BYLAWS OF THE ORCHESTRA DIVISION

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SOUTH CAROLINA MUSIC EDUCATORS
REVISED FEBRUARY, 2004

ARTICLE I-NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Orchestra Division of the South Carolina Music Educators Association.

ARTICLE II-PURPOSE

 The purpose of this organization shall be threefold.

Section 1. It shall be the purpose of this organization to promote and encourage the development of the orchestral programs in the state.

Section 2. It shall be the purpose of this organization to promote interest and activity in orchestral string instrument study and performance in the state.

Section 3. It shall be the purpose of this organization to establish and conduct activities that will serve to enhance, enrich and promote string programs in the South Carolina schools.

ARTICLE III-MEMBERSHIP

Any member, in good standing, of the South Carolina Music Educators Association meets the basic qualifications for the membership in the Orchestra Division of the South Carolina Music Educators Association. There shall be three types of memberships: active, associate and student.

Section 1.  Any active member of the South Carolina Music Educators Association, who has designated “Orchestra Division” on his membership form, qualifies as an active member of the Orchestra Division.

Section 2.  Any associate member of the South Carolina Music Educators Association, has designated “Orchestra Division” on his membership form, qualifies as an associate member of the Orchestra Division. Associate members may not vote or hold office in the division activities, but may sponsor the participation of others.

Section 3.  Any student member of the South Carolina Music Educators Association, has designated “Orchestra Division” on his membership form, may be a member the Orchestra Division.

ARTICLE IV-OFFICERS

The officers of the Orchestra Division shall be president, president-elect, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and festival chairmen. The term of office shall be for two years. The executive committee shall consist of the above named officers together with two members appointed annually by the president. Officers shall be elected in the odd-numbered years during the Orchestra Division meeting to be held at the South Carolina Music Educators In-Service Conference.

Section 1.  The president shall preside at all meetings of the division and of the Executive Committee; serve as a voting member of the Executive Board of the South Carolina Music Educators Association; be responsible for writing or appointing someone to write articles for the South Carolina Musician; appointing all special committees, historian and two Executive Committee members at large; serve as ex-officio member of all committees; and in general, with the assistance of the Executive Committee, formulate and coordinate the work of the division as a whole. The president shall become vice-president at the end of his/her term.

Section 2.  The president-elect shall act as an aide to the president and shall perform the duties of that office in the event of the disability, absence or resignation of the president. The president-elect shall succeed to the presidency at the conclusion of his term of office. The president-elect shall serve in coordinating activities and perform other duties as directed by the president.

Section 3.  The vice president shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Board of the South Carolina Music Educators Association and shall assume the duties of the president only if the president elect be also absent or disable. It shall also be the duty of the vice-president to serve as parliamentarian at each meeting.

Section 4.  The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the division and the Executive Committee, keep a record of attendance, and take care of correspondence for the division as directed by the president. He/She shall also serve as editor of newsletters or other publications of the division.

Section 5.  The treasurer shall receive and disburse all monies of the division according to the fiscal policies of the association and the divisions, make a financial statement at each meeting, and present a detailed financial report at the spring meeting. It shall also be the duty of the treasurer to take attendance and check membership at each meeting. The treasurer will be bonded.

Section 6.  The festival chairman shall coordinate the annual Concert Festival and appoint an assistant to coordinate the annual Solo and Festival.  The festival chairperson shall maintain a scrapbook of festival results to include: music performed by each group at concert festival, local chairpersons, sites, and ratings for each year.  This collection will be passed to future chairpersons.

Section 7.  The Executive Committee of the Orchestra Division shall exercise control over the general direction of the division. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the division, and two members at large.

Section 8.  The president shall appoint the All-State and Region Chairpersons.  Both chairpersons shall keep a record of all pertinent data and documents related to the All-State and Region activities. The Region chairperson shall co-ordinate all Region activities with the local chairpersons.  The All-State chairperson shall serve as the librarian and coordinate All-State activities with local chairpersons.

Section 9.  The president shall appoint two Executive Committee Members-at-Large. The president and vice president shall be voting members of the Executive Board of the South Carolina Music Educators Association.

ARTICLE V – VACANCIES IN OFFICE

Vacancies in any office, except that of president, may be filled for the remaining of the term by appointment of the president with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 1.  In the event of the disability, absence, or resignation of the president, another officer shall perform his/her duties in the following sequence: president-elect, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and festival chairman.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS

There shall be a minimum of three meetings a year, which the president shall call with the approval of the Executive Committee. These meetings shall be held at the beginning of the school year, during the All-State weekend and during the SCMEA In-Service Conference.

Section 1.  All meetings shall be conducted by Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, except when they are in conflict with the South Carolina Music Educators Association Constitution and Bylaws, or the Bylaws of the Orchestra Division.

Section 2.  In the absence of any officer other than president, an acting officer shall be appointed by the president for that meeting. This acting officer shall fulfill the duties of the vacant office to the best of his/her ability for that specified meeting of the Orchestra division only.

Section 3.  A quorum shall consist of those present at a duly called meeting.

Section 4.  Executive Committee meetings shall be called at the option and discretion of the president.

ARTICLE VII – FISCAL POLICY

All disbursements shall be made according to the fiscal procedures approved by the Executive Committee. The division shall assume no obligation without adequate money in the treasury for full payment.

Section 1.  The Executive Committee shall review division accounts prior to the business meeting at the South Carolina Music Educators Association In-service Conference.

Section 2.  Money shall be provided, if possible, to assist the president, or his alternate, in attending one national or regional meeting a year.

Section 3. The Orchestra Division shall turn over to the South Carolina Music Educators Association whatever funds are required by the South Carolina Music Educators Association Constitution and Board Policy.

Section 4. All fees and forms must be paid by deadlines placed on forms for all Orchestra Division events and mailed to the person designated on the form. All monies should be paid by check to SCMEA Orchestra Division. Deadlines will be extended only in the event of inclement weather requiring out-of-school time. The day(s) extension will be equal to the number of out-of-school day(s) the school system experiences.

ARTICLE VIII-AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the members present, provided that notice of such intended amendment is sent to each member at least two weeks beforehand.