NEW YORK STATE         MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

Constitution

PREAMBLE

            The New York State Music Teachers Association, Incorporated, an affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), is dedicated to furthering the art of music and promoting the professional development of its members by providing programs that support teaching, performance, composition and research. Being a not-for-profit organization whose funds are used solely to accomplish these objectives, it does hereby adopt this Constitution and Bylaws. It shall be the policy of this Association to cooperate with all worthy musical organizations.

 

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I – MEMBERSHIP

            Section 1. Membership classifications and privileges shall be prescribed in the Bylaws of the New York State Music Teachers Association, hereinafter designated as NYSMTA or as the Association.

            Section 2. Membership dues shall be proposed by the Administrative Committee and approved by the NYSMTA Board.

            Section 3. Membership in the Association may be terminated by the member or revoked by the Association as prescribed in the Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE II – AFFILIATED LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS

            Section 1. Any city, town or regional music teachers association may become and remain affiliated with NYSMTA by fulfilling the requirements of membership as stated in the Constitution and Bylaws.

            Section 2. The administrative Committee may suspend or terminate any affiliated Association at any time for justifiable cause, as outlined in the Bylaws, subject to ratification of this action by the NYSMTA Board.

 

ARTICLE III – OFFICERS

            Officers of the Association shall be a President, President-Elect, Vice-President for Competitions, Vice President(s) for Conferences, Vice President(s) for Membership, Vice President for Professional Activities, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate Past- President. The manner of election and the duties of each officer shall be defined by the Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE IV – ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

            Section 1. The Administrative Committee shall be composed of the President, President-Elect, four Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate Past-President. In the case of co-vice presidents, either one may serve.

            Section 2. The Administrative Committee shall determine policies of the Association in consultation with the NYSMTA Board and within the limits of the Constitution and Bylaws. It shall actively pursue the purposes of the Association and shall have discretion in the disbursement of all funds of the Association. It may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of Association business as shall be deemed advisable and may, in the execution of the powers granted, appoint such agents, as it may consider necessary.

            Section 3. In order to transact business a quorum consisting of four voting members of the Administrative Committee, at least one of them being the President or President-Elect must be present.

 

ARTICLE V – NYSMTA BOARD

            Section 1. The NYSMTA Board shall be composed of the Administrative Committee, Local Association Chairs, all State Chairs, Chairs of Ad Hoc Committees, and all past-Presidents of NYSMTA. State Chairs and their manner of appointment shall be defined in the Bylaws.

            Section 2. The NYSMTA Board shall make recommendations to the Administrative Committee regarding policy and membership concerns. The President may appoint additional chairs as deemed necessary by the NYSMTA Board.

            Section 3. The NYSMTA Board shall have the power to rescind by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting at an executive board meeting any decision of the Administrative Committee.

            Section 4. Ten members shall constitute a quorum of the NYSMTA Board of whom at least three must be officers.

            Section 5. The administrative Committee may submit items of business by mail to the full membership of the NYSMTA Board requesting a vote via a mail ballot. The contents of the proposals and the results of such mail ballots shall be reported to the Secretary, approved and incorporated in the minutes of the next meeting of the NYSMTA Board.

 

ARTICLE VI – COMMITTEES

            The President, subject to the approval of the Administrative Committee, shall appoint such standing and ad hoc committees and chairs as may be required by the Constitution and Bylaws, or as he or she may deem beneficial to the Association. The President shall be a member ex officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee. Membership of standing and ad hoc committees should reflect an equitable geographical distribution throughout the state.

 

ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS

            Section 1. There shall be an annual meeting of the Association, time and place to be determined by the Administrative Committee. Notice of such meeting shall appear in the official Association publication at least thirty (30) days prior to the time appointed. At this meeting, the President shall permit the general membership to bring forward items for consideration.

            Section 2. Twenty active members, two of whom must be officers, shall constitute a quorum for the election of officers and for the transaction of business at any annual or special membership meeting.

            Section 3. Special meetings of the Administrative Committee may be called by the President; or upon the request of at least four members of the Administrative Committee; or upon the request of more than twelve members of the NYSMTA Board; or upon a signed petition from one hundred active members of the Association.

            Section 4. The NYSMTA shall have at least two meetings each year. Prior to such meetings the Administrative Committee will meet to prepare various items to be presented before the NYSMTA Board. Special meetings of the NYSMTA Board may be called by the President, or upon the request of not less than fifteen members of the NYS TMA Board, or upon a signed petition from one hundred Active Members of the Association. The Board shall approve the date of any special meetings by majority vote.

            Section 5. The Board shall approve the date of the annual Spring business meeting as proposed by the President.

            Section 6. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association or any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

            Section 7. The President may appoint a parliamentarian to provide opinion during various meetings.

 

ARTICLE VIII – PUBLICATION OF CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

            The NYSMTA Constitution and Bylaws shall be printed in the membership directory biannually.

 

ARTICLE IX – DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

            Should the dissolution of NYSMTA become necessary, the Secretary shall notify the Music Teachers National Association of the dissolution, and the Treasurer shall pay, or make provision for the payment of, all liabilities of the Association. The governing board shall dispose of all remaining assets of the association exclusively for the purpose of the association in such a manner, or to such organization(s), organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization under Section 501 (C) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.

 

ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTS

            Section 1. This Constitution may be amended upon the recommendation of the Administrative Committee and the NYSMTA Board at any annual session of the Association by a two-thirds vote. Written notice of the proposed amendment(s) must be submitted to the membership of NYSMTA at least thirty (30) days in advance of the session.

            Section 2. Upon the recommendation of the Administrative Committee and the NYSMTA Board a mail ballot may amend this Constitution. Approval by a two-thirds vote shall constitute amendment. The ballot and proposed amendments must be submitted to the members of NYSMTA at least thirty (30) days in advance of the required return date. The date for return of the completed ballots must be clearly stated on the ballot.