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Old Choristers Association
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Constitution

HANDBOOK & CONSTITUTION OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL OLD CHORISTERS’ ASSOCIATION

1 NAME:
The name of the Association shall be “Canterbury Cathedral Old Choristers’ Association” (hereinafter called “the Association”).

2 OBJECT:
The objects of the Association shall be to make contributions, wherever possible, to the perpetuation of the choral tradition in Canterbury Cathedral, (hereinafter called “the Cathedral”) as an aid to worship, to keep members of the Association alive to the memories of their connection with the Cathedral Choir, in social touch with one another and with members of kindred associations, and to provide for the advancement of the education of any person who is or has been a Chorister in or admitted as a Singing Boy in the Cathedral Choir. In furtherance of these objects the Association may:-

  1. hold a Reunion to which all categories of members, together with their friends and relatives shall be entitled to attend, at least once a year, when those present shall have the opportunity to attend Evensong in the Cathedral,
  2. Organize The Annual Festival of The Federation of Cathedral Old Choristers’ Associations in Canterbury from time to time.
  3. make financial contributions to the Clive Pare Memorial Fund.
    (Registered Charity Number 282317).

3 AFFILIATIONS:
The Association shall be non-party political.
The Association shall have the power to affiliate to other organisations having similar objects.

4 MEMBERSHIP:
There shall be three categories of membership, as follows:-

MEMBERS
Membership shall be open to all who have been Choir Boys in the Cathedral choir.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Associate Membership shall be open to the lay clerks for the time being in the Cathedral Choir, previous lay clerks of the Cathedral, parents of former Choristers and to members of other Cathedral Old Choristers’ Associations, on application to the Honorary Secretary. They shall have no voting rights at Annual General Meetings but one Associate member shall be eligible to serve as a member of the Committee on which he or she may be eligible to vote, following election to the committee at an Annual General Meeting.

HONORARY MEMBERS
Friends and well-wishers of the Cathedral Choir may be awarded Honorary Membership by the Committee either, for the duration of their tenure of a particular Office or position of responsibility in relation to the Cathedral or the Cathedral Choir, or for life. They shall have no voting rights at General Meetings but shall be eligible to serve on the Committee when they shall have voting
rights.

SUBSCRIPTIONS
Members and Associate Members (but not Honorary Officers nor Honorary Members) as defined herein, shall be required to pay an annual subscription, the amount of which shall be fixed annually by the Committee, to take effect from the beginning of the following Financial Year.

It shall not be possible for Members to secure membership for life by the payment of a single subscription.

6 PATRON:
The Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being shall be invited to be the Association’s Patron.

7 HONORARY OFFICERS:
The Dean of Canterbury for the time being shall be invited to be the Association’s President.
The Headmaster of St. Edmund’s School, Canterbury for the time being, The Master of the Junior School of St. Edmund’s, Canterbury for the time being, the Cathedral Precentor for the time being and the Cathedral Organist for the time being shall be invited to be Vice Presidents of the Association. Subject to the approval of the Members in a General Meeting, the honour of Life Vice President may be accorded to any person who has given outstanding service to the Association over an extended period. A Chairman of the Committee, an Honorary Secretary and an Honorary Treasurer shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, shall retire automatically after one year’s service but shall be eligible to be appointed again.

8 MANAGEMENT:
Subject to the limitations set out in this Constitution, the policy and general management of the Association shall be directed by a management committee, called “The Committee” herein, which shall meet not less than once a year.

9 THE COMMITTEE:
The Committee shall consist of the following: The Honorary Officers of the Association as defined in Clause 7 not more than eight additional members who shall be Members, Honorary Members or Associate Members of the Association as defined in Clause 4 and who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

In addition, the Committee may co-opt further members who shall be Members or Honorary Members of the Association as defined in Clause 4. Co-opted members shall retire automatically at the Annual General Meeting following their co-option.

Not withstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraphs, the total number of Honorary Members serving on the Committee, whether elected or co-opted, but not including the Honorary Officers, shall not exceed two and the total number of Associate Members shall not exceed one.

The Committee may appoint from members of the committee elected at an Annual General Meeting, an additional secretary and/or a membership secretary, to assist the Honorary
Secretary.

All members of the Committee, other than the Honorary Officers, shall retire automatically after two years’ service but shall be eligible to be appointed again.

10 SUB-COMMITTEES:
The Committee may appoint sub-committees, as it deems necessary and shall prescribe their function provided that all acts and proceedings of any such subcommittee shall be reported to the Committee as soon as possible and provided further that no such subcommittee shall expend funds of the Association otherwise than in accordance with a budget agreed by the Committee.

