Article III  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  Membership classifications and privileges shall be prescribed in the Bylaws.

Section 2.  Membership dues shall be proposed by the Executive Committee and approved by a quorum of the membership.

Section 3.  Membership in the Chapter may be terminated by the member or revoked by the Chapter as prescribed in the Bylaws.

Article IV  ELECTED OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1.  Elected Officers of the Chapter shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Board of Directors shall be composed of elected officers plus the Immediate Past-President and Committee Chairs.

Section 2.  The Executive Committee shall be composed of the elected officers plus the Immediate Past-President. 

Section 3.  The Executive Committee shall make recommendations to the membership regarding policy and procedures.

Section 4.  The President, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee shall appoint such committees and chairs which may be needed.  The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

Section 5.  Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President.

Section 6.  Special meetings of the Chapter may be called by the President or the Executive Committee.

Section 7.  One-fourth of the membership shall constitute a quorum.  Only a quorum present at a regular meeting may institute action that affects the chapter.

Section 8.  The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the Chapter in all cases where they are consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws.

Article V  AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  The Constitution or Bylaws may be amended upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee by a two-thirds vote of the Committee.  Written notice of the proposed amendment(s) must be submitted to the membership of the Chapter at least thirty (30) days in advance of voting.

Section 2.  The Chapter membership may approve the amendment(s) by a majority of the members present at a meeting or via an electronic mail vote.

Bylaws of the Westmoreland Chapter of PMTA

Article I  MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1.  Active Membership shall be open to all individuals professionally engaged in any field of music activity.  Those persons holding Active Membership shall be entitled to participate in all Chapter activities and programs, all PMTA activities and programs and all MTNA activities and programs.  They may vote, hold office and receive the Chapter publications.  Acceptance of membership includes an agreement to abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Chapter.  In addition, each member should strive to make the principles and aspirations found in the MTNA Code of Ethics an essential part of his or her professional commitment to students, to colleagues, and to society.   

Section 2.  Prospective members may attend two meetings, after which time they must become a paid member of PMTA/MTNA and the local chapter.

Section 3.  Annual dues are payable upon receipt of MTNA billing.  If dues are not paid by August 15, members shall be considered delinquent and shall not be entitled to any of the privileges of membership until dues are paid in full.    

Article II  ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1.  A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President to nominate Chapter officers.  The Vice President shall be the chair of this committee.  The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of not more than two (2) candidates for each office, to be presented at the April meeting.

Section 2.  The members of the Chapter who are present shall elect, by a majority vote, the officers of the chapter at the May meeting.  Nominations from the floor shall be allowed, provided the nominee is eligible for election and has consented to be a candidate.  Election by the members must be by secret ballot, and each office shall be voted on separately.  In the event of only one nominee for an office, the President may recommend election by general consent.

Section 3.  The Vice-President, upon completion of his or her term of office, shall become President of the Chapter.  Should the elected Vice-President be unable to assume the presidency, a President shall be elected for that term only, in the same manner as the other officers.

Section 4.  Each officer shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, but may, upon renomination, be re-elected for consecutive terms.

Section 5.  A vacancy in any office, except that of president, shall be filled by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee, and be subject to approval of the Chapter.  A Vice-President selected in this manner cannot assume the office of President without being elected to that office.

Article III  DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1.  The President shall plan and preside at all meetings, shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee, shall appoint all committees, perform all other duties pertaining to the office and shall be responsible for overseeing the content of the monthly newsletter.

Section 2.  The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or inability of that officer to act, shall assist the President when called upon, and shall serve as Publicity Chair.

Section 3.  The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Chapter and the Executive Committee and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Section 4.  The Treasurer shall be responsible for overseeing, in cooperation with the President, all financial affairs of the Chapter.  He or she shall keep a record of receipts and expenditures, and be prepared to present a statement of financial condition of the Chapter whenever called upon.  He or she shall serve as liaison to the Membership Chair, and have available upon request, a list of paid members.

Article IV  STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Section 1.  Standing Committee Chairs may include but not be limited to the following:

a.                  The Composition Chair shall be responsible for student and teacher composition contests.

b.                  The Dorothy Sutton Festival Chair shall be responsible for the local auditions of the annual DSPF event of PMTA.

c.                  The Finance Chair shall be responsible for overseeing the Development, Audit, Budget and Investments Committees.

d.                  The Historian shall keep a Scrapbook and preserve all mementos and newspaper clippings pertaining to the activities                        of the Chapter or its members.

e.                  The Librarian shall be responsible for the multi-media materials available for loan to members, for the music mart                              containing items for sale, and for collecting donations for mart purchases.

f.                  The Membership Chair shall be responsible for keeping accurate records of the active membership and communicate as                     needed with state and national membership representatives.  The membership chair shall be the primary correspondent                     between the chapter and new or prospective members.

g.                  The Music Achievement Award for Graduating Seniors Chair shall be responsible for overseeing all awards given to                        students. 

h.                  The Recital Chair shall be responsible for Chapter recitals.

i.                  The Sonatina Chair shall be responsible for the annual Sonatina Competition.

Bylaws

Constitution of the Westmoreland Chapter of PMTA

 (updated 12/16/2022)

​Article I  NAME

The name of the 501(c)(3) non profit association is the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association – Westmoreland Chapter (hereinafter referred to as PMTA-WC or the Chapter), an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association (hereinafter referred to as PMTA and MTNA).​

Article II  PURPOSE AND INTENT

Section 1. The purposes for which this Chapter is organized and operated are exclusively literary and educational, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended.  The mission of this Chapter shall be the advancement of education in music, and in specific furtherance thereof:

a. To promote the professional growth and development of its members by providing programs that encourage and support teaching, performance, composition and research;

b. To provide ongoing performance and educational opportunities for students of its membership;

c. To promote and support the study, performance and creation of music and to promote and support endeavors that strengthen music education in the schools and community;

d. To promote public awareness of the value of music education for all individuals.


Section 2.  No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3)  of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Section 3.  In the event of the dissolution of this organization, any funds remaining in the treasury after the payment of any outstanding debts shall be contributed to the Seton Hill  University Music Department.

Music Teachers