Friends of Clare Choir

Constitution

Aims and Objects

To support and promote the current and future activities of Clare Choir.
To promote friendly association between former members of the Choir and to foster and maintain links between them and the College and the present Choir.
To promote such activities in furtherance of those objects (including at least one annual event at the College) as may be determined by the Committee.

President

Membership

The following are to be members of the Friends ex officio: the Dean, the Director of Music, the Development Director and the Choir Administrator.
All other members shall be divided into 3 classes, namely singing members (current or former members of the Choir), non-singing members (other members of the College) and supporting members (other persons desiring to support the Choir).
Graduating members of the Choir shall be offered automatic membership of the Friends upon graduation for a period of three years without payment of a subscription. Such membership shall lapse after three years, unless renewed by the payment of a subscription.

Committee

the Director of Music (as Chairman, ex officio)
the other ex officio members: the Dean, the Development Director and the Choir Administrator
the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer or their nominated representatives from among the membership
one member of the current Choir nominated by the members of the current Choir

The Committee may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership.
The Committee may co-opt any member in any class of membership at any time either as an additional member or to fill a casual vacancy but the appointment of the member concerned will lapse at the next annual general meeting unless confirmed by the Friends in general meeting.
The quorum for meetings of the Committee shall be 5 but in determining whether a quorum is present not more than 3 ex officio members shall be counted.
The Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer shall be elected to the Committee by the general meeting of the Friends for a period of 3 years in each case and shall be eligible to be re-elected.

Voting

All fully paid members and ex officio members of the Friends shall be entitled to one vote and in the event of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

Finance

A separate fund shall be kept by the College in the name of the Friends.
Transfers or withdrawals of amounts greater than £200 must be authorised by the Honorary Treasurer and the Honorary Secretary.
The accounts of the Friends shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting.
The accounts of the Friends shall be drawn to 30 June in each calendar year.

General Meetings

There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Friends at or shortly before the end of each financial year, when the accounts shall be presented and such other business transacted as may be necessary and appropriate.
The Chairman shall preside. If the Chairman is not present within 5 minutes of the notified time of the meeting one of the ex officio members of the Committee shall preside.
Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to members at least 14 days in advance.
The Committee may call an Extraordinary General Meeting at any time. If at least 15 members request such a meeting in writing, stating the business to be considered, the Honorary Secretary shall call such a meeting. The notice of the meeting must state the business to be discussed.

Alteration of Constitution

Alteration of this Constitution may be effected only at a General Meeting. Any change shall need the approval of at least 75 per cent of those present at the meeting whether voting or not.
At least six weeks’ notice must be given to the Honorary Secretary of any proposed alteration and he/she shall circulate notice of the proposed alteration to members at least 14 days before the General Meeting.
An up-to-date copy of the Constitution will be kept by the Hon. Secretary and the College.