Chapter Bylaws
Provided below is a copy of our chapter bylaws. If you have any
questions regarding the bylaws, contact the chapter president, Tina Cosma.
Download the Bylaws in
MS-Word document format.
Chapter Bylaws
Preamble
It is the desire of this organization to promote and encourage the
professional development of music education students enrolled at Lebanon Valley College,
and to assist its members in the development of individual philosophies of
music education in accordance with national standard of the profession.
Article I - Name and Affiliation
Section 1
This organization shall be known as the Lebanon Valley College of
Pennsylvania Collegiate Chapter of MENC: The National Association for Music
education and shall be listed in the MENC records as Chapter Number 146.
Section 2
This Chapter shall have an affiliate relationship with PMEA: The
Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association.
Article II - Purpose
Section 1
It shall be the purpose of this organization to:
- Make available to members opportunities for
professional development;
- acquaint students with the privileges,
responsibilities, problems, and rewards of the music education
profession;
- provide all members with opportunities to
become acquainted with leaders in the music education profession
through participation in programs, demonstrations, discussions, and
performing groups sponsored by this chapter, PMEA, or the national
MENC;
- assist the Lebanon Valley College of
Pennsylvania with various projects throughout the year; and
- Provide the opportunity to have contact with
collegiate members from other schools.
Article III - Membership Eligibility and Benefits
Section 1
Membership shall be open to any student enrolled at the Lebanon Valley
College of Pennsylvania who is interested in teaching music and who is not
employed full-time in the field of music education.
Section 2
Students who fulfill the requirements as stated in Section 1 may become
members of this chapter on payment of dues as stated in Article IV.
Section 3
Graduating collegiate members of this chapter will have the opportunity
to receive regular MENC membership at the special introductory rate in the
year of or immediately following their graduation as a first-year teacher
of full-time employment in music education.
Section 4
Any member of this chapter may participate in the activities carried on
by this collegiate chapter and by MENC, including its divisions and the
PMEA. All collegiate members, after complying with registration
requirements, may attend all MENC conventions--national, divisional, and
those of the PMEA.
Section 5
Every collegiate member of this chapter will receive issues of the
official MENC periodicals Music Educator's Journal and Teaching
Music, and issues of the PMEA publication PMEA Journal.
Section 6
Any MENC collegiate member of this chapter may receive subscriptions to
the Journal of Research in Music Education, General Music Today, UPDATE
- Applications of Research in Music Education, and Journal of Music
Teacher Education, upon payment of the prescribed additional fees.
Section 7
All optional member services offered by MENC are available to the
collegiate members of this chapter. See Part IV: Member Benefits and
Services in the MENC Collegiate Chapter Handbook.
Article IV - Finance
Section 1
Dues for MENC collegiate membership are for an academic year. The total
dues collected each year for MENC collegiate membership represent both
national and state dues. National dues for MENC collegiate membership are
less than one-third the cost of regular MENC membership. State dues are
appropriated by the PMEA. Students eligible for MENC collegiate membership
become members of MENC and PMEA when proper national and state dues are
sent to the MENC national office
Section 2
Nominal dues may be levied in excess of national and state dues to help
finance the activities of the chapter.
Article V - Executive Council
Section 1
Management of this chapter is the responsibility of the Executive
Council and is upheld by this constitution.
Section 2
The Executive Council shall consist of the officers of this chapter and
the chapter advisor as an ex officio member.
Section 3
The Executive Council shall meet at least once between regular meetings
of the chapter to organize and plan future activities
Section 4
The Executive Council shall have the power to make necessary decisions
in all matters not specifically acted upon by the group.
Article VI - Chapter Advisor
Section 1
There shall be a chapter advisor who is a member of the music faculty at
the Lebanon Valley College of Pennsylvania and who is a member of the MENC.
The chapter advisor shall serve as ex officio on the Executive Council.
