Massachusetts ASTA Bylaws/Voting

Bylaws

American String Teachers’ Association
Massachusetts Chapter

Bylaws - Revised 2020

Vote to accept bylaws will happen in April 2020

Article I - Name, Mission Statement, and Purpose

  1. The name of the organization will be “MA ASTA, INC” (MA-ASTA)

  2. Mission Statement

    1. MA-ASTA enriches lives through universal access to excellent string teaching and playing. We pursue this mission through an open sharing of ideas, benefits, services, and activities responsive to the musical needs of all members and their students. This is accomplished by the development of strong and active chapter leadership, enhancement of the image and visibility of string teaching and study, advocacy for string education through communication and cooperation with other music advocacy organizations, and fostering an inclusive community of string teachers, players, and their students. We fulfill this mission by embracing and inspiring our membership and by welcoming, empowering and serving their string related aspirations.

  1. The purposes for which MA-ASTA is organized are exclusively for charitable, literary, and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or corresponding provision of any subsequent Federal Tax laws

Article II - National Bylaws

  1. MA-ASTA shall abide by the bylaws, articles, and amendments of the national organization, which is known as the American String Teachers Association

Article III - State Organization and Board of Directors

  1. The Executive Board and Members-At-Large make up the Full Board of Directors

  2. The Executive Board shall consist of the following positions

    1. President

    2. President-Elect

    3. Secretary

    4. Treasurer

    5. Other appointed members as deemed necessary by the Executive Board

  1. Elected Officers

    1. The elected state officers will be the President, the President-Elect, and the Secretary

    2. Each elected officer serves a term of two years

    3. The President-Elect, upon completion of a two year term of office automatically becomes the President for a term of two years

    4. The immediate Past-President shall continue in an ex-officio capacity as advisor to the Board of Directors for a term of two years

    5. In the event of a vacancy of any officer other than that of President, the President, with a majority consent of the Executive Board, shall appoint an active member in good standing to finish the unexpired term of the preceding incumbent. In the event of a vacancy of the office of President, the President-Elect shall assume the office and finish the unexpired term

  1. Appointed Officers

    1. The President, with a majority consent of the Executive Board, shall appoint an active member in good standing as Treasurer

    2. The Board of Directors will have the authority to appoint active members in good standing to other offices as deemed necessary

    3. Appointed Officers will serve terms of two years

  1. Members-At-Large

    1. Any active member in good standing will be eligible to be a Member-At-Large on the Board of Directors

    2. Member-At-Large positions must be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors

  1. The duties and job descriptions of each office, including elected and appointed offices, shall be determined by the Board of Directors

  2. Appointed positions may, following notice and an opportunity to be heard, be removed from their position by a majority of the remaining members of the Full Board of Directors

Article IV - MA-ASTA Administrative Operations

  1. Board of Directors

    1. The President shall be Chairman of the Board of Directors

    2. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once per year or upon call of the President

      1. A majority present at meetings (at least half of the Board of Directors, plus one) will constitute a quorum

      2. The purpose of the Board of Directors meeting will be:

        1. Conduct Chapter Business

        2. Discuss and/or approve the annual budget and any relevant financial information

        3. Discussion and/or approval of major financial decisions

        4. Discuss and/or approve election procedures and results

        5. Discuss long-term planning and strategies for MA-ASTA

        6. Any other business relevant to the larger purpose and administration of MA-ASTA

      3. The meeting may include updates from the committees planning and organizing MA-ASTA events

      4. In the event that there is not a quorum

        1. The meeting can have discussion, however a vote can not take place

        2. The Board will be provided minutes of the discussion for a vote at a later date

    3. Emergency decisions may be made by the President after a telephone or email discussion and approval by a majority of the President-elect, Past- President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Such action shall be ratified by the Board of Directors at their next meeting and shall be recorded in the minutes

  1. Financial Operations

    1. The President and the Treasurer will prepare an annual budget prior to the start of each fiscal year to be approved by the Full Board of Directors

    2. All Expenditures shall be paid by the Treasurer with approval as indicated

      1. Expenditures for the normal budgeted expenses of all offices, committees, or commissions shall be subject to approval of the President

      2. Expenditures of money beyond the area of budgeted expenses shall be approved by the Board of Directors

  1. Election of Officers

    1. Elections occur in odd numbered years

      1. The election process will start in the Fall of election years

      2. The election will occur in March or April of the following even numbered year

      3. Voting will primarily be by electronic ballots instead of paper ballots

      4. Any member may request a paper ballot

    2. The President will appoint a nominating committee by October of an Election Year

      1. The President may not be a member of the nominating committee

      2. The nominating committee will consist of:

        1. At least three active and voting members in good standing

        2. The Past-President and/or the President Elect

        3. One or more Members-At-Large from the Board of Directors

    3. The nominating committee will meet to nominate at least two candidates for each of the following elected offices: President-Elect and Secretary

    4. The nominations will be completed by December and presented to the Board of Directors at a meeting in January or February of the following even numbered year

    5. Election information shall be published by the end of February, and will include information about candidates, instructions for electronic voting and how to request a paper ballot

    6. The Election polls will open during the week prior to the Annual Membership Meeting and will close at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting

      1. Electronic polls will close after the meeting

      2. Paper ballots will be sent to the nominating committee

      3. Results will be the combination of the totals of the electronic poll and the paper ballots

    7. The Nominating Committee will report the results of the election to the President, who will then report the results to the candidates, and will announce the results to the chapter (chapter email newsletter and website) and the national office

    8. Newly elected officers will begin terms on June 15th of even numbered years

  1. The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order (latest revised edition) shall govern this association in all cases to which they are applicable and where they are not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws

Article V - Membership and Dues

  1. The members of MA-ASTA shall be classified as Active, Dual, Full- time Student, Retired (age sixty-two or over), school, or library as defined by the national Bylaws and Executive Board of ASTA

  2. All members in good standing shall be considered voting members, with the exception of student members, institutional members and subscriptions, as determined by the National ASTA Bylaws

  3. General Membership Meeting

    1. At least one General Membership Meeting is held each year

    2. The date, time, and location of each meeting will be selected by the President of MA-ASTA in consultation with the Executive Board and the information will be announced by email, on the website, or other sources

    3. The President of MA-ASTA (or his or her designee) will preside, and members will be updated on the current activities and programs provided by MA-ASTA and the national association

  4. Dues

    1. Dues are to be submitted to National ASTA, according to the membership classification and dues schedule designated by the national Executive Board of ASTA

    2. Membership in the MA-ASTA Chapter is contingent upon Membership in ASTA

Article VI

  1. This Association is exempt from the payment of Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

  2. The private property of individual members of this association shall not be liable for corporate debts

Article VII - Amendments to the Bylaws

  1. These Bylaws may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the number of votes cast by MA-ASTA members in good standing after at least two weeks of public view

  2. Proposed amendments to the Bylaws are to be submitted to any officer of MA-ASTA who in turn submits that proposal to the entirety of the Board of Directors for consideration and subsequent action

  3. Amendments to the Bylaws will be voted on during regular chapter elections

Voting

Current elections will be announced in the end of March 2020.