CONSTITUTION OF THE
Waco Music Teachers Association
(Revised 1/2001)
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be “The Waco Music Teachers Association.”
ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this Association shall be to unite music teachers who desire to promote the progress and welfare of their profession, to enrich members through professional fellowship, and to maintain musical excellence and ethical standards.
ARTICLE III. CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. There shall be five classes of membership, namely: Active, Provisional, Life, Student Associate, and Student Affiliate.
Section 2. Active and Provisional members shall be accepted into the Association upon recommendation from the Committee on Membership and Board approval.
Section 3. Life membership may be conferred upon an Active member by unanimous decision of the Board of Directors. Such change in classification requires sponsorship by two Active members. Life members are exempt from local dues.
Section 4. Persons eligible for Student Affiliate or for Student Associate membership shall not be elected to Active membership.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION
Section 1. Officers of this Association shall consist of President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian.
Section 2. The Committee on Nominations shall submit a slate of one nominee for each office at the regular meeting in March of even-numbered years. A majority vote of all members present is necessary for election to each office.
Section 3. Election shall be by ballot, but this requirement may be dispensed with by a unanimous vote if there are no nominations from the floor. Each officer is elected at the April meeting for a term of two years, and will assume office on July 1 following the election. Officers may not succeed themselves.
ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers of the current biennium, the President of the prior biennium, and a Director at Large.
Section 2. The Director at Large shall be nominated from the floor and elected by acclamation at the May meeting following the election of Officers.
ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES
Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees: Certification, Finance, Long Range Planning and Orientation, Membership, Program, Public Performance, Public Relations, Social Affairs, and Telephone.
Section 2. Each committee shall consist of at least three members, and shall be appointed for a two-year term. Chairmen are subject to approval by the Board of Directors, and shall be announced by the incoming President at the May meeting. Committee chairmen may not succeed themselves.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
Section 1. The President and the Board of Directors shall schedule meetings.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall meet at the discretion of the President, or upon written request of five Active members of the Association.
ARTICLE VIII. AFFILIATION
The Waco Music Teachers Association shall maintain affiliation with the Texas Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association.
ARTICLE IX. FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30.
ARTICLE X. STUDENT AFFILIATE DIVISION
Section 1. The Third Vice President of the Association, who will be known as the Waco Student Affiliate Coordinator, will chair the Student Affiliate Division of the Waco Music Teachers Association.
ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided notice of such proposed amendment shall have been given to all members at least ten days prior to such meeting.
ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Active members shall be qualified persons engaged in teaching and/or performance in any branch of music. These members may vote, hold office, and participate in all activities of the Association upon receipt of dues. Any member who is reprimanded three times by the Board of Directors for violation of Article II of this Constitution will be asked to resign permanently from the Association. Members who are delinquent in their dues will forfeit their membership.
Section 2. The term “qualified” shall be construed to mean a degree with a major or minor in music from an accredited college or university, a diploma from an accredited conservatory of music, certification through the Music Teachers National Association, or a résumé showing proof of competency in teaching, submitted to the Board for approval. Members shall have had a minimum of thirty hours of study in their field at the college level, and/or five years teaching experience, which includes a profile of student success as judged by other professionals. Life members have local status only and are not entitled to vote or hold office. Transfers from another association who do not meet WMTA criteria shall be subjected to the Board's mentorship.
Section 3. Student Associate and Student Affiliate members are students who have met requirements for those classes of membership as specified in the Texas Music Teachers Association bylaws. These members are entitled to the privilege of participation in student activities only.
Section 4. A former member who wishes to be reinstated shall be elected by the same procedure as a new member.
ARTICLE II. DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the President to appoint a Parliamentarian, to fill official vacancies subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, to call special meetings of the Association or the Board, to stay currently informed on all aspects of the Waco, Texas, and National Music Teachers Associations, to serve as an ex officio member of all committees except the Committee on Nominations, and to perform all other duties as pertaining to the office.
Section 2. It shall be the duty of the First Vice-President to act as chairman of the Committee on Program and to perform all duties of the President's office in the absence of the President.
Section 3. It shall be the duty of the Second Vice-President to act as chairman of the Committee on Membership, and to perform all the duties of the President's office in the absence of the President and First Vice-President.
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the Third Vice-President to act as Coordinator of the Student Affiliate Division.
Section 5. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the minutes of all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors. It shall also be the duty of the Secretary to write business letters as may be requested by the President.
Section 6. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to act as chairman of the Committee on Finance, to collect and deposit all monies, to pay all bills approved by the Board of Directors, to submit a financial report at each business meeting, and to keep adequate and complete records.
Section 7. It shall be the duty of the Historian to preserve all documents of historical value, and to keep a written record of all significant activities of the Association.
ARTICLE III. DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to act in an advisory capacity to the President, to make recommendations on all matters referred to it, to approve changes in membership status, and to reprimand members who violate Article II of the Constitution provided the violation is presented by two Active members in good standing.
Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to appoint a committee on Nominations in February of even-numbered years. This committee shall consist of three Active members.
Section 3. It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to act in an emergency if a called meeting of the Association is impractical.
ARTICLE IV. DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Certification to assist members with their certification, at the direction of the Board.
Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Finance to prepare an itemized statement of Association expenditures at the end of each fiscal year.
Section 3. It shall be the duty of the Long Range Planning and Orientation Committee to review the Constitution annually, orient new members, and make any recommendations to the Board of Directors, which may improve the Association.
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Membership to receive all applications for membership in the Association, and within ten days of the receipt of an application to present the credentials of the applicant to the Board.
Section 5. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Program to prepare and distribute the annual yearbook and to schedule programs for meetings.
Section 6. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Performance to coordinate all details concerning the Fall Festival, Young Artist Contest, Musicales, and Student Recitals.
Section 7. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Relations to publicize Association activities and objectives by means of local news media, and to perform the duties of State Reporter as specified in the Texas Music Teachers Association bylaws.
Section 8. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Social Affairs to make arrangements for luncheons and dinners, and to write cards as requested by the members.
Section 9. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Telephone to make such telephone and e-mail contacts as the President may request.
ARTICLE V. DUES
Section 1. The annual dues for members shall be $101.00 (including National, State, Local, and Student Affiliate Teacher Dues).
Section 2. Dues are payable to the Music Teachers National Association upon receipt of official notice, no later than June 30.
Section 3. Life members are not subject to dues.
Section 4. Dues of student members shall be paid through their respective teachers as prescribed in the Texas Music Teachers Association bylaws.
ARTICLE VI. QUORUM
Section 1. Ten members shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Association.
Section 2. Five members shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII. RULES OF ORDER
The rules of parliamentary practice outlined in Roberts' Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of this Association and of the Board of Directors, subject to the special rules which have been or may be adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided notice of such proposed amendment shall have been given to all members at least ten days prior to such meeting.