The Constitution of the Music Educators National Conference is the basic document governing the Conference and its organizational units, including Student Member Chapters.

CONSTITUTION OF THE MUSIC EDUCATORS NATIONAL CONFERENCE STUDENT MEMBER CHAPTER #409

PREAMBLE

It is our desire to become members of the Music Educators National Conference Student Member Chapter of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, to enjoy its associations, to share its responsibilities, to increase our interest and knowledge in all areas of music education.

ARTICLE I - NAME AND AFFILIATION

Section 1. This chapter shall be known as the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Student Member Chapter of the Music Educators National Conference, and shall be listed in the MENC records as Chapter #409.

Section 2. This chapter shall have affiliate relationship to the Wisconsin Music Educators Association.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

It shall be the purpose of this organization to:

1. Make available to members opportunities for professional development.

2. Acquaint students with the privileges and responsibilities of the music education profession.
3. Provide for its members opportunities to become acquainted with leaders in the music education profession as gained from participation in programs and demonstrations, discussions, and performing groups planned by this chapter.
4. Assist the music department in various projects throughout the year.
5. Provide opportunity for contacts with MENC student members of other schools.
6. Abide in accordance with established University policies.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership shall be open to any student at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire engaged in the study or teaching of music, regardless of sexual orientation, race, color, or religion, or national origin.

Section 2. Any student may become a registered member of this organization on payment of the dues as stated in Article XII of this constitution.

Section 3. Any student member, upon complying with registration requirements, will receive a national MENC student membership card and may attend the conventions of the MENC - National and Division, and the federated state associations, with all rights and privileges of active membership except those of voting or holding office. Members may participate in activities carried on by the MENC, its divisions and federated state association, in connection with conventions and other meetings.

Section 4. Members will receive the official MENC publication, the Music Educators Journal, and the official publication of the state music educators association.

Section 5. When a student member accepts a regular teaching position, upon his or her request, he or she will be transferred to the status of active (Professional) membership in the Music Educators National Conference for the remainder of that membership year.

Section 6. Upon the payment of the prescribed dues, Special Active Membership is available to any MENC Student Member who wishes to receive the Journal of Research in Music Education, as well as the Music Educators Journal.

Section 7. Members have the opportunity to earn points through various CMENC sponsored events.

1. Point values are pre-determined by the Executive Council at the beginning of the academic year.

2. The secretary will record each member's points.
3. At the beginning of the academic year, the Executive Council will decide the number of points needed for a member to accumulate during that year in order to have his or her WMEA registration fee paid for by our chapter for next fall's WMEA convention (a year ahead of time).
4. The treasurer and secretary have the job of tabulating the previous year's points of the members and letting those who earned enough, based on the point values set by the previous year's executive board, and letting them know that our chapter will pay their registration fee to WMEA that fall.
5. Members must earn at least two points per academic year in order to keep active status. When a member becomes inactive, it is the job of the secretary to report this status to the individual.

Section 8. Members graduating will receive pink cords from the chapter if they are currently active. See Article III, Section 7e to determine if a member is active.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this organization shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Advocate.

Section 2. Any candidate for office shall have been a member of the organization for at least one full semester prior to nomination.

Section 3. Each officer shall begin his or her term a the close of the spring semester and serve throughout the following academic year.

Section 4. In case a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Vice-President shall assume the duties of that office for the remainder of the term of office. Vacancies in any of the other offices shall be filled by election.

Section 5. These officers shall be considered the Executive Council.

Section 6. These officers shall be responsible for the conduct of the members of this chapter at group sponsored activities.

ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. It is the duty of the President to:

1. Organize and preside at meetings.
2. Represent the organization.
3. Coordinate with the other Organization Presidents to plan the beginning of the year "Organizations Picnic."
4. Appoint committees with the help of the Executive Council.
5. Oversee and help organize Chapter events and activities.
6. Uphold the principles of the constitution.

Section 2. It is the duty of the Vice-President to:

1. Preside in the absence of the President

2. Arrange Speakers and clinicians
3. Assist the President.
4. Oversee the election process. See Article VII.

Section 3. It is the duty of the Secretary to:

1. Accurately record the minutes of the regular meetings, and type them up to be stored in a permanent file.

2. Maintain a permanent file of the minutes of the general and officers' meetings of this chapter to be kept in the chapter's filing cabinet in the organizations' room for a period of two years.
3. Distribute regular meeting minutes to members and post a copy on the CMENC bulletin board.
4. Record minutes from officer meetings and distribute a copy to all Executive Council members.
5. Keep current roll of membership. Let a member know when he or she has become inactive. See Article III, Section 7e.
6. Record points earned by the members. See Article III, Section 7.
7. Report the chapter activities for publication in state and/or national periodicals. See the chapter advisor for help with this.
8. Organizes the annual lobby concert in Haas Fine Arts.
9. Promote the general meetings and activities of the Chapter by sending mass e-mails and hanging up posters to advertise.

Section 4. It is the duty of the Treasurer to:

1. Be responsible and accountable for the collection of any monies and/or dues of the organization.

2. Organize the chapter's WMEA Conference Registration. See Article XII.
3. Keep a written record of financial credits and disbursements, a copy of which is to be included in the file as stated in Article V, Section IIIb.
4. Oversee all fundraising.
5. Submit a written report of chapter finances to the Executive Council at its last meeting of each semester.

