BEEVILLE COMMUNITY CHORUS CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
Article I
PURPOSE
SECTION 1 NAME
The name of the organization will be Beeville Community Chorus.
SECTION 2 BASIC PURPOSE
The primary purpose of the Beeville Community Chorus is to provide the residents of Beeville and the surrounding communities with the opportunity to participate in a choral organization which performs all types of music. The main yearly activities are to present to the community various choral concerts for entertainment.
SECTION 3 ACCOMPLISHING PURPOSE
The Beeville Community Chorus will effectively accomplish its purpose by accepting those people who enjoy singing and express the desire to become a member of the chorus. In addition, there will be final concerts to culminate the activities of the Beeville Community Chorus.
Article II
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1 MEMBERS
Membership is open to residents of Beeville and the surrounding communities as long as dues are maintained in current status and their personal schedule will allow participation in the scheduled performances. Membership is also open to high school and college students. Students not in high school must be approved by the Artistic Director and Assistant Director for membership.
Article III
VOTING PROCEDURES FOR THE BEEVILLE COMMUNITY CHORUS
SECTION 1 VOTING RIGHTS
Each member shall be entitled to one vote in all affairs of the organization.
SECTION 2 QUORUM
Subject to the provisions of this section, the presence of a quorum is necessary for the transaction of business at a meeting of the organization. Members of the Beeville Community Chorus present at the business meeting shall constitute a quorum.
Article IV
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
SECTION 1 SELECTION PROCESS
The position of Artistic Director is twofold. After a personal interview with the selection committee, the candidate (s) is/are asked to meet and direct the chorus on several choral pieces of different styles.
SECTION 2 FINAL DECISION
After the selection process has been completed the chorus votes on the candidate (s) and makes their recommendation to the Executive Board of Directors. The Executive Board of Directors make the final decision.
Article V
OFFICERS
SECTION 1 COMPOSITION (ELECTED OFFICERS)
These officers shall be as follows: President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Public Relations/Communications, Assistant Public Relations/Communications, Librarian and Assistant Librarian.
SECTION 2 COMPOSITION (APPOINTED OFFICERS)
These officers shall be as follows: Assistant Director, Accompanist and Assistant Accompanist (if needed). These officers shall be appointed by the Artistic Director and shall serve until they submit a written resignation or they are asked to resign by the Executive Board of Directors. These officers indicated in sections 1 and 2 shall comprise the Executive Board of Directors.
SECTION 3 REPLACEMENTS
All Beeville Community Chorus officers shall be elected from the active membership. The Executive Board of Directors shall appoint replacement officers to these positions if any unanticipated vacancies should occur. The appointed officer shall serve until the end of the current term of the officer they are replacing.
SECTION 4 PRESIDENT
The President shall preside at all meetings at which he/she is present; shall serve as an Ex-officio member on all committees; shall supervise the affairs and activities of the organization. The person in this office shall select two committee members to serve on the Nominating Committee and conduct business meetings and coordinate activities with the Executive Board of Directors.
SECTION 5 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
The immediate Past President shall serve as an Ex-officio advisor to the Executive Board of Directors. The person in this office shall also serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee. In the event of an unanticipated vacancy in the Presidency, the Immediate Past President shall fill the office of President for the remainder of the current term.
SECTION 6 PRESIDENT-ELECT
The President-Elect shall assume all the duties of the President in the President’s absence. The person in this office shall assist the Artistic Director in coordinating all arrangements of transporting all equipment to and from the concert site and setting up and taking down all equipment.
SECTION 7 SECRETARY
The Secretary shall conduct correspondence and take minutes of all meetings.
SECTION 8 TREASURER
The Treasurer shall implement the recommendations of the Executive Board of Directors, control organizational funds, keep all financial and other records of the organization and make contact with fundraising companies.
SECTION 9 HISTORIAN
The Historian officer shall keep records of all publicity the organization receives. The Historian officer shall maintain a scrapbook of all materials pertaining to the activities of the chorus.
SECTION 10 PUBLIC RELATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS
The Public Relations/Communications officer shall submit news releases to area news media including newspapers, radio and TV stations and shall be responsible for developing flyers, brochures and other materials concerning the activities of the chorus.
SECTION 11 ASSISTANT PUBLIC RELATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS
This officer will assist the Public Relations/Communications officer with the responsibilities as outlined in Article V, Section 10.
SECTION 12 LIBRARIAN
The Librarian shall be responsible for distribution and maintenance of all music and folders.
SECTION 13 ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN
This officer will assist the Librarian with the responsibilities as outlined in Article V, Section 12.
SECTION 14 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
The Assistant Director shall assume all duties of the director in the Artistic Director’s absence and shall assist the Artistic Director in the selection of repertoire, preparation and conducting of rehearsals and performances.
