Constitution and Bylaws

ARTICLE I. Name

The name of this organization shall be the Okaloosa County Music Teachers Association, a local association affiliated with Music Teachers National Association, Inc. (MTNA) Cincinnati, Ohio, a Code Section 501 (c)(3) organization, and Florida State Music Teachers Association (FSMTA).

ARTICLE II. Purpose

Section I.......To promote professionalism among music teachers of Okaloosa County.

Section II.......To inspire musicianship among area music students.

Section III.....To sponsor musical activities for the benefit and interest of the community.

Article III. Membership

Section I........ Active membership will be comprised of teachers who are professionally active in the community and who pay local, state and national dues. Only members may hold elective office. All members who joined OCMTA before March 7, 1974, will be retained as members under the FSMTA Grandfather clause.

Section II..... Associate membership is open to all persons not professionally engaged in any field of musical activity, but who wish to support the program of the Association subject to the membership regulations of FSMTA and MTNA. Those holding such membership may attend programs of the Association but are ineligible to vote or hold office.

Section III... Honorary membership may be conferred by the local Association upon the recommendation of the Executive Board. They shall enjoy the privileges of an Active member. Local dues shall be waived but state and national dues must be paid.

Article IV. Officers:

The elected officers shall be (1) President, (2) Vice President, (3) Recording Secretary, and (4) Treasurer.

Article V. Meetings

Section I. ....... The Association meetings shall be held in September, October, January, February, March and May.

Section II. ..... Special meetings may be called at any time by the president for the purpose of handling special matters of business.

Section III. .... A quorum will consist of five active members.

Article VI. Executive Board

The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers and chairmen of standing committees.

Article VII. Amendment

The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of active members present at a regular or called meeting after three weeks written notice is given to all voting members.

BYLAWS

1. Duties of Officers

a. President: to preside at all meetings and to appoint chairmen of all committees.

b. Vice President: in the absence of the president, to perform all duties of the president; to serve as program chairman.

c. Recording Secretary: to keep accurate records of all meetings and activities of the Association and to send cards and notices as needed.

d. Treasurer: to receive all monies, to make disbursements as approved by the President and Executive Board; to keep accurate records of financial transactions; to prepare a financial statement for each regular meeting and to prepare an annual budget for approval by the membership. Any amount over $50.00 not listed in the approved annual budgetary items would require approval by the general membership.

2. Committees

A Publicity Chairman shall be appointed by the President. Other committees will be appointed as needed to carry on the Association activities.

3. Executive Board

a. The Executive Board shall be convened at the request of the president, or of two members of the Association, at least one of whom shall be a member of the Executive Board.

b. A quorum of the Executive Board shall be four members, at least two of whom shall be officers.

4. Fees and Dues

a. Dues will be $30.00 for active, provisional, and associate membership in the local association and these memberships are subject to FSMTA and MTNA regulations.

b. Honorary and/or retired members pay no local dues but are subject to FSMTA and MTNA dues regulations.

c. Dues are to be received by MTNA headquarters by September 1 to enable the member to participate in any FSMTA/MTNA student activities or any local program receiving student awards. New members will be considered in good standing immediately upon receipt of their dues at MTNA headquarters. Members with dues still unpaid by November will be notified by the Treasurer. Unless dues are paid by January 1, members will be dropped from the roll.

5. Amendments

a. Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of active members present at a regular or called meeting after three weeks written notice is given to all voting members.b. The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicabland in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

*****

FLORIDA STATE MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

CODE OF ETHICS

We, the members of FLORIDA STATE MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, having dedicated ourselves to the advancement of music and the development of musicians, subscribe to the following principles of ethical practice as standards of professional conduct.

I. It shall be the obligation of every member to maintain the highest standards of moral and professional conduct and personal integrity.

II. In the area of Studio Music Teaching

1) Teachers will refrain from exploiting the student primarily for the teacher’s own prestige.

2) Teachers will cooperate in the support of public education and encourage students to participate in school ensembles and activities unless detrimental to the welfare of the student.

3) Teachers, if affiliated with the public schools in an instructional capacity, will conform to the policies of the school and co-operate with the administration.

4) Teachers will be indefatigable in developing in students good taste in music literature and the highest possible standards in performance.

5) Teachers will teach the interpretation of music according to what, in their best judgment, are the intentions of the composer.

III. In the Area of Public School and College Music Teaching

1) Teachers will not show partiality when advising those seeking guidance in selecting a private teacher but will, if requested, suggest the names of two (2) or more private teachers in a community, the final choice to be made by the parent and student.

2) Teachers will secure advance approval from the properly constituted authorities for the use of a cost-free room in a publicly owned building for the purpose of teaching privately for personal monetary gain.

3) Teachers will, after a period of basic music instruction through groups or classes, encourage qualified students to study with private teachers so each student’s abilities can be more thoroughly developed.

4) When serving for a limited time as an interim instructor of a student from a private studio, teachers will employ the utmost tact in order to avoid undermining the instruction of the student’s regular teacher.

5) Teachers will never solicit or accept a student for individual instruction who is already receiving instruction in the same subject from another teacher.

IV. In the Areas of Co-Operative Activity

1) It shall be the aim of all teachers to afford every student a rich experience in music.

2) Teachers will give just recognition for the efforts of those to whom credit is due.

3) Teachers will refrain from discussing with parents or students the work of another teacher in such a way as to injure the professional reputation of the teacher.

4) Teachers will not claim sole credit for the achievement of students under cooperative or individual instruction, if such claims shall imply discredit upon a previous or present cooperating teacher.

5) Teachers will not claim credit for the achievement of any student until the student has studied with that teacher for a term of not less than six (6) months.

10) Teachers will not represent themselves as a “pupil of” or a “student of” a teacher unless they have completed a minimum of 3 months study with that teacher.

11) Teachers will not make exaggerated claims or misleading statements in any printed matter. Advertising copy will be dignified, strictly truthful, and representative of the art of music and its responsibility to the community.

12) Members will refrain from referring prospective students to unqualified student teachers (those who have not completed their degree or certificate work with pedagogy and/or supervised practice teaching). This practice constitutes a serious breach of ethics and a lowering of standards and an unprofessional disregard for the public.

V. Teachers will educate themselves to the guidelines for the use of all copyrighted materials, and will refrain from illegal photocopying or reproduction thereof.

It shall be the duty of every member to report to the Executive Board the violation of any Article of this Code, supported by written evidence of such unethical conduct. If it is determined that a violation has occurred, the censured member(s) will not be allowed to participate in local and state events, for a period of time specified by the Executive Board.

*****