THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF CHURCH MUSIC
WAIKATO BRANCH
1.
CONSTITUTION
This document shall be the written Constitution of The Royal School of Church
Music Waikato Branch formally constituted by the Council of The Royal School
of Church Music under Article of Association 52.
2.
DEFINITIONS
In this document the following expressions shall have the meanings indicated in
this clause:
RSCM
The Royal School of Church Music
RSCM Council
The Council of the RSCM, situated in the United
Kingdom
RSCM NZ
The Royal School of Church Music, New Zealand
RSCM NZ Council
The Council of RSCM NZ
National Constitution
The Constitution of RSCM NZ
National Secretary
The Secretary of RSCM NZ
RSCM Waikato
The regional branch of the RSCM NZ, consisting of
Affiliates, Friends and Individual Members of the
RSCM resident in the region of Waikato
Branch
RSCM Waikato
Chairman
The Chairman or Chairwoman of RSCM Waikato
Secretary
The Secretary of RSCM Waikato
Treasurer
The Treasurer of RSCM Waikato
Committee
The Management Committee duly elected to
manage the RSCM Waikato
3.
PURPOSE AND OBJECTS
(a)
Purpose
The purpose of RSCM Waikato shall be inter alia the furtherance in its
Branch area of the objects of The Royal School of Church Music.
(b)
Objects
(i)
The objects for which the RSCM is established are to promote the
study, practice and improvement of music and speech and such other
matters as in the opinion of the RSCM shall be relevant to the
conduct of Christian worship.
(ii)
The objects of RSCM Waikato shall be:
(a)
the objects of the RSCM;
(b)
to promote and inspire high standards of liturgical music,
whether it be classical or modern, choral or instrumental,
simple or difficult;
(c)
to organise workshops and choral festivals;
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
to aid church musicians, both singers and instrumentalists of
all ages, to increase their skills, including encouraging
composition by competition, publication and performance;
to encourage involvement by clergy and congregations in
church music;
to assist congregations to discover and develop new styles of
music in worship;
to offer support to organists, choir directors, choirs and
clergy in their work;
to arrange for help and advice from experts when required;
to foster friendship amongst church musicians;
to stimulate ecumenism;
to liaise with and cooperate with other similar organisations
with whom RSCM Waikato has objects in common.
PROVIDED THAT such purposes, objects and benefits shall
be limited to New Zealand.
(iii)
The provisions of this clause may be deleted or altered, and new
provisions may be added, pursuant to a vote of at least 75% of
members present and entitled to vote at a General Meeting called for
such purpose, PROVIDED THAT any such deletions, alterations or
additions are approved by the RSCM NZ Council
4.
GOVERNANCE
(a)
RSCM Waikato shall be self-governing within the terms of this
Constitution.
(b)
RSCM Waikato shall collect and pay to RSCM NZ such reasonable levies
on the membership as shall from time to time be required by the RSCM NZ
Council.
(c)
RSCM Waikato shall remit annually to RSCM NZ Council the minutes of
the Annual General Meeting and other General Meetings, the Chairman’s
Annual Report and the audited or reviewed balance sheet for the year.
(d)
RSCM Waikato shall keep and maintain a register of its Affiliates, Friends
and Individual Members, a copy of which shall be deposited with the
National Secretary. RSCM Waikato shall cause the name of an Affiliate,
Friend or Individual Member who ceases to be such to be deleted from the
register of Affiliates and Personal Members of that Branch. Members of the
RSCM Waikato shall be deemed to be members of RSCM NZ pursuant to
clause 7 of the National Constitution.
5.
MEMBERSHIP
(a)
Membership of the RSCM Waikato is open to persons and bodies resident
or established in the Branch area who belong to or are affiliated to churches
represented in the World Council of Churches, the Roman Catholic Church
and other Christian denominations and to other persons or bodies who
subscribe to the objects and purposes of the RSCM NZ.
(b)
There shall be three principal levels of membership:
(i)
AFFILIATES, which shall be groups, the members of which are
deemed to be members of RSCM Waikato in respect to the
privileges and appurtenances of membership EXCEPT THAT,
(c)
6.
pursuant to clause 8(b) herein, only three representatives nominated
by the Affiliate may cast a vote on matters arising in any General
Meeting.
(ii)
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS who are entitled to all the privileges and
appurtenances of membership including a vote on matters arising in
a General Meeting.
(iii)
FRIENDS who are entitled to some of the privileges and
appurtenances of membership including a vote at a General Meeting.
RSCM Waikato may encourage other informal affiliations so that adherents
may enjoy some benefits of membership and can receive communications.
