bring the Band into disrepute. |
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6.5 |
Players should use their best endeavours to add to the musical quality of the Band. |
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6.6 |
The Committee may expel a member from the Band for misconduct. |
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6.7 |
Any member who has a grievance may request that it be heard by the Chairholder. The Chairholder will attempt to resolve any grievance and his/her decision is final. |
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6.8 |
Any member leaving the Band shall return any Band property to a trustee. It should be returned in a satisfactory condition, and the committee may levy a charge for any wilful or negligent loss of or damage to property whilst in a member's possession. The committee may request inspection of Band property at any reasonable time. |
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Band Property |
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7.1 |
The ownership of any instruments, music, uniforms or any other equipment is vested in four trustees as defined in the Appendix. |
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7.2 |
Band property shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of without the consent of the trustees. |
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7.3 |
Band instruments or equipment or music may be loaned to the Youth Band or other organisation or person provided all the trustees are in agreement. Any such loans will be recorded. The borrower is fully responsible for any loss or damage to instruments, equipment or music during the period of the loan. |
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7.4 |
Music or new equipment may only be purchased by a trustee or his or her nominated representative, and only with the consent of all trustees. |
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7.5 |
In the event of the sale or disposal of Band property, or if the Band is broken up or disbanded and its property sold or otherwise disposed of, the net proceeds of such sale or disposal shall be applied by the trustees for any purposes they see fit. |
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7.6 |
Should the Stourport-on-Severn Brass band be dissolved, the trustees will ensure that any assets purchased as a result of Arts Council Lottery funding, will be passed on to a non-profit making organisation with similar aims. |
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7.7 |
The trustees have discretion to insure Band property to its full value against fire, theft, loss or damage, and in the case of destruction or damage or loss any monies received from any insurance settlement shall be used at the discretion of the trustees for band purposes. |
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Band Officers and conduct of meetings | ||||||||||
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8.1 |
The quorum of a General Meeting shall be 50% of the current membership. All votes at committee or general meetings are passed by overall majority of the meeting. | ||||||||||
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8.2 |
The Band shall elect at the A.G.M. a committee that is empowered to conduct business on behalf of the Band. Any Band member may attend a committee meeting and may contribute to the business of the committee, but may not vote. | ||||||||||
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8.3 |
The committee shall consist of the following: | ||||||||||
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8.4 |
The committee will nominate a representative to liase with the Youth Band. A representative of the Youth Band will be allowed to participate in commitee meetings but is not allowed to vote. | ||||||||||
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8.5 |
Committee members other than the M.D. or trustees may undertake specific duties as determined by the committee. The committee may also co-opt non-members onto the committee to undertake specific functions. Co-opted members do not have the right to vote | ||||||||||
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8.6 |
The A.G.M. shall be held within 2 months of the close of the Band's financial year. | ||||||||||
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8.7 |
Committee meetings are convened by the Band's secretary. | ||||||||||
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8.8 |
Extraordinary General Meetings will be called by the secretary on receipt of signatures from seven members solely to conduct business requested by the signatories. | ||||||||||
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8.9 |
A quorum for a committee meeing shall be not less than three members. In the absence of the chairholder the committee shall appoint a chairholder for the duration of the meeting. | ||||||||||
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8.10 |
In the event of a resolution at a committee or general meeting being put to the vote and there being a tie the chairholder shall have the casting vote. | ||||||||||
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8.11 |
The treasurer is authorised to pay reasonable expenses incurred by the members. | ||||||||||
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8.12 |
The secretary maintains the minutes of all committee or general meetings in a suitable form for inspection by members. | ||||||||||
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8.13 |
The agenda for the A.G.M. is as follows :- | ||||||||||
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Finance |
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9.1 |
The trustees will appoint two auditors |
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9.2 |
The trustees shall be resonsible for ensuring that the accounts are audited prior to them being presented by the treasurer at the A.G.M. |
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9.3 |
The audited accounts shall be displayed in a suitable place for inspection by the members. |
