The Firhouse Singers, hereinafter termed "The Choir”.

The purpose of The Choir is a Community Choir, to enable members to enjoy choral singing and to provide entertainment to others, either to the public or private functions and charity events.

Membership shall be open to anyone who is competent to sing in tune as determined by the Music Director.

The Committee are empowered to terminate the membership of any individual whose conduct is considered detrimental to the interests of the Choir.

The affairs of the Choir shall be controlled by a Committee of between six and eight members, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, hereinafter referred to as the "AGM".

At its first meeting after election, the Committee shall elect from among themselves a Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.

The Committee shall meet at least four times in each year.

The quorum for a Committee Meeting shall be two thirds of committee members.

The Committee are empowered to fill by co-option any vacancies occurring during their term of office.

The Committee are empowered to invite to their meetings any individual whose advice or assistance is desired.

The duties of the Honorary Secretary shall be:

• to ensure that a register of members is maintained
• to hold books and documents relating to the affairs of The Choir
• to write such letters as the Committee may direct
• to issue notifications of Committee and of General Meetings

The duties of the Honorary Treasurer shall be:

• To receive monies on behalf of The Choir and to invest them, as the Committee may decide
• To make payments as authorised by the Committee

Every officer or Committee member of The Choir shall be indemnified or reimbursed against any expenses incurred with the authority of the Committee.

General Meetings

An Annual General Meeting shall be held each year at date determined by the committee.

The Committee shall be authorised to waive the necessity to hold an Annual General Meeting in circumstances where it is against the public good or medically or physically unsafe to do so.

The agenda of the Annual General Meeting shall comprise:

Report by the Chairman.

Report by the Honorary Secretary. 

Report by Honorary Treasurer, including a statement of the accounts and balance sheet. 

Election of a Committee, nominations for which must be received in writing at least seven days before the meeting. In the absence of sufficient or any postal nominations the Chairman is empowered to call for nominations from the floor, Proposals and motions of which seven days notice has been given.

An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be summoned, if a requisition is received by the Honorary Secretary, signed by at least 10 members or called by the committee.

At all General and Committee Meetings voting shall be normally by show of hands. The Chairman at the meeting may rule that a ballot is necessary. Any such ballot shall be by simple majority with Chair having a casting vote, of those present at the meeting & eligible to vote. The Chairman may accept the proxy vote of members unable to attend provided he receives the written authorisation & instruction from the member concerned at least 3 days prior to the meeting.

There shall be an annual subscription to fund the running of The Choir, the amount of which shall be approved by the Committee. The Committee shall have discretion to waive or reduce the subscription in special cases.  Members who join for the first time after 31st December shall pay half the appropriate subscription in that year and the full appropriate subscription in all subsequent years. The annual subscription shall be payable by two instalments – 50% by 30th November and remaining 50% by 28th February.

The choir may also receive fees, donations, grants-in-aid, financial guarantees or sponsorship.

Any uncertainty in these rules, or any matter not covered by these rules, shall be determined by the Committee.

These Rules may be amended only at a General Meeting and such amendment requires the supporting vote of 51% of membership of the Choir.

The Choir may be dissolved only at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose, at which the proposal is supported by at least two thirds of the members present. Any assets owned by The Choir shall then be sold and the proceeds together with any monies invested for The Choir, shall be used to settle any debts or liabilities. Any surplus remaining shall be disposed of as decided by the Special General Meeting. If the total assets are insufficient to meet the liabilities, then the deficiency shall be contributed in equal parts by all members of The Choir.