1.0

The Choir shall be called "THE STEVENAGE MALE VOICE CHOIR".

2.0

It shall be non-political and non-sectarian.

3.0

The object of the Choir shall be the study and practice of Choral music to foster public knowledge and appreciation of such music by means of public performance.

3.1

To assist and to support such charitable institutions or purposes as the Committee shall from time to time   determine.

4.0

Membership of the Choir shall be open to all men wishing to join, subject only to a satisfactory voice test   by the Music Director and approval by the Management Committee (see 9.0 below).  

4.1

For a good and sufficient reason the membership of any individual may be terminated by decision of the   Committee PROVIDED that the individual shall have the right to be heard by the said Committee before   decision is final.  

5.0

All Members will be expected to pay a Subscription towards the expenses of the Choir.  

5.1

The size of this Subscription (or Membership Fee) shall be agreed by the Choir at an Annual General     Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting (see 10.0 below).

6.0

The Choir may receive donations, grants-in-aid or other financial remuneration for performances or other   services provided by it.

6.1

Such income, however, derived shall be applied solely to the aims and objectives of the Choir and no   portion thereof shall be paid directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or professional fee to any member of the Choir.  

6.2

Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by members on the authorised business of the Choir will be   reimbursed at the discretion of the Committee.  

6.3

An additional allowance for out-of-pocket expenses may be made for the Music Director/Conductor and the Accompanist for rehearsals and public performances.  

7.0

The financial year of the Choir will be from 1st January to 31st December.

7.1  

The books of account shall be independently examined by 31st January and a financial statement extracted therefrom shall be presented at the AGM which shall be held before the end of February (see 10.0   below).

8.0

The Executive Officers of the Choir shall be the Chairman, the Secretary and the Treasurer whose duties are as described in paragraphs 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 of the Appendix to these Rules.   No member may hold the position of Executive Officer for more than three years consecutively

9.0

The Choir shall be managed by a Management Committee consisting of the three Executive Officers and two representatives from the choir. One representative shall be from the combined First and Second Tenor sections and the other from the combined Baritone and Bass sections. Only these five Officers are entitled to vote in the deliberations of the Committee. A quorum shall consist of a minimum of three, two Executive Officers and one Choir Representative.   Choir representatives may not be in office for more than three years consecutively. This Management Committee will meet a minimum of ten times between successive Annual General Meetings.

9.1

Sub-committees may be established for specific purposes to advise the Management Committee and other Choir officers and members may be consulted by the Committee as required, but these shall have no voting rights in the Committee.

9.2

Minutes will be taken of all Management Committee deliberations and these will be available to all members. The Secretary will hold a file of minutes for the currecnt choir year and its immediate predecessor. Copies of previous Minutes will be held in the Choir Archive. Sub-committee recommendations will be passed in writing to the Management Committee and held by the Secretary with the file copy of Minutes.

10.0

The Choir will hold an Annual General Meeting at which the business of the Choir will be discussed.

10.1

At this meeting the Executive Officers and other Officers of the Choir (as deemed necessary at the time) will be elected by simple majority, by ballot if required (see the Appendix to these Rules for the list of Officers).

10.2

The Annual General Meeting shall be held on a date and at a place and time to be decided by the Management Committee within the requirements of paragraph 7.0 above. A minimum of twenty-one days' notice shall be given.

10.3

All fully paid-up members of the Choir may attend and participate in the election of Officers and other business.

10.4

A quorum for the Meeting shall be at least 50% of the members plus at least two of the Executive Officers.

10.5

An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at the request of 50% of the members or by the Management Committee giving a minimum of twenty-one days' notice. A similar quorum will apply.

11.0

The Choir shall elect an Honorary President whose purpose is to promote the Choir and its aims at all opportunities (see paragraph 1.0 of the Appendix to these Rules).

11.1

The President is elected for a three year term of office before re-election. The Presidency may be held by one person for a maximum of fifteen years.

11.2

A retiring President is automatically offered the position of Honorary Life Vice-president.

12.0

The Music Director/Conductor and the Accompanist are non-voting elected honorary members of the Choir and are appointed by a simple majority of the Choir after selection by the Committee (see paragraphs 3.0 and 4.0 of the Appendix to these Rules).

12.1

They are each appointed until they wish to resign provided that they perform their duties satisfactorily.

13.0

All music is the property of the Choir and must not be sold or loaned without sanction from the Committee.

13.1

The choice of music shall be in the hands of the Music Director.

14.0

The Choir may from time to time appoint Honorary Life Members who will be excused all membership fees.

14.1

This is the highest honour available to a member of the Choir and is awarded principally for long and distinguished service.

14.2

It does not bestow any additional voting rights to the recipient.

15.0

All Choir members are expected to attend rehearsals at agreed times and venues.

15.1

A member who is unable to attend a rehearsal shall notify his Choir Representative, an Executive Officer or the Music Director.

15.2

The Music Director/Conductor shall have sole control at rehearsals.

16.0

All Choir members are expected to participate in public performance at agreed times and venues.

16.1

A member who is unable to attend a performance shall notify his Choir Representative, an Executive Officer or the Music Director.

16.2

No member shall take part in a public performance that the Choir shall give unless he has satisfied such conditions for the attendance at rehearsals as are agreed by the Committee and the Music Dircetor.

17.0

If upon the winding up or dissolution of the Choir there remains any property whatsoever after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, the same shall not be distributed among the members of the Choir but shall be given or transferred to some Charitable Institution or Institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Choir, such institution or institutions to be determined by the members of the Choir at or before the time of dissolution and in so far as effect cannot be given to such provisions then to some charitable object.

18.0

Any eventuality not covered by these Rules shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.

19.0

The Rules of the Choir shall be altered only at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting duly called. No alteration shall be made to the Rules that would cause the Choir at any time to cease to be a Charity at Law and no alteration shall be made to Rule 3.0, Rule 17 or this Rule (18.0) without the prior written approval of the Charity Commission.

20.0

A copy of these Rules and the Appendix to them shall be available to each member.