Adopted on the 1st day of May
2005.
1. Name*
The Society shall be called
HATS (Hampton Amateur Theatre Society)
2. Objects*
The objects of the Society
are to educate the public in the dramatic and
operatic arts, and to further the development of
public appreciation and taste in the said arts.
3. Powers
In furtherance of these
objects but not otherwise the Society through its
Executive Committee may exercise the following
powers:
a. to promote plays, drama,
comedies, operas, operettas and other dramatic and
operatic works of educative value;
b. to purchase acquire and
obtain interests in the copyright of or the right to
perform or show any such dramatic or operatic works;
c. to purchase or otherwise
acquire plant, machinery, furniture, fixtures,
fittings, scenery and all other necessary effects;
d. to raise funds and invite
and receive contributions from any person or persons
whatsoever by way of subscription, donation and
otherwise, provided that in raising funds the Society
shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading
activities and shall conform to any relevant
requirements of the law;
e. subject to any consents
required by law to sell, lease or dispose of all or
any part of the property of the Society;
f. subject to any consents
required by law to borrow money and to charge all or
any part of the property of the Society with
repayment of the money so borrowed;
g. to employ such staff (who
shall not be members of the Executive Committee) as
are necessary for the proper pursuit of the objects
and to make all reasonable and necessary provision
for the payment of pensions and superannuation for
staff and their dependants;
h. to co-operate with other
charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities
operating in furtherance of the objects or similar
charitable purposes and to exchange information and
advice with them;
i. to establish or support
any charitable trusts, association or institutions
formed for all or any of the objects;
j. to assist and further such
charitable institutions and charitable purposes as
the Executive Committee shall from time to time
determine;
k. to appoint and constitute
such advisory committees as the Executive Committee
may think fit;
l. to do all such other
lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of
the objects of the Society.
4. Membership
The Society shall consist of
Members, and may also include as honorary Life
Members such other persons as shall have rendered
special services to the Society.
5. Eligibility for
Membership*
Membership shall be open to
all those over the age of 16 years having sympathy
with the objects of the Society and desiring actively
to further it and to pay the entrance fee, where
applicable, and annual subscription laid down from
time to time by the Executive Committee. Every Member
shall have one vote.
6. Applications for
Membership
Applications for membership
shall be made in writing, signed by the applicant, to
the Secretary, who shall submit the same to the
Executive Committee for its decision.
7. Capabilities of
Candidates for Membership
Prior to election all
candidates for membership as performers (Acting
Members) shall satisfy the Executive Committee as to
their histrionic and/or musical ability.
8. Expulsion of Members*
The Executive Committee may
by a unanimous vote remove from the list of Members
the name of any Member who has persistently neglected
the work undertaken by the Society or whose conduct
it considers likely to endanger the welfare of the
Society. The individual shall have the right to be
heard by the Executive Committee, accompanied by a
friend, before a final decision is made.
9. Subscriptions and Fees
The annual subscription to
the Society and entrance fees, if applicable, shall
be determined from year to year by the Annual General
Meeting.
10. Payment of Entrance
Fees and Subscriptions
Entrance fees, if applicable,
and first annual subscriptions shall become due and
be paid to the Treasurer on receipt of notice of
election from the Secretary, and all subsequent
annual subscriptions shall become due on 1st
May in each year and shall be paid to the Treasurer
not later than 1st June. All annual
subscriptions are non-refundable. The annual
subscriptions will be based on a quarterly pro rata
system if members join part way through the financial
year.
11. Non-Payment of
subscriptions
The Executive Committee shall
have power by bare majority to suspend any member
whose subscription remains unpaid after 1st
June in any year from exercising all or any of the
privileges of membership until his or her
subscription is paid.
12. Honorary Life Members
Honorary Life Members may, on
the nomination and recommendation of the Executive
Committee only, be elected on such terms as the
members of the Society at an Annual General Meeting
may from time to time decide.
13. Executive Committee*
a. The Society shall be
managed by an Executive Committee elected at the
Annual General Meeting consisting of the following
Officers, namely: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer,
Secretary and 3 Members.
b. A member of the Executive
Committee shall cease to hold office if he or she:
• [is disqualified from
acting as a member of the Executive Committee by
virtue of section 72 of the Charities Act 1993 (or
any statutory re-enactment or modification of that
provision)];
• becomes incapable by
reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of
managing and administering his or her own affairs;
• is absent without the
permission of the Executive Committee from all their
meetings held within a period of six months and the
Executive Committee resolve that his or her office be
vacated; or
• notifies to the
Executive Committee a wish to resign (but only if at
least three members of the Executive Committee will
remain in office when the notice of resignation is to
take effect).
c. The proceedings of the
Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by any
vacancy among their number or by any failure to
appoint or any defect in the appointment or
qualification of a member.
d. No person shall be
entitled to act as a member of the Executive
Committee whether on a first or subsequent entry into
office until after signing in the minute book of the
Executive Committee a declaration of acceptance and
of willingness to act in the trusts of the Society.
