Membership Rules and Guidelines

1. COMMITMENT TO THE CHOIR
   1. Members should attend all rehearsals unless unforeseen emergencies, illness or unavoidable business commitments prevent this. In the event that minor illness makes it difficult to sing, yet a member is not bedridden, you are still expected to attend and be attentive at rehearsals. (If you are well enough to go to work, you are well enough to come to rehearsal). If too many concert rehearsals are missed (i.e. more than 25%), even for the most valid of reasons, the member concerned may not be allowed to sing in the concert (at the discretion of the Music Director).
   2. Attendance at final rehearsal is mandatory. Members who cannot attend the final rehearsal will not be allowed to sing in the concert at the discretion of the Join Us
   3. The Section Leaders will keep an attendance list. You should inform them in advance of any unavoidable absences. If possible, this information should be given to the Section Leaders at the beginning of the season, to be passed on to the Music Director. Please ensure you know the name, telephone number /email of your Section Leader so you can contact them in an emergency, i.e. if you are unexpectedly unable to attend a rehearsal or performance.
   4. Members should make a commitment to sing with the Choir for all major concerts of a season, regardless of the personal views on the repertoire. (Smaller-scale concerts, chiefly Carols and other primarily fund-raising performances, are optional.)
2. REHEARSALS
   1. Rehearsals will start promptly at 7:30 pm and end at 10 pm There will be a tea/coffee break at about 8:45 for 15 minutes.
   2. Everyone is expected to be present at 7:30 pm for the warm-up. This is the most important part of the rehearsal in terms of building a unified choral sound and should not be missed. People whose job prevents them from being present at 7:30 are expected to come as soon as possible.
   3. Members should expect extra sectional rehearsals to be scheduled throughout the season, ie outside the regular Thursday period. Members are expected to attend the majority of these sectionals and attendance will be taken.
   4. Members should try to make the time to rehearse at home as much as possible. Rehearsal time is intended for putting a performance together, not for learning parts from scratch, ie "note bashing".(That's why it's called "rehearsal", not "choir practice").
3. AUDITIONS
   1. The Music Director will conduct auditions of new members to determine the suitability of a person to join the Choir and the appropriate section. These will usually be scheduled immediately before a rehearsal in the beginning of a season.
   2. The Music Director may ask to hear current members at any time during the season to check their progress.
4. MAINTENANCE OF MEMBERSHIP

   Continued membership depends on:

   1. Commitment to the Choir. If any member misses two consecutive concerts, they may be required to re-audition at the discretion of the Music Director.
   2. Prompt payment of membership subscriptions. The Committee will set an annual membership fee. If any member has problems in paying this in one instalment, he/she should discuss this with the Treasurer. Members joining at mid-season will pay pro rata. Receipts can be issued for membership subscriptions.
   3. Prompt payment for scores and tapes. Scores may not be taken from the rehearsal venue until payment arrangements are made.
   4. Voting privileges are accorded to active members (i.e. those satisfying the criteria for continued membership set out above.)