B SHARP MUSICAL CLUB

CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS

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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

(updated 10/04/2025)

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 . Three times each year, music and drama students in grades 7-12 may apply for membership in Junior B Sharp to the Student Membership Auditions Chair.  The applicant must comply with the Student Membership requirements as listed on the website and be heard in performance by a committee of Advisors at a scheduled audition.  Advisors hearing the audition will decide on the applicant's fitness for membership.  Students who have won a B Sharp Scholarship Award in the annual Scholarship Auditions will qualify for Jr. B Sharp 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.   Annual dues shall be paid to the Treasurer at the beginning of the Club year.  Members who have not paid their dues by December 1st will be contacted by the Assistant Treasurer.  Members whose dues are still unpaid by May 1 may be asked to leave the organization.  The Board of Directors has the power to exempt any member from dues, considering long-standing membership or special circumstances.  Those who become members after April 30 will have their dues  applied to the following program year.

Article II – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1.  The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club, all meetings of the Board of Directors, and 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 or appoint an ad hoc committee for the transaction of special business.  Furthermore, it is the duty of the President to arrange to have the books of the General Treasury, the Scholarship Treasury, and the Student Membership Treasury audited after the end of the fiscal year (April 30) and before the deadline for filing the required forms with the State of New York.

Section 2.  The Vice President shall assist the President in any way necessary, and, 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, and attend to the general correspondence of the Club.

Section 5: The Treasurer shall receive monies paid into the Club, receive dues, and pay bills promptly.  In addition, the Treasurer shall submit a report of the financial condition of the Club at each monthly meeting and give a full financial report at the annual meeting of the Club. 

Section 6: The Assistant Treasurer shall notify all members in arrears after December 1 and assist the Treasurers in any way necessary.

Section 7.  The Scholarship Treasurer shall handle all monies directed to the Scholarship Funds and shall pay expenses related to the annual Scholarship Competition,  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 President, Treasurer, Scholarship Treasurer, and Archivist shall each present a full and accurate report at the annual meeting.   

Section 9.  The Archivist shall collect and organize all non-current physical documentation of the Club's activities, investigate and secure storage locations for the items, and provide reports and documentation to the club of what has been collected and where it may be found.  Digital records of the Club's activities shall be uploaded by the various officers and chairpersons to the Club's online storage.

Section 10:  It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to transact all business not especially entrusted to the officers or other committees. 

ARTICLE III – COMMITTEES

Section 1.  The Nominating Committee shall 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 Archivist. 

Section 2.  The Audition Committee shall receive all requests for an audition.  They shall arrange a hearing for applicants at which at least five members must be present.  The chairperson may, if necessary, invite other performers from the Club at large to the hearing to meet the quorum of five and to include representation from each category of performance for which there are candidates.  The Audition Committee may waive the audition requirement based on the performance background of the candidate and prior knowledge by the Committee of the candidate's musical abilities.

Section 3:  The Program Committee shall arrange all programs.

Section 4: The Publicity Committee shall attend to all publicity connected with the Club and manage the Club Website.

Section 5.  The Extension Committee shall arrange outside programs for groups and clubs who so request them.

Section  6.  The Scholarship Committee shall arrange for the annual Scholarship Auditions and administer any scholarship funds, subject to the approval of the Club.

Section  7.  The Student Membership Committee shall attend the Junior B Sharp Club meetings, organize auditions for new Junior B Sharp members, and assume responsibility in advising and assisting the Junior B Sharp officers and club members.

Section  8.  The Friendship Committee shall 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 9: The Honorary Membership Committee, chaired by the immediate Past President and made up of all Past Presidents, shall nominate and consider all nominations for Honorary Membership in March of each year.  The chairperson of the committee is responsible for presenting new Honorary Members at the annual dinner.

Section 10.  The Archive Committee shall investigate and establish a permanent location for Club records and memorabilia not required to be kept by the Club. Records required to be kept by the club, including Minutes, Treasurer's final yearly reports, audit reports, important and legal correspondence, Charter, Constitution, and tax records shall be kept by the appropriate officer.

Section 11. The Development Committee shall oversee the financial well-being of the Club and seek sources of revenue as needed.

ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS

Section 1.  The regular  business  meetings for adult members shall be held at 9:00 A.M., 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:

Report of the Treasurers

Report of the President

Report of the Standing Committees, as needed

Old business

New business

Election of Officers

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.