CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS

Mississippi Bandmasters Association

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I
Organization

      Section 1  Name: The name of this organization shall be the Mississippi Bandmasters Association.

      Section 2  Purpose: The purpose of the organization shall be to promote education and close cooperation in the schools and communities by teaching instrumental music. To this end we endeavor to give the child a worthwhile activ­ity as well as provide for a lifetime of enjoyment and appreciation.

      Section 3  Affiliation: This organization is an independent and self-governing representative body of the instrumental music educators of the State of Mississippi.

ARTICLE II
Membership

Section 1  Active Membership: Those who are actively engaged in teaching or directing instrumental music in elementary, jr. high, or senior high school and in good standing with dues paid are designated active members. Only active members may vote or hold office.

Section 2  Associate Membership: Any person who is interested in instrumental music and does not qualify in Section 1 of this article is designated as an associate member upon payment of annual dues. Associate members may attend all meetings and activities of the association and enter into discussion at meetings upon being recognized by the presiding officer.

Section 3  Life Membership: The Executive Board may present to the organization any person who has given a long period of service in the instrumental life membership when they feel it justified. If this passes by a majority vote in regular business meeting they may become life members with the privilege to vote and attend all meetings and activities, but may not hold office and will not be required to pay dues.

Section 4  Student Membership: Those students that are entered in a certified program at a college or university leading to a career as an instrumental music teacher may attend meetings and enter into discussion but may not vote or hold office.

Section 5  The decision of the Executive Board is final with regard to eligibility for membership.

ARTICLE III
Officers

Section 1  The representative power of the association shall be vested in the Executive Board. (a) The officers of the association shall constitute the Executive Board and will meet when called by the president. This board will determine the general policy of the association, select the clinic students, and outline the agenda for all business meetings. The immediate past president is a member of this board. (b) The officers of the association shall consist of President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President, Member At Large, and Past President.

Section 2  Duties of the Officers: (a) The duties of the president shall be to preside at all meetings and act in an executive capacity throughout his/her term of office. The president will prepare and have printed the State Clinic program book. The president will make all arrangements and organization needed to prepare for State Band Clinic, including coordinating the student registration and housing. The president is also the chairman of the nominating committee. In his/her absence, the vice-president will preside. (b) The first vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president. The duties of the first vice-president are to serve as secretary/treasurer of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association. The first vice-president will handle all funds and give proper accounting of the same when called for. The first vice-president will keep a complete and accurate record of the minutes of the meetings. The first vice-president will also handle all cancellations for the State Band Clinic roster. (c) The second vice-president handles all advertising for the band clinic and supervises the set-up in the display room. The second vice-president also is in charge of selecting and securing the band chairmen for each band. (d) The third vice-president's duties are to inform the membership of meetings and the mailing of the state band clinic information and serve as the state music chairman. (e) The member at large shall secure tryout judges for state band clinic, handle tryout folders, and work on all address corrections for the mailing list. This office will be a two year position.

Section 3  Election: (a) At the September meeting an election shall be held for the office of third vice-president. This office will start immediately. The other officers will automatically assume the duties of the next higher office on June 1st. (b) The nominating committee shall consist of the president and two band directors from the incoming districts to be appointed by the president. (c) The office of third vice-president shall rotate between four districts in the state, set up as follows: North District - Districts I & 2;   North Central - Districts 3 & 4;   South Central - Districts 5 & 6;   South District - Districts 7 & 8. These districts are out­lined in the handbook of the Mississippi High School Activities Association. (d) In the event all offices are vacated at one time, for any reason, the executive committee shall be chosen as follows: 1. The immediate past president, or if necessary, a previous past president shall appoint a nominating committee. 2. This nominating committee shall consist of one representative from each of the four major districts and the immediate past president serving as chairman. 3. A minimum of two names shall be selected for each office. 4. If time permits, a list of all nominees shall be mailed to all directors one month prior to the next scheduled business meeting. 5. Regardless of previous order of succession, the executive committee will be elected by the membership as follows: I. President - North District;   II. First Vice-President - North Central District;   III. Secretary/ Treasurer - South Central District;   IV. Third Vice-President - South District.

      Section 4 - Vacancies: (a) A vacancy occurring in any of the four offices shall be filled by the succeeding officers assuming the duties of the next higher office. This leaves the office of third vice-president vacant. (b) The nominations for the office of third vice-president will come from the district in which the vacancy first occurred and will be proposed by the nominating committee. The nominating committee will submit a minimum of two candidates where the vacancy first occurred. Other nominations will be allowed from the floor. (c) The election shall be held at the next regular business meeting, and the person elected would take office immediately

ARTICLE IV
"Meetings

Section I  Three regular meetings shall be held during the year. The president, with the permission of the executive board, may call other meetings if or when they deem it necessary. If such a meeting is called for the purpose of transacting important business, each member must be duly notified of time and place and nature of the business to be dealt with one week in advance. (a) The first meeting will be held the first Saturday after the first Monday in September in Jackson, Mississippi. This meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m. with the executive board meeting at 9:00 a.m. (b) The second meeting will be held at the annual State Band Clinic in December. (c) The third meeting shall be at the time appointed dur­ing the Spring of the year as designated by the president.

