Gaitherin 2009

Name

The organisation shall be known as the Gordon Gaitherin, hereinafter referred to as the The Gaitherin.

Mission Statement

To enable empowered learning and personal development in successive generations of young people of all backgrounds and abilities in rural North-East Scotland, through shared artistic and musical expression of their culture.

Objectives

In order to achieve the above the Gaitherin will:

• Promote interest, education and participation in the music, language and culture of the North-East of Scotland.

• In pursuit of objective a) the Gaitherin will plan and deliver tuition festivals for the young people in accessible and appropriate settings.

• Engage skilled teachers and youth workers to work with the young people.

• Involve the young people through the Youth Committee in all aspects of the planning, delivery and evaluation of Gaitherin activities, present and future.

• Work, where appropriate, with other organisations involved in music, arts and education.

Membership

Membership of the Gaitherin shall be open to all parents of participants of previous Gaitherin’s and any person, organisation or body involved in the promotion and delivery of the Gaitherin.

Management Committee

• The Management committee shall be responsible, in conjunction with the Youth Committee, for the administration, management and control of the affairs of the Gaitherin.

• The committee shall consist of up to twelve members, inclusive of office bearers; four of these members shall be drawn from the Youth Committee.

• Half of the membership will retire annually and be eligible for re-election.

• The Management Committee may appoint up to three advisors to assist at committee meetings. These advisors would not have a vote.

• Additionally, the committee may co-opt up to three people to join the committee until the following Annual General Meeting.

• The committee may establish further sub - committees with the personnel and terms of reference it deems desirable.

• The committee shall appoint a capable independent examiner, who is not a member of the Gaitherin to inspect the accounts.

Youth Committee

• The Gaitherin Youth Committee membership will be decided by the participants at the Participants meeting in October. Membership will seek to reflect the scope and geographical spread of the Gaitherin.

• Four places on the Management Committee will be occupied by Youth Committee members who will represent the voice of the Gaitherin Youth. Of these four places, two will be fixed and two will be rotational. The two fixed representatives will be elected by participants at the October meeting.

• The Gaitherin Youth Committee will meet quarterly throughout the year.

• The Management Committee will give such assistance and advice as is requested, to the Youth Committee to allow them to carry out their role, to represent all participants and to progress the work of the Gaitherin to the benefit of all participants.

Office Bearers

The office bearers of the Gaitherin, to be decided by the committee at their first meeting following the Annual General Meeting shall be:

• Chairperson

• Depute Chairperson

• Secretary

• Treasurer

Office Bearers may serve a maximum of two terms.

Annual General Meeting

The Gaitherin shall hold an Annual General Meeting for the purpose of:

• Receiving the annual report from the Convenor

• Receiving the annual report from the Youth Committee

• Receiving the financial report from the Treasurer

• Receiving the report on the accounts from the independent examiner

• Electing the committee

The Annual General Meeting shall be notified to the membership a minimum of fourteen days before the day of the meeting.

Special Meetings

Any three members of the Gaitherin can at any time request in writing to the Secretary that the committee call a special meeting for the discussion of particular business. The committee must, within twenty-one days of receiving such a request, call a meeting, giving a minimum of fourteen days notice of the business to be discussed.

Procedure at Meetings

• Voting - each member has one vote at all meetings but only members of the committee may vote at committee meetings. Any business requiring to be put to a vote shall be decided by a majority of those present. The Convenor holds a casting vote as well as a deliberative vote.

• Quorum - four members shall form a quorum at committee meetings. Seven persons shall form a quorum at General and Special Meetings.

• Youth Committee matters will form a standing item on Management Committee meeting agendas.

• Minutes - a record shall be kept of all meetings by the Secretary.

Finance

• The funds of the Gaitherin shall be applied solely towards the mission statement and objectives stated above.

• The treasurer shall keep books showing all income, expenditure and assets of the Gaitherin.

• The signature of any two of the Chairperson, Depute Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer or as appointed by the committee shall be required to operate any bank account.

• The Treasurer shall prepare accounts that shall be submitted annually to a capable independent examiner and a report thereon obtained.

• The committee shall decide the fees for participation at Gaitherin events.

Alterations to the Constitution

No change shall be made to this constitution except by resolution approved at an Annual General or Special Meeting of the Gaitherin. Two thirds of those members present, and voting, shall be required to approve any alteration.

Dissolution

• The Gaitherin may be dissolved at an Annual General or Special Meeting by a resolution passed by two-thirds of those members present and voting.

• Any assets after the settlement of any outstanding debts shall be donated to any body that is a charity or has similar objects to the Gaitherin.

The above constitution was adopted unaltered at the Annual General Meeting of the Gaitherin at Insch Community Centre on Saturday 8^th December 2001.