Introduction
The Policies in this Manual were initially drafted by a Policy Committee in 2011-13, based on
a) | Expansion of provisions in the Society’s Registered Constitution and Bylaws |
b) | Prior Board resolutions from 1997-2012 |
c) | Remembered traditions, practices and procedures |
d) | Personal views and suggestions of committee Members |
The initial draft was amended as required, and approved by the Board 18 July 2013.
Policies are created and amended by Board resolutions. If any proposed resolution conflicts with an establish policy, it is the Chair’s duty to call attention to that fact before a vote is taken.
There is no provision for any “executive decision” that conflicts with established policy.
Policies are further amplified by
a) | References to government laws & regulations & our Society’s registered Constitution & Bylaws (“Governing References”-left-hand column of policy document) |
b) | Procedural documents, such as Board organizational charts and calendars |
c) | Committee terms of reference (TORs) & members’ job descriptions (“Subordinate References” – right-hand column of Policy document) |
d) | Addenda (which may include any of the above) |
Contents
Section A | Definitions – (in addition to those in Board Bylaws) |
Section B | Membership – Active, Honorary, Life: Theatre BC, OZone, complaints, suggestions |
Section C | Governance – elections, meetings, appointments, TORs & JDs |
Section D | Financial control – budgets, bookkeeping, personal expenditures, debit cards, cheques, a/c reviewers, borrowing |
Section E | Communications – publicity, information to Members |
Section F | Productions & workshops – planning, implementation, holdovers, supervision, festival entries |
Section G | Facilities – Development Plan, Powerhouse use, lighting & sound, rentals, lending and borrowing, scene shop |
Section H | Records & archives – Management, storage, donations |
Section J | Safety & Security |
Addendum 1 | Constitution & Bylaws |
Addendum 2 | Skeleton Org. Chart |
Addendum 3 | Outline Board Calendar |
Addendum 4 | Outline Committee TORs – Artistic, Costume, a/c Reviewers |
Addendum 5 | Code of Conduct – Harassment Procedures |
Addendum 6 | List of job descriptions, President, VP-Tech, VP Facilities, Sec., Treas.,
Publicity/Business Director, Directors-at-Large Managers – Rentals, Costume Bank, Safety, Lighting, Sound, Keymaster |
Addendum 7 | List of job descriptions, Production team – Director; Set, Lighting & Sound Designers, Tech and Admin Producers |
Section A – Definitions
(in addition to those found in the Society’s Bylaws)
Board | The elected Directors of the Society, acting as a group |
Director | An elected Member of the Board |
Directors – Elect | Those Directors who have been elected in May, but who do not take office until the AGM in September |
Executive | An informal and misleading term referring to the Board |
Facilities | Land, building, equipment & supplies owned by the Society |
Fiscal Year | 12 months ending 30th June |
Job Description (JD) | The outline of the delegated authority, tasks, and reporting requirements associated with any Member’s position, as drafted by the incumbent and approved by the Board |
Maintenance | The schedule inspection, upkeep, repair, replacement & disposal of any Facility, (including the keeping of inventories & records) |
Member | An Active, Life or Honorary Member of the Society |
Natural Person | A person that is not a Company or other Institution |
Production Period | The time when a Powerhouse production has exclusive use of the auditorium, stage, control booth, scene shop, upper dressing room & sound & lighting facilities; and priority access to the green room, club room and foyer |
Mission Statement | Para 2 of the Society’s Constitution |
OZone | The Okanagan Zone of Theatre BC |
Season | Current season – year ending 31st August next
Upcoming season – year beginning 1st September next Following Season – the year following the Upcoming Season (N.B. For greater clarity, a season is described as [e.g.] 2012/13 season) |
Terms of Reference (TORs) | The outline of the delegated authority, tasks, and reporting requirements of a committee appointed by the Board |
Section B – Membership
Governing References
BL2.1(a)
BL2.2, 2.6
BL2.3
BL2.1(b)
BL9.2
BL2.1(c) |
Policy B1 – Active Membership
Policy B2 – Honorary Membership Nomination of any natural person may be submitted to the Board in writing, by any Active or Life Member. Must be renewed at each AGM. No voting privileges
Policy B3 – Life Membership Nomination, based on exemplary service to the Society, may be suggested by any Active Member and submitted to the Board. Criteria for Board approval will include the candidate having been an Active Member for at least 25 years.
Policy B4 – Theatre BC/Okanagan Zone Membership Group Membership paid by Society. Individual fees paid by Powerhouse only as needed for participation in a Theatre BC Festival entry.
Policy B5 – Complaints & Suggestions May be made to any Director, who will pass it on to the appropriate Board Member for action, and will ask the Secretary to include the matter in the agenda for the next Board meeting. |
Subordinate References Application form
Calendar AGM agenda
Calendar AGM agenda
Calendar JD Admin Prod.
