Manitowoc Marine Band

Text of By-Laws

 

CHAPTER 1: MEMBERSHIP

 

 

1.1 QUALIFICATIONS:  Any candidate for membership in the Manitowoc Marine Band shall first have passed an evaluation by the examining board of the Manitowoc Marine Band, comprised of the Director, Assistant Director and a qualified section member, proving their ability to play their instrument and shall be of good moral character and shall have shown willingness and desire to join the band and abide by all rules and regulations of the band.  All candidates shall serve a one year probationary period after which time they may then be considered for membership by the Manitowoc Marine Band.  The probationary year shall be considered retroactive to the starting date of membership.  The director has discretion to call tryouts at any time.  Placing of musicians in the band is at the discretion of the Director.

 

1.2

(a)ACTIVE MEMBERS: Any person filling a position of the membership within the organization shall be considered an active member, and as such entitled to all rights and privileges accorded members of the organization.

 

(b)INACTIVE MEMBERS:  Any individual who does not meet the qualifications of 1.1.  These members may rehearse, perform, and build years of service within the organization but are not entitled to the remaining rights and privileges exercised by the Active Membership, support personnel or appointed personnel.  The utilization of Inactive membership at performances shall be left to the discretion of the Director.

 

1.3 MEMBERSHIP RECOGNITION:  All active members and appointed personnel of the Manitowoc Marine Band shall be recognized at five year increments and be specially recognized at twenty-five and fifty years. This recognition will be exercised at our annual banquet.

 

1.4 MEMBERSHIP STATUS:

 

(a) All members shall be required to play all engagements when requested by the director whether such engagements be for gratis or remuneration, unless excused by the director.  Any member violating the section without just cause and notification may jeopardize their membership status.

 

(b) Any member entering the armed services of the United States of America shall retain his or her membership and all rights and privileges until the termination thereof.

 

(c) The date of membership of any member shall be determined as of the date of acceptance, probationary time to be included, and the Vice President of the band shall keep an accurate record of such dates.

               

(d) No person who has lost their membership can be reinstated unless they qualify with Chapter 1.1.

 

(e) If any member presents any actions that are detrimental to the organization, the consequences can include concert(s) suspension, season suspension, or dismissal from the Manitowoc Marine Band to be determined by the Manitowoc Marine Band Board.

 

1.5 LIMITATION OF MEMBERSHIP

               

A) This organization shall be limited to a membership of no more than 62 active members not to include the Director, Assistant Director, and support personal.  Inactive membership under 1.2b may be utilized at the discretion of the director.

               

B) The division of the total membership of the Manitowoc Marine Band shall be divided at the discretion of the Director and shall not exceed the 62 members described in 1.5a.

 

1.6 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE: Order of Events

 

(a) Any complaints or concerns about the Manitowoc Marine Band shall be presented in writing to one current member or all current members of the Manitowoc Marine Band Board with a legible signature.  Any grievances without a signature will be dismissed.  The complaint or concern will be brought to the entire Board to be discussed and a response will be given back within two weeks of receiving the complaint.

 

(b) If response from the Board is not felt to be adequate or satisfactory by the member(s), the member(s) may come before the entire Manitowoc Marine Band Board within two weeks of receiving the Board’s response and present their case verbally.  If this step is still felt to be inadequate or unsatisfactory, said member(s) has the opportunity to resign, which will be immediately accepted by the Board.

                               

 

CHAPTER 2: ELECTIONS

 

2.1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The active members of the organization shall elect Board members.  Any member may be considered a candidate if they fulfill a minimum of two years of ACTIVE membership.

 

2.2 NOTICE:  Active members will be notified at least two weeks prior to each election, notifying said members of the election and of the board positions to be filled.  The election of the Board of Directors shall take place on the first annual meeting of the band and shall be by secret ballot.

 

2.3 RESPONSIBILITY:  The Board of Directors shall be responsible to the corporation for the management of said corporation and the honesty, and integrity of its officers, and further, shall readily render an accounting to any member of said corporation respecting the integrity and honesty of any officers of said corporation.

 

CHAPTER 3: OFFICERS

 

3.1 ELECTIONS:  Within two weeks following the election of the Board of Directors as provided in Chapter 2, the duly elected Board of Directors shall meet and shall elect the various officers of the band.  Each member of the Board will have a 3-year term with no term limitations.  A successful election for an individual will consist on a majority vote in attendance at the meeting.

