FUTURE  EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY
 
 

   1.  NEXT PLAY  - LAST  PLAY OF OUR 2008 SEASON!
 

                     COME ON, JEEVES
                                   by  P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton

                      Jeeves is on loan to the Earl of Towcester - and what fun and games
                      ensue! The imperturbable Jeeves rescues his lordship from one scrape
                      after another. Will he help retrieve the family fortune?  A highly
                      entertaining farce!
  
               (Sunday, November 23rd - Saturday September 29th)    
                                           

                  This play is to be produced by Theresa Mulkerrin

                                                   -oOo-

    2. FIRST  PLAY OF OUR 2009 SEASON!

                   THE WINSLOW BOY

           (Sunday, February 8th - Saturday February 14th 2009)

                  This play is to be produced by Barbara Woodhouse

                                                                        -oOo-

   3.   THEATRE WORKSHOP GROUP
              (PLAY READINGS)

This group meets on Tuesdays, at 7.30pm in the Green Room in the City
Theatre.  Everyone is very welcome to come along, as are any ideas and suggestions.

                                                                       -oOo-
 

   4.   NEW DDS (CHARITABLE STATUS) 

                        CONSTITUTION
 

At an Extraordinary General Meeting following their AGM on 10th March 2006,  Durham Dramatic Society voted to amend its constitution in order that it may achieve charitable status.  The meeting also voted to adopt the draft Constitution, presented hereunder, for the purposes of proceeding with our application for charitable status.
 

                                                  DRAFT CONSTITUTION

                                        Proposed Constitution of  The Durham Dramatic Society LTD

                                                         Adopted on 10 March ………… 2006
 

A. NAME

The name of the Association is The Durham Dramatic Society LTD
(“The Charity”)

B. ADMINISTRATION

Subject to the matters set out below the Charitable Company and its property shall be administered and managed in accordance this constitution by the members of the Executive Committee, constituted by clause G of this constitution (the Executive Committee)
 

C. OBJECTS

The Charitable Company’s objects are: 

a) To promote and encourage dramatic arts as an element in education

b) Present, produce, manage and conduct at any theatre or hall such plays, dramas comedies operas, burlesque, masques pantomimes, cinematograph films, sound producing films, promenade and other concerts, musicals and other pieces, ballet shows, exhibitions and other entertainments, lectures, play readings, conferences, discussions debates and similar performances, for transmission by telephone, wireless broadcast, television or other apparatus, or otherwise, and such functions as the Charitable Company may from time to time think fit, which shall be for an educational or partly educational nature.
 

D. POWERS

In furtherance of the objects but not otherwise the Executive Committee may exercise the following powers:

(i) The power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions
provided that in raising funds the Executive Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law.

(ii) The power to buy, take on lease or in exchange any property
Necessary for the achievement of the objects and to maintain and equip it for use;

(iii) The power subject, to any consents required by law to sell, lease or dispose of all or any part of the property of the Charitable Company:

(iv) The power subject to any consents required by law to borrow money and to charge all or any part of the property of the Charitable Company with repayment of the money so borrowed;

(v) The power to employ such staff (who shall not be members of the Executive Committee) as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the objects and to make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and superannuation for staff and their dependants:

vi) To purchase or otherwise acquire and obtain exclusive and other interests in copyrights and rights of presentation, and any other literary and dramatic rights of or in plays, music, songs words, operas, comedies, burlesques, and compositions which may be regarded as educational or partly educational

vii) The power to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them;

viii) The power to establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects:

ix) The power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Executive Committee may think fit;

x) The power to all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects
 

E. MEMBERSHIP

There shall be four categories of Membership. Membership of the Charitable Company shall be open to:

i) Full Members: Any person over the age of 18 years interested in furthering the objects and who has paid the annual subscription laid down from time to time by the Executive.

ii) Junior Membership: Any individual under the age of eighteen years old on the first of January, shall be eligible for Junior Membership during that year at a reduced subscription as decided from time to time by the Membership at the Annual General Meeting.  Such junior members will be entitled to attend and speak at General Meetings but will not be entitles to vote.

