Forest Players

FOREST PLAYERS CONSTITUTION

NAME

The name shall be FOREST PLAYERS and shall be shown as such on all correspondence and in all publicity.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of Forest Players is the presentation of plays, musicals and other similar entertainments in Forest Row and East Grinstead. At all times Forest Players shall strive to present work of high artistic merit whilst at the same time striking a reasonable balance with the need to retain a sustainable level of income.

USE OF INCOME

The income and property of the Forest Players shall be used for the benefit of productions and other similar activities as collectively decided by the Membership.

MEMBERSHIP

I) Membership of the Forest Players shall be divided into:
        A: Full Members – annual subscription £10
        B: Student members (up to 18 years – annual subscription £5
        C: Friends
Future annual subscriptions for all categories of Membership shall be decided by the Executive Committee and shall be due at the AGM. If Membership is not renewed within two months of the AGM it will be assumed that membership has lapsed.

II) The Officers of the Forest Players shall be called the Chairman, Hon. Secretary, and Hon. Treasurer.

III) The Forest Players shall be administered by an Executive Committee consisting of the Officers and not less than 4 and not more than 6 Full members all of whom are entitled to vote.  Four members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.  The Chairman shall hold an additional casting vote.  The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt other Full Members to fill casual vacancies including officers, and to appoint the following sub-committees: Social, Publicity, Production and Membership.

IV) All the Executive Committee shall retire annually.  With the exception of the Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer no member of the Executive Committee may serve for more than three consecutive years.  However, any member elected to the Chair may serve in that capacity for up to three years from the date of such election.

HONORARY OFFICERS

There shall be two Life Presidents who shall be elected from time to time by the Members. These Honorary Officers may, at the discretion of the Committee be invited to Committee Meetings.

There shall be two Life Vice Presidents who shall be appointed on a similar basis.

FRIENDS

A Friend’s subscription will be £10 per annum for a single person and £18 per annum for a couple.  This will entitle the single person to receive one ticket, or a couple to receive two tickets for the Spring and Autumn productions on non-charity nights.

The following benefits will also apply to Friends:-

I) A Friend may book additional seats at £5 on non-charity nights.

II) Receive a free programme for each production.

III) Receive a copy of each edition of Prompt Copy.

IV) Receive an open invitation to all play readings and social events.

V) A Friend will not have voting rights.

VI) A Friend may not take part in a production unless they become a Full Member.

MEETINGS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

I) The AGM will be held in June and 28 days written notice of such meeting will be sent by the Hon Secretary to all Members.

II) All nominations for Officers and Executive Committee must be proposed and seconded and agreed by the nominee.

III) Where more than one nomination for an office is received there will be an election by secret ballot and the Chairman will have a casting vote in the event of a tie.

IV) General business may only be debated if a written formal motion, duly proposed and seconded, has been received by the Hon. Secretary not later than 14 days before the AGM.

V) Any other business may be discussed, at the discretion of the Chairman, subject to a maximum duration of 10 minutes.

GENERAL MEETINGS

A General meeting may be called at any time, at the discretion of the Committee.  Fourteen days notice of all General meetings together with a copy of the agenda shall be given to all Full Members.

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS

An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called at the written request of not less than 7 Full Members for a specified purpose and no other business shall be discussed at that meeting.

PRODUCTIONS

Priority shall always be given to productions in Forest Row and East Grinstead.

The Executive Committee shall select directors for all productions.

The director shall submit to the Executive Committee the choice of production for approval

Casting shall, in the first instance, be by audition with only paid-up members being eligible.  Any member unable to attend an audition but who wishes to take part in a production must notify the director in advance and will be considered for a part. Open auditions may be called if it is not possible to cast from the paid up members of the Players. All cast and stage crew must be fully paid up Members of Forest Players at the date of production.

The Casting Committee shall consist of the director and the Executive Committee with the exception of those members of the Executive Committee who wish to take an acting part in the play. If there are insufficient persons available to form a quorum then additional members may be co-opted to form the casting committee.

As soon as possible after casting has been completed a meeting will be held between the Director, Stage Manager, Publicity to agree a budget for the production.  This budget may not be exceeded except with the formal approval of the Executive Committee.

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

The duties of Chairman, Hon Treasurer, Hon Secretary,  Members and Friends Secretary, Social, Publicity, FOH, and Village Hall Committee, Bar and Director, Production Co-ordinator are set out in the attached schedule

ALTERATION OF RULES

These rules may be altered at an AGM or General meeting called for that specific purpose.                

WINDING UP

If upon winding up of the Forest Players there remains, after the settlement of outstanding debts and liabilities any property or monies, this shall be given or transferred to other organisations holding similar objectives to the Forest Players.

Drafted by Mike Williams and Nick Watson – July 2007.
Agreed at Inaugural Meeting 14 August 2007.

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Last modified: 09/18/08