14. Executive Committee
Members not to be personally interested*
a. Subject to the provisions
of sub-clause (b) of this clause no member of the
Executive Committee shall acquire any interest in
property belonging to the Society [otherwise than as
a Trustee for the Charity] or receive remuneration or
be interested (otherwise than as a Member of the
Executive Committee) in any contract entered into by
the Executive Committee.
b. Any member of the
Executive Committee for the time being who is a
solicitor, accountant or other person engaged in a
profession may charge and be paid all the usual
professional charges for business done by him or her
or his or her firm when instructed by the other
members of the Executive Committee to act in a
professional capacity on behalf of the Society:
provided that at no time shall a majority of the
members of the Executive Committee benefit under this
provision and that a member of the Executive
Committee shall withdraw from any meeting at which
his or her own instruction or remuneration, or that
of his her firm, is under discussion.
15. Meetings of Executive
Committee*
a. The Executive Committee
shall hold at least two ordinary meetings a year.
b. A special meeting may be
called at any time by the Chairman or by any two
members of the Executive Committee upon not less than
4 days’ notice being given to the other members
of the Executive Committee of the matters to be
discussed.
c. The Chairman shall act as
chairman at meetings of the Executive Committee. If
the Chairman is absent from any meeting, the members
of the Executive Committee shall choose one of their
number to be chairman of the meeting before any other
business is transacted.
d. There shall be a quorum
when at least one third of the number of members of
the Executive Committee for the time being or 3 of
the Executive Committee, whichever is greater, are
present at a meeting.
e. Every matter shall be
determined by a majority of votes of the members of
the Executive Committee present and voting on the
question but in the case of equality of votes the
chairman of the meeting shall have a second or
casting vote.
f. The Executive Committee
shall keep minutes, in books kept for the purpose, of
the proceedings of meeting of the Executive Committee
and any sub-committee.
g. The Executive Committee
may from time to time make and alter rules for the
conduct of their business, the summoning and conduct
of their meetings and the custody of documents. No
rule may be made which is inconsistent with this
constitution.
h. The Executive Committee
may appoint one or more sub-committees consisting of
three or more members of the Executive Committee for
the purpose of making any inquiry or supervising or
performing any function or duty which in the opinion
of the Executive Committee would be more conveniently
undertaken or carried out by a subcommittee: provided
that all acts and proceedings of any such
sub-committees shall be fully and promptly reported
to the Executive Committee.
16. Executive
Committee’s Powers
The Executive Committee shall
have power to decide any questions arising out of
these Rules and all other matters connected with the
Society (other than and except those which can be
dealt with only by the Society in General Meeting)
and make maintain and publish all necessary orders
regulations and bye-laws in connection therewith.
17. Finance*
a. The funds of the Society
shall be applied solely in furthering the objects of
the Society.
b. The funds of the Society,
including all members’ fees, donations, box
office income and bequests, shall be paid into an
account operated by the Executive Committee in the
name of the Society at such bank as the Executive
Committee shall from time to time decide. All cheques
drawn on the account must be signed by at least two
members of the Executive Committee.
c. No member of the Society
shall receive payment directly or indirectly for
services to the Society or for other than legitimate
expenses incurred in its work.
d. No expenditure shall be
incurred by any member of the Society without the
authority in writing of the Treasurer and/or
Secretary and all accounts shall be sanctioned by the
Executive Committee.
e. The Society shall give an
annual subscription to the National Operatic and
Dramatic Association in accordance with the
subscription scales published by that Association,
and shall abide by the Rules & Bye-Laws of that
Association.
18. Financial Year*
The financial year of the
Society shall commence on 1st May and an
annual profit and loss account and balance sheet
shall be prepared within two calendar months after 1st
May in each year. [The Executive Committee shall
comply with their obligations under the Charities Act
1993 (or any statutory re-enactment of modification
of that Act) with regard to the preparation of an
annual report and annual return and their
transmission to the Commission.]
19. Annual General
Meeting*
a. The Annual General Meeting
of the Society shall be held in the month of June or
as soon as practicable thereafter, when the Report of
the Executive Committee and accounts for the past
year, duly audited, shall be presented, the Officers,
other members of Executive Committee and an Auditor,
for the ensuing year, and the honorary Life Members,
if any, elected, and all general business transacted.
b. Every Annual General
Meeting shall be called by the Executive Committee.
The Secretary shall give at least 21 days’
notice of the Annual General Meeting to all members
of the Society. All the members of the Society shall
be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
c. Before any other business
is transacted at the first Annual General Meeting the
persons present shall appoint a chairman of the
meeting. The chairman shall be the chairman of
subsequent Annual General Meetings, but if he or she
is not present, the persons present shall appoint a
chairman of the meeting
d. The Executive Committee
shall present to each Annual General Meeting the
report and accounts of the Society for the preceding
year.
e. Nominations for election
to the Executive Committee must be made by members of
the Society in writing and must be in the hands of
the Secretary at least 21 days before the Annual
General Meeting. Should nominations exceed vacancies,
election shall be by ballot.
