CONSTITUTION

The Cambridge Folk Club has been operating since 1965 and is a non-profit making organisation which hosts concerts of Folk and Acoustic Music every Friday evening plus occasional concerts at other times.

General
1. The club shall be known as Cambridge Folk Club – hereafter known as “the Club”.
2. The Club shall be run as a non-profit making organisation dedicated to the provision of live folk and acoustic music.
3. The Club shall be run by a Committee consisting of not more than ten people and not less than three – of whom three may constitute a quorum.
4. The Committee shall consist, as a minimum, of a Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary.
5. Membership of the Committee is at the invitation of the majority of the Committee.
6. There is no fixed term of office, but continuation in post is subject to an annual vote of confidence by the other Committee members.
7. The Committee will meet at least twice a year to review the Club’s financial position and to determine policy.
8. The Club will meet each Friday evening. The Golden Hind, Cambridge, is the usual venue.
9. This Constitution is available to any member of the club, upon request, and will be published on the Club’s website.

Music Policy
1. Whilst having at its heart the desire to preserve the acoustic folk music tradition of the British Isles, the club will seek to include music and musicians from a broad spectrum of genres.
2. At least one member of the committee (The “Bookings Secretary”) will be responsible for the booking of professional artistes.

Administration
1. The Committee will be responsible for the organisation of the Club.
2. The Committee will receive no remuneration in return for their services to the Club, although they will be entitled to claim for approved out-of-pocket expenses.

Membership
1. The Committee will review the subject of membership, annually.
2. The Committee has the power to exclude persons from membership on the grounds of their anti-social or rowdy behaviour.
3. There will be an annual membership fee.
4. Members will normally receive a discount on entry fees.

Financial Policy
1. The Club will aim to break even. It is not run to make a profit.
2. Entry fees to concerts for members and non-members will be reviewed annually, or more frequently if deemed necessary, by the committee.
3. As a contingency, the Club will endeavour to maintain sufficient funds to cover its guaranteed commitments for the following year.
4. The Club funds will be held in a Treasurer’s account at HSBC bank, Cambridge. The signatories will be drawn from the Committee.
5. The income and expenditure of the club will be monitored by the committee.
6. Any cash surplus will used to subsidise less successful concerts. Occasionally, the Committee may decide to use some of the cash surplus to make a donation to a local Registered Charity.

Club Assets
1. The Club will not acquire / retain assets except such as are necessary in the week-to-week running of the club.

Dissolution of the Club
1. In the event of the dissolution of the Club, any assets (including cash in hand / at bank) shall be distributed as determined by a Special Meeting of the Committee. Such distribution will, however, be limited to the following:
1. Settlement of any outstanding liabilities
Then in no specific order:
1. Donation to organisations with similar aims
2. Donation to Registered Charities
3. Distribution to members

Date of Adoption and Implementation
This updated Constitution was formally agreed and implemented by the Committee at a meeting on 17th June 2024 and is effective immediately.