BY-LAWS OF THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY REGIONAL SECTION OF USITT
This edition incorporates all the corrections and amendments through February 12, 2002
Jean Montgomery, NBS Secretary
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. PURPOSES
II. MEMBERSHIP
III. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
IV. OFFICERS
V. COMMISSIONS
VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
VII. CONTRACTS, CHECKS, AND NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS
VIII. AMENDMENTS
X. DISSOLUTION
- I. PURPOSES
The purpose for which the Northern Boundary Section is formed is to further the objectives of USITT, which are as follows:
- A. Conduct research and investigation in the field of theatre planning and design, construction, equipment, presentation and operations;
B. Combine and conserve the results of such research and investigation and make the same available to the members of the Section;
C. Publish without profit and disseminate the results of studies undertaken within the scope and purposes of the Section;
D. Assist in the establishment of contact between members of the Section and the personnel of such members for the better exchange of knowledge in the field of theatre technology;
E. Recommend practices in the field of theatre planning and design, construction, equipment, presentation and operation, based on the experiences of those engaged in the field of living theatre, both dramatic and musical, on all levels as developed by research and investigation in those fields;
F. Provide representation and participation in conferences, assemblies, and other gatherings where matters of theatre planning and design, construction, equipment, presentation, and operation are discussed;
G. Concentrate on extending and developing the participation among elements of the theatre, with special orientation toward creative and interpretive artists: playwrights, composers, choreographers, directors, lyricists, conductors, musicians, librettists, and the performers;
H. And to foster, encourage and make available whenever possible, personnel and facilities to advance and enhance the performing arts on the community level; to collaborate with the established agencies to develop new mean for the support and encouragement of community efforts in the performing arts.
- II. MEMBERSHIP
- A. Membership in the Section shall generally include persons residing in the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and parts of Wisconsin. Anyone interested in Section activities and/or publications may become a member of the Section upon the payment of correct dues.
B. The classifications of membership in the Northern Boundary Section of USITT shall be: Student, Individual, Organization, Sustaining, and Contributing.
C. The membership of the Section may access dues as they deem necessary. Such dues are in addition to the national dues. The Section dues will be determined by the membership at a regular meeting of the Section.
D. Payment of dues, the amount to be set by members of the Section, shall be made on an annual basis running October 1 through September 30.
E. Failure of a member to pay dues within sixty (60) days after the date due shall result in suspension of rights of membership in the Section, and, if such dues are not paid within ninety (90) days after the due date, membership in the Section shall cease and terminate. Failure of a member to pay Section dues shall not affect the member's status with the national organization.
F. The Board of Directors shall be authorized to make other assessments for activities as the membership deems necessary.
- III. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
- A. The annual meeting of the members of the Section shall be held at a place designated by the Board of Directors, within the calendar year, for the induction of newly-elected officers and transaction of such other business as may come before the members. Written notice of the place of the annual meeting shall be given by the Secretary to each member, either personally or by mail, not less than thirty (30) days before the meeting.
B. Special meetings of the member of the Section may be called at any time by the Chair of the Section or by a majority of the Board of Directors, or upon the filing of a written request for such a meeting by five percent (5%) of the membership with the Secretary. Upon the calling any any special meeting, the Secretary of the Section shall give notice of such special meeting to each member, either personally or by mail, stating the time, place and purpose thereof, not less than thirty (30) days before the meeting.
C. At all meetings of the members, ten percent (10%) of all voting members, represented in person, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.
D. At all meetings of the members, each voting member present (student, individual or organizational, regardless of the size of the organization) shall be entitled to one vote. All questions except the amendment of the By-Laws and other matters specifically regulated shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast.
- A. The Officers of the Section shall be elected for three-year terms by a simple majority of those voting. Members of the Section will be mailed a printed ballot sixty (60) days prior to January 15 which is the beginning of the new term. Any officers may be removed at any time by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the membership of the Section.
Candidates for office shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of two member of the Board of Directors, selected by the Board of Directors, and three members elected by the members from the membership at large. Candidates for member-at-large positions should be drawn from the following geographic areas of the Section: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Metro.
Additional candidates may be placed in nomination by a letter to the Secretary of the Section at least two weeks prior to the mailing of the ballots. Such a written nomination must have signatures of at least two members of the Section in good standing.
Vacancies among officers shall be filled by appointment by a majority vote of the remaining officers.
B. The Chair shall preside at meetings and shall take general charge of the activities of the Section. He/she shall be responsible for periodic reports to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the USITT as stipulated in the USITT By-Laws. His/her duties include general administrative responsibilities, appointments to standing, and ad hoc committees and dealings with other organizations.