MANAGEMENT OF RSCM
(a)
The affairs of RSCM Waikato shall be managed by a Committee, which
shall consist of the following people:
(i)
Chairman
The Chairman, who shall be appointed by the RSCM Council after
consultation with the RSCM NZ Council, shall be a Individual
Member of the RSCM, a Friend and/or a member of an Affiliate.
The Chairman will normally hold office for a term of four years but
may be reappointed at the end of such term for a further term of up
to four years after which he or she must step down.
Notwithstanding the requirements of the above provision, anyone
who has served the maximum continuous term as Chairman or
Chairwoman as hereinbefore provided may, after the lapse of at least
twelve months, be elected for a further term or terms of up to four
years each, to a maximum of two successive terms.
(ii)
Secretary
The Secretary, who will normally be an Individual Member of the
RSCM, a Friend and/or a member of an Affiliate, shall be elected at
an Annual General Meeting of the Branch and shall normally hold
office for a term of twelve months but may be re-elected at the end
of such term and any future terms.
(iii)
Treasurer
The Treasurer, who will normally be an Individual Member of the
RSCM, a Friend and/or a member of an Affiliate, shall be elected at
an Annual General Meeting of the Branch and shall normally hold
office for a term of twelve months but may be re-elected at the end
of such term and any future terms.
(iv)
Ordinary Members
Ordinary Members, who will normally be Individual Members of
the RSCM, Friends and/or members of an Affiliate, shall be
elected at an Annual General Meeting of the Branch and shall
normally hold office for a term of twelve months but may be
re-elected at the end of such term and any future terms. The number
of such elected members shall be determined by the meeting at
which they are elected.
(v)
Co-opted Members
The Committee shall have power to co-opt not more than three
persons. A co-opted member shall retire annually and shall be
eligible for co-option for a further period, or election to the
Committee by an Annual General Meeting.
(vi)
(b)
(c)
7.
Ex officio Members
Advisors to the RSCM, duly appointed by the RSCM NZ Council,
shall be ex officio members of the Committee.
(vii) Additional Members
In the case where there exists sub-branches of RSCM Waikato one
representative of each sub-branch, duly nominated by each subbranch respectively, shall be an additional member of the
Committee.
(viii) Casual Vacancies
The Committee may appoint any person to fill any casual vacancy
other than in the office of Chairman and the person so appointed
shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting and shall be
eligible for re-election.
(ix)
Chaplain
The Chaplain, who will normally be an Individual Member of the
RSCM and/or a member of an Affiliate, shall be elected at an
Annual General Meeting and shall normally hold office for a term of
twelve months but may be re-elected at the end of such term and any
future terms.
Auditor or Financial Reviewer
An Auditor or Financial Reviewer shall be appointed at each Annual
General Meeting and shall normally hold office for a term of twelve months
but may be re-appointed at the end of such term and any future terms. The
Auditor or Financial Reviewer may not be a member of the Committee.
Patrons
Patrons of RSCM Waikato may be appointed, or revoked, at any General
Meeting convened for such purpose.
PROCEEDINGS OF RSCM WAIKATO
(a)
Committee Meetings
The Committee shall be convened at least five times annually.
(b)
Annual General Meetings
An Annual General Meeting of RSCM Waikato shall be held in every
calendar year:
(i)
to elect a Secretary, a Treasurer, Ordinary Members and a Chaplain
and to appoint an Auditor or Financial Reviewer and, if necessary
or appropriate, a Patron or Patrons;
(ii)
to receive (a) the Chairman’s Annual Report and (b) the Annual
Accounts, which shall have been audited or reviewed by one or
more qualified auditors or financial reviewers;
(iii)
to set the annual subscription for Members and Affiliates for future
years;
(iv)
to transact such other business as is usual at an Annual General
Meeting.
(c)
Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meetings
(i)
General Meetings of RSCM Waikato shall be convened at the
request of its members, who represent no fewer than one third of the
members and other persons entitled to vote at such General
Meetings. Any requisition for a General Meeting, whether Ordinary
or Extraordinary, must state the objects of such meeting and be
signed by the requisitionists and deposited with the Chairman. The
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
Chairman shall convene such General Meeting as soon as
practicable after his or her receipt of such requisition,
Notice of Meetings
At least a fortnight’s notice shall be given of all Committee meetings and at
least three weeks’ notice shall be given of all Annual, Ordinary and
Extraordinary General Meetings.
Presiding over Meetings
The Chairman shall preside at each Committee meeting and each General
Meeting of the Branch or, in his or her absence, another member of the
Committee duly elected for that purpose.
Quorum
(i)
The quorum for Committee meetings shall be one half of those
members elected or appointed to the Committee;
(ii)
The quorum for General Meetings shall be one half of those entitled
to vote at any General Meeting.
Notices to members
Notices to members may be delivered by postal and/or electronic means.