11 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS:
Once in each year, during the period 1st June – 31st October, the Committee shall convene an Annual General Meeting which the Patron, Members, Associate Members, Honorary Members, and all Honorary Officers, all as defined herein, together with members of other Cathedral Old Choristers’ Associations, shall be entitled to attend, for the purpose of:-

  1. receiving the Honorary Secretary’s Annual Report,
  2. receiving the Annual Audited Statement of Accounts,
  3. receiving the Annual Report of the Trustees of the Clive Pare
    Memorial Fund,
  4. receiving the Annual Statement of Accounts of the Clive Pare Memorial Fund,
  5. electing the Chairman of the Committee, the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer,
  6. electing Members to serve on the Committee where vacancies exist,
  7. appointing an Honorary Auditor,
  8. electing the Appointor (of Trustees) of the Clive PareMemorial Fund,
  9. making recommendations to the Committee and, wherever necessary, voting on proposals to amend this Constitution in accordance with Clause 16.
  10. making recommendations to the Appointor of the Clive Pare Memorial Fund for the appointment of Trustees of that fund
  11. where vacancies exist. (Such recommendations are not to be binding on the Appointor.)
  12. considering any other business.

The Meeting shall be convened by Notice, as defined in Clause 13, inviting Nominations from Members, as defined in Clause 4, for the various vacancies. This shall not prevent Nominations being made orally at the Annual General Meeting itself.

12 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS:
The Honorary Secretary or any other Honorary Officer, as defined in Clause 7, shall, within twenty-one days of receiving a written
request to do so, signed by not less than ten Members having the power to vote and giving reasons for the request, call a Special General Meeting. The Meeting shall be convened by Notice as defined in Clause 13.

13 CONVENING ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS:
Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings (hereinafter called “General Meetings”) shall be convened by sending, wherever practically possible, at least 14 days before the date of the proposed meeting, a Notice of Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting, by post, to all persons eligible to attend as defined in Clause 11, (other than the members of other Cathedral Old Choristers’ Associations) and, for Annual General Meetings only, by sending a Notice to the Editor of the magazine of The Federation of Cathedral Old Choristers’ Associations for publication in that magazine.

The Notices shall contain full details of the motions to be put to the Meeting.

14 RULES AND PROCEDURES AT MEETINGS:

  1. CHAIRMAN AT GENERAL MEETINGS. The President shall normally preside at General Meetings.
  2. VOTING. Subject to the provisions of Clauses 16 and 17, all motions arising at any Meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of all those present and entitled to vote thereat. No Member shall exercise more than one vote, but in the case of an equality of votes, the Officer presiding shall have a second or casting vote.
  3. QUORUM. One-half of the members of the Committee or Sub-Committee shall form a quorum but Life Vice Presidents shall not be counted for this purpose. Twenty Members shall form a quorum at General Meetings.
  4. MINUTES. Minutes of all General Meetings, Committee Meetings and Sub-Committee Meetings shall be taken and the appropriate secretary shall enter therein a record of all proceedings and resolutions.

At every Meeting, the Minutes of the previous meeting of that committee or General Meeting, shall be approved by the Meeting and signed by the Officer presiding, after amendment if
necessary.

The signed copies of all Minutes shall remain in the custody of the Honorary Secretary for the time being who should place them in the custody of the Cathedral Librarian when no longer required for reference by the Association.

15 FINANCE:
All monies held by the Association shall be applied to further the objects of the Association, as defined in Clause 2, and for no
other purpose. The Honorary Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Association and shall present a Financial Report to all meetings of the Committee. Any bank or other account shall be in the name of the Association and withdrawals shall be made on the signature of any two of the following Honorary Officers- the Chairman of the Committee, the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer but transfers between accounts of the Association within the same bank or other financial institution may be made on the signature of the Honorary Treasurer alone.

The accounts shall be examined at least once a year by the Honorary Examiner who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting and who shall not be a member of the Committee. An examined Statement of Accounts for the last Financial Year shall be submitted by the Honorary Treasurer to the Annual General Meeting.

The Financial Year of the Association shall commence on 1st May.

16 ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION:
No alteration to this Constitution may be made except at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for this purpose. Alterations shall receive the assent of two-thirds of those present and entitled to vote.

17 DISSOLUTION:
The Association may be dissolved by a Resolution presented at a Special General Meeting called for this purpose. The Resolution must have the assent of two-thirds of those present and entitled to vote. Such a Resolution should give instruction for the disposal of any assets remaining after satisfying any outstanding debts and liabilities. These assets shall not be distributed among the Members of the Association but shall be given to the Clive Pare Memorial Fund aforesaid. If effect cannot be given to this provision, the assets shall be given to The Federation of Cathedral Old Choristers’ Associations or to some similar charitable purpose.