Constitution and By-Laws

Constitution of the Iowa Chapter of the American String Teachers Association

 

ARTICLE I - Name

 

The name of the organization shall be the American String Teachers Association, Iowa Unit.

 

ARTICLE II - Purposes

 

a. To promote string education and playing in the State of Iowa.

 

b. To make charitable contributions and grants to nonprofit organizations exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (“IRC”), as the same may be amended or supplemented, as well as governmental units and other nonprofit organizations that promote and further the purposes of the corporation; and

 

c. To exercise any other powers conferred upon corporations organized pursuant to the [Revised Iowa Nonprofit Corporation Act]; provided, however, that:

           i. The corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific  purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the IRC; and,

          ii.  Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles of Incorporation, the   corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on:  (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under IRC Section 501(c)(3); or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductable under IRC Section 170(c)(2).           

 

ARTICLE III - Members

The members of this association shall consist of the following classifications: Active, Dual, Life, Senior, Student, School or Library, as defined by the National Constitution. The right to vote and hold office is reserved for Active, Dual, Life and Senior members.

 

ARTICLE IV- The Executive Board

Officers elected to the Executive Board are the President, President-Elect, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two At-Large members. One At Large member will reside in and represent the western half of the state and the other will reside and represent the eastern half of the state. I-35 will be the dividing line for the state. These officers constitute the Executive Board. The Editor of the Newsletter shall be appointed by the president within thirty days following the installation of officers. All officers, with the exception of the Treasurer, shall serve a term of two years. The Treasurer shall not have a term limit. The President may not be re-elected to another term until at least two years have elapsed since the expiration of his/ her last term of office. The other officers, with the exception of the Treasurer, may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

In the event that the office of the President becomes vacant, the President-elect shall complete the President’s term as well as the elected term of office and may appoint an eligible member in good standing to serve on the Executive Board until the next regularly scheduled election.

 

ARTICLE V- Meetings and Elections

The Annual Membership meeting for the entire association shall be held once a year during the All­State Festival/IMEA Conference at a place and time determined by the President with approval of the Executive Committee. ISTA Conference meeting shall be held during the state ISTA Conference at a place and time determined by the Executive Board. Special meetings at a time and place determined by the Executive Board may be called. All members shall be notified of the meeting at least thirty days in advance. At the membership meetings, a quorum will be constituted of the members present and must include one over half of the Executive Board members in order to conduct official business.

 

There shall be at least two Executive Board meetings each year, one being in late winter and the other in late fall. Special meetings at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Board may be called. -One over half of the members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum to officially conduct business.


Electronic (e-mail) voting may be called for by the President or any two members of the Board on special issues.  Such notice must include a specific date for members of the Board to respond to the issue at hand, which shall not be sooner than five days after the notice is given.  Quorum and voting rules are as set forth in Section 4.04 for both live and electronic meetings. Any member of the Board may call for live discussion prior to a final vote being taken by e-mail.  The Board Secretary will certify the results of the electronic vote and will provide Board members with the results of the vote within five working days after the specific date given for the vote.  The results of the vote will also be recorded in the minutes of the next regular meeting of the Board.

 

ARTICLE VI- Distribution of assets upon Dissolution

 

Upon the dissolution of the Incorporation, and after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the corporation, all assets of the corporation shall be distributed for one or more of the corporation’s exempt purposes within the meaning of IRC Section 501(c)(3), or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose, in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine.

 

ARTICLE VII – Other Lawful Provisions

 

Other lawful provisions, if any, for the conduct and regulation of the business and affairs of the corporation, for its voluntary dissolution, or for limiting, defining or regulating the powers of the corporation or of its directors or members, or of any class of members are as follows:  No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its directors, officers, employees, or other private person, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of IRC Section 501(c)(3) purposes.

 

No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.

 

ARTICLE VIII- Amendments

 

Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by any member of The American String Teachers Association, Iowa Unit.

 

Proposed amendments must be sent through the Executive Board. Voting on the amendment will be accomplished by mail or email ballot. An amendment will be passed by a two-thirds majority of the members voting.

 

In the event that the office of the President Elect becomes vacant due to any circumstance, a special election shall be held by vote within ninety days. Ballots will be counted thirty days after the mailing to the membership, and the newly-elected President-Elect will begin the term of office immediately thereafter.

 

In the event of any other office becoming vacant, the President, with the majority of the Executive Board, shall appoint an eligible member to complete the remainder of the term.



Bylaws of the Iowa Chapter of the American String Teachers Association


ARTICLE I - Rules of Order 

The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the association in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws of this association.


ARTICLE II- Membership

The Iowa Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ISTA) shall have a minimum of twenty active members in good standing on its membership rolls.

The fiscal year shall be July 1 through June 30.

Dues shall be set by the National Executive Board

Printed matter and other communication concerning the association will be sent to all members.

 

ARTICLE III- Annual Treasurer’s Report

The annual Treasurer’s report shall be submitted at the annual Membership meeting and shall be available to any member in good standing upon written request.

 

ARTICLE IV- Duties of the Officers

 

The officers shall perform the duties, which are normally considered to be consistent with the title of the office held and such additional duties as may be prescribed by the Board or the Bylaws of the association. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

The authority and responsibility for the management and for the maintenance of the good will and credit of ISTA is vested in the Board of Directors, but it is expressly understood that neither the Board of Directors, nor any member thereof, nor any salaried or unsalaried officer, nor any member of ISTA, shall be required to accept personal financial responsibility for duly authorized activities of the organization carried on in good faith and in pursuit of the objectives, purposes and activities prescribed or authorized by the Constitution or Bylaws.


ARTICLE V - Newsletter Editor

 

The Editor shall be in charge of Iowa String Teachers Association newsletter, subject to the approval of the President and Board. Expenditures, contracted agreements and the determining of the number of issues each year are also subject to the approval of the President and the Board. The editor may appoint an assistant to this office from the membership.

 

ARTICLE VI- Election of Officers

The election of officers will be held every two years by mail electronic ballot and will coincide with the ASTA elections. Ballots will be sent out in mid-February and are to be counted before April 1. Results will be announced in the next newsletter  to the membership via electronic communication by April 5 with the new Board taking office on May 15.

 

The President, with approval of the Board, shall appoint a nominating committee, which shall consist of two members and a chairperson, who shall be a former State President. The nominating committee shall present two candidates for each office.