Official By-Laws of the National Council of Supervisors of Music Education (NCSME)
ARTICLE I
Section 1
Name
The name of this organization shall be The National Council of Supervisors of Music Education (NCSME).
Section 2
Goal
The goal of this organization shall be to improve the availability and quality of school music education for all children.
Section 3
Purpose
The National Council of Supervisors of Music Education shall:
- support state and local music education programs and leaders;
- collaborate with national, state, and local organizations for the improvement of music education;
- gather and disseminate information pertinent to this organization and its membership;
- serve as a support network for sharing information and strategies among school music administrators; and
- guide and support the efforts of the National Executive Board of the Music Educators National Conference.
ARTICLE II
Section 1
Active Membership
Active members shall be those persons that have verified their eligibility as a designated supervisor, administrator and/or instructional leader of a K-12 music education program at the state or local level.
From time to time verification of eligibility may be requested.
Section 2
Honorary Membership
Honorary membership in this organization may be granted to any former active member.
Any person, other than a former active member, who has made outstanding contributions to music education and/or who has rendered meritorious service to the organization and to the advancement of its goal and purposes, may be nominated for honorary membership. Nominations will be made at regular meetings and elected by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present.
Honorary members may not vote or hold office.
Section 3
Ex-Officio Membership
Ex-Officio membership in this organization may be granted to the President of the Music Educators National Conference, a designated representative from the staff of the Music Educators National Conference, and a designated representative from the United States Department of Education.
Ex-Officio members may not vote or hold office.
ARTICLE III
Section 1
Officers
The officers of this organization shall include a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Chairperson-Elect, and a Secretary. Among these officers there shall be at least one state and one local supervisor. The officers shall be elected at a regular meeting in even numbered years.
Section 2
Chairperson
It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to preside over all meetings of the organization. The Chairperson shall appoint all committees and shall serve as an ex-officio member of each committee. The Chairperson shall appoint officers to fill vacancies, except Chairperson-Elect, should any vacancy occur prior to the regular election of officers. The Chairperson shall call a special election if the Chairperson-Elect cannot serve.
The Chairperson-Elect shall assume the office of Chairperson at the close of a regular meeting. The Chairperson shall serve for one two-year term and may not serve successive terms.
Section 4
Vice-Chairperson
The Vice-Chairperson shall be the immediate past Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall perform all duties of the Chairperson in the Chairperson’s absence. In the event the office of Chairperson becomes vacant, the Vice-Chairperson shall assume the duties of that office for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Section 5
Chairperson-Elect
The Chairperson-Elect shall serve as Parliamentarian.
If a vacancy occurs in the office of Chairperson-Elect, a special election shall be held.
The Chairperson-Elect shall be elected at a regular meeting of the organization by a majority vote of the members present or, if by mail ballot, by a majority of members voting.
Section 6
Secretary
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings and make them available to the members of the organization within one month following each meeting. The Secretary shall work with MENC to ensure a current list of the names and addresses of all members, shall be responsible for all correspondence of a general nature, shall act as press officer, and shall perform such duties as may be directed by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IV
Section 1
Meetings
A meeting of the organization shall be held in conjunction with the national convention of the Music Educators National Conference.
Other meetings may be called by the Chairperson after consultation with the members of the Executive Committee.
Section 2
Quorum
A quorum shall consist of 15 members. At the request of a number of members equaling one-third of the voting members present, any issue will be submitted for a mail ballot requiring a two-thirds majority of votes received.
Section 3
Dues
No dues are required for membership beyond membership in MENC.
ARTICLE V
Section 1
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the elected officers and others appointed by the Chair and approved by a majority of officers.
Section 2
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall be comprised of three members not currently serving as officers and shall be appointed by the Chairperson. The committee shall include at least one state and one local supervisor. The Nominating Committee shall present at least one nominee for each office to be elected at the regular meeting.
Section 3
Other Committees
Other committees may be appointed by the Chairperson as deemed necessary.
ARTICLE VI
Parliamentary Authority
The Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the meetings of the organization in all cases where applicable and in cases involving inconsistency.
ARTICLE VII
Amendments
Proposed amendments to these by-laws may be submitted to the Chairperson in writing by any member. The proposed amendments must be reviewed by the Executive Committee, which shall, in turn, submit them with recommendations to the membership at a regular meeting of the organization, or by mail. Proposed amendments may be adopted by two-thirds majority vote of the members at a regular meeting or of the mail ballots.