  ARTICLE V
Dues

Section 1  Dues shall be paid annually at the first meeting of the Association in September.

  ARTICLE VI
Amendments

Section I  The Constitution may be amended in the following manner: (a) Must be passed by a majority and presented by the Executive Board. (b) Copy of proposed change must be mailed to all members at least thirty days prior to meeting. (c) Passed by majority of those in attendance at two successive business meet­ings.

Section 2  The number present at a regularly scheduled business meeting will constitute a quorum. A majority vote of active members is sufficient for the passage of business. Quorum for a call meeting is fifty-one percent of active membership.

Section 3 ‑ By-Laws may be amended by majority vote of active members present at one regularly scheduled business meeting.

  ARTICLE VII
The Advisory Committee to M.H.S.A.A. 

Section I  (a) The Band Advisory Committee shall consist of five band directors and one administrator. The executive board consisting of the four present officers and the immediate past president shall be the five band directors representing the Band Association. (b) The administrator will be appointed by the Mississippi High School Activities Association executive committee. (c) The administrator shall become a member of the State Band Advisory Committee for a term of four years. (d) All matters pertaining to Band Festival and Solo and Ensemble will be cleared through this committee. (e) Any changes in the rules as stated in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Handbook will be handled by this committee and then be presented to the state executive commit­tee of M.H.S.A.A. for approval.

 

BY-LAWS

  ARTICLE I
Dues

Section 1  Dues for active and associate members shall be $35.00 per person. Dues for student membership shall be 1/2 of active membership dues. The year on which membership is based shall begin on September 1st.

Section 2  Payment of dues mentioned in Section 1 shall entitle a member to membership with all voting rights in this organization for a period of one year.

ARTICLE II
Disbursement of Funds

Section 1  The executive board has authority to disburse funds at its discretion. Financial reports shall be made at each regular business meeting.

 

RULES AND REGULATIONS
GOVERNING CONTESTS AND CLINICS

CONTEST INFORMATION

Full particulars may be found in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Handbook, Mississippi High School Activities Association, P. 0. Box 4521, Jackson, MS 39216‑4521.

  CLINIC INFORMATION

The state band clinic will be held the 2nd week of December. To be eligible, the director must have paid his/her membership dues to the Mississippi Bandmasters Association.

Where junior high is organized seventh, eighth and ninth grades with a separate director from the high school, ninth grade students who are not participating in any way with the high school band, will be eligible to attend provided they are proficient on their instrument. Where the junior high is organized seventh, eighth, with a separate director from the high school the eighth grade students will be eligible to attend provided they are proficient on their instruments. Each high school will have two students selected where possible. Consideration of instrumentation for the bands is the prime objective. Jr. High Schools will have one student selected.

All students will be tried out at the time of their arrival at the clinic. The best students will be placed in the first band, second best in the second band, and the third best in the third band.

All students will be properly chaperoned and will at no time leave the clinic early. All students must stay in the convention hotel if they are chosen to participate. The Mississippi Bandmasters Association will not be responsible for students not participating in the clinic. The executive committee will handle any problem arising due to extenuating circumstances.

Clinic forms will be mailed out to directors by October 1. These shall be returned according to the announced deadline. Failure to return by the announced deadline will result in the school not having any students to attend the clinic.

All directors will list their students for the clinic with their best musicians first. Do not put names of students on the list who cannot perform well on their instruments or who might not represent your school well

SIGHT READING

1.  The judges should be located in three different areas. It is acceptable for the judges to confer when a rating is in question. It should also be noted that the benefit of doubt should be in favor of the band.

  2.  The director will be allowed to study the score in the sight reading room for two minutes. This time will be in addition to the length of time in which the director formally works with the band.

  3.   The band and director will be able to sing, talk, teach, or utter any musical respons­es except play during the preparation process for the period of time as follows:

4.   One minute prior to ending the explanation process, a judge will cue the director as to the length of remaining time.

  5. During the performance of the sight reading selection, talking or tapping on the music stand will  be allowed in an effort to aid the students.

  6.  Any director from a competing school or any director from another school who is helping the conductor is allowed in the sight reading room during the preparation process and the performance of the sight reading selection. However, the assisting band directors from other schools must have already completed the sight reading competition or be in a different classification reading different music