acaOWLETTES A Capella Club Constitution

Article I

Name:

This organization shall be known as the acaOWLETTES A Capella Treble Club.

Article II

Purpose:

This club was created in order to provide students the opportunity to be a part of an A Cappella Treble choir that performs student-arranged 4-6 part harmonic pieces. This group is open to full time students with treble singing voices. We will perform both on and off campus and we will attend competitions.

Article III

Membership:

Section I: Membership shall be open to all full time undergraduate students of the Westfield State University who have paid their student activities fee for the current semester. Students become members by an audition process held at the start of each semester. The audition process consists of a group piece learned during the audition, followed by a solo piece performed by each individual. Membership or group members are determined after an audition process held by the group’s Director and Manager. The group consists of fifteen (15)- eighteen (18) members and one (1) beat boxer, but may be adjusted as necessary by the Director and Manager.

Section II: Members are considered to be active if they are chosen by the Director and Manager after the audition process and if they attend and participate in the clubs meetings and activities.

Article IV

Officers:

Section I: The officers that will oversee and run this group are the Director and the Manager.

Section II: The Director- The job of the director is to conduct and teach all pieces of the music as well as arranging music when necessary, and assist the manager in logistical and administrative duties.

The Manager- The job of the manager involves photocopying and keeping all music, as well as taking attendance each rehearsal, addressing and sending any emails, and dealing with other logistical and administrative duties.

Section III: The officers of this club are selected by the previous semesters Director and Manager at their own discretion.

Section IV: Any person who has been a member of acaOWLETTES for at least one (1) full semester is eligible to be chosen to fill a position of an officer.

Section V: The term of office for each officer is held until she/he graduates from Westfield State University.

Section VI: Under the circumstances of an officer not performing their duties, an officer may be removed from their position with a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote for their removal.

Article V

Advisor(s):

Section I: One (1) advisor will be selected by the club’s Director and Manager and will be a faculty member, staff member or librarian of Westfield State University.

Section II: The duties of the advisor are to briefly oversee the work done by the group in at least one rehearsal per academic semester, as well as the final product at dress rehearsal. An advisor with some musical background is an advantage, but not a necessity.

Section III: Under the circumstances of an advisor not performing their duty, an advisor may be removed from their position with a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote for their removal.

Article VI

Meetings:

Section I: The times and places of rehearsal are able to change based on the Director and Manager. The club will meet twice a week for one and a half (1.5) to two (2) hours.

Section II: The officers may hold separate meetings with only the officers or meetings without the advisor as necessary.

Article VII

Amending Procedure:

Section I: This constitution may be amended by any current position holding officer in the club and if approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the club when quorum has been obtained by the Rules and Regulations Committee of the Student Government Association.

Article VIII

Recognition of Safety and Waiver of Liability:

Section 1:

  1. The Student Government Association (herein, SGA) and this Club, acaOwlettes, recognize that the overall safety and wellbeing of its Club members is a priority function of the Club.
  2. This Club (named above) is only authorized to conduct its activities in a designated University approved location such as one provided on campus grounds or at a recognized location that is designed or approved for this Club’s specific activities.
  3. Each Club member, as a material condition of membership, understands, accepts and agrees that his/her participation in this Club is voluntary and that he/she voluntarily assumes all risks and liabilities associated with his/her participation. Each Club member, by accepting membership, agrees to hold the SGA harmless from and indemnify the SGA against any and all liability, including, but not limited to physical, financial, emotional and property damage claims, whether sustained or inflicted, in connection with or in any way related to the participant’s participation in the Club.
  4. Once approved the SGA acts as an administrative resource for the Club and is not responsible for managing Club activities. The Club must be under proper supervision (by an advisor or coach or certified facility manager) while performing Club activities which may include but are not limited to practices, meetings and competitions.
  5. Any and all injuries, whether incurred or inflicted in connection with Club activity, must be reported to Westfield State University Public Safety (413) - 572-5262 immediately per University reporting procedures. The SGA Parliamentarian or Representative must also be notified of such injury in writing no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the injury occurs. Reports of injuries will be kept by the SGA within the Club’s file.
  6. After a report of such an injury has been made, all Club activities must cease while the cause of the injury is determined and an assessment of the situation occurs. After such determination and assessment by the Rules and Regulations committee, the club may resume its activities only if authorization from the SGA Parliamentarian to resume is issued in writing.

Section 2:

  1. Failure to adhere to these conditions may result in sanctions, up to and including, revoking the Club’s active status as determined by the Rules and Regulations Committee.