LMEA DISTRICT VII CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION BYLAWS

 

ARTICLE I-OFFICES

 

SECTION 1: PRINCIPAL OFFICES

The District VII Choral Directors Association is an organization affiliated with Louisiana Music Educators Association. The principal office of the association is located in Lafourche Parish, State of Louisiana.

 

SECTION 2: CHANGE OF ADDRESS

The designation of the parish of the association’s principal office may be changed by amendment of these bylaws. The Board of Directors may change the principal office from one location to another within the named parish by noting the changed address and effective date below, and such changes of address shall not be deemed, nor require, an amendment of these bylaws.

 

 

1322 Choctaw Rd. Thibodaux, LA 70301                        _  Dated:__8/23/2010_______

 

ARTICLE II – NON PROFIT PURPOSES

 

SECTION 1: IRC SECTION 501 (c) (3) PURPOSES

This association is organized exclusively as a subsidiary of the Louisiana Music Educators Association and for one or more of the purposes as specified in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

SECTION 2: SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES

The specified objectives and purposes of this association shall be:

a)       to support the goals and purpose of the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) and of LMEA District VII,

b)       to encourage and support full-time music programs in the schools of LMEA District VII,

c)       to associate and cooperate with administrators, faculties, and students of schools in LMEA District VII,

d)       to create, foster, and maintain and general public interest by planning, arranging, and conducting music programs and other programs designed to create more interest in music,

e)       to foster a desire for good music in the community,

f)        to sponsor music events which give students in choral programs opportunities to perform individually and as part of a group,

g)       to encourage good fellowship and sportsmanship among the members of the association,

h)       to make the State Department of Education, universities, colleges, and the citizens of the state aware of the work of the association in order to gain greater recognition and support,

i)         to insure that the Board of Education and school administrators recognize choral music as a vital part of the school curriculum.

 

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

 

Active membership in the association shall be granted, upon payment of dues, to teachers and directors who are actively engaged in the teaching of vocal music in the elementary and secondary public and private schools or studios in District VII as defined by LMEA (and referred to hereafter as just “District VII”) and to members of the vocal music faculty of colleges and universities in District VII.

 

ARTICLE IV – NON-LIABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

 

The individual members of the association, including officers, shall not be held personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the association.

 

ARTICLE V – OFFICERS

 

SECTION 1: TITLES OF OFFICERS

The officers of this organization shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer.

 

SECTION 2: TERM OF OFFICE

Each officer will hold office for a term of two years.

 

SECTION 3: COMPENSATION

Officers shall serve without compensation. However, they shall be allowed reasonable advancement or reimbursement of expenses incurred in performance of their duties.

 

ARTICLE VI – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

SECTION 1: PRESIDENT

It shall be the duty of the president of the association to:

a)       preside at all meetings of the association,

b)       make emergency decisions that may arise which will be in effect until the next meeting of the association at which time the decision(s) shall be confirmed or rejected,

c)       call regular and special meetings as provided by the bylaws,

d)       appoint all committees and chairpersons as delegated at any regular meetings as may be necessary in promoting the work of the association. The president shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, but shall not be required to attend committee meetings,

e)       maintain contact with the chairpersons to see that required objectives are fulfilled,

f)        assist the district director in the performance of his/her duties as they pertain to this organization including obtaining judges and workers for Large Ensemble Festival.

g)       supervise the selection of 1st Round All-State selectees and honor choir participants as well as protect the integrity of the process of selection.

 

SECTION 2: VICE-PRESIDENT

It shall be the duty of the vice-president of the association to:

a)       perform all duties of the president due to absence, inability, disability, or resignation of the president,

b)       assist the president in the performance of his/her duties.

c)       participate in the selection of 1st Round All-State selectees and honor choir participants as well as protect the integrity of the process of selection.

 

SECTION 3: RECORDING SECRETARY

It shall be the duty of the secretary of the association to:

a)       record the minutes of all meetings of the association,

b)       publish the minutes in a newsletter, via electronic mail, or on the internet to each member of the association, District VII principals, supervisors of music, and superintendents of schools, in a timely fashion following each meeting, along with a reminder of the date and time of the next meeting.

c)       keep a file of all written materials presented at meeting or sent to the membership

d)       participate in the selection of 1st Round All-State selectees and honor choir participants as well as protect the integrity of the process of selection

 

SECTION 4: CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

a)       update the association’s home and school address and telephone directory at the beginning of the school year and provide each member with a copy of the updated directory as soon as possible thereafter,

b)       prepare and distribute copies of the yearly CDA calendar as soon as possible after the schedule of events has been determined by the membership,

c)       provide an updated copy of the bylaws to each members and keep the bylaws on file to be presented as needed,

d)       send copies of honor choir lists to all members and their principals, supervisors, and superintendents.

