MEA BYLAWS

Adopted April 15, 2004

ARTICLE I

NAME: The name of this organization shall be the MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, INC.

ARTICLE II

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this Association shall be:
Sec. 1 - To elevate the standards of private music teaching in the state of New Jersey;
Sec. 2 - To provide a forum for music education activities, the benefits of which will accrue to teachers and students of music.
Sec. 3 - To provide musical development for all students of music through activities such as auditions, competitions, recitals, scholarships and master classes given by artist teachers.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP: There shall be four (4) classes of membership: Active, Associate, Life and Honorary.
Sec. 1 - ACTIVE membership shall consist of those engaged in teaching music. All music teachers shall be eligible to join. These members shall be eligible to participate in all MEA activities.
Sec. 2 - ASSOCIATE membership shall consist of those who support the programs of MEA, but do not participate in any teacher-student functions such as auditions, recitals, competitions, etc.
Sec. 3 - LIFE membership shall be bestowed automatically on past Presidents and may, by majority vote of the entire Board of Directors, be given to members who have made outstanding contributions to the organization.
Sec. 4 - HONORARY membership may be conferred on non-members who have made outstanding contributions to the Association or to the Arts. A majority vote of the entire Board of Directors is necessary to elect Honorary members.
Sec. 5 - Honorary and Life members are exempt from paying dues.
Sec. 6 - TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP - A person's membership may be revoked for cause, other than nonpayment of dues, by a two-thirds vote by ballot of the Board of Directors. The vote for revocation shall occur only after the member complained against has been advised of the complaint so lodged and has been given reasonable opportunity to present information on his or her behalf. Such member, if membership is revoked, may appeal to the Board for reconsideration of the decision. In no event will a dues refund be given. Revocation of membership for nonpayment of dues within the prescribed time period shall be automatic and not subject to any further procedure.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS: The officers of this Association shall be: President, Immediate Past-President, 1st and 2nd Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary.
Sec. 1 - PRESIDENT:
  1. Shall preside at all meetings of the Association, of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee;
  2. Shall enforce a due observance of the Bylaws;
  3. Shall appoint chairmen of all special and standing committees, and may assign vice-presidents to oversee committee activities;
  4. Shall act ex-officio of all committees and, in case of a tie vote, shall have the prerogative of casting the deciding ballot;
  5. Shall not participate in the activities of the Nominating Committee.
Sec. 2 - IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT:
  1. Shall serve as advisor to the current President;
  2. Must have served as President for at least two years.
Sec. 3 - 1st and 2nd VICE-PRESIDENTS:
  1. The Vice-President takes over the office of President if that office is vacated for any reason;
  2. Shall assume such duties as may be assigned them by the President;
  3. Either Vice-President may officiate as presiding officer at the request of the President.
Sec. 4 - TREASURER:
  1. Shall pay all bills passed by the Board of Directors;
  2. Shall keep, in a set of books belonging to the Association, an accurate account of moneys received and expended, and render detailed statements of all receipts and expenditures at the meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors;
  3. Shall sign all checks authorized by the Board of Directors;
  4. Shall deposit in a bank designated by the Board of Directors and in the name of the Association, all moneys received;
  5. Shall make a yearly report, to be presented to and approved by the Board of Directors;
  6. Shall be bonded by the Association;
  7. Shall, at the end of his/her term of office, deliver into the hands of his/her successor all money, books and property belonging to the Association.
Sec. 5 - RECORDING SECRETARY:
  1. Shall keep an accurate account of all meetings of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors;
  2. Shall send all members of the Board of Directors, and others designated by the President, a copy of the minutes of the previous Board meeting;
  3. Shall, at the end of his/her term of office, deliver into the hands of his/her successor, all books, records and property belonging to the Association;
  4. Shall present to the Board of Directors and publish in the Glissando an annual report of motions adopted.
Sec. 6 - CORRESPONDING SECRETARY:
  1. Shall answer all communications to the Association;
  2. Shall, at the end of his/her term of office, deliver into the hands of his/her successor all books, records and property belonging to the Association;
  3. Shall be responsible for all social correspondence of the Association.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS and EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Sec. 1 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Shall consist of the elected officers of the Association, the chairmen of all standing committees, and not more than three (3) additional members appointed at the discretion of the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. Members appointed by the President shall serve for the duration of that President’s term.
  1. Shall conduct the business of the Association;
  2. Shall announce at regular meetings all activities which affect the membership of the Association.
Sec. 2 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Shall consist of the elected officers of the Association.
Sec. 3 - MEETINGS OF THE BOARD: Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at a time and place designated by the Board.
Sec. 4 - VACANCIES: Vacancies occurring on the Executive Committee will be filled by appointment by the President and approved by the Board of Directors for any non-expired term.
Sec. 5 - SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE BOARD may be called by the President, including electronic meetings or votes by email.

ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS:
Sec. 1 - REGULAR MEETINGS of the Association shall be held from September through June, at a time and place designated by the Board of Directors, except when otherwise ordered by the Executive Committee.
Sec. 2 - SPECIAL MEETINGS of the Association may be called by the President or upon the written request of ten (10) members in good standing.

ARTICLE VII

DUES:
Sec. 1 - The annual per capita dues of the Association shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, payable to conform with the fiscal year of the Association, beginning July 1 of each year.
Sec. 2 - A member in arrears, having been notified in writing, may be dropped from the membership rolls of the Association.
Sec. 3 - A member so removed may be reinstated upon payment of current dues.

ARTICLE VIII

COMMITTEES:
The Standing Committees shall be as follows:
Advertising
Auditions
Budget
Communications
Competition
Composition
Glissando
Historian
Honors Recital
Hospitality
House
Membership
Nominating
Parliamentarian
Program
Publicity
Scherzo Club
Scholarship
Student Recitals
Tributes
Ways and Means
Web Site
Sec. 1 - All committees not herein provided for may be created by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors.
Sec. 2 - The Committee Chairman should select the necessary members of his/her committee and should designate one of them Assistant Chairman to share the duties and to serve as his/her alternate on the Board of Directors.
Sec. 3 - All committees shall operate within the budget prescribed by the Board of Directors and shall make an annual report to the Board.