Code of Conduct
Harassment Policy |
Section C – Governance
Governing References
BL5,6.1, 6.2
BL4.2, 7.1, 7.2
BL 8.1
BL9 |
Policy C1 – Election of Directors Nominating Committee appointed by Board in March, elections held in May.
Policy C2 – Job Descriptions Reviewed by incumbents in April, changes approved by Board in June.
Policy C3 – Appointments, Calendar, Committee TORs The Board must in June assign duties to all Directors, and appoint members to committees and all supervisory positions for the upcoming season
Policy C4 – Board Meetings Monthly, scheduled in August. Special meetings at call of Pres. In camera sessions for privacy and contractual discussions.
Policy C5 – General Meetings Scheduled in August for September (AGM), November, January, March, May (elections). Special meetings at call of President. |
Subordinate References Committee TORs Calendar
JDs, Calendar
JDs, TORs. Calendar
Calendar, President’s JD
Calendar, President’s JD |
Section D – Financial Control
Governing References
BL3.6.5
BL3.6.5
BL7.2.3
BL3.3 |
Policy D1 – Budgets
Policy D2 – Bookkeeping By contract, supervised by Treasurer
Policy D3 – Personal Expenditures (for Powerhouse) Refunds authorized by Treasurer.
Policy D5 – Advances & Debit Cards Cash advances and debit card withdrawals are permitted for production expenses only.
Policy D6 – Cheques Signed by 2 of 3 Directors appointed by Board. No pre-signed cheques.
Policy D7 – Account Reviewers Appointed by Board, report to Board by August, and to Members at AGM
Policy D8 – Borrowing (see Bylaw) |
Subordinate References JDs Treasurer, VP Prod
JD Treasurer Contract terms
JD Treasurer
Reviewers’ TORs Calendar |
Section E – Communications
Governing References
BL4.1 |
Policy E1 – Publicity All communications to public responsibility of Publicity Director.
Policy E2 – Information to Members re Powerhouse activities To be routed through Membership Director to Spotlight Editor. Supplemented by email & Members Only section of website (to include calendar, organization chart & links to Job Descriptions and Policy Manual. |
Subordinate References JD Publicity Dir.
JDs Membership Director, Spotlight Editor, Website Mgr. |
Section F – Productions & Workshops
Governing References
BL5, 7.2.1
BL3.6.2
LPEC Safety Standards Act
Prov. Regs. |
Policy F1 – Planning
Policy F2 – Implementation Responsibility of VP Prod., including support of production teams, & post-mortems
|
Subordinate References Calendar
Calendar
Calendar
TORs Artistic Committee Calendar
.
JDs Lighting & Sound Mgrs, Tech Prod., Designers & Crew
JD House Mgr.
JD Tech Prod. & Admin Prod. |
Section G – Facilities
Governing References
BL3.6.3
LPEC
LPEC
BL7.2.2, 3.6.3
Prov. Regs. |
Policy G1 – Development Plan Board to prepare a 5-year plan, and review annually
Policy G2 – Maintenance Purchases at discretion of VP Facilities (within budget line items) Equipment disposal recommended to Board by VP Facilities
Policy G3 – Stage Lighting Equipment, instruments, cabling & light bars to be the responsibility of the Lighting Mgr.
Policy G4 – Sound Equipment (inc. Hearing Assistance) To be the responsibility of the Sound Manager.
Policy G5 – Loans
Policy G6 – Theatre Rentals
Policy G7 – Costume Bank
Policy G8 – Scene Shop Private use by Members at the discretion of VP Facilities. |
Subordinate References Calendar
JD VP Facilities
JD Lighting Mgr.
JD Sound Mgr.
JD VP Facilities
JD VP Prod.
Contract form JDs Rentals Mgr. & VP Facilities
Calendar
JDs Supervisory Techs.
JD House Mgr.
JD Supervisory Tech
Contract form JD Costume Mgr
TORs Costume Committee
JD VP Facilities |
Section H – Records & Archives
Governing References |
Policy H1 – Management Archives Manager to be appointed by Board
Policy H2 – On-site Storage
Policy H3 – Off-site Storage
Policy H4 – Museum Donations At discretion of Archives Manager or Costume Bank Manager |
Subordinate References JD Archives Mgr
JD Treasurer JD Treasurer JD Club Photog.
JDs Archives & Costume Bank Managers |
Section J – Safety & Security
Governing References
Fire Regs. City Restrictions |
Policy J1 – Safety Safety Officer appointed by Board; if not a Director, supervision & incident reporting via VP Facilities
Policy J2 – Security
Policy J3 – Safety Our membership captures people of all ages. To reduce legal implications and safety concerns we will not permit distribution of Powerhouse Theatre keys to minors and/or vulnerable adults. We will not allow this group to be in the building unsupervised. Minor: Person under the age of 19 Vulnerable adult: a person aged 16 or over whose ability to protect himself from violence, abuse or neglect is significantly impaired through physical or mental disability or illness, through old age or otherwise. |
Subordinate References JD Safety Officer, JD VP Facilities
JD VP Facilities JD Keymaster Contract terms |