iii) Family Membership: At the discretion of the governing body a family rate subscription maybe applied to a family group consisting of , each having one vote, plus a number of free junior members, having no votes.  The number of junior members in a family membership shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.  The names of all the members of a family group shall be advised to the secretary

iv) Honorary Members: Any person of eminence or distinction supporting the aims and objects of the Charitable Company, or any member or past member of the Charitable Company who has rendered outstanding service to the Charitable Company may be appointed by the Executive to be an Honorary Member and shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of a Full Member

v) Honorary President: Any person of eminence or distinction supporting the aims and objects of the Charitable Company, or any member or past member of the Charitable Company who has rendered outstanding service to the Charitable Company may be appointed by the Executive to hold the position of Honorary President and shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of a Full Member

vi) Every member shall have one vote

vii) A register of names and addresses of members shall be kept.  If any member shall fail to give a place of address in the United Kingdom s/he shall not be entitles to receive notice of any General Meetings and other proceedings of the Charitable Company and no meetings and or proceedings shall be invalidated by reason of his/her not receiving such notice of the aforesaid

viii) The Executive may by unanimous vote and for god reason terminate the membership of any individual or member Charitable Company provided that the individual and or group concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Executive Committee accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.

.ix) If any member shall fail to pay his/her annual subscription for two consecutive years s/he shall be deemed to have resigned his/her membership and his/her name shall be removed form the register but s/he shall remain liable to pay such subscriptions and other sums due from him/her
 

F. HONORARY OFFICERS

At the Annual General Meeting of the Charitable Company the members shall elect from amongst themselves a Chairperson, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and Theatre Manager who shall hold Office from the conclusion of that meeting.  Previous holders of these offices will be eligible for re-election. 
 

G. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(i) The Executive Committee shall consist of not less than 6 members and not more than 10 members being:

The honorary officers specified in the preceding clause:

Not less than 4 and not more than 6 members elected at the Annual General Meeting who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting

The Executive will comprise:

The Honorary Officers
Six members elected as above

(2) The Executive may in addition appoint not more than 3 co-opted members but so that no-one may be appointed as a co-opted member, if, as a result, more than one third of the members of the Executive Committee would be co-opted members.   Each appointed of the co-opted member shall be made at a special meeting of the Executive Committee called under clause Q and shall take effect from the end of that meeting unless the appointment is to fill a place which has not then been vacated in which case the appointment shall run from the date when the post becomes vacant.

(3) At the Annual General Meeting each year two of the six remaining Directors shall retire from office but shall not be eligible for re-election in the same capacity in that year.  Election of the replacements for these two retiring Directors, together with any vacancies caused by the election of any other existing Directors to the position of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer or Theatre Manager will take place at the AGM.  The Directors to retire shall be those who have been or are deemed to have been the longest in office since their last election or appointment.  As between Directors of equal seniority, the Directors to retire shall in the absence of agreement be selected from among them by lot.

(4) The proceedings of the Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by any vacancy among their number or by any failure to appoint or any defect in the appointment or qualification of a member.

(5) No person shall be entitled to act as a member of the Executive Committee whether or not on a first or on any subsequent entry into office until after signing the minute book of the Executive Committee a declaration of acceptance and of willingness to act in the trusts of the Charitable Company.

(6) No person shall be eligible for election or to serve, or to continue to serve as a Director or for election to or to hold or to continue to hold office as Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer or Theatre Manager of the Charitable Company unless;

· He or she has been a Full Member of the Charitable Company for at least two years previous to the date of the AGM at which he or she is elected and that all monies payable by him/her have been paid

· He or she has been duly nominated and seconded for election by two full members of the Charitable Company

· He has indicated to the Secretary of the Company, for the time being, his/her willingness to act

· The Directors of the Company may from time to time and at any time fill any casual vacancy occurring in the Office of Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer or Theatre Manager provided that any person so appointed shall retain this office only until the next Annual General Meeting, but shall be eligible for re-election

(7) Nobody shall be appointed as a member of the Executive Committee who is under 18 or who would if appointed be disqualified under the provisions of the following clause
 

H. DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
 

A member of the Executive Committee shall cease to hold office if he or she:-

(l) Is disqualified from acting as a member of the Executive Committee by virtue of section 445 of the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision)

(2) Becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing his or her own affairs:

(3) Is absent without the permission of the Executive Committee for three consecutive meetings.

(4) Notifies to the Executive Committee a wish to resign (but only if it lease three members of the Executive Committee will remain in officer when the resignation is to take effect)
 

I. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOT TO BE PERSONALLY INTERESTED

(1) {Subject to the provisions of sub-clause (2) of this clause} no member of the Executive Committee shall acquire any interest in property belonging to the Charitable Company (otherwise than as a trustee for the Charitable Company) or receive remuneration or be interested (otherwise than as a member of the Executive Committee) in any contract entered into by Executive Committee.

