Rules Of The Queensland Irish Association Pipe Band

Rule 1.

NAME

The name of the Band shall be The Queensland Irish Association Pipe Band. (Here after called The Band).

Rule 2.

CONSTITUTION

The Band shall function under the jurisdiction of the Queensland Irish Association (Hereafter called The Association) and shall consist of persons who have applied for membership of the Band in accordance with these Rules, who have been accepted and who are: (a). Financial members of The Association; or (b). In the case of person's under the age of 18 years a dependant of a financial member of the Association.

Rule 3.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Band shall be to promote Celtic culture and Music. In particular Irish Pipe music through the training of its members in Irish Pipe Band practice and customs.

Rule 4.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Band shall include playing and non playing members.

Persons seeking membership of the Band shall do so by completing an application form approved by the Band committee, containing such personal details as may be deemed necessary. Such application is required to be proposed and seconded by two members of the Band or of the Association.

All such applications shall be considered by the Band committee and any recommendations forwarded to the Secretary of the Association.

The Board of Directors of the Association shall have the right to reject any application for membership of the Band or to terminate the membership of any member of the Band.

The Secretary of the Band shall keep a register of Band members, which among other things, shall indicate whether the individual is a playing or non-playing member.

Guest Members.

Invited guest members may from time to time be appointed as playing members of the Band providing such members adhere to the condition of membership as set out under rules 2 and 4 of the Band rules for the period of Association with the Band.

Life Membership

From time to time, life membership of the Band may be conferred upon an individual who has provided long and meritorious service to the Band. the selection of any individual for life membership shall be done by way of a proposal and secondment at a General Meeting of the Band. In any such a case, playing and non-playing members are entitled to vote.

Band Patron

The election of a Band Patron shall take place at the Annual general Meeting of the Band.

Provided that in the case where an individual has performed exceptional service to the Band, such appointment may be made for life.

The selection of an individual for appointment to the position of Life Patron shall be by way of a proposal and secondment at an Annual general Meeting. In any such a case, playing and non-playing members are entitled to vote.

Rule 5.

BAND ADMINISTRATION

(i) Pipe Major:

The Pipe Major shall be appointed by the Board of the Association.

The Pipe Major shall have overall responsibility for the musical direction of the Band and shall be assisted by the following principal Band Officers, Drum Major, Pipe Sergeant, Pipe Corporal, Drum Sergeant and Drum Corporal. The Pipe Major shall have the authority to delegate all or any of the powers, duties and responsibilities of the position as deemed appropriate. Provided that all such principal Band Officers shall be individually and collectively responsible for the good conduct and behaviour of members under their charge.

(ii) Other Band Officers:

From time to time, other Band members may be appointed to positions .within the Band.

By way of example and without limiting in any way the generality of such positions, a person may be appointed to undertake such tasks as - Equipment Officer and Band Fundraising/Promotions Officer.

The duties and responsibilities of such officers shall be specified by the Band Committee.

(iii) Band President:

The person for the time being holding the position of President of the Association shall be president of the Band.

Provided that the President may delegate another Director of the Association to act in this position for the purposes of Band Meetings and the like.

(iv) Band Secretary:

The Honorary Secretary (hereinafter called the Secretary) shall be a member of the Band.

The Secretary shall keep correct records of all proceedings of the Band, conduct all correspondence and generally perform all duties normally appertaining to such as office and in accordance with these Rules.

By way of example only these shall include the keeping of proper accounts of all moneys received and expended and shall ensure that all moneys received are paid to the Band Treasurer for banking.

(v) Band Treasurer:

The Band Treasurer shall be a member of the Band.

The Treasurer shall work in association with the Band Secretary and shall discharge all duties normally appertaining to such an office.

By way of example, these duties shall include the banking of moneys received on behalf of the Band, the payment of accounts due, the provision of duly prepared advice on the Band's financial circumstances and otherwise in accordance with these Rules.

(vi) Band Bank Account etc.

Any bank account, credit union account, building society account held by the Band shall be operated on by the signatures of any two of the following members - the Band President, the Pipe Major, the Secretary, the Treasurer.

Provided that in the case of any prolonged ~cc of any of the above the Band' Committee may. authorise another m~ or members to operate such account for. a stipulated period of time.

A statement outlining the financial position of the Band and the state of any account/s shall be presented to the monthly Meeting of the Band.

The Secretary of the Association shall have the right of access to all books of account of the Band at all reasonable times.

Rule 6.

BAND COMMITTEE

The day to day management of the Band shall be the responsibility of the Band Committee.

This shall consist of the following Band Members. -

The Band President (or person delegated by~ person) the Pipe Major and other principal Band Officials, the Secretary and the Treasurer.

This Committee shall be chaired by the Band President (or delegate) or the Pipe Major (or nominee).

Each member of this Committee is entitled to vote on any issue affecting the Band unless there is a good and valid reason why an abstention should be recorded.

Provided that the Band President or a person delegated to act in this capacity shall have the right of veto.

Rule 7.

BAND MEETINGS

(i) Annual General Meeting:

A General Meeting of the Band, to be called the Annual General Meeting shall be held on or before the first Thursday in August in each year. At least seven (7) days notice shall be given to all members.

