Sumter High Orchestra Supporters Booster Club
Orchestra Director:
Director - Erik Hines
Booster Club Officers:
President - Amy Stallings
Vice-President - Tara Davis
Treasurer - Nichol Ernst
Committee Chairs of the Booster Club:
Hospitality - Melissa McDougal
Fundraising - Ashley Amore
Why is the Booster Club important?
Enriching the Student Experience: The Booster Club will help provide resources and opportunities beyond what the school budget allows. This includes funding for new instruments, sheet music, professional workshops, and performance opportunities like festivals or competitions. These enhancements give our students a richer and more dynamic musical experience.
Funding Travel and Special Events: Many orchestras perform at special venues or attend regional and national competitions, which are invaluable experiences. The Booster Club will help organize fundraisers to cover travel costs, lodging, and registration fees, so all students can participate regardless of financial background.
Creating a Supportive Community: Through events, concerts, and fundraising activities, the Booster Club will bring together parents, teachers, and students, fostering a strong sense of community. This kind of support helps boost students’ morale and pride in their accomplishments.
Advocacy for the Arts: As funding for arts programs often faces cuts, a Booster Club can advocate for the continued investment in our orchestra, ensuring its longevity for future students. By demonstrating the value of music education, we can help maintain and even grow the program.
Volunteer Support: Whether it's organizing a bake sale, chaperoning a trip, or helping with concert logistics, the Booster Club will also offer parents opportunities to volunteer and be directly involved in their child’s musical journey.
SUMTER HIGH ORCHESTRA SUPPORTERS (SHOS) BOOSTER CLUB
BYLAWS (as of 10/20/24)
ARTICLE 1: NAME
The name of the organization is the Sumter High Orchestra Supporters (“SHOS”). The address of the organization is 2580 McCray’s Mill Rd. Sumter, SC 29154. It will operate in Sumter County, SC. The primary email will be sumterhighorch@gmail.com.
ARTICLE 2: MISSION
The mission of the Sumter High Orchestra Supporters is to foster engagement and provide essential support for the activities and growth of the Sumter High Orchestra, as well as the string orchestra programs affiliated with Sumter High School.
ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: All parents/guardians of students in the Sumter High School Orchestra are considered to be members of the SHOS.
Section 2: “Class Fees” will serve as the SHOS membership fees, and they will be determined by the Director and Executive Board each year. They will be payable to the SHOS and used by the Director and Executive Board to support the classroom and the orchestra program.
Section 3: Additional categories of membership may be added later.
ARTICLE 4: EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1: The Executive Board of the Boosters will be composed of the Sumter High Orchestra Director (“the Director”) and the elected officers: President, Vice-President, and Treasurer.
Section 2: Roles and Responsibilities
The Executive Board will have full authority in all matters of the SHOS, including raising and disbursing funds.
The Executive Board will meet during the school year at the discretion of the Director or the President. The Vice-President will record the minutes of all meetings and votes. (See also Article 6: Meetings)
Three members of the Executive Board, including the Orchestra Director, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Business meetings for routine issues can be held remotely or via email.
The Executive Board will develop standing rules, establish committees, and appoint committee chairpersons as needed to support the goals and activities of the SHOS.
The Executive Board can, by a majority vote, remove any officer or committee chairperson who does not perform his or her duties.
ARTICLE 5: ELECTED OFFICERS
Section 1: The President will assist the Director and/or preside at all meetings of the membership and the Executive Board; work with the Director to establish priorities of the SHOS and to identify fundraising goals and strategies, and coordinate special projects; and
communicate these priorities, goals, and strategies to the membership.
Section 2: The Vice President will assist the President and coordinate volunteers; undertake the duties and exercise the powers of the President in his or her absence; and assume the office of President if that office becomes vacant at any time after the election of officers.
Section 3: The Treasurer will maintain the bank account and handle transactions as needed; keep accurate records of all financial matters, including funds collected and dispensed; regularly report the financial standing of the Boosters to the membership and the Executive Board; and be responsible for required annual filings.
Section 4: All Offices listed above will assist the Director as needed with rosters and paperwork; keep accurate records and minutes of meetings; maintain membership records and
valuable papers of the organization, including official versions of the By-Laws and Standing Rules; file required paperwork with state and local governments and assist Treasurer with required IRS filings; and conduct correspondence as needed.
Section 5: Elections will be held in the spring of the school year—at a membership meeting or by a controlled, recordable electronic vote. (See also Article 2: Section 6.)
Section 6: The Executive Board will fill a vacancy for the unexpired term of any elected office except the President. The President Elect will fill the vacancy for President.
Section 7: The term of office for each elected officer will be one year, July 1–June 30. If a position is filled late, the term will still end on June 30. Officers can serve more than one term.
ARTICLE 6: MEETINGS
Section 1: The SHOS will hold at least two Membership business meetings (including annual meeting) each school year. These meetings will be open and their date, time, and place will be publicized in advance. The Board reserves the right to hold the meeting remotely or update the membership electronically when needed.
Section 2: The SHOS will hold an Annual Meeting every spring. The purpose of the annual meeting will be the election of officers for the following year. The Board reserves the right to hold the meeting remotely or update the membership and hold elections electronically when needed.
Section 3: ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER (Revised) will be the Parliamentary Law governing this organization.
ARTICLE 7: FINANCES
Section 1: The SHOS will process all fees for the Sumter High Orchestra and strings orchestra programs affiliated directly with Sumter High School. Its fiscal year will be July 1-June 30.
Section 2: The Treasurer will establish and maintain the SHOS bank account. The Treasurer and Director will be authorized to disperse funds.
Section 3: Expenditures over $600 need authorization of the Executive Board.
Section 4: The Director and Executive Board will develop a budget for the SHOS.
Section 5: The SHOS general fund may be used to provide financial assistance and scholarships to students at the Director’s discretion.
Section 6: All financial records and bookkeeping, as well as required annual filings with the state and IRS, are the responsibility of the Treasurer, with support of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE 8: FUNDRAISING
Section 1: The Boosters will run all fundraisers of the Sumter High Orchestra and strings orchestra programs affiliated directly with Sumter High School.
Section 2: These will include student fundraisers to contribute to student class fees, trip fees, and the SHOS general fund. Any funds raised by a student in excess of that individual’s class or trip fees can be applied to an approved chaperone’s trip fees or carried over to the next school year. For graduating seniors, any balance left after the Spring trip will be automatically
applied to the general fund. Students and parents cannot receive a direct payment for any excess fundraising money.
ARTICLE 9: NON-PROFIT STATUS
Section 1: The SHOS are organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, to qualify as an exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Section 2: No part of the net earnings of the SHOS will benefit its members, officers, or other private persons, except that it may pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and make reasonable reimbursements, in accordance with the association’s non-profit purposes. No substantial part of the SHOS activities will violate the requirements of its non-profit status under federal 501(c)(3) status and laws of the state of South Carolina.
ARTICLE 10: OTHER
Section 1: Amendments: These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
Section 2: Dissolution: Upon dissolution of the SHOS, the Director will oversee distribution of the assets to Sumter High School (primary) or Sumter County School District.