 

(a) PRESIDENT:  The Board of Directors shall elect from the board a president.  The duties of the president shall be to preside at all meetings of the members of the organization and to have general supervision of the affairs of the corporation.  The President shall also assume the position of the chairperson of the Board.  The President shall also seek out legal representation as needed or requested by the organization.

 

(b) VICE PRESIDENT:  The Board of Directors shall elect from the board a vice president.  The duties of the vice president shall be to discharge the duties of the president in the case of his or her disability or absence for any cause whatever of the president.  The Vice President shall also keep accurate accountability of the membership of the band and roll call at the meetings.

 

(c) SECRETARY:  The Board of Directors shall elect from the Board a secretary.  The duties of the secretary shall be to keep a record of the proceedings of the Board of Directors and membership meetings and to safely and systematically keep all books, papers, records and documents belonging to the corporation.   The secretary shall exercise roll call duties of performances and rehearsals should the treasurer be unable to do so.

 

(d) TREASURER:  The Board of Directors shall appoint a qualified treasurer.  The duties of the treasurer shall be to keep an account of the monies and credits of the corporation, which shall come into his or her hands, and to keep an accurate account of all monies received and dispersed, to render such accounts, statements, and inventories of monies received and dispersed and of monies on hand, as well as all matters pertaining to this office. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to supply roll call for each performance and rehearsal.  If the treasurer cannot be at the concert it is his or her responsibility to make sure the secretary supplies the roll call.  The treasurer shall produce a quarterly summary of transactions for the Board of Directors to review.

 

 

APPOINTED POSITIONS:

 

(a) DIRECTOR:  The Board of Directors shall elect a director.  The duties of the director are to direct the band and assist in the selection of personnel of the band, to accompany the band on all occasions where they are required to perform, to prepare programs for all engagements as well as for rehearsals and to in all ways promote and maintain a harmonious relationship among the members to the band.  The Director is to attend Board meetings as requested.

 

(b) ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:  The Board of Directors shall elect an assistant director.  The duties of the assistant director shall be to discharge the duties of the director in the event of disability or absence for any cause.  It is the responsibility of the Assistant Director to select material for and conduct one concert per season.  The Assistant Director is to attend Board meetings as requested. 

 

(c) LIBRARIAN:  The Board of Directors shall select a librarian.  The duties of the librarian shall be to keep a record of all sheet music owned by the corporation, file and keep an index thereof, distribute music to musicians and make an inventory of all said sheet music and make a report thereof at each annual meeting of the corporation.

 

(d) SOUND CREW:  The Board of Directors shall select a sound crew which will consist of one person.  The duties of the sound crew shall be to keep a record of all sound equipment owned by the corporation, set up and take down sound equipment for all performances, operate the sound equipment at all performances and any rehearsals requested, and make an inventory of all said sound equipment and make a report thereof at each annual meeting of the corporation.

 

3.2 RESPONSIBILTIY:  The Board of Directors shall hold each officer directly responsible to the Board for all monies, property, papers, vouchers and any other thing of value which has been entrusted to such officer.  The Board at its discretion may authorize or require any office to be bonded on a sum not to exceed the value of such officer’s trust.

 

3.3 DUAL CAPACITY OF OFFICERS:  The Board of Directors may elect one person to fill one or more offices so long as such offices are not conflicting, but one person shall not fill the offices of president and vice president, secretary and treasurer.  No money handling officers or Board members of the Manitowoc Marine Band organization can hold a Board or officer position on the Marine Band Alliance.

 


 

CHAPTER 4: COMMITTEES

 

Band members may volunteer for committees.  The Board of Directors shall appoint prospective members to the following committees.  The members of the committee will elect the chairperson upon the committee’s discretion.  Membership on a committee is for the term of one year.

 

COMMITTEES OF THE MANITOWOC MARINE BAND

 

Auditing Committee:  This committee is comprised of the Board of Directors and the treasure.  The duties of this committee are to audit the books of the treasure on a quarterly basis.

 

Nomination Committee:  This committee is comprised of the Board of Directors.  The duties of this committee are to contact eligible members from active membership to fulfill vacant Board positions and committee positions.

 

Historian:  The duties of the historian are to collect press releases about the band and keep the scrapbook up to date.

 

Newsletter Committee:  The duties of this committee are to gather newsworthy information to publish in a newsletter periodically at their discretion during the year for current members of the organization.

 

Publicity Committee:  The duties of this committee are to adequately publicize all events and engagements of the band.  This committee should work closely with the website committee for maximum exposure.

