Constitution

CORNWALL BRASS BAND ASSOCIATION

 1        TITLE AND OBJECTS

(a)      The Organisation shall be known as the Cornwall Brass Band Association hereinafter referred to as “The Association”.

(b)      Membership of the Association shall be open to any Brass Band in the County of Cornwall.

(c)      The object of the Association will be to encourage and further the art of amateur music-making among the Brass Bands of Cornwall and to organise and run the annual contest to be known as the Cornish Championships every year as per the Schedule issued from time to time. 

(d)      The Association be affiliated to any other Association, Organisation or Committee that the Association deems beneficial.

2         OFFICERS AND MANAGEMENT

(a)      Officers will be elected annually as follows: - Patron, President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, General Secretary, Minute Secretary, Hon. Auditor, Publicity Officer and Trophy Officer. In addition a Committee of six persons representing member bands will be appointed.

           The Executive Committee will constitute: - the President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, General Secretary, Minute Secretary, Publicity Officer, Trophy Officer and the six representatives of member bands.

(b)      In the event of the resignation or demise of a member of the Executive Committee during a term of office, the Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt until the next General Meeting when a replacement member can be elected.

(c)      In addition to the above, representatives will be elected annually to the following Committees: -

           (i)       Three representatives to the Council of the West of England Brass Band                           Associations

           (ii)      One representative to the West of England Bandmen’s Festival

           (iii)     Representatives to the British Federation of Brass Bands as agreed

           (iv)     Member of the Cornwall Youth Brass Band Charity ex officio the Chairman 

(d)      Bands will each be permitted to cast only one vote on any motion, but there will be no limit to the number of delegates which may be sent to participate in a meeting. 

(e)      Any Officer without a Band will be permitted to cast one vote.

(f)       In the event of a tie, the Chairman has the casting vote.

(g)      The Executive Committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Association.

3         FINANCIAL YEAR

(a)      The Financial Year will end on the 31st December and the Annual General Meeting will be held on the earliest convenient date when the audited accounts will be presented.

(b)      The funds of the Association will be applied solely for the use as stated in Number l – Para (c) of the Constitution and that no member band or Officer of the Association will receive payment for their services except that an honorarium may be granted at the Annual General Meeting to any Officer, at the discretion of member Bands and Executive Committee 

(c)      That in the event of dissolution, the remaining funds, if any, will be devoted to objects similar to those of the Association at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

(d)      All cheques to be signed by any two of the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

4         MEMBERSHIP

(a)      Application for membership will be made by letter from the Band to the General Secretary.

(b)      The Annual Membership Fee to be agreed at the Annual General Meeting will be due on the lst January each year. Youth/Junior/School Bands eligible to enter the Junior/Youth Sections at the Annual Contest will be eligible to enjoy the full advantages of membership and no membership fee will be levied in respect of such organisations.  Any Band in arrears of membership on the closing date for entries to the Annual Contest shall be ineligible to enter the Contest. 

(c)      All Annual Subscriptions to be paid by Bankers Order.

(d)      A condition of membership will be that the Band concerned will honourably carry out the Constitution of the Association and abide by all decisions and resolutions passed by a majority vote at General Meetings.

5         MEETINGS

(a)      Notice of the Annual General Meeting will be sent to each Band at least 14 (fourteen) days before the appointed date.

(b)      A special Association Meeting may be convened by any Band if supported by other Bands constituting at least one quarter of the total membership of the Association, provided notice of such gathering is lodged with the General Secretary 14 (fourteen) days before the chosen date and the purpose of the meeting made known to the Chairman in writing.

(c)      Voting by proxy will not be permitted.

(d)      No amendment to the Constitution can be made except at an Annual General Meeting

6         DISCIPLINE     

Any Band or member of a Band acting in a manner which, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, is detrimental to the proper conduct of the Association or brings the Association into disrepute shall be dealt with by the Association.

7         COMMUNICATION

(a)      No business in the name of the Association shall be released to the media or other organisations unless endorsed by the Executive Committee of the Association and communicated only by the Chairman, the General Secretary or the Publicity Officer.

(b)      The name of the Association shall not be used in connection with any other contests, concerts or advertising unless endorsed by the Association. Copies of any such correspondence in respect of the above shall be submitted to the General Secretary for filing and information.

Accepted at E G M held on Sunday 26^th April 2009 in St Dennis Bandroom 

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