8.
VOTING
(a)
Committee Meetings
Every elected or appointed member of the Committee shall be entitled to
vote at any Committee Meeting;
(b)
General Meetings
At every General Meeting, every member of the Branch whose annual
subscription is not in arrears shall have one vote. In the case of an Affiliated
Member this power shall be exercised by three persons nominated by the
Affiliated Member. Votes may be given personally or by proxy. A proxy
shall be appointed in writing.
9.
MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETINGS
(a)
The Secretary shall cause proper minutes of all proceedings of all
Committee and General Meetings to be taken and then to be entered in a
minute book or file kept for that purpose. The Chairman shall ensure that
the minutes taken of all Meetings are checked and signed as correct by the
person presiding at the next Committee Meeting or General Meeting as the
case may be. When minutes have been entered and signed as correct under
this clause they shall, until the contrary is proved, be evidence that the
Meeting to which they relate was duly convened and held; that all
proceedings recorded as having taken place at the meeting did in fact take
place thereat; and that all appointments or elections purporting to have been
made at the meeting have been validly made.
(b)
(i)
As soon as practicable after each Committee Meeting, copies of
the minutes of such meeting, whether signed correct or not, and
copies of all statements of account received by such meeting,
whether audited or reviewed or not, shall be forwarded to all
Committee Members.
(ii)
As soon as practicable after each General Meeting, copies of the
minutes of such meeting, whether signed correct or not, and copies
of all statements of account received by such meeting, whether
audited or reviewed or not, shall be forwarded to all Individual
Members and Affiliates as well as the National Secretary.
10
FINANCE
(a)
RSCM Waikato shall have its own banking account styled “RSCM
Waikato” into which all moneys received by the Branch shall be paid. The
Branch Account shall be operated by the Treasurer and two other members
of the Committee, any two of them jointly, elected by the Committee for
that purpose.
(b)
RSCM Waikato is not liable or responsible for any debts incurred by RSCM
New Zealand. Reciprocally RSCM New Zealand is not liable or responsible
for the payment of subscriptions, accounts or debts of RSCM Waikato.
(c)
RSCM Waikato shall pay a reasonable annual administration levy to RSCM
NZ, such levy to be paid each year by a date determined by the RSCM NZ
Council.
11.
PROPERTY AND INCOME
(a)
The property and income of RSCM Waikato shall be applied solely towards
the promotion of the charitable aims and objects of the RSCM and RSCM
Waikato and no part of that property or income may be paid or otherwise
distributed, directly or indirectly, to members of the Branch except in good
faith in the promotion of those charitable objects or purposes or as a
reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of RSCM
Waikato and relative to payments that would be made between unrelated
parties.
(b)
No member of the Branch, or any person associated with such person, shall
participate in or materially influence any decision made by the Branch or the
Committee in respect of a payment to or on behalf of that Branch member or
associated person of any income, benefit or advantage whatsoever.
(c)
The provisions and effects of this clause are entrenched and shall not be
removed from this Constitution and shall be included and implied to any
document replacing this document.
12.
ALTERATIONS OR AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
(a)
The Branch may alter or rescind this Constitution, or make rules additional
to it. In order to amend the Constitution the consent of not fewer than 75%
of those present and entitled to vote at any General Meeting called for that
purpose is required.
(b)
All changes and alterations to this Constitution must first be ratified by the
Council of RSCM NZ. Such ratification may not be unreasonably withheld.
(c)
No addition to or alteration of the objects and purposes or the clauses
relating to property and income, dissolution or distribution of surplus
property on dissolution shall be made without the approval of the
Department of Inland Revenue.
13.
DISSOLUTION
RSCM Waikato may be dissolved upon the consent of not fewer than 75% of those
present and entitled to vote at any General Meeting called for that purpose, together
with the consent of the RSCM NZ Council
14.
DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY ON DISSOLUTION OF RSCM
WAIKATO
If, on the dissolving of RSCM Waikato, any property of RSCM Waikato
remains after payment of all costs, MOUs, debts and liabilities, subject to any trust
or trusts affecting the same, and after payment of the costs, charges and expenses of
that winding up, such property shall not be paid to or distributed among members
of RSCM Waikato but distributed:
(i)
in the first instance, to RSCM NZ; or
(ii)
in the second instance, to another incorporated charitable association within
New Zealand, which has purposes and objects similar to those of RSCM
NZ; or finally,
(iii) for charitable purposes within New Zealand.
15.
INCORPORATION
RSCM Waikato may seek incorporation in accordance with the provisions of the
New Zealand Incorporated Societies Act 1908 or any Act passed in amendment
thereof or substitution therefore under the name of “The Royal School of Church
Music Waikato (Incorporated)”.