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Constitution

The Shakespeare Club of
Stratford upon Avon

  1. NAME and Frequency of Meetings.

    1. The name of the Club is “The Shakespeare Club of Stratford-upon-Avon.”

    2. It shall normally meet monthly from October to May.  It shall be represented at The Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations by representatives of the Club and, if possible, by the President.

  2. OBJECTIVES

    1. To study the works of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries and the performances of their plays past and present.

    2. To consider the history of the period and its influence upon their works.

    3. To invite the giving of relevant papers and presentations and to consider Shakespeare’s influence on drama, literature and culture, nationally and internationally.

    4. In other ways, as may from time to time be agreed, to honour William Shakespeare.

    5. To foster and encourage an appreciation of Shakespeare within the local, national and international communities, particularly amongst students and young people.

  3. MEMBERSHIP

    1. Membership is open to all who subscribe to the aims of the Club and accept its Constitution.

  4. MANAGEMENT

    1. The management of the Club shall be vested in a Committee of elected Officers and Members comprising:

  1. An Honorary Administrative Secretary

  2. An Honorary Treasurer

  3. Up to ten additional Members of the Club

    1. In addition to the management of the general affairs of the Club and the arrangements for the annual programme of meetings, the Committee shall also

identify an Honorary President, of national or international standing, who will serve for one year.

  1. At the first meeting of the Committee after an Annual General Meeting the members of the Committee shall elect a Chairman/Chairwoman(Chair)  from their number, to chair the Committee for one year.  The Chair shall be eligible for re-election.

  2. The Committee may also from time to time coopt additional members.  Co-option

with or without voting rights shall be by simple decision of the Committee.Any coopted Committee member shall automatically cease to be coopted at the time of the Annual General Meeting.

  1. Any decision taken by the Committee shall be by simple majority vote of those present at a properly constituted Committee Meeting. A quorum for such a meeting shall be five persons. In instances where there is an equality of votes the Chair shall have a casting vote in addition to any other vote.

  2. At least three Committee meetings shall be held between Annual General Meetings.  All Committee Members will be given at least fourteen days’ notice by the Administrative Secretary of any Committee Meetings.

  3. Minute Books shall be kept recording the meeting of the Club, The Committee and the Annual General Meeting.

  4. The Committee shall have the power to purchase take on lease or in exchange hire any equipment necessary for the attainment of the objectives of the Club.

  5. The Chair, Administrative Secretary and Treasurer shall form a Sub Committee to deal with any emergencies or matters of an urgent nature between Committee Meetings. Any decision taken by the Sub Committee shall be reported the next Committee Meeting.

  1. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING/EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

    1. An Annual General Meeting shall be held each year up to a week before the first meeting of the season, either in person or virtually.  At least 28 days’ notice shall be given to all members of the date and venue of the Annual General Meeting.

    2. At every Annual General Meeting of the Club, one third of the total number of current Committee and elected officers shall retire from office, those retiring being those who have been longest in office since their last election.  If any of them became Committee Members on the same day their retirement shall (unless they agree otherwise between themselves) be determined by lot.

    3. A retiring Committee member shall be eligible for re-election. Such election to be made by a show of hands at the Annual General Meeting.

    4. Nominations for the Administrative Secretary and the Treasurer and Membership of the Committee shall be made upon the appropriate form obtainable from the Administrative Secretary and returned to them at least seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting when such Officers or new committee members shall be proposed for election.

    5. The Annual General Meeting may elect a Vice-President who will serve for life.

    6. At the request of not less than fifteen full members of the Club or if a majority of the Committee should deem it necessary, the Committee may call an Extraordinary General Meeting no later than one month after receipt of the request and notice having been given to all full members not less than fourteen days prior to the meeting.

    7. A quorum at any Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club shall be fifteen full members.

    8. A resolution put to any meeting shall be decided by a show of hands.

    9. A member of the Club nominated by the Committee shall preside as Chair of any Annual or General Meeting. In instances where there is an equality of votes the Chair shall have a casting vote in addition to any other vote.

  2. FINANCE

    1. All members shall pay an annual subscription at a rate fixed by the Committee.

    2. Members may introduce one or more visitors to an ordinary meeting of the Club upon payment of a fee fixed by the Committee.

    3. The Treasurer shall keep an account of all monies received and expended by the Club. A financial statement shall be presented to all Members at the Annual General Meeting.

    4. The statement shall be certified by a qualified accountant.  No audit is required.

    5. The financial year shall be from 24th April to 23rd April.

  3. ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION

    1. Any proposed alterations to this Constitution should be submitted to the Administrative Secretary at least twenty-eight days before an Annual General Meeting and circulated to Members with the Notice of the meeting. The Constitution shall not be altered except by the vote of the majority of Members present and voting at the Annual General Meeting.

  4. DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB

    1. Should the Club be dissolved for any reason, all monies remaining in the Club’s bank accounts and its assets will be distributed to local charities or organisations as proposed by the Committee and agreed by Members of the Club at a General Meeting either Annual or Extraordinary.

 

 

Agreed at AGM 7 October 2025

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