WOPs Committee and Officers

WOPs Rules - updated 1999

1.	The Name
	The Society shall be called The Western Opera Players.

2.	The Purpose
	The object of the Society shall be the cultivation of the arts of music and drama and the encouragement of public appreciation of these arts.

3.	The Funds
	The funds of the Society shall be applied solely to the stated objectives and to charitable and philanthropic purposes.

4.	Amateur
	No member of the Society shall receive payment directly or indirectly for services to the Society, other than legitimate expenses incurred.

5.	Dissolution
	In the event of the Society being dissolved, whilst solvent, the remaining funds will be allocated to similar use as listed in 2 & 3 above, at the discretion of the Management Committee. In the event of the Society being dissolved as a result of being unable to meet its financial obligations, all voting members, excluding Life Members, are required to meet the debt on equal basis.

6.	Management Committee
	The Management Committee (M.C.) will consist of Chairman, Secretary, Business Manager, Treasurer, 2 Female & 2 Male Cast Representatives and Associate Members Secretary; all of whom have the power to vote on Society matters.

7.	Election of Committee
	The M.C. will be voted into office automatically at each Annual General Meeting (AGM) unless a holder wishes to discontinue service, or, if someone else wishes to apply for any M.C. position. In this case a vote is taken at the AGM to decide who is elected. Should a member of the M.C. resign during a term of office, the M.C. will take steps to re-appoint the position as quickly as possible.

8.	Production Team
	It is the responsibility of the M.C. to appoint the following positions. Director, Musical Director, Technical Director, Choreographer, Box Office Manager, Costume Supervisor, Publicity and Programme Manager, N.O.D.A. Representative and any additional appointments considered necessary for the operation of the Society.

9.	Committee Meetings
	The M.C. shall meet at least 4 times per year.

10.

Sub-Committees

In addition, other sub-committees usually set up during the season include:

a) Production

b) Social

c) New Members Audition

d) Casting for Productions

and any others considered necessary. The Chairman will be an ex-officio member of all Committees.

The decisions made by all sub-committees are if deemed necessary, subject to approval by the M.C. All meetings held by the above shall be minuted.

11.	Committee Attendance
	The M.C. shall be empowered to request the resignation of any member of the M.C. who without a satisfactory reason is absent for 3 consecutive meetings. The M.C. is also empowered to arrange a replacement member, as quickly as possible.

12.	Production Committee
	The Production sub-committee shall consist of Director, Musical Director, Technical Director, Choreographer, Stage Manager, Set Designer, Treasurer, Business Manager, Costume Supervisor, with power to co-opt.

14.

Social Committee

The Social Committee will be headed by the Chairperson of this section elected as a member of the M.C. He/She will invite members to form a committee to actively develop social events throughout the year. Separate accounts for these events will be maintained and liaison will be made with the Treasurer for appropriate movements of finance either way, which are the sole responsibility of the Treasurer.

Social events, accounts and report will be presented at each AGM.

15.

Choosing a Production

A show list will be issued to the Society by the M.C. for voting, after consultation with Director, Musical director & Technical Director.

A minimum of 2 shows will normally be presented for voting.

Voting will be allowed by any fully paid up, Acting Members or Acting Life Members only.

16.

New Membership

Prospective new members will be invited to attend a rehearsal evening to see if membership is of interest. Following this, they will be invited to audition to join by taking a 3-part audition, involving

a) Singing a piece of music of their choice.

b) Reciting some script from a show, play or poem.

c) Carrying out some basic movement.

The audition panel will consist of Chairman, Director, Musical Director, Choreographer and at least one Cast Representative, with the Secretary in attendance for record purposes.

17.

Casting a Production

The cast of any production shall be selected by a Casting Committee of 5, which will consist of the Chairman, Director, Musical Director and two additional invited persons, from outside of The Western Opera Players approved by the M.C. The additional persons are to be experienced in music or drama and are to be invited by the Director and Musical Director.

Members wishing to audition for principal parts are required to have paid their subscriptions by the audition date.

No new member may participate in the 1^st round of Auditions, until they have completed one main production. If after the main auditions a principal part has not been cast this part will be thrown open to the Society for 2^nd auditions. Only in the event of the part still not being cast, may the Director look outside the Society to find a suitable applicant to fill a part.

If in the opinion of the Director a principal is not making the required progress he/she will have the right to re-allocate the part, or find a replacement, in the event of a principal having to leave a production.

18.	Missing a Show
	If for any reason a member misses a show, unless it is for maternity or medical reasons, they are required to re-audition.

19.

Subscription Payment

All Acting Members will pay annual subscriptions, which are set at each AGM. These should be paid without fail by 31^st December. Adults full rate. Juniors/Students at half rate.

No one can appear in a show unless they have paid the agreed rate of subscription. Apart from a Society ruling, this is also a requirement for insurance purposes. However, persons invited to join the Society for a specific production, will not be expected to pay subscriptions.

Members will be responsible for paying the required cost of purchasing, or hiring Scores and Libretti, as set by the Business Manager.

20.	Associate Members
	Associate Members may be admitted to the society at the discretion of the Associate Members Secretary who may, if required, refer applications to the M.C. for final approval. All Associates are to pay an annual subscription by the 31^st December each year, also set at each AGM.

21.

Rehearsals

General rehearsals shall be held each Tuesday starting at 7.45pm, and at other times as deemed necessary by the Director of each production. The Director will chart a rehearsal schedule, as soon as each production commences to ensure members’ maximum attendance.

Members are expected to attend all possible rehearsals promptly and regularly. Any member not following these requirements will be liable to be excluded from the current production, after caution. If members are unable to attend a rehearsal, it is their responsibility to advise the Secretary direct by telephone. Principals, must also advise the Director.

22.

Rehearsal Attendance

The M.C. will have power to ask for the resignation of any Member who has missed 3 consecutive rehearsals, without good reason, or, if their general attendance is considered unsatisfactory. Any subs, or fees paid, in this case, are non-returnable.

In turn the M.C. will do all in their power to ensure a good working spirit is maintained and will consider any suggestions put forward by members, which if adopted, will benefit the Society.

23.

EGM

An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the Society may be called at any time at the discretion of the M.C. by giving 7 days notice to members. Alternatively, an EGM may also be called within 21 days notice of the Secretary receiving a written request. This requisition must be signed by at least 12 members. Any such request must specify the business for which the meeting is called and no other business will be transacted at such a meeting.

Such a meeting will not proceed and will be adjourned, unless a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of not less than 20 members.

24.	Items for AGM
	All proposals for discussion at each AGM shall be sent to the Secretary in writing, with the name of the Proposer, at least 21 days before the date of the AGM.

25.	Amendments to The Rules
	All new rules and amendments must be voted for by those attending an AGM and entitled to vote before they are adopted into the Society’s rules.

26.	Other Matters
	Any matter not provided for in the foregoing rules, shall be left to the discretion of the M.C. who are elected by the Members to manage the Society’s affairs.

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