C. The Vice-Chairs shall, in the absence or incapacity of the Chair, perform all of the functions of the Chair, and shall also perform such duties as may be assigned tot hem by the By-Laws or by the Chair. There shall be two Vice-Chairs, and the first listed shall be deemed senior. The Senior Vice-Chair is considered the Chair-Elect and will stand-in for the Chair in case of absence or leave. He/she will also oversee the development of program activities for the Section (including but not limited to workshops, seminars, lectures, and the like). He/she will also work closely with all commissioners. The Senior Vice-Chair will also Chair the Nominating Committee. The Junior Vice-Chair will oversee all publications connected with the Section. His/her responsibilities include working with all commissioners and the Editor of the Newsletter (If not one and the same).
D. The Secretary shall be responsible for the Section Roster of members, notifying the members of regular and special meetings. He/she shall act as Secretary at all meetings and shall keep minutes of meetings of the Section Board of Directors. He/She shall have charge of the minute books of the Section and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned by the By-Laws and the Chair. The Secretary shall review with the Treasurer any contracts entered into by the Section. He/She is responsible for the Articles of Incorporation and the Section By-Laws.
E. The Treasurer shall have care and custody of the funds of the Section and shall deposit such funds in the name of the Section in such bank and/or trust companies as are designated by the Board of Directors of the Section. He/She shall collect and receive all due charges and other moneys payable to the Section. He/She shall keep proper books and records showing receipts and expenditures of the Section. All disbursements are approved jointly by the Chair and the Treasurer, and all checks are co-signed by the Chair and the Treasurer.
- V. COMMISSIONS
- A. The Commissions for Northern Boundary Section of USITT shall be those deemed necessary or advantageous by the Section Chair and/or the Board of Directors.
Commissioners and any vacancies shall be appointed by the Section Chair with majority approval of the Board of Directors. Commissioners hold voting privilege on the Board. The membership shall be notified of the appointments within thirty (30) days after the appointments are made. The commissions are established so that various specific areas in our industry can receive special focus and attention. It is the responsibility of the Commissioners to actively pursue this goal. These responsibilities may include creating, leading, and/or organizing workshops, seminars, lectures, master classes, etc., in each respective area. The Commissioners will be responsible for submittal of pertinent information to the Section Newsletter. The Commissioners will work in conjunction with the Senior Vice-Chair for programming and the Junior Vice-Chair for publications.
- VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- A. The Board of Directors shall consist of the five officers (Chair, two Vice-Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer), the four Commissioners appointed by the Chair, and five (5) members elected by the membership at large. Officers and members-at-large on the Board are elected from the Section under procedures detailed in Section IV.A. Commissioners are appointed by the Chair under procedures detailed in Section V. Each member of the Board is entitled to one vote. The Board shall approve the agenda of any regular or special meetings of the Section.
B. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as may be fixed by a majority of the Board of Directors.
C. The Board of Directors shall be empowered to carry on all regular business, and, in all such matters, it shall be guided in good faith by policies previously established by the Section and by USITT.
D. Two officers, one of whom must be the Section Chair or Senior Vice-Chair, two Commissioners, and one of the elected members-at-large shall constitute a quorum of the Board.
E. The elected member-at-large is responsible for representing the full membership at all Board meetings and to express their concerns.
- VII. CONTRACTS, CHECKS, AND NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS
- A. All contracts and agreements, obligations, and other negotiable instruments and endorsements thereof shall be signed by the Section Chair.
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- VIII. AMENDMENTS
- A. Any amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed by either the Board or at any regular or special meeting of the Section in the following manner: Any proposal for such amendment shall be subscribed to in writing by not fewer than five percent (5%) of the member of the Section and filed with the Secretary. Upon such filing, the Secretary shall notify the membership of the Section of the proposal in the next regular announcement together with notice stating the time and place of the meeting to consider such amendment on a date not less than ten (10) and not more than thirty (30) days following the date of such mailing.
B. An amendment shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the membership present at the meeting called to consider the adoption thereof; or by an affirmative vote of two-thirds or written ballots sent tot he membership of the Section. The Board of Directors shall determine which method shall be used. The results shall be tabulated within one month after the mailing of the ballots.
C. The Secretary shall mail a copy of each amendment as soon as practicable to each member of the Section and to the Secretary and Vice-President for Relations of the USITT Corporation.
- IX. STANDING COMMITTEES
- A. The Standing Committees for the Northern Boundary Section shall be:
A. Membership
B. Nominations
C. Publications/Technical InformationStanding Committee Chairs and any vacancies shall be appointed by the Section Chair with majority approval of the Board of Directors. The membership shall be notified of the appointments within thirty (30) days after the appointments are made.
- X. DISSOLUTION
- A. In the event of dissolution of this Corporation, all assets remaining after payment of all obligations shall be distributed exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes to organizations organized and operated exclusively for such purposes and exempt from Federal Income Tax under the provision of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
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Adopted: January 1, 1983
Amended: January 15, 1984
Amended: February 1, 1985
Amended: January 15, 1988
Amended: September 6, 1991
Amended: October 1, 1996
Amended: February 12, 2002
