Name and Object 

1.         The Band shall be known as the ‘Lerwick Royal British Legion Pipe Band’. 

2.         The object of the Band shall be the promotion of ensemble playing of Highland bagpipes and drums and the teaching of the arts of piping and drumming. 

3.         To provide or assist in the provision of recitals and other appearances in public and for the benefit, enjoyment and education of the public. 

4.         To provide a resource for the education and training of pipers and drummers.

 

Membership 

5.         Any piper or drummer interested in ensemble playing or in the teaching of either piping or drumming shall be eligible for membership of the Band. 

6.         Any person seeking to learn the arts of piping or drumming shall be eligible for membership of the Band.

7.         The committee shall have the right to award or withdraw individual membership. 

8.         All members shall have their names recorded in a Membership Book.

 Meetings 

9.         All members whose names have been recorded in the Membership Book shall be entitled to attend Annual or Special General Meetings of the Band. 

10.       Members shall be entitled to propose, second and vote on motions for consideration at meetings.  A simple majority vote of members present shall decide the outcome of motions duly proposed and seconded, except where the motion shall include any proposal to change this constitution or to remove or replace the Pipe Major, when a two-thirds majority will be required. 

11.       A quorum of not less than ten members shall constitute a meeting. 

12.       An Annual General Meeting shall be held during January, February or March each year on a date to be determined by the Committee.  The Honorary Secretary shall insert notice of the meeting in the local press at least fourteen days before the date of the meeting. 

13.       The Committee may, at fourteen days notice, call a Special General Meeting of the Band to consider specific items of business, the nature of which shall be stated in the notice calling the meeting. 

14.       The Committee shall call a Special General Meeting upon receipt of a written request of six members of the Band. 

Officers 

15.       Officers of the Band shall consist of an Honorary Secretary, an Honorary Treasurer (which may be a joint appointment) and a Pipe Major. 

16.       The Pipe Major shall be elected by the playing members of the Band and will hold the appointment until he resigns or is replaced by the vote of a two-thirds majority of members present at a General Meeting. 

17.       All other Officers shall be elected at either an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for that purpose, to hold office until the following Annual General Meeting.  Retiring Officers shall be eligible for re-election. 

Committee 

18.       The Committee shall consist of the Officers ex-officio and not more than four members of the Band elected at a General Meeting, to hold office until the following Annual General Meeting. 

19.       Candidates for election to the Committee shall be those members of the retiring Committee who shall offer themselves for re-election and such other members of the Band whose names have been duly proposed and seconded. 

20.       If a casual vacancy occurs the Committee may co-opt a member to fill the vacancy. 

Pipe Major 

21.       The Pipe Major will be responsible for the musical direction of the Band and will have complete discretion in the choice of musical repertoire.  He will select a playing ensemble from within the Band membership and will have authority to include or exclude such players as he feels appropriate.  The Pipe Major may delegate authority in his absence to the Pipe Sergeant or other member of the Band.  The Pipe Major will be the final arbiter in any decision on whether the Band accepts any playing engagement. 

Accounts 

22.       The Band’s accounts shall be closed at 31^st December each year and a balance sheet prepared at the same date.  A balance sheet shall be presented for acceptance at each Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for that purpose.  All monies received by the Band shall be banked or invested in such a manner as the Committee may decide, consistent with sound financial practice.  Any bank account which may be opened in the Band’s name shall be operated by any two of the following Office Bearers:

            Pipe Major

            Honorary Treasurer

            Honorary Secretary.

 

23.       Any expenditure of 30% or more of the Pipe Band funds must have the approval of two-thirds of the band members.

Dissolution 

24.       If the committee shall decide at any time that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Band they shall call an Extra-ordinary General Meeting to consider a resolution to that effect.  A majority of at least two-thirds of those present will be required to carry any resolution to dissolve the Band.  Any assets remaining after settling any properly incurred debts shall be given into the care of Shetland Islands Council Leisure and Recreation Committee or its successor, to be held until such time as the Band is re-established under the same or similar Constitution.  If at any time such Committee shall consider that there is no prospect of the Band being re-established they shall apply such assets towards such purposes charitable in law as it may decide. 

Constitution (clause 23) revised at AGM on 23^rd January 2007