Section 2
The responsibilities of the chapter advisor shall be to:
- act as a representative of MENC to the
students:
- inform the students of the nature, purpose,
and function of MENC;
- encourage interest and participation of
students in MENC activities; and
- act as a liaison with the various levels of
MENC;
- serve as an advisor and guide in formulation
of chapter programs and policies;
- serve as a resource person;
- receive and distribute fall enrollment
materials to potential members;
- explain the benefits of MENC collegiate
membership during orientation meetings, methods classes, and other
functions that involve music education students;
- complete Section B on each student's
Application for Collegiate Membership with remittance authorization
and signature;
- receive and distribute the MENC and PMEA
periodicals that are sent in bulk to the students who apply for MENC
collegiate membership by October 31;
- encourage the development of student
initiative, leadership, and imagination, to build a sense of
responsibility on the part of the students;
- help officers in fulfilling their respective
duties, including maintenance of chapter records;
- meet with chapter officers to help with
planning and implementing chapter activities;
- promote professional attitudes among chapter
members;
- work for the support of the chapter by
members of the college faculty and explore with department
chairpersons the possible funding of chapter activities;
- represent the interests of the chapter on
campus and at MENC functions; and
- promote the concept of chapter importance in training music education
students.
Article VII - Officers
Section 1
The officers of this chapter shall be President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian.
Section 2
Any candidate for office shall have been a member of this chapter for at
least one full semester prior to nomination.
Section 3
Each officer shall assume his office at the commencement of the fall
term and serve throughout the entire school year.
Section 4
In the event that a vacancy occurs in the office of the president, the
vice president shall assume the duties of president for the remainder of
the term of office. Vacancies in any of the other office shall be filled by
election.
Section 5
The officers of this chapter shall be considered the Executive Council
for the chapter.
Article VIII - Duties of Officers
Section 1
It is the duty of the president to;
- preside at meetings;
- represent the organization;
- uphold the principles of the constitution;
- appoint committees as required; subject to
the approval of the Executive Council;
- report to the chapter advisor; and
- interpret this constitution, should any questions be
raised.
Section 2
It is the duty of the vice president to:
- preside in the absence of the president; and
- serve as chairperson of the program committee.
Section 3
It is the duty of the secretary to:
- keep in touch with members of this chapter
and other chapters;
- maintain close connection with MENC
headquarters;
- report the chapter activities for
publication in state and/or national publications;
- take attendance at each meeting; and
- keep a record of all meeting minutes, copies of which shall be
given to the president, chapter advisor, music department chairperson,
and student council, and be posted on the MENC bulletin board.
Section 4
It is the duty of the treasurer to:
- keep accurate records of meetings and
business;
- keep a current roll of membership;
- be responsible for and account for the
collection of any monies and/or payments of any debts of the
organization; and
- give a report at each meeting detailing all chapter expenses and
incomes.
Section 5
It is the duty of the historian to:
- keep a record of all chapter activities;
- update and maintain the chapter website,
personally or through appointment; and
- collect articles and other materials from chapter, PMEA, and MENC
activities.
Article IX - Election of Officers
Section 1
Election of officers shall be held in the spring of the current year of
the following school year.
Section 2
A nomination committee consisting of a chairperson and one person from
each class shall draw up a slate of candidates.
Section 3
Nominations may be accepted from the floor of the meeting at which the
nominating committee reports, which will be one month before elections are
held.
Section 4
Any registered member of this chapter is qualifies to vote in the
chapter's election of officers, with the exception of the president who
will cast the final vote in the event of a tie.
Section 5
All elections shall be by secret ballot.
Section 6
A candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast for that office to
be elected.
Article X - Recall
Section 1
All officers are subject to recall by a signed petition of at least 30
percent of the membership of the chapter.
Section 2
Should a recall election occur, Article VII, Section 4, shall still
apply.
Article XI - Committees
Section 1
There shall be a standing committee for programs and activities. This
committee is appointed by the president, with approval of the Executive
Council.
Section 2
The president shall have the power to appoint special committees with
the approval of the Executive Council.
Article XII - Meetings
Section 1
There shall be at least 15 regular meetings of this chapter per year
Section 2
Special meetings may be called at any other time as determined by the
Executive Council. These meetings will be announced to the membership at
least twenty-four hours in advance and the announcement will include a
detailed purpose and agenda.
Section 3
Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall serve as a basis for
parliamentary procedure.
Section 4
The agenda of meetings, except special meetings, shall be as follows:
- Call to Order
- Reading of the minutes
- Treasurer's report
- Reports of officers and committees
- Unfinished business
- New business
- General Remarks
- Adjournments
Article XIII - Amendments
Section 1
Amendments to this constitution shall be made by two members in good
standing within the chapter, with the approval of the executive council.
Section 2
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the
membership.
Section 3
All members shall receive notice of proposed amendments ten days before
the meeting at which the vote will occur.
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