Constitution and Bylaws
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. This organization shall be called the “SHS Drama Club.”
Section 2. The purpose of this drama club shall be the advancement of standards of excellence in the theater. More specifically, the drama club shall encourage students to attain a better mastery of the theater arts.
Section 3. Membership is given as recognition for meritorious work in the theater arts.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. All nominees for active membership shall be regularly enrolled as students of Saline High School.
Section 2. All active members must have participated in at least one play per school calendar and have earned a minimum of ten merit points for superior work in the theater. Active members must be enrolled in grades 9–12 and maintain academic eligibility as per the Saline High School Student Handbook.
Section 3. Final authority concerning membership shall be vested in the club advisor.
Section 4. Any active member of the drama club is eligible to participate in drama club activities; non-active members can participate in drama club activities by invitation only. Activities that require invitation will be determined by the drama club officers and club advisor, and include, but are not limited to, a spring show, the yearbook photograph, workshops, and field trips.
ARTICLE III. OFFICERS
Section 1. The SHS Drama Club shall elect officers once a year in the last full month of the school term at a regular business meeting.
Section 2. Each student seeking election must be an active member of the drama club for at least one school year, and at the time of election must be enrolled in grades 10 or higher.
Section 3. A Historian will be appointed as needed by the club advisor and will serve during the current school year.
Section 4. The elected officers are to have the following duties:
The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint all standing and special committees, direct and supervise all activities, and keep a scrapbook containing articles, programs, and news clippings that relate to the group’s events.
The Vice President shall preside in the absence of the president, be responsible for the induction of new members, be responsible for advertising the group and its events through posters, announcements, and a website.
The Secretary shall keep the records of meetings, attend to correspondence, keep the point records of all activities: plays, production dates, casts, crew, and work accomplished as provided in the point system (see Appendix A)
Section 5. The duties of the club advisor will be to oversee all drama club activities, to be the final authority in selection of new members and to be the guide and inspiration of the group.
ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS AND ATTENDANCE
Section 1. A general business meeting will be held the first week of the month.
Section 2. Regular weekly meetings and special workshops may be scheduled by the club advisor or any officer on any other Tuesday (schedule permitting) of the month for the purpose of enhancing, developing, and practicing acting related skills.
Section 3. Absences: Any member who does not meet the following criteria shall be dropped from active membership:
1) is absent two (2) business meetings per school year, unless they have an excuse considered valid by the club advisor; or,
2) who does not participate in at least one production, which provides the opportunity to earn a minimum of ten merit points
Section 4: Any member who causes deliberate dissension, which would disrupt the workings of any production, meeting or workshop, shall be dropped from active membership at the discretion of the club advisor. Any member requesting re-admittance after suspension must have the consent of the club advisor and two-thirds of the membership.
ARTICLE V. DUES
Section 1. According to the Saline High School Activity Fund requirements, a $45 fee is required of all students participating in an extracurricular activity. A one-time annual fee payment will allow students to participate in any extracurricular activity for the current school year. Failure to pay the fee will terminate an active membership.
Section 2. All students who successfully audition for a role in a drama club production, must pay the $45 extracurricular activity fee prior to the first rehearsal.
ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. All amendments to this constitution must have the vote of two-thirds of the club membership.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I. ATTENDANCE
Section 1. Regular after-school meetings will begin at 3:00 p.m., special meetings or workshops at 3 p.m. and evening meetings at 7 p.m. unless special notice be posted as to the change of time.
Section 2. Members arriving late to or leaving early from meetings or rehearsals without a reason considered valid by the club advisor will be demerited. Three such offenses will be counted as an absence from a meeting without excuse.
Section 3. Irregular attendance indicates a lack of interest; therefore any member absent six meetings per school year without a written excuse submitted to the President, Secretary, or club advisor the day of, or after the scheduled meetings, shall be automatically suspended from the active roll or membership.
Section 4. Attendance shall be considered in the point award system.
Section 5. Absences shall accumulate for only one school year at a time.
ARTICLE II. DRAMA CLUB ACTIVITIES
Section 1. The drama club is not a secret organization, so faculty and students interested in theatre, as well as honorary members and alumni, shall be invited to its meetings.
Section 2. At least one meeting, usually the first meeting of the school year, shall include an open invitation to all students for the purpose of playing theater games and creating improvisations.
Section 3. The drama club shall produce at least one play and one musical per school year.
Section 3. The drama club shall sponsor at least one “Good Neighbor” night a year for the purpose of establishing good relationships with nearby dramatic groups.
Section 4. The drama club shall sponsor at least one night a year for the purpose of socializing and drawing new membership.
Section 5. The drama club shall cooperate with all other departments and clubs in the school in helping them with their programs in any way it can.
ARTICLE III. POINT AWARD SYSTEM
Section 1. The club advisor will determine the exact number of points to be awarded in all theatrical and non-theatrical participation.
Section 2. Points will be awarded as suggested by the point system of the International Thespian Society (see attached).
ARTICLE IV. ELECTIONS
Section 1. Officers shall be elected at a business meeting in the month of May for the coming fall term.
Section 2. Nominations for officers are to be made by a committee, meeting with the club advisor, with additional nominations being permitted from the floor. Officers will be elected by a majority vote.
Section 3. Voting will be done by secret written ballot.
Section 4. Three members, including one officer, may request, in writing, to the club advisor, a recall election of all or any elected officers. This written request must state the need for such an election. A special meeting will be scheduled within five school days upon receipt of the request, for the purpose of voting on whether or not a recall election is necessary. Two-thirds of the membership is required to mandate a recall election. If a recall election is necessary, election of officers will follow the procedure set in Article V, Section 2.
ARTICLE V. INSTALLATIONS
Section 1. Officers shall be installed at the last social or program meeting of the school term.
ARTICLE VI. ADOPTION
Section 1. Two-thirds of the current voting members is needed for adoption of these by-laws.
ARTICLE VII. CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
Section 1. Each grade shall have one elected representative. Said representatives will be elected the first business meeting of the school year.
Section 2. The duties of each representative will be to distribute newsletters, inform his/her grade of any new information, and aid any officer if requested to do so.
ARTICLE VIII. CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Section 1. In the event issues/conflicts arise between a Thespian and a club advisor which cannot be solved through communication between the two parties, the issue should be resolved by the school administration.