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Spartanburg Chapter By-Laws

CHAPTER BY-LAWS


Article I


NAME AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1.
The name of this organization shall be the Spartanburg Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Section 2.
The Mission of the American Guild of Organists is to enrich lives through organ and choral music. To achieve this, we:
  • Encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music;
  • Inspire, educate, and offer certification for organists and choral conductors;
  • Provide networking, fellowship, and mutual support;
  • Nurture future generations of organists;
  • Promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles; and
  • Engage wider audiences with organ and choral music.

 

Article II


MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.
The membership of the Spartanburg Chapter shall be divided into two classes: Voting and Non-Voting. The Voting Members shall consist of General Members and Honorary Members. The Non-Voting Members shall be called Chapter Friends.
 
A. General Members, classified as Regular, Special (65 and over or disabled), Young Organists (under 30), and Dual, shall participate in all phases of Chapter work, hold an office, and have voting privileges.
 
B. Honorary Members shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and elected by the Chapter. Honorary Members shall have all the privileges of General Members.
 
C. Chapter Friends may receive Chapter publications and participate in all Chapter activities with the exception of voting and holding an office.
 
Section 2.
Membership shall be open to all individuals who support the purposes of the American Guild of Organists. An examination is not required for membership.

 

Article III


OFFICERS

Section 1.
The Officers shall be Dean, Sub-Dean, Secretary, and Treasurer. The office of Chaplain shall be appointive, to be filled at the discretion of the Dean. These officers along with an AGO Young Organist Representative shall constitute the Executive Committee with the immediate past Dean serving as an ex officio member and the Chaplain serving as a member at large. Additional members at large may be elected as deemed necessary to serve on the Ex. Committee.
 
Section 2.
The Officers shall be elected to serve a two-year term. In the event of a vacancy in any office the Dean shall nominate, for appointment by the Executive Committee, a person to fill the position for the remainder of the term.
 
Section 3.
In January of the election year, a nominating committee shall be appointed by the Dean with the approval of the Executive Committee. The slate shall be announced in March. The elections shall be in April, and the Officers installed in May.
 
Section 4.
The Standing Committees shall consist of History, Publicity, Program, Professional Concerns, Membership, Publications, Communications, Hospitality, and Scholarships. In addition to these Committees the Dean may appoint individuals to specific positions to help, such as, Webmaster and Parliamentarian. Other Chapter positions and committees may be created by the Dean with the approval of the Executive Committee.
 
Section 5.
 
A. The Dean shall be the chief executive officer and shall have the following responsibilities:
      a. Preside at all meetings of the Chapter and the Executive Committee, and shall be ex-officio member of all standing and special committees of the Chapter, excluding the Nominating Committee.
      b. Nominate the Chairpersons of all standing committees and specific positions for appointment by the Executive Committee
      c. Nominate, for appointment by the Executive Committee, a person or persons to fill vacancies that may occur.
      d. Supervise the preparation of the Yearbook for publication.
      e. Coordinate with the Sub-Dean all Chapter activities and committees as necessary.
 
B. The Sub-Dean, in the absence of the Dean, shall exercise all the power and perform all the duties of the Dean of the Chapter. The Sub-Dean shall assist the Dean in any Chapter activities and may serve as Director of Programs.
 
C. The Secretary shall have custody of the records of the Chapter and shall have the following responsibilities:
     a. Record the minutes of the meetings of the Chapter and of the Executive Committee. The Minutes shall include members and visitors present and copies of reports from Committees.
     b. Provide copies of the Minutes for the Dean no later than two weeks prior to the next scheduled meeting.
     c. Keep lists of members of the Chapter in their respective categories.
     d. Send necessary correspondence.
     e. Transfer records to the Historian at the end of the term.
 
D. The Treasurer shall have supervision of all financial records of the Chapter and, as such, have the following responsibilities:
     a. Keep full and accurate accounts of the receipts and disbursements of the Chapter.
     b. Cause all moneys and credits to be deposited in the name and to the credit of the chapter.
     c. Prepare and submit reports or statements of the Chapter’s finances at each scheduled meeting.
     d. Submit all financial records to the auditor(s) at the end of the fiscal year.
     e. Submit fiscal report to the membership.

 

Article IV

MEETINGS

Section 1.
The Chapter shall meet as determined by the Executive Committee, September through May.

Section 2.
The Executive Committee shall meet as deemed necessary by the Dean. Regular attendance is expected at Executive Committee meetings. Committee Chairpersons may attend when invited by the Dean.

Section 3.
A Quorum shall consist of twenty-five percent of voting members present at any regularly scheduled meeting of the Chapter.

 

Article V

Requests for expenditure of chapter funds for special events or for outside speakers and performers shall first be submitted to the Executive Committee for consideration of appropriateness and availability of resources. Requests shall include specific details which include date, location, persons to be involved, staffing, and cost. The executive Committee will then present its recommendations on such requests to the chapter for discussion and vote.

 

Article VI

These Bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meetings of the Chapter by a two-thirds vote of members present, provided that previous notice of the meeting and the amendment was given to all members at least two weeks in advance.


Revised August, 2000 
Updated October, 2000
Updated September, 2002
Revised January, 2009
Revised September, 2011
Revised September, 2014