(Amended 2002)
(Amended 2005)
(Amended 2017)

 

 
1.  Name - The Group shall be called "Tayside Opera". 
 
2.  Objects - The object of the Group shall be the study and performance of, and the promotion of public interest in, Grand Opera. 
 
3.  Membership - The Group shall consist of (a) Active Members who shall undertake to take part in any performance organised either wholly or in part by the Group, (b) Honorary Life Members, (c) Patron Members.  Honorary Life Members are those members who have been proposed by the Executive Committee and endorsed by the Members at an AGM. 

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Active Membership may be gained by audition, or by invitation from an existing member, and endorsed by the committee. It is a condition of Membership to undertake regular attendance at rehearsals.  Active Members are required to attend at least 60% of rehearsals specified by the President in consultation with the Musical Director and all rehearsals held at the performance venue. 

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The Executive Committee may, after consideration, decide to permit members who fail to achieve this minimum attendance requirement to participate in the production. An active Member not able to participate in any staged production may apply to the Executive Committee for leave of absence. 

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Any Active Member who withdraws from a production without being granted leave of absence may be obliged by the Executive Committee to re-apply and or audition for Active Membership the following year. Active Members will constitute a pool of performers from which the cast will be chosen according to the particular needs of the production in hand. 

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No members or member shall be entitled to use the name of the Group at any concert, performance or entertainment, without the permission of the Executive Committee being first asked and obtained. The Executive Committee shall have the power to exclude any member from the privileges of Membership, but shall be bound if called upon to disclose, to the said member only, the reason for their action. 

The Annual Subscription payable by Active Members shall be as decided from time to time by the Executive Committee and ratified by the Annual General Meeting, and shall become due and payable after the AGM each year or by standing order as per Treasurer’s guidelines. The Annual Subscription payable by Patron Members shall be decided from time to time by the Executive Committee and ratified by the Annual General Meeting. 
 
4. Honorary Appointments - The Members at the Annual General Meeting may elect an Honorary President, and one or more Honorary Vice-Presidents. 

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 5. Office Bearers - The Office Bearers shall consist of President, Vice-President, Administrator and Treasurer. These shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a period of three years. No Office Bearer or member of the Executive Committee or any other member of Tayside Opera shall receive any remuneration or other financial benefit from Tayside Opera or its activities other than the reimbursement of expenses properly incurred by the member on behalf of Tayside Opera. 
 
6. Executive Committee - The management of the Group shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee which shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Administrator and Treasurer (all ex officio) and up to six other members who shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The Executive Committee shall have power to co-opt up to three further members. The Executive Committee may remit particular areas of responsibility to its individual members, viz. Sponsorship, Publicity, Production, Social, Patron Members, Orchestra and Bookings. 
 
7.  Musical Director - The Musical Director, who is not permitted to be a member of Tayside Opera, will be appointed by the Executive Committee on terms to be reviewed annually at the first Committee meeting after the AGM. If an Active Member is appointed as Musical Director they must resign from Active Membership. 
 
8. Production Director - A Production Director, who is not permitted to be a member of Tayside Opera, may be appointed by the Executive Committee on terms to be reviewed annually at the first Committee Meeting after the A.G.M. 
 
9. Functions of Executive Committee - a) Decide on major matters of policy, such as the adoption of the estimates, and the declaration of the financial limits within which the Group shall work. b) Prepare estimates of income and expenditure for the year, and will be responsible for advertising, publicity of all forms, programmes for the production, sale of tickets, salaries and contracts. c) Arrange all rehearsals, staging, scenery, costumes, provision of an orchestra and professionals, and shall appoint a Stage Manager and Assistants and a Wardrobe Mistress. It shall also determine the opera(s) to be produced. d) Select the casts for the year's production and suitable candidates for membership of the Group, or appoint a sub-committee to do so when required. e) Be empowered to appoint from the membership persons to undertake special responsibilities as the need arises. 
 
10.  Funds - Correct accounts and books shall be kept by the Treasurer, and these shall be examined and exhibited prior to the Annual General Meeting. Any monies payable by Active Members to the Group must be paid within three months of the same being due, and non-payment thereof will render the Member liable to expulsion without prejudice to the Group's claim. The income and property of the Society when so ever derived shall be applied solely towards promoting the objects of the Society as set forth above and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred either directly or indirectly to any member or members of the Society except in payment of legitimate expenses incurred on behalf of the Society. The financial year will end on 30th June.

 
11. Meetings -The Annual General Meeting of the Group shall be held as soon as practicable after the end of the financial year (30th June) and at the latest by 31st October when the President's and Treasurer's Reports and independently examined accounts shall be submitted. The report and accounts shall be sent to OSCR before the end of March the following year or at such date as OSCR requires.

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Office Bearers and Committee appointed, and any other competent business transacted. Active Members who are fully paid up for the previous year and Honorary Life Members shall be entitled to vote at the AGM. One half of the total Active Membership shall constitute a quorum at this meeting. A Special General Meeting shall be called on a requisition being presented to the Administrator signed by at least five Active Members, stating fully the matter to be discussed. Two-thirds of the total Active Membership shall constitute a quorum at such meetings. A minimum of seven days and a maximum of twenty-eight days’ notice of such Special Meeting and its business shall be given in writing to all Active Members. 
 
12. Music - Each member shall provide himself or herself with a copy of the Opera or the chorus parts of the Opera to be produced by the Group. The cost of this may, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, be subsidised. 
 
13. Resignation of Members - Members desiring to resign must intimate their resignation in writing to the Group before the date of the Annual Meeting; otherwise they shall be liable for the ensuing year's subscription. The Executive Committee shall have powers generally to do everything necessary for the carrying on of the Group's affairs, subject to the Rules and Regulations of the Group. All the Active Members of the Group shall be equally responsible for the Group's liabilities. Any Active Member who has not submitted their resignation in writing as required shall be deemed still to be an Active Member, even if they have not paid the current year's subscription. The Executive Committee on behalf of the Group may institute proceedings necessary for the recovery of money due to the Group. 
 
14. Alteration of Constitution and Rules - No alteration of the Constitution and Rules shall be made except at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, and unless supported by two-thirds of the Members present. Notice of any proposed alteration must be given in writing to the Administrator who will be required to convene such a Meeting in accordance with Clause 11. 
 
15. Dissolution - No dissolution of the Group shall take place unless with the consent of three-quarters of the Active Members present at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose. At least two-thirds of the Active Members of the Group must be present at such a Special General Meeting. Fourteen days’ notice must be given of such a meeting. 
 
In the event of the Society being wound up, any assets remaining upon dissolution after the payment of proper debts and liabilities shall be transferred to a charitable institution or institutions having similar objects to those of the Society.