Section 5. It is the duty of the Advocate to:

1. Promote music and music education in the University and surrounding communities.

   Promote MENC: The National Association for Music Education at the collegiate, state, and national levels.
2. Actively encourage Tri-M Music Honors Society at local schools.
3. Organize Music In Our Schools Month.
4. Collect and maintain a history of our chapter.
5. Provide five minutes of advocacy education at each regular meeting.
6. Organize the High School Shadow Day with the President.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1. There shall be at least one regular meeting of this chapter per month during the regular academic year.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called at any other time as determined by the Executive Council.

Section 3. In order for a meeting to take place, a quorum of 5% of the membership must be present.

ARTICLE VII - ELECTIONS

Section 1. Elections of officers shall be held in April of each year for the following academic year.

Section 2. The Vice-President will oversee the election process. If the Vice- President accepts a nomination for an office in the election, the election will be passed onto the President, or another Executive Board member who is not running and is impartial.

Section 3. Nominations for all of the offices will be taken from any registered member through a format the Executive Council decides upon prior to the election. (Example – in the form of an e-mail or a listing on the bulletin board, etc).

Section 4. Nominations may be declined by the nominee.

Section 5. Elections shall be by secret ballot.

Section 6. Any registered member of this organization is qualified to vote in chapter elections and major issues concerning the chapter.

Section 7. To be elected, a candidate must receive a majority of the vote cast for that office.

ARTICLE VIII - RECALL

Section 1. All officers are subject to recall by a signed petition of at least 30% of the membership of the chapter.

Section 2. Should recall election occur, ARTICLE IV, Section 4, will still apply.

ARTICLE IX - EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Section 1. Management of this organization shall be vested in an Executive Council responsible to the entire membership to uphold this Constitution.

Section 2. This Council shall consist of the officers of this organization and the Chapter Advisor as an ex officio member.

Section 3. This Council shall meet at least once between regular meetings of the chapter to organize and plan future activities.

Section 4. This Council shall have the power to make necessary decisions in all matters not pertaining to the group as a whole.

ARTICLE X – CHAPTER ADVISOR

Section 1. There shall be a Chapter Advisor who shall be a member ex officio of the Executive Council.

Section 2. The Chapter Advisor shall be:

Section 3. The responsibilities of the sponsor shall be to:

1. Advise and stimulate interest in the MENC, and explain the meaning and ideals of the organization.

2. Provide guidance in the development and implementation of programs and activities.
3. Guide chapter participation in state, division, and national meetings.
4. Serve as liaison between the Students Member Chapter and the School Administration.

ARTICLE XI - COMMITTEES

Section 1. The Executive board shall have the power to appoint any special committees throughout the academic year.

ARTICLE XII - FINANCE

Section 1. National dues shall be collected from each member and be remitted by the treasurer or faculty sponsor to the MENC headquarters office or its duly authorized representative.

Section 2. Any dues levied in excess of National dues shall be used to help finance the activities of the chapter.

Section 3. All dues shall be collected at the beginning of each academic year.

Section 4. Finances for any chapter expense must be approved by the Executive Council.

Section 5. Disbursement of such funds as mentioned in Section 2 above, will be made only through the treasurer and/or faculty sponsor.

Section 6. An annual CMENC scholarship is available to a music education major involved in the chapter. A committee of faculty members determines the recipient. The Executive Board and Chapter Advisor will determine the amount, which be accredited to the recipient's account in the fall.

ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. This constitution may be amended by a unanimous vote of the Executive Council and the Chapter Advisor. In the event that the vote is not unanimous, the amendment will be brought to the chapter and will pass with a two-thirds majority vote of the active membership.

Section 2. Any member of this chapter may propose amendments to this constitution.

Section 3. All amendments must be written out in formal style and presented to the Executive Council.

Section 4. All members of this chapter shall receive advance notice of the proposed amendments at least five (5) days before the meeting.

Section 5. All amendments shall be voted upon by secret ballot.

Section 6. The Organizations Commission of this University's Student Government, shall be notified by the Executive Council of any amendments to this constitution.

ARTICLE XIV - RULES OF ORDER

Section 1. Robert's Rules of Order, Revised shall serve as a basis for parliamentary procedure.

ARTICLE XV - BY LAWS

Section 1. By Laws for this chapter may be adopted and/or amended by a majority of those present.

Section 2. Such By Laws shall be read to and voted by the members of this chapter #409.

Article XVI – Dissolution

Section 1. In the event of a situation in which the Executive Council finds it necessary to dissolve the organization, the chapter will have its officers present information regarding the dissolution to the Committee of Student Organizations prior to informing its membership. CMENC may be dissolved after dissolution is approved by the officers and by a vote of two-thirds of the membership, provided that an advance notice of at least sixty days is given before the meeting.

Section 2. Upon dissolution, the Executive Council will utilize assets of the organization to pay all obligations and expenses of the organization.

Section 3. Notice of dissolution must be presented in writing to the Committee of Student Organizations.

Adopted: March 10, 1972
Amended: May 2006

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