B SHARP MUSICAL CLUB

CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS

Note: if you would like a paper copy of this document,

a file is available for download at the bottom of this page.

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be THE B SHARP MUSICAL CLUB, INC.

ARTICLE II – OBJECT

The object of this club shall be to encourage a broader culture in the performing arts among its members and in the community at large.  The B Sharp Musical

Club is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  Membership of the Club shall consist of adult women and men interested in the purposes of the Club as stated in Article II. Student membership is for Jr. B Sharp members in grades 7-12. 

Section 2.   Adults interested in becoming members of the B Sharp Musical Club must indicate their intentions to the Membership Committee and pay the first year’s dues.  Members who wish to perform in public recitals must be approved for active performer status by the Audition Committee.  Requirements are found under the section entitled Audition Requirements.

Section 3.  Honorary Membership may be recommended for any member of the Club who has contributed outstanding services above and beyond the requirements designated in the Constitution.  It is preferred that the member be one of long standing, but consideration should be given to others who qualify.

Section 4.  Student members shall organize their own separate group under the name “Junior B Sharp Musical Club.”  They shall elect their own officers and conduct their own business under the supervision of the Senior Advisors.  Student members shall perform on their own monthly recitals, and may be asked to perform on extension programs and senior club programs.

Section 5.  Former members of B Sharp who were in good standing at the time of their resignation and who wish to rejoin the Club, should express their desire in writing to the Corresponding Secretary.  Their wishes will be made known to the Board of Directors and to the entire membership at the next meeting.  Reinstatement will be automatic. 

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

Section 1.  The officers of the Club shall consist of a President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Scholarship Treasurer, and Librarian. 

Section 2.  The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of officers at the annual meeting.  The President shall call for any further nominations.  If there are no nominations from the floor, the President shall instruct the Recording Secretary to cast one ballot for the slate as presented.  If any nominations are made from the floor, the election shall take place by ballot.

 Section 3.  If ballots are necessary, a majority of all votes cast shall be necessary to constitute an election.

 Section 4.  The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Scholarship Treasurer, Librarian, Committee Chairs, all Past Presidents, and three members at large appointed by the President. 

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

Section 1.  There shall be eighteen committees: Nominating, Membership, Audition, Student Membership, Honorary Membership, Program, Reception, Ways and Means, Scholarship, Extension, Publicity, Constitution, Friendship, Telephone, Auditing, Annual Dinner, Library Research, and Yearbook.  The size of each committee shall be at the discretion of the President.

 Section 2.  The Nominating Committee shall be elected by ballot at the Annual Dinner. Seven members shall be nominated from the floor; club members shall vote for five of these.  The five having the highest number of votes shall constitute the Nominating Committee.

 Section 3.  The Audition Committee shall consist of current or past performers.

 Section 4.  The Honorary Membership Committee shall consist of all Past Presidents.

 Section 5.    Special purpose committees may be appointed at any time by the President.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS

Section 1.  The annual meeting shall be held in the month of May each year.

 Section 2.  Regular business meetings shall be held monthly from October until May excluding January. The Board of Directors is empowered to change the date of any meeting, providing the members are notified.

 Section 3.   Eight members shall constitute a quorum.

 Section 4.   Special meetings may be called at any time by the President.

ARTICLE VII – DUES

The annual dues shall be forty dollars ($40.00). Honorary members shall be exempt.   Jr. B Sharp members’ dues shall be twenty dollars ($20.00).

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of all members present, providing that the proposed amendment be read to the members at a regular meeting at least four weeks before the vote is taken.

 Section 2.  By-Laws and Standing Rules may be adopted, amended, or repealed at any regular or annual meeting by a two-thirds vote of those present.

ARTICLE IX – DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB

Upon the dissolution of the B sharp Musical Club, Inc., 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 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 county in which the principal office of the B Sharp Musical Club, Inc. 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.

BY-LAWS

Article I – MEMBERS

Section 1.  A prospective performer must appear before the Audition  Committee at a time convenient for all.  The candidate for performing membership shall be elected by a majority vote of those present at the hearing. This appearance may be waived if the majority of the Audition Committee feel it is warranted by the established performing reputation of the candidate. Former members of the Junior B Sharp Club who have been or are now active participants in the club, and who will be majoring in music at a college or university, may be offered membership as a performer on the recommendation of the chairs of the Student Membership Committee

Section 2.  At any time during the year, prospective student members may be recommended by their music teachers to the Student Membership Committee Chair.  The applicant must comply with the Student Membership requirements listed elsewhere and be heard in performance by the Student Membership Committee at a scheduled audition.  A majority vote by the Senior Committee members is necessary for acceptance.  Students who have won a B Sharp Scholarship Award in the annual Scholarship Auditions will qualify for Jr. B Sharp Club membership without further audition.

Section 3.  Performing members shall take part in recitals as requested by the Program Committee.  If any member cannot meet such an appointment, the Chair of the Program Committee must be notified as soon as possible.

Section 4.  All members shall be required to assume responsibilities designated by the Club: (a) To serve as hostess or host, (b) To support the method in which the Ways and Means Committee selects to finance the Scholarship program (i.e. purchase of ticket or tickets and attendance at scholarship concert.)

Section 5.  Annual dues shall be payable to the Assistant Treasurer at the beginning of the Club year – October 1st.  Notice shall be given by the Assistant Treasurer to all members whose dues remain unpaid on November 15th.  Members in arrears on December 1st may be asked to forfeit their membership, at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  Those in arrears on May 1st will be automatically dropped, and may be reinstated only by a majority vote of the Board of Directors upon payment of all indebtedness to the Club.  Those who become members after March 1st need only pay a half-year’s dues for the second six months of the year.

