SAAZ Music Constitution
CONSTITUTION OF SAAZ MUSIC
Name
The name of the Society shall be SAAZ Music hereinafter referred to as the Society.
1. Aim
SAAZ Music is a non-profit making society established in July 1989 to promote Indian classical music for the benefit of musicians, students and the general public.
2. Objectives
The main objectives of SAAZ Music are:
(i) To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by any means the Committee members see fit, including through the presentation of public concerts and recitals;
(ii) To further such charitable purpose or purposes as the Committee members in their absolute discretion shall think fit but in particular through the making of grants and donations.
3. Activities of SAAZ Music
(i) To provide opportunities for students to receive personal tuition
(ii) To organise practical workshops and master classes
(iii) To promote students through showcases and concerts
(iv) To arrange public concerts of master musicians
(v) To collate literature, compositions and live recordings on Indian classical music as a learning aid and research resource
(vi) To raise funds and other resources from public agencies, arts foundations, charities and other organisations to support the objectives of SAAZ Music.
4. Responsibility of the SAAZ Music Committee
All affairs of SAAZ Music will be managed, monitored and executed by the SAAZ Music committee members which will usually meet once a quarter or as required. The overall duties of the SAAZ Music Committee will include: organisation of events and meetings, publicising the work of the Group, monitoring finances and keeping account records, maintaining and managing the Group Bank Account or Accounts, making decisions based on simple majority votes with the Chair having an additional casting vote in the event of tied votes.
5. Officers of the SAAZ Music Committee
The SAAZ Music committee will comprise of the following officers: Chair, General Secretary, Administrator, Treasurer and General Committee Members. The main responsibilities for each of these posts are defined below:
Chair: Will have the overall managerial responsibility of all SAAZ Music activities.
General Secretary: Will assist the Chair in the implementation of SAAZ Music policies and activities and is responsible for the collation and monitoring of all SAAZ Music information and correspondence.
Treasurer: Will have responsibility of collating and reporting on financial matters including monitoring the expenditure and income of the Society.
Administrator: Will have administrative responsibility for the coordination of SAAZ Music events.
General Committee Members: Will assist other Committee members in all general matters.
6. Election of officers
The above posts will be elected every three years unless a post becomes vacant due to resignation. Committee members who wish to resign their post must give a notice of at least one month in writing. Posts can be renewed if appropriate and if no other person is standing.
7. Powers
In furtherance of the objects but not otherwise the Committee may exercise the following powers:
(i) power to raise funds and to invite contributions provided that in raising funds the Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law;
(ii) 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) power subject to any consents required by law to borrow money and to charge all or part of the property of the Society with repayment of the money so borrowed;
(iv) power to employ such staff (who shall not be members of the 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 super-annuation for staff and their dependents;
(v) 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;
(vi) power to establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects;
(vii) power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Committee may think fit;
(viii) power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.
8. Meetings and Proceedings of the Committee
(i) The committee shall hold at least one ordinary meeting each year. A special meeting may be called at any time by the chairman, or by any 2 members of the committee, upon not less than 4 days’ notice being given to the other members of the committee of the matters to be discussed but if the matter includes the appointment of a coopted member then not less than 21 days’ notice must be given.
(ii) The chairman shall act as chairman at meetings of the committee. If the chairman is absent from any meeting, the members of the committee present shall choose one of their number to be chairman before any other business is transacted.
(iii) There shall be a quorum when at least one third of the number of members of the committee for the time-being, or three members of the committee (whichever is the greater), are present at a meeting. (iv) Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the 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.
(v) The committee shall keep minutes of the proceedings at meetings of the committee and any sub-committee, and shall ensure that these are stored safely, and that they are available for inspection as required.
(vi) The 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.
(vii) The committee may appoint one or more sub-committees, consisting of three or more members of the committee, for the purpose of making any enquiry or supervising or performing any function or duty which, in the opinion of the committee, would be more conveniently undertaken or carried out by a sub-committee: provided that all acts and proceedings of any such sub-committee shall be fully and promptly reported to the committee.
9. Membership of SAAZ Music
Although operational and organisational matters will be executed by the SAAZ Music Committee members, wider membership of SAAZ Music is open to any person who provides contact details, brief description of their interest related to SAAZ Music activities and expresses an interest to support its aim and objectives. No annual subscription is required to join, although the SAAZ Music Committee may decide to introduce an appropriate annual payment in the future. If such a change is introduced it will be clearly stated on the application form and all existing members will have the option to continue with their membership by paying the subscription to or to opt out. The committee has the power to terminate the membership of any individual, provided that the decision of the Committee (with the exception of (i) the individual concerned if a member of the Committee and (ii) any member of the Committee making or connected with the complaint against the individual (iii) is unanimous both as to the termination and as to there being good reason for it, and provided that the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Committee, accompanied by a friend if desired, before a final decision is made.
10. Equal Opportunities
No individual shall be excluded from membership of the Society, its activities or membership of its Committee on the grounds of sex, race, colour, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability or political affiliation.
11. Finances to support SAAZ Music activities
The income and property of the Group whencesoever derived shall be applied solely towards promoting the objects of the Group as set forth above and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred either directly or indirectly to any member or members of the group except in payment of legitimate expenses incurred on behalf of the Group. Payments or expenses paid from SAAZ Music funds to members or Committee officers will be made according to agreed budgets and recorded. Only reasonable and justifiable reimbursements will be allowed.
12. Alterations to the Constitution
The constitution may be altered by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting at any General Meeting, provided that fourteen days’ notice of the proposed alteration has been sent to all members and provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise any amendment which shall have the effect of the Society ceasing to be a charity.
13. Dissolution of SAAZ Music
In the event of the Group being wound up, any assets remaining upon dissolution after the payment of proper debts and liabilities shall be transferred to a charitable institution or institutions having similar objects to those of the Group. Consultation will also take place with funding agencies or other groups, if appropriate, to agree on the procedures for disposing of any surplus funds or remaining assets. In light of these discussions, the following steps will be taken by the SAAZ Music Committee:
(i) All surplus funds will be returned to the appropriate funding agencies or transferred to another charity group with similar aims.
(ii) All remaining assets will be returned to the appropriate funding agencies or transferred to another group with similar aims or donated to a charity.
(iii) All members will be informed as soon as a decision has been made to dissolve the society.
(iv) The SAAZ Music bank account or accounts will be closed.
(v) The final bank and account statements and other documentations will be retained for a further 3 years by the Chair or another senior Committee member.
Adopted originally on 7 July 1989 and amended on 5 November 1996, 24 August 2005, 15 September 2011, 8 July 2014
Ranjeet S Sokhi
Chair Person of SAAZ Music
8 July 2014