Constitution for the
Tennessee Collegiate Chapter of MENC:
The National Association for Music Education
Preamble
Our desire is to become active members of the MENC Collegiate Chapter of the state of Tennessee. We as members have the opportunity to enjoy MENC Collegiate membership, to share its responsibilities, and to increase interest, knowledge, and productivity in all areas of music education.
- Article I – Name and Affiliation
- Section 1
This chapter shall be known as the Tennessee Collegiate Chapter of MENC: The National Association for Music Education.
- Section 2
This chapter shall have an affiliated relationship with all of the collegiate chapters of the state of Tennessee.
- Article II – Purpose
- It shall be the purpose of this organization to:
- Provide the opportunity to have contact with collegiate members from other schools;
- Make available to members opportunities for professional development;
- Acquaint students with the privileges and responsibilities of the music education profession;
- Provide all members with the opportunity to become acquainted with leaders in the music education profession through participation in programs, demonstrations, discussions, and workshops;
- Facilitate opportunities for development for state collegiate chapters.
- Article III – Membership Eligibility and Benefits
- Section 1
Membership shall be open to any student who is a member of a Tennessee collegiate chapter and who is not employed full time in the field of music education.
- Section 2
Any member of this chapter may participate in the activities carried on by this Tennessee collegiate chapter and by MENC, including its divisions and the federated state associations.
- Article IV – Finance
- Section 1
Students are eligible for their membership in the Tennessee CMENC chapter when proper national dues are sent to the MENC National Office. There are no additional dues for membership in the state chapter.
- Section 2
The State Chapter Advisor may request funding from TMEA for the upcoming school year.
- Article V – Executive Council
- Section 1
Management of this chapter is the responsibility of the Executive Council, which shall consist of the officers of this chapter and the State Chapter Advisor as an ex officio
(non-voting) member. The Executive Council is upheld by this constitution.
- Section 2
The Executive Council shall maintain communication between regular meetings of the chapter to organize and plan future activities.
- Section 3
The Executive Council shall have the power to make necessary decisions in all matters not specifically acted upon by the group.
- Article VI – State Chapter Advisor
- Section 1
There shall be a State Chapter Advisor who is a member of the music education faculty at a Tennessee college or university and who is a member of MENC. The State Chapter Advisor shall serve as ex officio
(non-voting) on the Executive Council. The Tennessee Music Education Association Executive Committee will appoint this advisor.
- Section 2
The State Chapter Advisor shall:
- Serve as a member of the executive council with overruling and final veto of any actions that require an executive council vote.
- Act as a representative of MENC to the students: inform the students of the nature, purpose, and function of MENC; encourage interest and participation of students in MENC activities; and act as a liaison with the various levels of MENC;
- Serve as an advisor and guide in formulation of chapter programs;
- Serve as a resource person;
- Encourage the development of student initiative, leadership, and imagination, to build a sense of responsibility on the part of students;
- Help officers in fulfilling their respective duties, including the maintenance of chapter records;
- Meet with chapter officers to help with planning and implementing chapter activities;
- Promote professional attitudes among chapter members;
- Work for support of the chapter among college music faculty and present yearly chapter funding requests to the TMEA Board of Directors;
- Represent the interests of the chapter within the state and at TMEA and MENC functions;
- Advocate chapter involvement among music education students;
- May help reinstate collegiate chapters without a current CMENC program.
- Article VII – State Officers
- Section 1
The officers of this chapter shall be three (3) Regional Presidents (East, Middle, and West), Vice President/Public Relations Officer, and Secretary/Treasurer. These officers will be considered the Executive Council.
- Section 2
Any candidate for office shall have been a member of their respective local Collegiate Music Educators Conference chapter (to include the Tennessee Collegiate Chapter of MENC) for at least one full year prior to nomination.
- Section 3
Each officer shall assume his/her office in June and serve throughout the following academic year.
- Section 4
In the event that a vacancy occurs in the office of East Tennessee Regional President, Middle Tennessee Regional President, or West Tennessee Regional President, the region may nominate and elect a replacement by electronic vote in a special election in collaboration with the State Advisor and the other two regional Presidents.
- Section 5
It is the duty of at least one state officer to represent the Tennessee Chapter at the National biennial In-Service Conference of MENC or, on the off years, the Southern Division MENC Conference.
- Article VIII – Duties of Officers
- Section 1
It is the duty of the Regional Presidents to:
- Represent Tennessee CMENC at official functions, including but not limited to the Tennessee Music Education Association Council as a non-voting member and state officer meetings;
- Serve as liaison with all state CMENC chapters;
- Assist state officers in their duties;
- Collaborate with the other Regional Presidents and the Vice President to write and submit a quarterly article for the Tennessee Musician, the official publication of the Tennessee Music Education Association;
- Organize and preside at TMEA and CMENC state and regional meetings;
- Maintain contact with the chapters in his/her respective regions;
- Meet monthly with the state advisor to develop strategies for their respective regions.
- Section 2
It is the duty of the Vice President/Public Relations Officer to:
- Attend state meetings for all CMENC members;
- Assist the Regional Presidents with duties upon request;
- Assist the State Advisor in: contacting and maintaining resources with and among all state chapters, as well as marketing and communication duties with and among all state chapters;
- Maintain the TN-CMENC website;
- Collaborate with the Regional Presidents to write and submit a quarterly article for the Tennessee Musician, the official publication of the Tennessee Music Education Association.
- Section 3
It is the duty of the Secretary/Treasurer to:
- Keep in touch with the state’s chapters;
- Maintain close connection with the MENC national office;
- Keep minutes of all official meetings;
- Keep a current roll of membership;
- Be responsible for and account for the collection of any monies and/or payment of any debts of the organization.
- Article IX – Election of Officers
- Section 1
Election of officers for the following academic year (June to May) shall be held at the CMENC business meeting during the annual TMEA conference.
- Section 2
Nominations should be sent to the State Advisor at least two weeks prior to the annual business meeting. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor at the meeting; however, persons nominated from the floor must be present to accept nomination.
- Section 3
Any Tennessee CMENC member in good standing is qualified to vote in the election of state officers.
- Section 4
The candidate receiving the largest number of votes will be elected to an office. Results will be announced after the votes are tallied.
- Article X – Recall
- Section 1
All officers are subject to recall by a signed petition of at least 51 percent of the membership of the state chapter.
- Section 2
Should a recall election occur, Article VII, Section 4, shall still apply.
- Article XI – Committees
- The Presidents shall have the power to appoint special committees with the approval of the Executive Council.
- Article XII – Meetings
- Section 1
There shall be at least one regular meeting of this chapter per year.
- Section 2
The Executive Council or the State Chapter Advisor may call special meetings as necessary.
- Section 3
Meetings will be administered according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
- Article XIII – Amendments
- Section 1
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of members in attendance at the annual business meeting.
- Section 2
All collegiate chapters shall receive notice of proposed amendments one month prior to the meeting.
APPROVED BY THE MEMBERSHIP ON MARCH 31, 2006.