Bye Laws

CONSTITUTION OF NEWRY MUSICAL FEIS

(Revised 2013)

1. The Association shall be called “The Newry Musical Feis Association”.

2. The following shall be the objects of the Association: -
(a) To promote and encourage the cultivation of, and to foster and develop a love for, music, speech & drama, Irish folk dancing, and other arts;
(b) To hold an annual Feis consisting of competitions and such other cultural activities as the Annual General Meeting shall decide.
(c) To organise, participate in and support events, which, in the opinion of the Committee, are in keeping with the aims outlined in 2(a) above.

3. Members of the Association shall pay an annual subscription to be determined each year by the Annual General Meeting, and such subscription shall confer membership from the opening day of the Feis in one year till the day preceding the opening day in the following year. All Committee members and Office Bearers of the Executive Committee of Newry Musical Feis shall be deemed ex officio members of The Newry Musical Feis Association for the duration of their service.

4. Members of the Association shall be entitled to attend, with full voting rights, any general meeting of the Association, and shall be entitled to free admission to all competitions held during the Feis. All Hon. Vice Presidents are Life Members of the Association. Honorary Life Members shall have the right to attend in a non-voting capacity at committee and general meetings of the Association.

5. The Annual General Meeting shall be held before the end of the calendar year following the Feis.

6. At least seven days notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to every member either by written notification or by advertisement in the local press.

7. An extraordinary general meeting may be summoned by the General Secretary at any time with the written consent of the Chairperson, and shall be summoned by the Chairperson when directed by the Committee, or on the receipt of a written petition signed by at least twenty members, in which case the meeting shall be convened within fourteen days in the manner specified in point 6 above.

8. There shall be a President and such Vice Presidents as the Annual General Meeting shall decide who shall have the right to be present at the meetings of the Executive Committee, under the terms outlined in point 4 above.

9. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Association which shall deal with all matters not specifically reserved to the Annual General Meeting, and which shall consist of:
(a)     A Chairperson;
(b)     A Vice-Chairperson;
(c)     An Administrator;
(d)     A Treasurer;
(e)     Such other officers as the Annual General Meeting shall decide; and
(f)      Not more than twenty-five members, of whom a minimum of fourteen shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Executive Committee shall have power to co-opt such additional members, as it shall deem necessary up to the stated number.
(g)     The positions of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson to be held for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years

10. The Executive Committee, of which seven members, including at least two of the office-bearers
9a - d above, shall form a quorum, shall meet at least once a month, July and August excepted. Any Committee Member absenting him/herself from three consecutive meetings shall automatically cease to be a Member of the Committee unless he/she submits an explanation acceptable to the meeting.

11. The Executive Committee shall have power to constitute such sub-committees and make such bye-laws as it shall consider necessary for the efficient conduct of the Feis and shall have the final and binding power to decide on all questions arising out of entries for competitions.

12. The monies of the Association shall not under any circumstances be expended for any purpose whatever other than the furtherance of the objects set out in Rule 2 above

13. This Constitution may be amended only by a General Meeting of the Association. The notice convening such a meeting shall set out the proposed amendment.