Article 1
The name of the Society shall be NewMusicSA.
Article 2
The Society's headquarters shall be in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Article 3
The official and working language of the Society shall be English.
Article 4
The Society shall consist of an Executive Committee (Exco) and members.
Article 5
The business of the Society shall be conducted through executive and general meetings.
Article 6
To actively encourage the composition, performance, broadcast and recording of contemporary music. The term "contemporary music" here refers to serious music by composers of any nationality, particularly composers of South African descent or permanent residence.
Article 7
To provide accessible points of contact and information for South African composers or their agents.
Article 8
To provide accessible points of contact and information for all who are interested in performing, teaching, researching or studying contemporary music.
Article 9
To promote exchange of ideas and music between composers within South Africa, and between South African composers and those of other countries.
Article 10
To raise funds to encourage the education and development of South African composers and the production of new works.
Article 11
To seek to overcome barriers, and discourage any forms of prejudice and hindrance, which have resulted from racial, cultural, religious or gender intolerance in the world of contemporary music, especially in South Africa.
Article 12
To promote public acceptance and understanding of contemporary music.
Article 13
In furtherance of the foregoing aims the Society, through its Exco, shall facilitate meetings, performances, lectures, research, publications, commissions, displays, recordings, networking at a local, national and international level, and other activities.
Article 14
The Society shall operate on a non-profit basis.
Article 15
The Society's income consists of membership fees, subsidies and donations, revenue from concerts and other events, and other income.
Article 16
The Exco shall work without remuneration other than expenses, except that the Secretary may, when occasion demands, be paid.
Article 17
Membership of the Society shall be by Individual, Corporate or Honorary membership.
Article 18
Membership shall be open to all individuals or bodies whose aims correspond with the aims of the Society.
Article 19
Individual and Corporate membership shall be by application to the Exco or by invitation of the Exco.
Article 20
Approval of Individual and Corporate membership shall be given by the Exco.
Article 21
The Exco may, either at its own discretion or at the suggestion of members, elect Honorary members, subject to approval at a general meeting.
Article 22
Membership shall be on an annual basis by subscription.
Article 23
Membership shall terminate upon non-payment of subscription, by resignation (of the member), or by exclusion (of the Society) at the annual general meeting; if by withdrawal or exclusion three months' notice on either side is required.
Article 24
The officers of the Society shall be:
Article 25
Only the President and Vice-President, or their nominated representatives, may speak on behalf of or represent the Society.
Article 26
The Exco shall consist of the four officers of the Society.
Article 27
The President, Vice-President and Treasurer shall be elected by nomination and voting at a general meeting every three years; this should normally coincide with an annual general meeting. They may be re-elected for further terms of office. Individual and Corporate members shall have one vote each.
Article 28
The Vice-President shall automatically succeed to the position of President, if the latter is unable to complete the term of office.
Article 29
The President and Vice-President shall appoint the Secretary.
Article 30
The Exco may co-opt up to a maximum of four additional members, as necessary.
Article 31
A quorum for meetings of the Exco shall be no less than three officers.
Article 32
The powers of any meeting of the Exco that finds itself inquorate shall be limited to deciding upon a time and venue for a future meeting.
Article 33
Minutes shall be taken of all meetings of the Exco. The agenda for forthcoming meetings and previous minutes of all Exco meetings shall be circulated to all Exco members before the meeting is held.
Article 34
The Exco shall have the power to appoint sub-committees of members or non-members. All sub-committees formed this way shall carry out their work under the general direction of, and be responsible to, the Exco; all acts and proceedings of any sub-committee shall be promptly reported back to the Exco.
Article 35
An annual general meeting of members shall be held in each calendar year, and within eighteen months of the previous annual general meeting. A notice period of at least thirty days is required to be sent to all members.
Article 36
The President's and Treasurer's Report shall be presented at each annual general meeting, and approval shall be shown by voting.
Article 37
A special general meeting shall be convened by any officer, or any member with a request signed by twenty full members of the Society, at any time, provided there is a notice period of at least thirty days and a statement of the object of such a meeting.
Article 38
A quorum for annual and special general meetings shall be ten members.
Article 39
If a quorum is not reached at any general meeting, all items requiring a vote shall be put to all members for a postal ballot.
Article 40
The results of all ballots, whether cast at general meetings or by post shall be made known to all members.
Article 41
The President reserves the right to a casting vote.
Article 42
Minutes shall be taken of all general meetings. The agenda for the meeting and minutes of the previous meeting shall be circulated to all members before the meeting is held.
Article 43
The subscription for membership shall be such a sum as the Exco shall from time to time recommend. The rate shall be fixed at the annual general meeting.
Article 44
The Society accounts shall be audited by a firm of accountants appointed by the Exco. No persons being members of the Exco should be relatives, employees, shareholders or directors of the appointed firm of accountants.
Article 45
The Society may be dissolved by resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a special general meeting convened for that purpose. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by, or in the name of the Society, provided that, if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, property shall not be paid to or distributed among members of the Society but shall be given to or transferred to some other charile institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of those of the Society.
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