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9.4 |
All money received from any source shall be paid into a bank or building society account to be determined by the trustees unless used immediately for band purposes. |
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9.5 |
The trustees will appoint three signatories for the purpose of signing cheques, one of whom must be the treasurer, the other two to be drawn from the committee. |
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9.6 |
The treasurer will maintain cash books and records of transactions. |
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9.7 |
Band money shall be used solely for the purpose of defraying proper costs, charges and expenses incidental to the administration and mangement of the band and for the purchase of new or replacement equipment. |
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9.8 |
The level of fees to be charged for band performances will be determined by the committee. |
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General |
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10.1 |
Clauses not specifically referred to in 10.2 may only be altered, amended or rescinded by notice of motion being sent in writing by a proposer and seconder to the secretary one month prior to the A.G.M. Motions to amnd the constitution require a two-thirds majority. |
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10.2 |
Motions to amend, alter or rescind clauses 6.8, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.8, 8.9, 8.10, 9.1, 9.2, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, and 10.3 may not be debated at the A.G.M. without the trustees giving their written consent to the motion being put. |
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10.3 |
The band shall not be broken up or disbanded as long as there are six members opposed to that course of action. |
| July 1998 |
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| NAME OF BAND | The Stourport-on-Severn Brass Band |
| THE YOUTH BAND | The North Worcestershire Youth Brass Band |
| BAND MEMBERS | People who have paid a subscription |
| TRUSTEES | The chairholder, treasurer, Band secretary and Band manager |
| BAND COMMITTEE | The committee elected by a majority of the Band in order to conduct the affairs of the Band |
| MUSICAL DIRECTOR (M.D.) | The person engaged by the Band to train and conduct, and who takes responsibility (in consultation with the Band) for the selection of repertoire. |
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| The Youth Band | |
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The Youth Band shall be known as the North Worcestershire Youth Brass band. The name refers to the catchment area of the Band. The Youth Band has this name so that its members will form an allegiance to their own musical ensemble, and to distinguish it from the Senior Band (the Stourport-on-Severn Brass Band). |
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The Stourport-on-Severn Brass Band will realise its objective of young brass players in North Worcestershire improving their ability as players, gaining satisfaction and pleasure from playing in a band and giving performances to the general public by sustaining a Youth Band. (see also 2.4 of the Constitution) |
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The Youth Band will recruit players from local schools. The Stourport-on-Severn Brass Band will foster and maintain close links with the Instrumental Music service of hereford and Worcester County Council in order to further promote its objective of encouraging the development of young Brass Players in North Worcestershire. |
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The Youth Band will endeavour to develop the musical ability of all its playing members, provide opportunities for performance and thereby give appreciation, satisfaction and pleasure, through social music making. |
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As players reach an appropriate standard they may be invited to play with, and eventually join, the Stourport-on-Severn Brass Band. |
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The Youth Band Musical Director will liase with the Musical Director of the Stourport-on-Severn Brass Band with regard to joint musical activities and the nomination of Youth Band players to play with or to join the Senior Band. Other matters relating to the management of the Youth Band will be undertaken by the Trustees or their delegated representative. Business matters that relate to the Youth Band will be reported to the Band Committee as appropriate. The Youth Band Musical Director will give a report about the progress of the Youth Band at the A.G.M. |
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Players may join the Youth Band at the discretion of the Youth Band Musical Director. Players will be made aware of the Aims and Purposes of the Youth Band and may obtain a copy of the Constitution on request. |
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The conduct of the Youth Band players is set out in Section 6 of the Constitution. |
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The ownership of any instruments, music, uniforms or any other equpment used by the Youth Band is vested in the Stourport-on-Severn Brass Band Trustees and the Musical Director of the Youth Band who is a Trustee with regard to instruments, music, uniforms and any other equpment used by the Youth band. Section 7 of the Constitution sets out Band policy for the management of Band property. |
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A representative of the Youth band will be allowed to participate in meetings of the Stourport-on-Severn Brass Band but is not allowed to vote. |
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The Youth Band shall only be broken up or disbanded with the agreement of the trustees. |
| This Addendum to the Constitution was adopted by the Trustees of the Stourport-on-Severn Brass Band and the Musical Director of the Youth Band. | |