 

SECTION 5: TREASURER

It shall be the duty of the treasurer of the association to:

a)       collect dues from each member of the association,

b)       collect all fees for events sponsored by the association,

c)       collect admission fees for events sponsored by the CDA,

d)       collect all monies owed to the association and maintain a deposit bank account under the name of the association,

e)       pay all obligation incurred by the association,

f)        supervise and keep a written report of all transaction of the office and present such reports at each monthly meeting of the association.

 

ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS

 

SECTION 1: REGULAR MEETING TIME AND PLACE

All regular monthly meetings for the upcoming school year will take place at times and places determined by the membership at the last meeting of the previous school year. Meeting times and places will be recorded on the CDA yearly calendar for reference.

 

SECTION 2: SPECIAL MEETINGS

Special meetings of the officers of the entire membership may be called by the president if necessary. Written notices or digital notice of the special meetings music be given postmarked at least one week prior to the time of the proposed meeting. Any member who feels a special meeting is needed should contact the president to discuss reasons for the meeting, and date, time, and place of the meeting.

 

SECTION 3: QUORUM

A quorum for all regular meetings shall consist of all members present at the meeting. A quorum for a special meeting shall consist of all members present at the meeting called officially by written or digital notice and postmarked no later than one week prior to proposed meeting.

 

SECTION 4: CONDUCT OF MEETINGS

Meetings shall be presided over by the president of the association or, in his/her absence by vice-president, or in his/her absence by a chairperson chosen by majority of the members present at the meetings. In the absence of the secretary the presiding officer may appoint a member to take minutes of the meeting and mail a copy to the secretary.

 

SECTION 5: MAJORITY ACTION AS MEMBERSHIP ACTION

Every act or decision done or made by a majority of voting members present in person at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present in an act of the members unless these bylaws or provisions of law require a greater number. Motions will be seconded and voted on by voice vote.

 

ARTICLE VIII – ELECTION OF OFFICERS

 

SECTION 1: NOMINATION

Nomination of all officers shall be made at the April meeting of every even numbered year. Nominees should be a member of the association at least one year prior to holding any office position. Nominees for president must have held an elected office in this organization at any point previous to the presidential election. Nominations shall be made from the floor.

 

SECTION 2: REGULAR ELECTIONS

All officers are to be elected at the April meeting. They shall take office and active administration as of the May meeting.

 

SECTION 3: EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

In the event that an officer demonstrates neglect of duty or fails to perform requirement of his or her office, the remaining officers reserve the right to ask for the resignation of said officer. The president will then appoint a replacement for the remainder of the year for that particular office. The same will hold true if an office is abandoned for any other reason.

 

If for any reason, the president’s office becomes vacant before the end of the year, the vice-president will fill the position until the end of the year. He/She may appoint a new vice-president to fill the office until the end of the year.

 

SECTION 4: SPECIAL ELECTIONS

If an office is vacated with one year left of the term, a special election will be held in April of that year to fill the office for one year. In the meantime, the position will be filled as stated in Section 3 of Article 7 in this document.

 

SECTION 5: ELECTION PROCESS

All officers shall be elected by ballot by majority vote of the official members present. Where there is but a single candidate for an office, the rules may be suspended with the consent of two-thirds of the membership present. The president will then instruct the secretary to cast a unanimous ballot for the candidate.

 

ARTICLE IX – ACTIVITIES

 

SECTION 1: ACTIVITIES SPONSORED BY DISTRICT VII CDA

The association shall administer activities for choral music groups at the district level. The CDA sponsors such events in fulfillment of purposes stated in Article 2 of this document. These events are:

a)       LMEA Senior High All-State 1st Round Auditions

b)       District VII rehearsals for LMEA Senior High All-State 2nd Round Auditions

c)       District VII Elementary, Junior High and Senior High Honor Choirs auditions, rehearsals, and performances.

 

SECTION 2: ACTIVITIES SPONSORED BY LMEA

a)       Senior High All-State 2nd Round Auditions

b)       Senior High All-State Honor Choir

c)       District VII Solo and Small Ensemble Festival

d)       District VII Large Ensemble Festival

e)       Louisiana State Large Ensemble Festival

 

SECTION 3: ACTIVITIES SPONSORED BY OTHERS

a)       Louisiana American Choral Directors Association:  Elementary,  Junior High, Women’s and Men’s All-State Honor Choirs

b)       Nicholls State University: Bayouland Choral Festival & Bayouland Sightreading Clinic

 

ARTICLE X – AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

 

Subject to the power of the members of this association to adopt, amend, or repeal the bylaws of this association and, except as may otherwise be specified under provisions of law, these bylaws or any of them, may be altered, amended, or repealed and new bylaws adopted by approval of the membership.

 

ARTICLE XI – CONSTRUCTION AND TERMS

 

If there is any conflict between the provisions of these bylaws and those of LMEA, the provisions of LMEA bylaws shall govern.

 

Should any of the provisions or portions of these bylaws be held unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions and portions of these bylaws shall be unaffected by such holding.

 

ARTICLE XII – AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

 

No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof.  No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on:

(a)     by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or

(b)     by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

 

Upon dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.  Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the parish in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.