DUNOON ARGYLL PIPE BAND
CONSTITUTION
OCTOBER 2009
The name of this organisation shall be ‘Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band’.
Object of the Band: to advance the education of the public in the art of Bagpipe playing and Drumming by the presentation of public performances and other related activities; and in the furtherance thereof:
a) provide instruction and tuition in bagpipe playing and drumming for members
b) enter competitions run under the rules of the Royal Scottish Pipe band Association
c) promote and encourage the culture of pipe band music among interested persons in the Dunoon and Cowal area.
All of this will be carried out in accordance with the following legislation;
· Equal Opportunities policy
· Protection of Children (
· The Vulnerable Persons (
Membership of the Band will be open to all who subscribe to the foregoing and under the following criteria:
A. Full membership shall be open to all playing pipers and drummers who register with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, as members of Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band, and who participate in Band engagements and practice on a regular basis.
B. Full membership shall also be open to all office bearers within the committee.
C. Associate membership (ex-officio) shall be open to all interested individuals.
NOTE: Any member failing to attend for a period of four weeks without giving prior notice or cause, shall be deemed to have withdrawn their membership and are obliged to return all Band items within the following fifth week. Also, all members, full and associate, are required to pay membership fees as agreed at the AGM annually. Whilst pay up arrangements can be made with the Treasurer, all members become liable for the full membership fee at the first band practise after the AGM, with fees requiring to be paid in entirety by the start of the competing season in May. Non payment of membership fees will result in the loss of membership and the loss of a vote in any and all band matters.
The Pipe-Major has responsibility for the training and management of Band Members. It shall be their duty to annually appoint the Pipe Sergeant(s), and to replace as necessary. As deemed appropriate by the Pipe Major/Pipe Sergeant/Leading Stroke, members of the Band will be supplied with the necessary sundry items needed to perform. These shall be distributed as appropriate to the member concerned; piper items by the Pipe Major or Pipe Sergeant and drumming items by the Leading Stroke, in liaison with the Quarter-person, who will ensure proper custody records are made.
Discipline: all disciplinary matters shall be dealt with, in their entirety, by the Pipe Major, and Lead Stroke, as appropriate. If disciplinary action has to be taken, and a member of the band needs to be spoken to, this can be dealt with by a representative group from the Committee, as requested by the Pipe Major, comprising at least 50% of the existing Committee. This group will then feed back to the full committee regarding any action to be taken. Any appeals may be heard by the Band Committee.
Administration of the Band: shall be conducted by a Band Committee formed of elected office bearers: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Assistant Secretary (as required), Treasurer, Quarter-person, Assistant Quarter-person (as required), Pipe Major, Leading Stroke, Hall Keeper.
A. Offices may be combined. All office bearers should be selected from Full Members of the Band.
B. A quorum of the Band Committee shall be six(6). Should a quorum fail to be formed, those present cannot make any decisions on behalf of the Committee.
C. The Band Committee shall hold meetings which may be scheduled as frequently as necessary to conduct and organise Band administrative/financial business.
D. The Band Committee only shall transact and conduct all the offices and business of the Band, including the formation of such Sub-Committees as they may think necessary.
E. The Band committee shall have the power to appoint Honorary titles, such as Honorary President, Honorary Vice-President, or Honorary Pipe Major.
Election for all Offices shall be held annually at the Annual General Meeting. The term of office is one year with all being eligible for re-election. In the event of a vacancy occurring, a special election shall be held by calling an Emergency Meeting.
Duties of Office Bearers
Chairperson: shall conduct meetings and represent the Band at Band functions etc.
Vice-Chairperson: shall conduct meetings in the absence of the Chairperson.
Secretary: shall maintain an up-to-date and accurate record of all members, including Guest Players and Honorary Members; shall keep reasonable Minutes of all meetings, initiate and respond to Band correspondence, and generally perform such duties as ordinarily pertain to the office. It is his/her duty to post at the Band Hall copies of membership listings: the Constitution; Minutes from Committee Meetings; Special General Meetings or Emergency Meetings. The Secretary can request the appointment of an Assistant Secretary, as required.
Treasurer: shall keep correct records of all financial transactions conducted by him/her on behalf of the band, and shall prepare a full statement of the Band’s accounts as at 30th September in each year. Such statement shall be audited by a firm of chartered accountants appointed by the Band Committee and shall be presented to the members as soon after the Annual General Meeting as possible.
Quarter-person: shall be responsible for maintaining inventory and custody records of Band uniform and equipment items. Shall normally be the individual to issue and receive items. The Quarter-person can request the appointment of an Assistant Quarter-person, as required.
Hall Keeper: shall be responsible for maintaining necessary cleaning and hygiene items at the Hall. Shall schedule Hall clean ups and work days for indoors and outdoors, for all members; shall ensure weekly cleaning is done by personnel concerned in specified piping and drumming rooms.
Note:
· All expenditure shall be discussed and determined by the Band Committee.
· A social committee may be formed from among the full and associate members for the purpose of raising funds and arranging social activities for members and their families. A Social Convener, who need not be a member of the Band Committee, may be appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting or soonest following Band Committee Meeting. Otherwise, all social activity should be organised by the Band Committee as a whole.
· The whole property of the Band shall be vested in the Office Bearers for the time being as trustees on behalf of the Band.
The Annual General Meeting shall be held in October each year with Full Members having one vote each.
A. All members are entitled to attend and enter discussions and shall receive a minimum of eleven (11) days notice of such meeting.
B. Copies of the Minutes from the previous Annual General Meeting, the financial statement form the preceding year, and an Agenda for such meeting shall be provided to all members and posted in the Band Hall.
A Special General Meeting of the Band may be called at any time provided the Secretary has been requested to do so by a request signed by a majority of Full Members. The notice shall specify the purpose of the meeting and enclose a copy of any items to be discussed. No other matters shall be discussed at the meeting. A majority shall form the necessary quorum.
An Emergency Meeting may be called when an office becomes vacant, to hold an election, or when a majority of Full Members so state and affix their signature to a Memorandum for the record. The Emergency Meeting should be called within one week, as the item being addressed should be critical to the Band, and unable to await a Special General Meeting. The Band Committee shall ensure all Full Members are notified and a majority is available to attend.
Amendment to the Constitution: Any amendment or alteration to the Constitution, or any motion to dissolve the Band can only be made at the Annual General Meeting, Special General Meeting or Emergency Meeting, called for that purpose, and can only be carried by a majority of two thirds of the voting members present and voting at such meeting. A majority shall form the necessary quorum.
Dissolution of the Band: In the event of the Band being dissolved, after all debts and liabilities having been paid, all funds remaining shall be donated to the charitable non profit making organisation known as the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.