Composition Club Constitution

Article I

Name:

Section 1:This organization shall be known as the Composition Club.

Article II

Purpose:

Section 1:The Composition Club was created for Westfield State University composers to have opportunities for their works to be performed, to inspire would-be composers, to encourage other students working with composers, and to generate interest in both student and faculty composers at the college. The club will work towards the ideals by holding monthly concerts featuring new works, each academic semester will raise money and use school funding to host a large-scale concert featuring student and faculty works, played and sung by an orchestra and choir assembled by Composition Club. Also, the Club will invite prominent classical composers to give master classes and lectures at Westfield State University and hold contests among the students. All members of the Club agree to work towards the betterment of Westfield State University’s composers, relations between composers, relations between composers and music students, faculty composers and the Music Department itself.

Article III

Membership:

Section 1:Membership shall be open to all full-time and part-time undergraduate students of Westfield State University who have paid their student activities fee for the current academic semester.

Section 2:Members are considered to be active if they attend and participate in 3 of the club’s meetings and/or activities.

Section 3: All members are allowed to vote in elections and participate in juries.

Article IV

Juries:

Section 1: The juries will be selected on a volunteer basis. Jurors have the responsibility of making sure that the music being performed is appropriate in taste for an academic setting. The juries will make decisions based on a majority vote.

Article V

Concerts:

Section 1:The Composition Club embraces a wide variety of musical styles. There will be concerts held for each of these styles and each will be represented, most with an emphasis on “classical” music.

Section 2:Submissions for concerts other than “open mic” concerts must pass through the panel of jurors. The president may veto any decision once, but the decision will be upheld with two-thirds (2/3) majority vote.

Article VI

Officers:

Section 1:The officers include the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and the Immediate Past President.

Section A:The President supervises the operation of the club, manages sustainable club membership, organizes meeting schedules and events such as concerts, fundraisers or lectures to help the club reach its objectives. The President is also responsible for maintain the club image throughout the meetings, concerts, fundraisers, lectures and other functions, as well as record-keeping, publicity, and correspondence.

The Vice President aides the president and assumes any of the above responsibilities as needed.

The Treasurer is responsible for the club’s financial health. The treasurer will aid in the organization of fundraisers and preside over the accounts of the club, and will be responsible for all budgets, real and projected.
The Immediate Past President, if still active in the club, is responsible for the education of the current president and therefore the continuation of the club.

Section B:The officers shall be selected each academic semester on the third meeting of the Composition Club.

Section C:Anyone is eligible to hold any office, except a student in their last academic semester.

Section D:The term of office for all officers is one academic semester.

Article VII

Advisors:

Section 1:Advisors will be selected by the president. Advisors must be employees of the Westfield State University.

Section 2:The duties of the advisor are to know of and have a chance to benefit from the Club. Other duties are lobbying for the Club’s functions, such as fundraisers, concerts and lectures, and school funds towards the Club, and fairly judging any student competitions that might occur.

Section 3:This section should detail who may call special meetings, if they are needed.

Article VIII

Elections:

Section 1:Anyone can nominate officers. Officers will be nominating during the first Three (3) meeting periods and members have a last chance to nominate officers the day of election. Officers shall be nominated based on seriousness of intent in composition.

Section 2:The votes will be cast by anonymous ballot and will be tallied by the advisor(s).

Section 3:No election may be held if there in not a quorum of fifty percent (50%) of the Composition Club members, plus one (1), present at the meeting.

Section 4:In the event of a tie, the advisor will make an executive decision.

Article IX

Meetings:

Section 1:The club will meet no less than once a week while classes are in session.

Section 2:The officers may hold any separate meetings with only the officers.

Section 3:Any of the officers may call special meetings if needed.

Article X

Vacancies:

Section 1:If the office of the president is vacated, the vice president shall assume the president’s duties until the president can re-assume command. In the case the vice president’s office is vacated, the treasure will assume command, and so forth. If any position is left empty then either the president or presiding official may appoint a new office or a special election may be held.

Section 2:If the advisor leaves, the president will choose a new advisor.

Article XI

Amending Procedure:

Section 1:A three-quarters (3/4) majority vote of the voting members in the club as well as approval by the Rules and Regulations committee of the Student Government Association may amend this constitution.

Article XII

Removal from Office:

Section 1:If an officer is failing to perform their duties, the Club members may impeach them with a three-quarters (3/4) majority vote.

Section 2:If an advisor is failing to perform their duties, the Club members may impeach them with a three-quarters (3/4) majority vote.