SECTION 15 ACCOMPANIST
The accompanist shall be responsible for all piano accompaniments required and shall accompany all rehearsals and performances.
SECTION 16 ASSISTANT ACCOMPANIST
The Assistant Accompanist shall assume all duties of the Accompanist in the Accompanist’s absence and shall assist the Accompanist in the preparation and presentation of performances as requested by the Artistic Director, Assistant Director and/or Accompanist.
Article VI
COMMITTEES
SECTION 1 APPOINTMENT
The President may appoint or authorize Ad Hoc Committees and Standing Committees as needed or as authorized by the Executive Board of Directors. No committee shall be given authority to amend the Constitution/Bylaws or make a final decision for the members or the Executive Board of Directors of the Beeville Community Chorus.
SECTION 2 COMMITTEES
There are six committees as follows:
- Hospitality Committee (the party and reception committee)
- Logistics Committee (the committee in charge of setting up and taking down equipment)
- Publicity/Communications Committee (the news distribution committee)
- Program and Special Events Committee (the committee in charge of ticket sales, handing out programs)
- Nominating Committee (the committee that presents a list of nominees to the choir and the Executive Board of Directors officers)
- Fundraising Committee (the committee in charge of organizing and running all fundraising events)
SECTION 3 CHAIRPERSONS
The members of the Executive Board of Directors will be the chairman of each committee. The chair of each committee will appoint a co-chair. Members of the chorus will select the committee they wish to be a member. Each chair and co-chair can determine how many people on their committee.
SECTION 4 REPORTS
Each temporary and standing committee appointed by the Executive Board of Directors or the President shall submit an annual report to the members of the organization at the last meeting of each concert season or at such other times as designated by the President or Executive Board of Directors.
Article VII
DUES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
SECTION 1 MEMBERSHIP DUES
Dues shall be $30.00 per semester or $55.00 per year. Student dues, high school through college age 15-22 years of age, shall be $15.00 per semester or $25.00 per year. Dues may be paid semi-annually in September and January or may be paid in full in September. Dues shall be paid by the last rehearsal meeting of the month due. Money from dues will be used to purchase music which will become property of the Beeville Community Chorus.
SECTION 2 SCHOLARSHIPS
Students may apply to the Beeville Community Chorus for a scholarship to pay their membership dues and to purchase music. Recipients shall be selected by the Executive Board of Directors. Funds for the scholarships shall be derived from membership dues, gate receipts at performances, special scholarship donations and other fundraising activities.
Article VIII
CONCERT SEASON, MEETING TIME AND PLACE, UNIFORM
SECTION 1 CONCERT SEASON, MEETING TIME
The Concert Season of the Beeville Community Chorus shall be September through May of each year. Meeting and rehearsals of the Beeville Community Chorus shall be held weekly on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. The meeting date to begin each Concert Season will be announced by the Artistic Director. Meetings shall not be held during the summer months. Additional meetings and rehearsals may be called by the Artistic Director as necessary. Good attendance at weekly rehearsals is expected for participation in performances. Repertoire for the Concert Season will be announced at the first rehearsal meeting in September and January.
SECTION 2 REHEARSAL VENUES
The rehearsal venue shall be 715 N. St. Mary’s.
SECTION 3 UNIFORMS
The uniform will be long black dresses for the women. Women will wear black flats with dark hose. Women will wear a pearl necklace of one strand. The men will wear black suits, white shirts with black bow ties. If owned, men may wear formal tuxes. Men will wear black dress shoes with black socks.
Article IX
FISCAL YEAR
SECTION 1 FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Beeville Community Chorus shall be September 01 to August 31.
Article X
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
SECTION 1 CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Beeville Community Chorus by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present, provided written notification of the proposed amendment (s) has/have been presented to the membership at least two (2) weeks in advance of the meeting at which time the membership shall vote on the proposed amendment (s).
Article XI
ATTENDANCE
SECTION 1 SECTION LEADERS
Section Leaders will be selected by the Artistic Director at the beginning of each semester.
SECTION 2 DUTIES
The Section Leader will perform the following duties:
- Take roll of their section in rehearsals and concerts.
- Contact absent members in their section after each rehearsal/concert and give a written report to the Artistic Director.
- Make certain all members of their section have all of the music. See Music Librarian if music is needed.
- Make certain all members in their section are informed of announcements if absent.
- Make certain there is an up-to-date list of names, physical addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses for each member of their section.
- Make certain each member in their section has a uniform. Members may purchase their own or check one out that is the property of the Beeville Community Chorus.
AMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THIS THE 1ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2015, IN AMENDMENT OF DOCUMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 9th , 2003.
donna Davis, President
Dr. James Lee, Artistic Director