Constitution of the Piano Teachers’ Round Table
ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. Name: The name of the organization shall be “The Piano Teachers’ Round Table.”
Section 2. Aims and Purposes: To raise the standard of piano teaching; to promote interests vital to teachers of piano; to develop the appreciation of music; to foster good fellowship in the music profession.
ARTICLE II. OFFICERS
Section 1. The government of The Piano Teachers’ Round Table shall be vested in an Executive Board, which shall be composed of the officers and an executive committee of two (2) previous presidents.
Section 2. The officers shall be: President, Vice-President for Programs, Recording/Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 3. The officers and executive board committee shall be elected by the membership biennially at the April business meeting. It is suggested that the President be selected from the members serving, or those who have served, on the Executive Board.
Section 4. The Committee Chairmen shall be appointed by the incoming president.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Any member may present names of applicants for membership.
Section 2. Annual dues for the fiscal year are due in May. The fiscal year shall be from September 1 to August 31.
Section 3. Life Membership: Life membership may be conferred by vote of the Executive Board, upon any current member who has actively supported and served The Piano Teachers’ Round Table for many years.
ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held monthly from September to May. Executive Board meetings shall be held at the call of the President, or at the request of three (3) members.
Section 2. Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE V. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1. Each officer shall be elected for a two-year term, and no officer may serve more than a total of four consecutive years in the same capacity. Any officer may be removed from office, for just cause, by a majority vote from the remaining five (5) board members.
ARTICLE VI. STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Standing Committee Chairpersons shall appoint members for the following committees: Nominating, Auditor, Historian/Yearbook/Website Liaison, Auction Chairperson, Showcase Recitals, Coffee Concert, Directory and Hospitality.
ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by any member of The Piano Teachers’ Round Table, to be approved by two-thirds of the members present if voting at a meeting. When voting is conducted by email, no response from a member shall be considered a “yes” vote. The proposed amendment shall be sent in writing to the whole membership ten (10) days before the vote is taken.
By-Laws of The
Piano Teachers’ Round Table
ARTICLE I. DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Executive Board shall make definite plans to realize the purpose of The Piano Teachers’ Round Table, and shall constantly, with the cooperation of the entire membership, keep these plans in working condition.
ARTICLE II. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
Section 1. The President shall preside at all the regular meetings and shall perform all other duties pertaining to this office, including the appointment of committee chairpersons.
Section 2. The Vice President for Programs shall serve at regular meetings in the absence of the President and shall arrange programs for the regular meetings, selecting subjects for discussion that will be of benefit to the members.
Section 3. The Recording/Corresponding Secretary shall serve at the regular meetings in the absence of the President and the Vice President for Programs and shall keep the minutes of the regular meetings when previously asked to do so, and of the Executive Board Meetings. The Recording/Corresponding Secretary also shall attend to the correspondence of The Round Table and shall send notifications to the members in advance of the regular monthly meetings.
Section 4. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to care for the funds of the organization, to collect dues and membership forms, to make disbursements by order of the Executive Board and to render an account at business meetings, or at any other time, upon request of the membership.
ARTICLE III. DUES
Section 1. Annual Dues: Annual dues are payable in May. If not paid by the cutoff date for Directory publishing, which is usually July 31, at the discretion of the Executive Board no further newsletters will be sent and both membership in The Round Table, and listing in the Round Table directory and website will be terminated.
Section 2. New Members: For those members joining the organization after March 1, dues shall be 50% of the regular yearly fee.
Section 3. Life Members: Life members are exempt from paying dues. However, they are still requested to submit a membership form yearly in order to keep contact information current.
ARTICLE IV. DUTIES OF COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Hospitality Committee shall have charge of the social
arrangements of The Round Table.
Section 2. The Nominating Committee of three (3) members previously appointed by the President shall arrange a slate of officers and executive board members to be presented to the board prior to submitting this slate to all members for their consideration and feedback.
Section 3. The Auditor shall audit the books once a year and make a report concerning the same.
Section 4. The Historian/Yearbook/Website Liaison shall keep all historical and current materials of the organization. He/she will post accurate programming, photographs and membership contact information to the website and to Facebook.
Section 5. Special committees may be appointed by the President as needed.
ARTICLE V. MEETINGS
Section 1. The election of officers shall take place at the April meeting biennially. At the March meeting, it will be announced that nominations are being considered for the election of officers, and that the election of officers will happen at the April meeting. Any member can be considered as a nominee with previous consent of the member to be nominated. Member nomination suggestions may be received by the nominating chair at the March meeting, or up to five (5) days after the March meeting. The nominating committee will then present their recommendations to the board via email or phone by March 10. By March 20, a slate of new officers will be emailed to the entire membership for their consideration (member feedback on the nominees should be sent directly to the nominating chair). At the April election, two-thirds (2/3) of the vote shall constitute a majority.
Section 2. The time and place of The Round Table meetings shall be selected by the Executive Board.
Section 3. Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President, or at the request of three (3) members.
Section 4. Guest speakers and performers may receive an honorarium, money toward travel expenses (if from out of town), and a complimentary lunch. Panel speakers may be given a complimentary lunch.
ARTICLE VI. CONTESTS
Section 1. No contests shall be held.
ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Section 1. Amendments to the By-Laws may be proposed by any member of PTRT, to be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the members present if voting at a meeting. When voting is conducted by email, no response from a member shall be considered a “yes” vote. The proposed amendment shall be sent in writing to the whole membership ten (10) days before the vote is taken.