WAOS – Staging Musical Theatre In Witham

Constitution

 1.           Title

The Society shall be called “Witham Amateur Operatic Society” abbreviated to WAOS.

 2.           Aims and Objectives

The objects of the Society shall be to educate the public in the dramatic and operatic arts and to further the development of the public appreciation in the said arts by giving musical and operatic performances in Witham and the neighbourhood.

 3.           Constitution

The Society shall consist of a President, Members (adults and juniors), and Friends.

  • The Junior members shall be collectively known as Witham Operatic Workshop (WOW) and the business of the junior members shall be delegated to a Sub-Committee of the executive Committee of WAOS.
  • Friends are supporters of WAOS who make a donation to the Society funds in exchange for voting rights (other than show selection) and priority booking.
  • WAOS is committed to equality of opportunity and will not discriminate against prospective or current members on the basis of colour, race, nationality, gender or disability.

 4.           Finance & Management

a.           Finance

  • The funds of the Society shall be applied solely to the stated objects of the Society.
  • The Society shall be conducted as a non-profit making concern and it shall be the rule that no officer or member of the Society either directly or indirectly shall benefit financially by virtue of membership.
  • All financial transactions shall conform to the rules laid down by the Charity Commissioners.
  • In the event of the activities of the Society being temporarily suspended, any monies in hand shall be placed in trust for any subsequent revival of the Society. In the event of dissolution, any assets remaining after payment of all outstanding debts and liabilities shall not be divided amongst the members, but shall be given or transferred to some other charitable society or societies established for a similar charitable purpose.

  b.           Management

The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the whole of the general management of the Society, with entire control over all financial matters. The Executive Committee shall comprise 9 members of the Society, namely Chairman, Secretary, Business Manager, Treasurer, Production Manager, Publicity Manager and three others. At least one member of the Committee shall be a member of the junior section Sub­committee.

  • A quorum of the committee shall be 5 committee members present.
  • The Executive Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees 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 sub-committee; provided that all acts and proceedings of any such sub-committees shall be fully and promptly reported to the Executive Committee. Any such sub-committee that requires a Treasurer must comprise at least one member and the Treasurer of the Executive Committee.
  • The Executive Committee has the power to deal with any contingencies not made for in the ‘Constitution’ but no alteration of the ‘Constitution’ shall be made without the sanction of a General Meeting of the Society.
  • All members of the Executive Committee are deemed to be Trustees of WAOS, a Registered Charity – No 265029.
  • No amendments to the -Constitution- shall at any time be made which will cause the Society to cease to be a Charity.

 5.           Election of Executive Committee

All Executive Committee members shall be elected by the adult members present at each Annual General Meeting.

  • Each member will receive due notice of the election.
  • Each candidate must be a WAOS member and at least 18 years old.
  • Each candidate must be proposed, seconded and elected by a simple majority of the adult members attending the meeting.

6.           Meetings

  • A General meeting of the Society may be called at any time on the requisition of not less than 10 members of the Society or a quorum of the Executive Committee.
  • 7 days’ notice of any General Meeting shall be given
  • No person other than a friend or a paid up member may vote at either an AGM or Special General Meeting.
  •  The Annual General Meeting shall be held as soon as practicable after 31 December in each year. The accounts of the Society shall be made up to this date and presented to the Annual General Meeting. Additionally the Chairman or his nominee shall present a review of the previous year.
  • The ‘Constitution’ may be revised only at a General Meeting.

 7.           Membership and Subscriptions

  • Applications for membership shall be made to the Secretary for consideration by the Executive Committee as soon as practicable.
  • The subscription shall be determined from year to year at the Annual General Meeting. Additionally, the Executive Committee shall have the power ‘to levy a performance fee on all cast members participating in a show, this to become due for payment immediately after auditions have taken place and casting is complete.
  • Subscriptions are due on 1 May each year and must be paid by the end of June, when if not paid, membership will lapse.
  • The Executive Committee, by two thirds vote, can terminate or refuse membership of WAOS.

8.           Selection of Shows

  • The Show Selection sub-committee, as nominated by the Executive Committee. shall compile a short list of shows, considering casting, venue, cost, competition etc.
  • The Society shall choose from the short list of shows presented at a General Meeting using a ballot system.  The shows chosen shall require a simple majority of the adult members attending the meeting.

 9.           Show Auditions

  • Auditions will be held at a time and venue as directed by the WAOS Executive Committee, but as soon as possible after rehearsals begin (for general directives, see Guidelines Governing the Conduct of Auditions).
  • Any person wishing to audition for a show must be a fully paid-up member of the Society.
  • The conduct of auditions will be under the direction of the Audition Committee which shall comprise Director, Musical Director, Choreographer (if any), a member of  the Executive Committee and one/two others not involved in the show (to make five in all) as nominated by the Executive Committee.
  • Should any member of the Audition Committee be auditioning, or have a member of their family auditioning, then that committee member shall stand down during the auditioning and subsequent discussion of that particular part.

 10.       Obligations of Members

  • Society members shall, to the best of their ability, play the parts assigned to them, whether principal or chorus, as directed by the production team, at all rehearsals and performances.
  • All Cast members will be subject to a probationary period and if, in the opinion of the production team and subject to endorsement by the Executive Committee, they are not proficient or have not attended regularly they will be taken out of the cast and replaced as required.
  • All Cast members will adhere to the Notes for Performing Members, separately detailed and which may, from time to time, be altered by the Executive Committee.
  • Society members not on stage for a particular show should, whenever possible, be willing to assist backstage, front of house, or in some other capacity.

 11.       Register of Attendance

  • The Production Manager or his/her appointed deputy shall keep a record of attendance at rehearsal.

12.       Sale of Reserved Seats

  • The number of seats which a member is allowed to book may be limited for any performance at the sole discretion of the Executive Committee who, before priority booking shall inform the membership.

 

WAOS – Registered Charity No: 265029

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