Article I

Name, Purposes, Affiliation, Relationship

Section 1: Name

The name of this Association will be Northeastern District-Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA-ND).

Section 2: Purpose

The purpose of this Association will be to:

• Foster the advancement of music education among the Northeastern District educational institutions;
• Provide opportunities for the membership to improve professional competencies;
• Communicate the achievements and concerns of the District to the public;
• Serve as a communication channel between individuals, grade levels, and public and private schools within the profession;
• Encourage and provide forums for discussing concerns of the membership;
• Initiate and maintain communication with other professional and educational organizations in the arts;
• Provide enrichment opportunities in music, supplementing regular school programs through sponsorship of festivals, clinics and honor group performances.
• Lobbying with at-risk communities to save their current music positions.
• Support Affiliates in their lobbying efforts.

(1)
Section 3: Affiliation

This association will function as the District One Unit, Northeastern District of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA), an affiliate of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC).

Section 4: Relationship

This Association will maintain the close professional relationship with the parent organization as prescribed in the current MMEA Constitution, By-Laws and Organizational Handbook.

Article II

Membership

Any member teaching or otherwise involved in music education in the Northeastern District is a member of this District Unit. The privileges of active, life, retired, student and introductory membership are subject to the conditions prescribed in the current MMEA Constitution.

Article III

Income

Income from District activities and State reimbursement of dues will be used to support the various functions of MMEA-ND.

(2)

Article IV

Officers, Terms, Government

Section 1: Executive Board

The Executive Board of this District will consist of:

• District Chairperson
• District Chairperson-Elect
• District Secretary
• District Treasurer
• Immediate Past District Chairperson
• Senior District Coordinator
• Junior District Coordinator
• Elementary District Coordinator
• Librarian
• Historian
• Membership Coordinator

Section 2: Terms of Office

A. All officers will serve terms of two (2) years (July 1 to June 30) or until their successors are elected and installed.

B. Chairperson-Elect and Coordinators will be elected in even-numbered years. The Treasurer and Secretary will be elected in odd-numbered years.

C. The District Chairperson-Elect will serve for two (2) years, following which he/she will serve as District Chairperson for two (2) years, following which he/she will serve as Immediate Past District Chairperson for two (2) years.

(3)
Section 3: Government

The government of this Association will be vested in the District Executive Board which will have authority for the administration of all MMEA-ND affairs.

Article V

Duties of Officers

Section 1: District Chairperson

The duties of the District Chairperson will be to conduct all District business meetings, be responsible for the administration of this district's affairs, represent the District as a member of the MMEA Executive Board, have membership ex officio, with voting privileges on all District committees, and prepare a budget for each fiscal year.

Section 2: District Chairperson-Elect

The duties of the District Chairperson-Elect will be to assist the District Chairperson in administering this Association's affairs, preside in the absence of the Chairperson, serve as the Chairperson of sub-committees as needed, and to publicize District activities.

Section 3: Immediate Past District Chairperson

The duties of the Immediate Past District Chairperson include providing resource information and expertise about District activities and serving as the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee. The Immediate Past District Chairperson will facilitate the annual election of officers.

(4)

(5)

Section 9: Assistant Coordinator/Manager

Assistant Coordinators will serve a total of four years, two (2) as the assistant to the coordinator and two (2) as the coordinator.

Assistant Managers will serve a total of two (2) years, one (1) as Assistant Manager and one (1) as Manager.

Section 10: Librarian

The duties of the District Librarian will be to oversee the District Library; collect and catalog Senior and Junior Festival audition and concert music; house the District Library; and coordinate the District lending library.

Section 11: Historian

The duties of the District Historian will be to collect and compile all program materials and recordings from the Junior and Senior Festivals and All-State concerts; store such materials on a permanent basis; distribute such materials to District personnel and members upon request to and with the approval of the Executive Board; and, attend Executive Board meetings to provide information concerning past events and/or decisions.

Section 12: Membership Coordinator

The duties of the Membership Coordinator will be to maintain and update a District music educator membership database on an annual basis. He/she will provide listings for District members, upon request to and with the approval of the Executive Board, as well as copies of the list for the District Chairperson and Festival Coordinators.

(6)
Article VI

Elections, Removal, Vacancies

Section 1: Elected Officers

All MMEA-ND officers will be elected in the following manner:

A. The Chairperson will appoint and announce a nominating committee on or before the Fall Dinner Meeting. The Nominating committee will consist of five (5) District members, chaired by the Immediate Past District Chairperson, representing elementary, junior, and senior high levels of music education. The nominating committee will work from a complete list of eligible members.

B. The Nominating Committee will prepare a slate of no more than two (2) candidates for each of the appropriate officers, including a profile of each candidate. This information will be included with the announcement of the spring meeting.

C. Elections will be conducted each spring. The election will be conducted at the Spring General Membership Meeting. Each member present will receive a ballot to be returned during this meeting. The ballot will include provisions for write-in votes. Members unable to attend the meeting may request a ballot from the Past Chairperson to be mailed back to the Past Chairperson prior to the meeting. Notification of the procedure will be posted in the March issue of the MMEA Music News. The ballots will be tallied by the Nominating Committee members present immediately after the adjournment of the meeting in which the election has taken place.

(8)

Section 2: By-Law Revision Committee

The District Executive Board will serve as the District By-Law Revision Committee. By-law additions or deletions can only be made by the majority vote of all District members present at a duly called membership meeting. The membership will be notified at least fourteen (14) days in advance of a by-law addition or deletion meeting.

Article VIII

New Programs

All requests for new programs must be submitted in writing to the District Chairperson by May 1 for the following school year. The Executive Board must approve all programs by June 15 to be included in the Calendar of Events for the following school year.

Article IX

Quorum

Section 1: Executive Board Quorum

A quorum of the District Executive Board will consist of six (6) members.

Section 2: District Membership Quorum

A quorum of the Northeastern District Unit of MMEA will consist of those members present at a duly called business meeting.

(9)
Article X

Meetings

At least two (2) Membership Business Meetings will be held annually. Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the District Chairperson, or at the request of twenty (20) or more District members. The District Executive Board will meet at the discretion of the District Chairperson with at least two (2) weeks prior notice to all Executive Board members.

Article XI

Disposition of Assets

In the event of the disbandment or dissolution of this Association, all funds remaining after the payment of legitimate bills will be transferred to the Massachusetts Music Educators Association.


Typesetting/Document Preparation by
Cynthia Napier
MMEA-ND Chairperson
May 18, 2001