ARTICLE IX

DUTIES OF COMMITTEES:
Sec. 1 - ADVERTISING COMMITTEE:
  1. Shall secure paid advertisers for the Glissando;
  2. Shall submit all advertisements to the Glissando editor;
  3. Shall be responsible for billing and collecting fees for advertising;
  4. Shall keep accurate records.
Sec. 2 - AUDITIONS COMMITTEE: conducts auditions in certain areas of music education and
  1. Shall have authority to contract for any needed services, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors;
  2. Shall set requirements for the various grades, subject to approval by the Board of Directors;
  3. Shall publish from time to time a syllabus containing rules under which pupils may enter;
  4. Shall submit all funds to the Treasurer of the Association, who will keep them in a separate account.
Sec. 3 - BUDGET COMMITTEE: shall consist of the President, Treasurer and such other members as the President may deem necessary.
Sec. 4 - COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE: shall keep attendance records of General Meetings and report them to the Board of Directors.
Sec. 5 - COMPETITION COMMITTEE:
  1. Shall be empowered by the Board of Directors to conduct competitions on a year-to-year basis provided they are professionally and financially successful;
  2. Shall have authority to contract for any needed services, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
Sec. 6 - COMPOSITION COMMITTEE:
  1. Shall be empowered by the Board of Directors to conduct competitions on a year-to-year basis, preferably as a self-supporting event;
  2. Shall have the authority to contract for any needed service, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
Sec. 7 - GLISSANDO COMMITTEE:
  1. Shall gather the news of the Association;
  2. Shall edit and publish it in the newsletter;
  3. Shall be responsible for the distribution of the newsletter to all members;
  4. Shall be responsible for delivering the annual membership book to the printer for distribution to all members.
Sec. 8 - HISTORIAN: Shall keep a copy of each Glissando issue, together with all programs and publicity articles.
Sec. 9 - HONORS RECITAL:
  1. Shall be empowered by the Board of Directors to conduct auditions and recitals on a year-to-year basis;
  2. Shall have authority to contract for any needed services, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
Sec. 10 - HOSPITALITY: Shall supervise the ordering and serving of refreshments when required.
Sec. 11 - HOUSE:
  1. Shall make the arrangements for meeting places for all gatherings of the Association;
  2. Shall see that a suitable piano and other equipment are provided as needed.
Sec. 12 - MEMBERSHIP:
  1. Shall receive all applications, together with initial dues for membership;
  2. Shall maintain records of membership, notify members when dues are payable and collect all dues;
  3. Shall publish an annual membership book which includes any information considered pertinent.
Sec. 13 - NOMINATING COMMITTEE: the Chairman shall be appointed by the Board of Directors not later than October of each year.
  1. It shall consist of five (5) members: three (3) from the Board of Directors (including the Chairman) and two (2) from the general membership;
  2. Shall prepare and present to the Board of Directors a slate of officers for the new season;
  3. Shall publish the slate of officers in the Glissando before the election takes place;
  4. Shall be discharged from its duties once the above obligations have been fulfilled.
Sec. 14 - PARLIAMENTARIAN: may be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. The Parliamentarian shall assist and advise the President in the conduct of meetings according to the Bylaws and, when the Bylaws do not apply, according to “Robert’s Rules of Order, Simplified and Applied”.
Sec. 15 - PROGRAM COMMITTEE:
  1. Shall arrange programs for all meetings of the Association;
  2. Shall plan all details connected with these programs;
  3. Shall cooperate with the Publicity Committee and the Glissando on material for publicity;
  4. Shall operate within the budget set forth by the Board of Directors.
Sec. 16 - PUBLICITY COMMITTEE: Shall furnish proper publicity for all the activities of the Association.
Sec. 17 - SCHERZO CLUB: Shall offer performance and/or listening opportunities for Association members and guests.
Sec. 18 - SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE:
  1. Shall keep accurate records of scholarship applications and awards;
  2. Shall publish the requirements for scholarship grants in the Glissando at least twice yearly;
  3. Shall recommend award recipients and amounts to the Board of Directors for approval.
Sec. 19 - STUDENT RECITALS:
  1. Shall arrange and run recitals during the year at which pupils of members in good standing may perform;
  2. Shall prepare programs and notify the membership of the dates of said recitals;
  3. Shall set up rules and guidelines for participation, which shall be approved by the Board of Directors and published in the Glissando.
Sec. 20 - TRIBUTES:
  1. Shall accept donations to the Association, which shall be forwarded to the Treasurer, and send acknowledgments;
  2. Shall publish information on Tributes in the Glissando.
Sec. 21 - WEB SITE COMMITTEE: Shall maintain a web site posting pertinent information regarding the Association.
Sec. 22 - WAYS AND MEANS:
  1. Shall accept donations of used music to be sold at General Meetings;
  2. Shall give any moneys collected to the Treasurer to be used for the benefit of the scholarship fund.

ARTICLE X

ELECTIONS
Sec. 1 - Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the members present at the May or June meeting for a term of one year. The term of office shall run the duration of the fiscal year. Officers may be re-elected.
Sec. 2 - No President shall be eligible to serve more than three consecutive one-year terms.
Sec. 3 - Only Active and Associate members in good standing are permitted to vote or hold office.
Sec. 4 - No proxies shall be recognized.
Sec. 5 - Nominations may be made by petition as follows:
  1. Petitions must be signed by 25 members in good standing;
  2. Petition must be received by the President within one month after the slate is announced in the Glissando;
  3. There must be a quorum of members in good standing present at the election meeting;
  4. Ballots shall be distributed to such members at entry;
  5. Election shall be by secret ballot;
  6. If no quorum is present, the slate proposed by the Nominating Committee shall be automatically elected.

ARTICLE XI

QUORUM:
Sec. 1 - Six (6) members shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors.
Sec. 2 - Twenty (20) members shall constitute a quorum of the Association.

ARTICLE XII

RULES OF ORDER:
In all matters not specified in these Bylaws “Webster’s New World Robert’s Rules of Order, Simplified and Applied” shall govern the deliberations of the Association.

ARTICLE XIII

ORDER OF BUSINESS:
  1. Reading of Minutes of previous meeting
  2. Reports of Officers
  3. Reports of Committees (at the discretion of the President)
  4. Unfinished business
  5. New business
  6. Adjournment

ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS:
Sec. 1 - Changes may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by petition of 5 members in good standing. Any proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors.
Sec. 2 - The original article in the Bylaws and the proposed amendment must be presented to all members of the Association at least three weeks prior to the vote, together with notification of the date, time and place of the vote.
Sec. 3 - Amendments must be approved by a two-thirds vote at a regular meeting of the Association, providing a quorum is present.