Constitution

 Friends of the Alexandra Palace Theatre Constitution (2021)

Purpose

Friends of the Alexandra Palace Theatre (the Friends) exist to engage the local and wider community with the Alexandra Palace Theatre (the Theatre).

Mission

The Friends aim to focus on activities such as:

  • Talks / presentations about the history of the Theatre to local community and history groups.
  • The Friends’ own series of talks / presentations on aspects of the history of the Theatre, by its own Members or external experts.
  • Participating in events relevant to the Friends’ current purpose.
  • Promoting and selling publications and merchandise relevant to the purpose of the Friends.
  • Undertaking research about the history and development of the Theatre.
  • Participating in tours of the Theatre.
  • Communicating via the Friends’ newsletter and its social media presence.
  • Arranging group ticket purchase and visits to some theatre performances.
  • Raising money for the Friends for its own current purpose and mission.
  • Participating in committees of Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust (APPCT).
  • Supporting funding applications where community support is needed.

Membership

Membership is open to individuals and representatives from organisations with an interest in theatre and historical buildings. Applications for membership should be sent to the Membership Secretary. Members shall be admitted on payment of the appropriate annual subscription.

Officers

The Friends shall have five officers, namely:

  • Chair
  • Secretary
  • Press & Publicity Officer
  • Treasurer
  • Membership Secretary

Elections

The officers shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) by and from the Members of  the Friends. Any vacancy arising among the officers may be filled by an election at an ordinary meeting of the committee. A further four persons from the wider membership will be elected on to the committee at the AGM.

Committee

The officers, together with the other four Members elected at the AGM shall form the committee who shall have the powers to co-opt other Members to the committee, if they deem necessary.

The committee shall be responsible for:

  • The general management of affairs of the Friends.
  • Determining the membership or exclusion of individuals or organisations.
  • Ensuring meetings are accessible to all regardless of race, sex or disability.
  • Resolving any disputes related to the Friends arising between Members.
  • Enacting the decisions of the meetings of the Friends.
  • Producing an annual report for consideration by the membership at the AGM.
  • Producing a regular newsletter.
  • The committee shall have the powers to:
  • Call meetings for the Friends.
  • Take up issues and respond to matters of consultation on behalf of the Friends.
  • Delegate or authorise individuals to act on behalf of the Friends.
  • Invite non-members to attend meetings.
  • Publish articles and newsletters of interest to Members.
  • Decide all questions regarding membership of the Friends.

The committee shall normally meet every 2 months. The Chair should determine the agenda for the meetings. Matters to be considered at a committee meeting must be notified to the Secretary in advance.

Decisions shall be reached on a resolution by a simple majority of committee members present and voting.

The quorum for a committee meeting shall be 3 officers and 1 other committee member.

Subscriptions

Membership subscription shall be determined annually and agreed by the Members at an AGM.

Subscriptions shall be paid annually and will fall due on the anniversary of the AGM or the anniversary of an online subscription. When a membership remains unpaid for six months the membership will be deemed cancelled. The committee may reinstate a cancelled membership on payment of the appropriate subscription.

Finance

All funds and assets shall be held, paid out and applied by the Friends of the Alexandra Palace Theatre. The Accounts will be presented at the Friends of the Alexandra Palace Theatre’s AGM.

General Meetings

The committee may call meetings of the Members as and when required. The Chair should determine the agenda for the meetings. One of the meetings should be the Annual General Meeting; and Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) may be called as required. Notice and business to be transacted shall be given at least 21 days in advance of any general meeting. The committee shall convene a general meeting for a special purpose if requested by a minimum of 10 Members of the Friends, excluding the officers. Matters to be considered at any meeting must be notified to the Secretary in advance. Decisions shall be reached on a resolution by a simple majority of those Members present and voting. The quorum for any general meeting shall be 10 Members including at least 3 committee members.

Amendments

Changes to this constitution shall only be made on a resolution of at least two-thirds majority of those Members present and voting at the AGM and following at least two months notice of any such change.

Winding Up

Any winding up resolution should be notified to all Members and will require a majority of two-thirds of those Members present and voting at an AGM or EGM in order to pass. For a winding up resolution the committee shall endeavour to offer proxy voting. In the event of a decision to wind up the Friends, all remaining funds will be applied to supporting the continued development of the Alexandra Palace Theatre, in a manner decided by the winding up meeting.