BYLAWS
ARTICLE I - Membership
Section 1. Individual membership shall be open to teachers of music in any of its branches. Such membership shall provide the privileges of participating in the activities of the Association, receiving all publications, holding office, and voting.
Section 2. Senior membership shall be open to members reaching an age determined by MTNA. Senior members shall have all the privileges of individual membership at a reduced cost.
Section 3. Student membership shall be open to all students from grade seven through the age of twenty-six (26) currently involved in regular music study. Any student beyond the age of twenty-six (26) who enrolls in a college, university, or conservatory as a full-time music student shall have the option of student membership for a period not to exceed four (4) consecutive years. Student members shall be entitled to attend programs of the Association upon payment of the registration fee and to receive the official Association publication, but shall not have the right to vote, hold office, apply for national certification, or enter students into MTNA competitions.
Section 4. Patron membership shall be open to all persons not professionally engaged in musical activity but who wish to support the Association. Patrons may attend programs of the Association and receive publications but do not have the right to hold office, to vote, to enter students into Association activities, or to apply for certification.
Section 5. Honorary Life membership may be awarded to musicians who have been outstanding in their contributions to the field of teaching or who have contributed in great measure to the activities and success of the Association. Honorary Life members who qualify for individual or senior membership have the rights and privileges of such membership.
ARTICLE II - REVOCATION OF MEMBERSHIP
No person who has been convicted of a crime involving the sexual or other abuse of a person shall be a member of DSMTA. Any accusation that a member of DSMTA has been convicted of a crime of sexual or other abuse shall be reported to the President of DSMTA, who shall immediately report the accusation to the President of MTNA. The MTNA President shall appoint a three person committee to ascertain the validity of the conviction. If the committee substantiates that a person has been convicted of a crime involving sexual or other abuse of a person, the President of MTNA shall immediately terminate the membership and the certification of that person. Any action authorized by the MTNA President in this resolution may be appealed to the Board of Directors of MTNA.
Any membership terminated under this section shall be reinstated upon the filing with the MTNA President of a certified copy of the judgment reversing the conviction.
ARTICLE III - Dues
Section 1. Assessed dues, as determined by the Board, shall be the same for individual and patron members, who are also members of MTNA, which assesses annual dues as well.
Section 2. Annual dues for senior members, who have reached an age determined by MTNA by July 1 of the calendar year in which dues are assessed, and who have been members of MTNA for five consecutive years, shall be one-half of the regular dues. Senior members are also members of MTNA, which assesses annual dues as well.
Section 3. Student members shall pay DSMTA dues as determined by the Board; student members are also members of MTNA, which assesses annual dues as well.
Section 4. DSMTA dues, MTNA dues, and Local Association dues shall be paid at the same time and credited to the appropriate organization to be used solely for its purposes.
Section 5. Dues must be paid by June 30 if the member’s name is to appear in the DSMTA Directory. Membership shall be terminated if dues are not paid by that date, and a reinstatement fee of $10.00 shall be charged.
ARTICLE IV - Duties of Officers and the Board of Directors
Section 1. The regular term of office shall begin thirty days after the meeting at which elections are held.
Section 2. The president shall preside at meetings of the Association, call and preside at meetings of the Board, appoint standing committees, appoint ad hoc committees as needed, and perform all other duties implied by this title.
Section 3. The president-elect shall assist the president and assume all duties of the president in the absence or incapacity of that officer. This officer shall be in charge of any state conventions or meetings and may chair ad hoc committees.
Section 4. The immediate past president shall serve as parliamentarian and as chairman of the Nominating Committee. This officer shall oversee any relationships with arts education/advocacy groups and may chair ad hoc committees.
Section 5. The vice president for professional activities shall oversee membership, chair the Membership Committee, serve as liaison to any local associations affiliated with DSMTA and, with other chairmen, oversee certification and the Independent Music Teachers Forum.
Section 6. The vice president for student activities shall chair the Student Activities Committee, serve as liaison to any student chapters associated with DSMTA, and, with other chairmen, oversee festivals, competitions, and student records.
Section 7. The vice president for communications shall, with other chairmen, oversee all publications and publicity, including the Handbook/Directory, newsletter, and telephone tree.
Section 8. The secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Association and the Board in legal form, properly preserve them, and mail them promptly to the Board. The secretary shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the president or the Board.
Section 9. The treasurer/chief fiscal officer shall perform the general duties of treasurer, chair the Finance Committee, and oversee liaison to the MTNA Foundation and the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. The treasurer is responsible for the maintenance of proper financial records and for the preparation of an annual report to the Board. Any of these duties may be delegated by the treasurer with the approval of the Board.
Section 10. The Board shall have all powers of the Association to transact any business which comes before the Association between business meetings for which it does not deem a special meeting necessary.
ARTICLE V - Election of Officers
Section 1. The Nominating Committee, a standing committee chaired by the immediate past president, shall consist of an uneven number of members, including one chosen by each Local Association. Any remaining members shall be chosen by the Board.
Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall present the name of one candidate for each office. This slate shall be made known in writing to the members at least two weeks prior to the election. Additional nominations may be made from the floor, if the nominee is eligible and has consented, in which case a written ballot is required. If there are no nominations from the floor, the president shall instruct the secretary to cast a ballot for the election of the slate.
ARTICLE VI - Amendments
Section l. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the active members present at a meeting, or by mail-in ballot, provided a notice of such intended amendment be sent to each active member at least two weeks prior to voting. The results shall be incorporated in the minutes and mail-in ballots shall be retained by the secretary.