20. Retirement of Officers
and Executive Committee*
The Executive Committee
(including the Officers) and the Auditor shall retire
annually but shall be eligible for re-election. The
names of candidates for these positions shall be sent
to the Secretary in writing at least 21 days before
the Annual General Meeting and if more names are
proposed than the number required to fill the
vacancies and sufficient are not withdrawn at or
before such Meeting, the election shall be by ballot.
If all the before-mentioned positions shall not be
filled at such Meeting or any casual vacancy shall
thereafter occur the same shall be filled by the
remaining members of the Executive Committee.
21. Special General
Meetings*
A Special General Meeting of
the Society may be called at any time at the
discretion of the Executive Committee andshall be
called within 21 days after the receipt by the
Secretary of a requisition in writing to that effect
signed by at least 7 Members. Every such requisition
shall specify the business for which the Meeting is
to be convened and no other business shall be
transacted at such Meeting.
22. Procedure at General
Meetings*
The Secretary or other person
specially appointed by the Executive Committee shall
keep a full record of proceedings at every General
Meeting of the Society.
23. Quorum at General
Meetings*
No business other than the
formal adjournment of the Meeting shall be transacted
at any General Meeting unless a quorum be present and
such quorum shall consist of not less than 5 persons
present and entitled to vote.
24. Resolution at General
Meeting
Unless otherwise provided by
these Rules all resolutions brought forward at a
General Meeting shall be decided by a bare majority
of the votes properly recorded at such Meeting and in
the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall
have a second or casting vote.
25. Selection of Works
The Executive Committee shall
select the works to be produced by the Society and
shall determine the dates of productions. A decision
will be made by a bare majority and in the case of an
equality of votes the Director shall have a second or
casting vote.
26. Selection of Cast
The cast for any production
shall be selected by the Executive Committee or by a
Selection Sub-Committee appointed by the Executive
Committee and consisting of not less than 2 persons.
27. Revision of Cast
The Executive Committee or
its appointed Sub-Committee shall have power to
revise the cast from time to time in consultation
with the Show Director, if any Acting Member to whom
a character has been assigned shall, in its opinion,
prove unsuitable for the part.
28. Obligations of Acting
Members
Acting Members shall to the
best of their ability play the parts assigned to them
and obey the directions given at all rehearsals and
performances.
29. Control of Rehearsals
The Musical Director shall
conduct all music rehearsals and the Director shall
direct all stage rehearsals.
30. Attendance at
Rehearsals and Performances
A record of the attendance of
Acting Members at rehearsals and performances shall
be kept by the Secretary. The Executive Committee
shall have power to prohibit any Member whose
attendance at rehearsals shall have been irregular
from taking part in the performance of the work in
preparation. Acting Members absenting themselves from
three consecutive rehearsals may, at the discretion
of the Executive Committee and in consultation with
the show director, be deemed to have resigned their
parts in the work then in rehearsal.
31. Acting Members in
excess of Requirements
If at any time the number of
Members rehearsing a production exceed the number of
persons required for the representation of the same,
preference shall be given to the Members who, by the
regularity of their attendance, shall, in the opinion
of the Executive Committee, have rendered themselves
most efficient.
32. Production Money
All monies due from Members
in connection with the production and performance of
any work shall be accounted for, and paid to the
Treasurer, within 21 days after the conclusion of the
final performance.
33. Production Account
Within two calendar months
after the final performance of any work produced by
the Society, the Executive Committee shall prepare or
cause to be prepared a full statement of the receipts
and expenses of each production and the same shall be
open for the inspection of Members at such time and
place as the Executive Committee shall decide.
34. Recovery of Money due
to Society
All monies due and owing to
the Society, including the Entrance Fees and
Subscriptions of Members, shall be recoverable at law
in the name of the Treasurer.
35. Dissolution of
Society*
If the Executive Committee
decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve
the Society it shall call a meeting of all members of
the Society, of which not less than 21 days’
notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be
proposed) shall be given. If the proposal is
confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present
and voting the Executive Committee shall have power
to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the
Society. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction
of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or
transferred to such other charitable institution or
institutions having objects similar to the Society as
the members of the Society may determine or failing
that shall be applied for some other charitable
purpose. [A copy of the statement of accounts, or
account or statement, for the final accounting period
of the Society must be sent to the Charity
Commission.]
36. Alteration to Rules*
a. No alteration of these
Rules shall be made except at a General Meeting nor
unless 21 days prior to such a meeting a written
notice of the proposed alteration or of one
substantially to the like effect shall have been
given to the Secretary, who shall give 14 days notice
thereof to the members and the resolution embodying
such proposed alteration shall be carried by a
majority of at least two thirds of the members
present and voting at a General Meeting.
b. [No amendment may be made
to clauses 1, 2, 16, 38 or this clause without the
prior consent of the Charity Commission].
37. Arrangements until
first Annual General Meeting*
Until the first Annual
General Meeting takes place this constitution shall
take effect as if references in it to the Executive
Committee were references to the persons whose
signatures apear on the hard copy of this document,
as held by the HATS Secretary.