(2) Any member of the Executive Committee for the time being who is a solicitor, accountant or other person engaged in a profession may charge and be paid all the usual professional charges for business done by him or her or his or her firm when instructed by the other members of the Executive Committee to act in a professional capacity on behalf of the Executive Committee benefit under this provision and that a member of the Executive Committee shall withdraw from any meeting at which is or her own instruction or remuneration, or that of his or her firm, is under discussion
 

J. MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(1) The Executive Committee shall hold a General Meeting in every calendar year as its Annual General Meeting. A special meeting may be called at any time by the chairmen or by any two Members of the Executive Committee upon not less than 4 days’ notice being given to other members of the Executive Committee of the members to be discussed but if the matters include an appointment of a co-opted member then not less than 21 days’ notice must be given.

(2) The chairman shall act as chairman at meetings of the Executive Committee. If the chairman is absent from any meeting, the members of the Executive Committee present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the Meeting before any other business is transacted

(3) There shall be a quorum when at least one third of the number of members of  the Executive Committee for the time being or three members of the Executive Committee, whichever is the greater, are at present at the meeting

(4) Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the Executive Committee present and voting on the question but in the case of equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote

(5) The Executive Committee shall keep minutes, in books kept for the purpose, of the proceedings at meetings of the Executive Committee and any sub-committee 

(6) The Executive Committee may from time to time make and alter rules for the conduct of their business the summoning and conduct of their meetings and the custody of documents.   No rule may be made which is inconsistent with this constitution

(7) The Executive Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees consisting of three or more members of the Executive Committee 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 shall be fully and promptly reported to the Executive Committee
 
 

K. PRODUCTION COMMITTEE

There shall be a sub-group known as the Production Committee for the purposes of selecting the annual programme and the producers to oversee the plays.

The Sub Group Committee shall comprise:

i) A Chairperson:  to be elected annually by the members at the AGM of the Company (no member may hold the office for more than three consecutive years and none of the Officers of the Company (Chairperson, Secretary, treasurer or Theatre Manager) may simultaneously be Chairperson of the production Committee.  The Chairperson of the Production Committee shall have been a member of the Production committee for at least one year.

ii) Three Members, elected as follows: At the AGM each year on of the three members shall retire from the committee but shall not be eligible for re-election that year.  Election for the retiring committee member shall take place at the same AGM

iii) All the producers of the producers of plays for the coming season (the season shall be deemed to commence on the 1stt October each year)

iv) All the producers of the play in the current season (the season shall be deemed to finish on the 30th September each year)

v) The Chairperson of the Company (ex officio)

The Chairperson and elected members of the Production Committee should be nominated by two Full Members of the Company in writing to the secretary of the Company before the AGM by a date to be specified in the Agenda of the AGM

If an election is necessary the Chairperson and elected members of the Production Committee shall be elected by secret ballot at the AGM

The Committee may from time to time invite representatives of the Company to attend meetings for a specific purpose or function provided that they do not have a vote at such meetings

The Committee will elect form their number, following the AGM one of themselves to act as Secretary

A copy of all minutes of meetings must be lodged with the secretary of the Company within three months of the said meeting
 

L. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE

(l) The funds of the Charitable Company, including all donations, contributions and bequests shall be paid into an account operated by the Executive Committee in the name of the Charitable Company at such bank, as the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide.   All cheques drawn on the account must be signed by at least two members of the Executive Committee

(2) The funds belonging to the Charitable Company shall be applied only in furthering the objects
 

M. PROPERTY

(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-clause (2) of this clause, the Executive
 Committee shall cause the title to:

a) All land held by or in trust for the Charitable Company, which is not 
Vested in the Official Custodian for Charities, and 

b) All investments held by or on behalf of the Charitable Company: to be vested either in a corporation entitled to act as custodian trustee or in not less than three individuals appointed by them as holding trustees.    Holding the Executive Committee may remove trustees provided they act in accordance with the lawful directions of the Executive Committee, the holding trustees shall not be liable for the acts and defaults of its members.

(2) If a corporation entitled to act as custodian trustee has not been appointed to hold the property of the Charitable Company, the Executive Committee may permit any investments held by or in trust for the Charitable Company to be held in the name of a clearing bank, trust corporation or any stock broking company which is a member of the International Stock Exchange (or any subsidiary of any such stock broking company) as nominee for the Executive Committee, and may pay such a nominee reasonable and proper remuneration for acting as such.
 