Section 6.  The Board of Directors has the power to exempt any member from dues or duties upon consideration of long-standing membership or special circumstances.

Article II – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1.  The duties of the President shall be to preside at all meetings of the Club and all meetings of the Board of Directors, and to appoint all standing committees.  It is understood that the President is an ex-officio member of all committees.  In addition, the President must fill vacancies in the list of officers until the next regular meeting, and has the power to call at any time, a special meeting for the transaction of special business.

Section 2.  The Vice President shall, in case of the absence, resignation or disability of the President, act in the President's place and assume all duties.

Section 3.  The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate list of the membership of the Club, with the address of each member, and keep correct minutes of all Club proceedings.

Section 4.  The Corresponding Secretary shall keep an accurate list of the membership of the Club, shall notify members of meetings and recitals when necessary, and attend to the general correspondence of the Club.

Section 5.  The Treasurer shall receive monies paid into the Club, and pay all bills promptly.  A report of the financial condition of the Club shall be submitted by the Treasurer at each monthly meeting.

Section 6.  The Assistant Treasurer shall give notices of dues, collect all dues from the members, and notify all members in arrears.

 Section 7.  The Scholarship Treasurer shall handle all monies directed to the Scholarship Funds, and pay all the expenses of the Ways and Means Program and Scholarship Auditions, including the awards to the Scholarship Winners.  In addition, the Scholarship Treasurer shall assist in investing larger gifts into special accounts, make interim reports at each meeting, and give a full financial report at the annual meeting of the Club.

 Section 8.  The Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Scholarship Treasurer, and Librarian shall each present a full and accurate report at the annual meeting.

 Section 9.  The Librarian shall take charge of all the properties of the Club, and compile the scrapbook.

 Section 10.  It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to transact, in the interim of the meetings, all business not especially entrusted to the officers or other committees. The Board shall consider all propositions submitted, and shall shape matters for presentation to the Club, in order to expedite action.

ARTICLE III – COMMITTEES

Section 1.  It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to notify all members of the Club at least one week before the annual meeting with a list of candidates for the offices of President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Scholarship Treasurer, and Librarian.

 Section 2.  It shall be the duty of the Constitution Committee to consider all matters pertaining to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Club, and to propose to the Club all changes in the Constitution and By-Laws.

 Section 3.  It shall be the duty of the Audition Committee, which is to be composed of current and past performers, to receive all requests for an audition.  They shall arrange a hearing for applicants at which at least nine committee members must be present.  The chairperson may, if necessary, invite other performers from the Club at large to the hearing in order to meet the quorum of nine and to include representation from each category of performance for which there are candidates.  The committee shall act as a Welcoming Committee for the new members by telephoning them, offering transportation, accompanying them to their first three meetings, and by introducing them to the Club members.

 Section 4.  It shall be the duty of the Membership Committee to receive all requests for membership.  The Membership Committee shall refer all prospective performers to the Audition Committee.

 Section 5.  It shall be the duty of the Auditing Committee to audit all accounts of the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, as well as any other accounts, such as those of the Scholarship Treasurer and the Junior B Sharp Club.

 Section 6.  It shall be the duty of the Program Committee to arrange all programs.

 Section 7.  It shall be the duty of the Publicity Committee to attend to all publicity connected with the Club.

Section 8.  It shall be the duty of the Reception Committee to arrange for the monthly luncheons and to make all arrangements for any receptions.

Section 9.  It shall be the duty of the Extension Committee to arrange outside programs for groups and clubs who so request them.

Section 10.  It shall be the duty of the Scholarship Committee to arrange for the annual Scholarship Auditions and to administer any scholarship funds, subject to the approval of the Club.

Section 11.  It shall be the duty of the Student Membership Committee to attend the Junior B Sharp Club meetings, assist with the Junior Membership auditions, and assume responsibility in advising and assisting the Junior B Sharp officers and club members.

Section 12.  It shall be the duty of the Friendship Committee to send cards to members who are ill and sympathy cards to bereaved members. When the death of a B Sharp member occurs, a contribution of fifty dollars ($50.00) will be made to the Scholarship Fund from the regular funds of the Club as a memorial to that person, and a letter of sympathy shall be sent to the member’s family, informing them of the gift.

Section 13.  The duties of the Honorary Membership Committee, chaired by the immediate Past President, and made up of all Past Presidents, shall be to communicate with each other in March of each year, at which time any recommendations for Honorary Membership shall be discussed and acted upon. The chairperson of the committee is responsible for presenting any new Honorary members at the annual dinner.

Section 14.  The Library Research Committee shall investigate and establish a permanent location for additional Club scrapbooks and memorabilia.

ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS

Section 1.  The regular  business  meetings for adult members shall be held at 10:00 AM, and for Student members at 7:00 PM, unless otherwise decided by the Club.

ARTICLE V – ANNUAL MEETING

The order of the Annual Meeting shall be:

Roll Call

Report of the Recording Secretary

Report of the Treasurers

Report of the Corresponding Secretary

Report of the Standing Committees

Communications

Unfinished Business

Miscellaneous Business

Election of Officers and Nominating Committee

Adjournment

ARTICLE VI

The Rule of Parliamentary Practice comprised in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of this Club, subject to special rules which have been or may be adopted.