The
name the Association shall be“THE ASSOCIATION OF ULSTER DRAMA FESTIVALS”
1.
AIMS OF THE ASSOCIATION
The aims of the Association shall be to foster and encourage
amateur drama through the holding of festivals of drama, the organisation and support of
drama conferences and schools, the promotion of co-operation and co-ordination between
Ulster Drama Festivals and the fostering of relations with cognate and similar
organisations in Northern Ireland and other regions.
2.
MEMBERSHIP
2.1
Membership of the Association shall he confined to Northern Ireland Festivals operating an
Open One Act or Full Length competition.
2.2
For the purpose of the Ulster Final, all plays entered in the Festival shall be deemed to
be part of the Open competition.
2.3
Associate Membership may be granted, at the discretion of the Association
2.4
A new festival may apply for membership of the Association at an Annual General Meeting.
Such application for Membership will be considered by the Association and after three
years from application to the Association, if the festival is adjudicated by AUDF to be
successful, it may be voted in as a Member at the AGM with the consent of at least 2/3rds
of the Festivals present.
3.
SUBSCRIPTION
3.1
The subscription payable
by a Festival admitted to membership shall be £30 per annum.
3.2
The subscription payable by Festivals admitted to Associate Membership shall be £15.
4.
REPRESENTATION
4.1 Each member festival shall
delegate three members to represent it on the Association for the current year. Each
festival, although represented at each meeting by a maximum of three delegates, shall have
only one vote.
4.2
A festival admitted to Associate Membership shall delegate one member to represent it on
the Association without voting rights.
5. OFFICIALS
5.1
The Association shall appoint a Patron, President and such Vice-Presidents as it may from
time to time desire.A Chairman,
Vice-Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer shall be elected at the Annual General
Meeting of the Association.
5.2
For the purpose of Election, Nomination forms will be distributed to all member festivals.
Nominations for the offices, proposed and seconded by two Festivals, should reach the
secretary at least one month before the annual general meeting so that they may be
circulated to all member festivals in time for their consideration.
5.3
An external auditor shall be appointed at the AGM.
5.4
The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be elected annually and may hold office for a maximum
of three consecutive years.
5.5
The President’s term of office shall be for 5 years.
6.
MEETINGS
6.1
An Annual General Meetingshall be held in
October each year.
6.2
Ordinary meetings shall be held as required for the business of the Association but not
less frequently than once per quarter
6.3
The Annual General Meeting shall he convened by the Secretary by giving not less than
fourteen days notice through the post to festival representatives of the Association.
6.4
At the Annual General Meeting the officials of the Association shall retire but shall be
eligible for re-election under the terms outlined under para 5 Officials.
6.5
Voting shall he by a show of hands but the Chairman and any three members may demand a
poll in secret which shall immediately be taken and the result declared by the Chairman.
If voting is equal the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
7. FINANCE
7.1
All monies belonging to the Association shall be paid into such Bank as may be specified
by the Committee to the account of the Association.
7.2
Cheques drawn on the Association’s account shall be signed by two officials of the
Association duly authorised by the member festivals
7.3
The property and investments of the Association (other than bank monies) shall be held in
the name of the Association by the Chairman, Hon Secretary or Hon Treasurer for the time
being
7.4
The Hon Treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Association in a full and accurate form
and shall present
a full
account or financial statement, duly audited, of all receipts and expenditure, together
with an account of all property, to each Annual General Meeting.
7.5 The income and properties of the
Association, wheresoever derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the
objects of the Association and no portion thereof shall he paid or transferred directly or
indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever, by way of profit to the
members of the Association.
7.6
If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Association there remains, after the
satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall be
given or transferred to some other institution or institutions having objects similar to
the objects of the Association and which shall prohibit the distribution of its or their
income and property among its or their members to an extent at least as great as is
imposed under the Constitution of the Association, such institution or institutions to be
determined by the members of the Association with the concurrence of the Council for the
Encouragement of Music and the Arts.
8.
GENERAL
8.1
No alteration, addition or amendment shall be made to the Constitution of the Association
except at an Annual General Meeting on Notice of Motion given to the Secretary and advised
to the members not less than fourteen days before the date of the meeting. Any such
alteration, addition or amendment shall require the consent of 75% of the members present
at such Annual General Meeting. No motion to amend the Constitution in so far as it
relates to distribution of its income or property among members of the Association may be
considered.
8.2 EQUALITY OF
OPPORTUNITY and GOOD RELATIONS COMMITMENT
The Association
welcomes as members any individuals who share the objects of the Association, regardless
of Age, Race, Religion, Gender, Disability or Sexuality.”
§Persons of
different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status
or sexual orientation;
§Men and women
generally;
§Persons with a
disability and persons without; and
§Persons with
dependants and persons without.
The Association
affords equality of opportunity in all aspects of our organisation’s activities, in
particular with regard to access and participation in these activities. It is also our
intention to ensure equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and to
eradicate direct or indirect discrimination.It
is also our intention to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations
between:
§Persons of
different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status
or sexual
orientation;
§Men and women
generally;
§Persons with a
disability and persons without; and