N. ACCOUNTS

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to: -

The keeping of accounting records for the Charitable Company

The preparation of annual statements of account for the Charitable Company

The auditing or independent examination of the statements of account of the Charitable Company: and

The transmission of the statements of account of the Charitable Company to the Commissioners
 

O. ANNUAL REPORT

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act with regard to the preparation of an annual report and its transmission to the Commissioners
 

P. ANNUAL RETURN

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to the preparation of an annual return and its transmission to the Commissioners.
 

Q. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

(1) There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Charitable Company, which shall be held in the month of March in each year or as soon a practicable thereafter.  No Business shall be transacted at any Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting unless a quorum is present when the meeting proceeds to business. Save as herein otherwise provided twenty members personally present and entitled to vote shall be quorum.

(2) Every Annual General Meeting shall be called by the Executive Committee.   The Secretary shall give at least 21 days’ notice of the Annual General Meeting to all the members of the Charitable Company.   All the members of the Charitable Company shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.

(3) Before any other business is transacted at the first Annual General Meeting the persons present shall appoint a chairman of the meeting.   The chairman shall be the chairman of subsequent Annual General Meetings, but if he or she is not present before any other business is transacted, the persons present shall appoint a chairman of the meeting

(4) The Executive Committee shall present to each Annual General Meeting the Annual Report and Annual Accounts of the Charitable Company for the preceding year.

(5) Nominations for election to the Executive Committee must be made by 
 Members of the Charitable Company in writing and must be in the hands of 
Secretary of the Executive Committee at least l4 days before the Annual General Meeting.   Should nominations exceed vacancies, elections shall be by ballot
 

R. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

The Executive Committee may call a Special General Meeting of the Charitable Company at any time.   If at least 20 members request such a meeting in writing stating the business to be considered the secretary shall call such a meeting. At least 35 days’ notice must be given.   The notice must state the business to be discussed.
 

S. PROCEDURE AT GENERAL MEETINGS

(1) The secretary or other person specially appointed by the Executive Committee shall keep a full record of proceedings at every General Meeting of the Charitable Company

(2) There shall be a quorum when at least one tenth of the numbers of members of the Charitable Company for the time being or ten members of the Charitable Company, whichever is the greater are present at any General Meeting.
 

T. NOTICE

Any notice required to be served on any member of the Charitable Company shall be in writing and shall be served by the secretary or the Executive Committee on any member either personally or by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter addressed to such member at his or her last known address in the United Kingdom, and any letter so sent shall be deemed to have been received within l0 days of posting
 

U. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this clause the Constitution may be altered by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the members present and voting at a General Meeting.   The notice of the General Meeting must include notice of the resolutions, setting out the terms of the alteration proposed.

(2) No amendment may be made to Clause A (the name of Charitable Company clause), Clause C (the objects clause) clause I (Executive Committee members not to be personally interested clause), clause V (the dissolution clause), or this clause without the prior consent in writing of the Commissioners.

(3) No amendment may be made which would have the effect of making the Charitable Company cease to be a Charitable Company by law

(4) The Executive Committee should promptly send to the Commissioners a copy of any amendment made under this clause 
 

V. DISSOLUTION

If the Executive Committee decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Charitable Company it shall call a meeting of all members of the Charitable Company of which not less than 21 days’ notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed) shall be given if the proposal is confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting the Executive Committee shall have the power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the Charitable Company.   Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Charitable Company as members of the Charitable Company may determine or failing that shall be applied for some other charitable purpose.   A copy of the statement, for the final accounting period of the Charitable Company must be sent to the Commissioners.
 

W. ARRANGEMENTS UNTIL THE FIRST GENERAL MEETING

Until the first Annual General Meeting takes place this constitution shall take effect as if references in it to the Executive Committee were references to the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document.  This constitution was adopted on the date mentioned above by the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document.
 
 
 

Signed  ……………………………  ………………………    ……………………………  .............…………….    ……………………………  ………………………
   ......................................  .................................
   ......................................  .................................
 

                                                                                      -oOo-
 
 

WANTED! 

Please don't throw out your old dry-cleaning bags! DDS Wardrobe department needs them. Also, any spare wallpaper (2 rolls or more) - if anyone knows where to get wood-grain effect/stone/brick pattern wallpaper, please let us know!

SWEATSHIRTS / POLOSHIRTS

Are still available in various colours. To order, contact Lesley on 01207 521678.

MICROWAVE

We now have a microwave for member use. No more sandwiches during a play week, and goodbye to cold food on social nights! It will also be handy for hot food in plays!

Don't forget Theatre 'phone no. 0787 0441062 for returned tickets and last-minute seats. This service has proved its worth already.