An Annual Report setting out the Band's progress, together with a financial statement and list of Band Assets certified as correct by the Secretary and Treasurer of the Band shall be placed before the Meeting.

Copies of such Reports, Financial Statement, Asset Register and other Financial Records shall be provided to the Association prior to the meeting.

Written nominations for the positions of Band Secretary, Band Treasurer and Officials such as Band Equipment Officer or Fundraising/Promotions Officer must be forwarded to the Secretary at least 48 hours prior to the Annual General Meeting.

The Annual general Meeting shall formally appoint the Band President and conduct ballots to fill the positions of Band Secretary, Band Treasurer and officials such as Band Equipment Officer or Band fundraising/Promotions Officer.

The Pipe Major shall have the right to appoint principal Band Officers.

The Band Secretary shall forward to the Association Secretary/Manager .within two weeks of such Meeting, a report outlining all appointments made and business conducted.

All appointments made are subject to the approval of the Association.

(ii) Band Committee Meetings:

Meetings of the Band Committee shall be held at least once in each month and any five (5) members thereof may form a quorum.

Provided that all other Band members may be invited to attend such monthly meetings in which case such meeting may be referred to as a General Meeting.

The Band Committee shall not incur any financial obligation, other than those necessary for the day to day operations of the Band, dispose of or lend any property belonging to the Association without first obtaining approval from the Association.

(iii) Voting at Meetings Generally:

Apart from the provisions of Rule 4, which permit all members to vote on the selection of a Band Patron or the selection of a person for Life Membership, voting on issues affecting the Band shall be restricted to members of the Band Committee and playing members of the Band.

BAND EQUIPMENT

The uniforms, instruments and other equipment and property set aside for Band use shall remain the property of the Association and is to be used by the Band for Band purposes only.

Band Members shall be issued with uniform and may be issued with instruments as authorised by the Pipe Major or Drum Sergeant.

Each item supplied to a Band member must be listed on a form designed for such a purpose and such member shall acknowledge receipt by signing it.

A Band member receiving articles of uniform or instrument shall be held responsible for any loss or damage caused through neglect, misconduct or irresponsibility.

Each Band member is responsible for the day to day maintenance of uniform items and shall ensure that these are properly cared for. A person resigning or severing their connection with the Band for any reason whatsoever, shall forthwith return all property belonging to the Association to the Pipe Major, Drum Sergeant, Equipment Officer or principal Band Officer.

No Band member shall wear the Band uniform without the permission of a principal Band Officer.

Rule 9.

MISCONDUCT OF MEMBERS.

(i) Observance of Association and Band Rules

Band members shall at all times observe these, Band Rules, The Rules of the Association and the code of conduct expected of Association members generally.

A Band member, whether in Band uniform or not, shall not behave in such a manner which reflects or is likely to reflect adversely on the Association or the Band.

Any Band member offending against the provision of this Rule maybe suspended by the Pipe Major and/or summoned to appear before the next Band Committee Meeting.

Any Band member so summoned shall show cause why disciplinary action should not be instituted.

The Band Committee shall have the power to terminate membership of the Band, suspend such membership for a given period or reprimand any person who in the opinion of such Committee, fails to show just cause.

Provided that all disciplinary action is required to be confirmed by the Association. Any person dealt with under the provisions of this Rule shall have the right of appeal to the Board of Directors of the Association whose decision shall be final.

(ii) Appearance at engagements/turnouts:

All Band members shall ensure that the proper uniform is worn for specific engagements, turnouts competitions and the like.

As representatives of the Association, each Band member is required to turn out in a professional fashion and behave in a manner befitting the particular occasion.

Rule 10.

PRACTICES AND ENGAGEMENTS

Band members shall attend all practices and engagements at the times specified by the Pipe Major or other principal Band Officer. Provided that Band members may give advance notice of inability to attend a practice or engagement or in the case of an emergency, are to be given the opportunity to explain an otherwise unexplained absence.

Band members failing to observe the requirements of this Rule, without good reason, may be suspended by the Pipe Major and dealt with under the provisions of Rule 9 (1).

All proposed engagements shall be referred to the Band and shall be considered by the Band.

Wherever possible, at least two (2) weeks notice of an engagement is required in order that appropriate notice may be given to Band members.

Rule 11.

BAND ROOM

No person shall enter the Band Room on any occasion except when authorised by a principal Band Officer.

Provided that the Secretary or Board Member of the Association has the right of entry.

INTERPRETATION AND ARBITRATION

Rule 13.

DISSOLUTION OF BAND

ALTERA TION TO RULES

Rule 15.

TRANSITIONAL

In the event of any alteration being made to these Rules all current appointments to positions within the Band and Band membership shall remain in force until the next due Annual General Meeting.

Rule 16.

RULE BOOKS

On joining the Band or after any alteration to existing rules, every member of the Band shall receive a copy of these Rules, which must be acknowledged.

Approved by the Board of Directors of the Queensland Irish Association and signed on their behalf

Patrick Brennan President

Eamon Gaffhey Director

29th July 1997