RINATS BYLAWS

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF SINGING, INC.
RHODE ISLAND CHAPTER

BY-LAWS as amended July 2014; passed by Chapter Vote September 2014

ARTICLE I – NAME
As chartered in Rhode Island by the Executive Committee of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc., and subject to its By-Laws, the name of this organization is the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSES AND CODE OF ETHICS
The Rhode Island Chapter adopts fully the stated purposes of the National Association, which are: To encourage the highest standards of the vocal art and of the ethical principles on the teaching of singing; and to promote vocal education and research at all levels, both for the enrichment of the general public and for the professional advancement of the talented. The Rhode Island Chapter, as an organization, subscribes without reservation to the CODE OF ETHICS, adherence to which is one of the conditions of individual membership in the National Association.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
All teachers of singing who have been accepted by the National Association into full or emeritus membership, and who reside in the geographical area which the Rhode Island Chapter has been chartered or otherwise encouraged to serve, are immediately eligible for membership in the Chapter; however, such Chapter membership is not obligatory on the part of the individual. Chapter membership will be terminated when a member resigns from or is dropped from membership in the National Association. (See also Article VII)

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
Chapter officers shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, to be known as the Board of Directors. The term of office shall be two years.

The PRESIDENT shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter and present such matters as may properly come before the meeting.

The VICE PRESIDENT shall serve as Program Chairperson and assist the President in his/her duties, presiding at meetings when the President is absent. None of the FOUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS shall serve consecutively for more than two terms except in the case that the office would be unfilled unless the current officer is voted in by the membership for an additional term.

The SECRETARY shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings, distributing copies to the members for approval before the next meeting, as well as conducting necessary correspondence. Unless another Chapter member is designated for this task, the Secretary will submit Chapter news, as necessary, for each issue of INTER NOS in conformity with published deadline dates. At the end of each term of office, the secretary will submit in written form a report of the Chapter’s activities. Elections of Chapter officers shall be immediately reported to the National Office.

The TREASURER shall keep an accurate account of the finances of the Chapter, send statements and receive payments of Chapter dues, and pay all approved bills of the Chapter. Yearly the Treasurer will submit in written form to the National Office the Annual Chapter Financial Report.

The BOARD OF DIRECTORS shall outline programs; direct the policy, activity, and growth of the chapter; secure speakers and other talent for the meetings; and promote membership in the Chapter in accordance with the membership regulations established by the National Association. Special officers, committees, or chairpersons may be appointed by the President to serve such temporary capacities as occasions may demand. Any administrative officer, whether elected or appointed, shall cease to hold office upon termination of his/her membership in the National Association. Any elected officer may be removed from office, upon due cause, by two-thirds vote of the Chapter membership.

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS
There shall be at least four (4) meetings of the Chapter each year. A meeting may consist of a program and/or a business meeting with an actual agenda. Announcement of meetings with proposed agenda and/or program will be emailed to Chapter members at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of each meeting. Chapter meetings may be called by the President or by any segment of the membership, provided in the latter instance that Chapter officers and the remainder of the Chapter membership are notified at least fourteen (14) days in advance of such a meeting.

ARTICLE VI – ELECTIONS AND QUORUM
By April 1 of each year, the President, in consultation with the Board of Directors, will appoint a nominations committee to compile a slate of officers for election. The slate will consist of voting for President and Secretary on Even Years and VP and Treasurer on Odd Years. The nomination committee will accept nominations from any member in good standing until May 1 of that same year. By May 7 of that same year, a ballot will be provided to all members in good standing. Ballots must be returned by May 31 of that same year. Email ballots will be acceptable. Officers elected will take office as of June 1 of that year and will serve for two years. A quorum shall consist of twenty five percent (25%) of the total membership, or in the absence of that number of members, a vote may be taken on an issue, provided that proper notification of the meeting and the agenda have been made to the total membership, and carried by two thirds of the members present. At any regular meeting, each member in good standing shall be entitled to vote in person or by written proxy on any motion or question properly brought before the Chapter.

ARTICLE VII – DUES AND ASSESSMENTS
The annual Chapter dues for Full, Associate, Emeritus and Affiliate members will be determined by a majority vote of the Annual meeting and are paid at the same time a member’s National Dues are paid. Any proposed change in the amount of the annual dues will be announced and discussed at any meeting and included in the minutes of the meeting prior to the Annual meeting. Assessments over and above the annual dues may be made for special events necessitating unusual expenditures only where such a motion is entertained at a meeting where a quorum is present, and said motion is passed by a majority vote.
At the discretion of the Board of Directors, donations from non-members of RINATS may be solicited to cover the cost of programming.

ARTICLE VIII – PROGRAM AND PROCEDURES
The program of this Chapter properly may include social, promotional, professional, and educational activities at the discretion of its officers and members, so long as such activities are consistent with the PURPOSES AND CODE OF ETHICS stated in ARTICLE II above. Business meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS With the exception of ARTICLES I, II, and III, which may not be amended or revoked, the By-Laws of this Chapter may be repealed or amended, or new By-Laws adopted, by a majority of the Chapter membership voting in person, by written proxy, by mail, or by email, provided that such amendments have been announced to the membership at least twenty-one (21) days in advance of the voting date. AMENDMENT I 1 . In the event that the President is unable to fulfill his/her duties, the Vice President shall become President. 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer, or, a vacancy in any other office that has been created in accordance with the terms of these By-Laws, the President shall nominate a replacement who shall take office upon a confirmation by a majority vote of all active members. Said vote may be by voice or by ballot as determined by a motion from the floor.