 

Sick Committee:  The duties of this committee are to visit and encourage any sick member of the band and report the sickness or death of any member either life or active to the president of the corporation.  It shall also be the duty of the chairperson of the sick committee to organize a committee to attend funerals.

 

Web Site Committee:  The duties of this committee are to keep the web site updated by posting all pertinent information of the band and performances.  This committee is to work closely with the publicity committee.

 

 

CHAPTER 5: REHEARSALS

 

5.1  LOCATION AND TIME:  The location and time of rehearsals will be set by the director and brought before the membership for approval.

 

5.2 LENGTH:  The length of rehearsals shall be determined by the director and may be varied in accordance with the needs of such rehearsal.  The director may authorize any additional rehearsal, which he deems necessary.

 

5.3 CONDUCT:  At all rehearsals the director or in his absence the assistant director shall have complete authority and shall receive the respect and continuous attention of all members.  The decision of the director shall in no wise be questioned nor shall his authority in any wise be limited.  The programs to be rehearsed shall be selected by the director and his decision shall be considered final in all aspects.

 

5.4  ABSENCE:  All active members will be required to attend all scheduled rehearsals.  It is asked that if you are going to miss a rehearsal you need to notify the director.  Some exceptions may apply, but will need to be authorized by the director.  Failure to comply will result in dismissal from the organization.

 

CHAPTER 6: ENGAGEMENTS

 

6.1 PERFORMANCES:  All performances and all contracts for performance or other means of binding the organization shall be made through the director and no other member.  It shall be the duty of the director to safeguard any change of conflicting performance.

 

6.2 PAY SCHEDULE:  The schedule of payment per member and per band shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

6.3 GRATIS ENGAGEMENTS:  All gratis engagements will be at the discretion of the director and the band membership and be noted on the schedule.

 

CHAPTER 7: MEETINGS

 

7.1 CORPORATION MEETINGS:  The president shall call at least two meetings annually, the first being the regular annual meeting held when the funds have been dispersed by the city of Manitowoc, and the second to wrap up the year when performances are completed.  The president may call other special meetings, as the president deems necessary.

 

7.2 ORDER OF BUSINESS:  At all meetings the president shall preside and the order of business and proceedings shall follow the Robert’s Rules of Order.  A minimum of 50% of the Board and officers, and active members (any number) in attendance at the meeting shall constitute as quorum.  People unable to attend may vote proxy by written letter or email.  This must be sent to anyone on the Board of said organization

 

7.3  LOCATION OF MEETING:  All meetings shall be held at the regular place of rehearsal, unless a Board member notifies all members at least two weeks prior to such meeting where such meeting will be held.

 

CHAPTER 8. PROPERTY

 

All property shall be under the direction of the Marine Band Alliance.

 

8.1 DEBTS:  All usual and customary bills for supplies, property, or for any other nature, incurred for the benefit of the corporation shall be paid by the treasurer.  Once a particular budget item has been expelled or in the occurrence of any unusual purchases, members need to go to the Board of Directors before any request can be made to the Marine Band Alliance.

 

8.2 DONATIONS:  Donations to the corporation may be received only by a member of the Board of Directors, an officer of the corporation or the Director.  Said donation shall be presented to the Marine Band Alliance.

 


 

CHAPTER 9. AMENDMENTS

 

9.1 Amendments to these by-laws or repeal of any by-lay may be made by a written petition presented to the secretary at lease one week previous to any meeting.  The secretary shall then present such petition to the organization to be voted upon at the following meeting by the active members.  No amendment or repeals shall be voted unless each active member be notified at least 10 days before such meeting.

 

9.2  All amendments or repeals of these by-laws must be passed by a majority vote of the active members of the organization.

 

                Adopted the 4th day of October, A.D., 1949.

                Amended the 10th day of January, A.D., 1950.

                Amended the 13th day of June, A.D., 1989.

                Amended the 16th day of February, A.D., 1993.

                Amended the 10th day of January, A.D., 1995.

                Amended the 9th day of June, A.D., 2009.

 

 

SIGNED:

Grep Knipp: President ________________________________________________________

Ann Marie Kulas, Vice President ________________________________________________

Michelle Freiberg, Secretary ______________________________________________________

Don Duchon, Board Member ___________________________________________________

Stephanie Kulas, Board Member ________________________________________________

Lisa Freiberg, Board Member ______________________________________________

Nick Boury, Board Member _____________________________________________________