Constitution
ARTICLE I - NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the “West Central Missouri Music Educators Association.”
Section 2. Goal. The goal of this organization shall be the promotion of “better school music” by utilizing all the best efforts of the various agencies of music education.
Section 3. Affiliations. This organization shall function as a District Division of the Missouri Music Educators Association and all its affiliates.
Section 4. Relationships. This organization shall maintain a cooperative relationship with the National Association for Music Education, Missouri Music Educators Association, Missouri State High School Activities Association, Missouri State Teachers Association, Missouri National Education Association, and the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This organization shall maintain a cooperative relationship with any other organization that seeks to promote improved school music.
Section 5. District Boundaries. The WCMMEA boundaries shall include the following: All public and private schools within the counties of Cass (except Belton), Jackson (except Kansas City, Raytown, Independence, Blue Springs, Hickman Mills, Lee’s Summit, Center, and Grandview), Bates, Lafayette, Johnson, Henry, St. Clair, Saline, Pettis, Benton, Morgan, Cooper, Moniteau, and Hickory.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership. Any member of the Missouri Music Educators Association who resides and/or teaches within the boundaries of Article I, Section 5 is automatically a member of the WCMMEA. A person may not be a member of the WCMMEA without belonging to MMEA.
Section 2. Good Standing. A WCMMEA member must pay dues in a timely manner to be considered in good standing.
ARTICLE III - ORGANIZATION
Section 1. Legislative Power. The legislative power of this organization shall be vested in the membership and the executive council. The executive council shall consist of the officers listed in Article III, Section 2 and the ex-officio members listed in Article IV, Section 1.
Section 2. Officers. The officers of this organization shall consist of: President, President-Elect, High School Band Vice-President, High School Orchestra Vice-President, High School Choral Vice-President, Junior High Choral Vice-President, Junior High Band Vice-President, Elementary Choral Vice-President, Mentoring Chair, Jazz Band Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer. All officers must be in good standing with the WCMMEA in the respective field of their office.
Section 3. Committees. The president, with the approval of the executive council, shall appoint standing and special committees of this organization.
Section 4. Terms of Office. The officers of this organization, as described in Article III, Section 2, shall be elected to a term of two years at the January meeting of the WCMMEA at the state convention of the MMEA at Tan-Tar-A Resort. The elections shall be held on even numbered years with each term beginning on April 1st and ending two years later on March 31st.
ARTICLE IV - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. Executive Council. The Executive Council shall have general powers of administration of the officers of this organization with the authority to act and to enact legislation except as contrary to this constitution or as herein after expressly provided. The Executive Council shall consist of all officers of the organization and the immediate Past-President. The Past-President and UCM Music Department Representative shall be ex-officio officers with no voting privileges. Departmental budgets shall be submitted at the yearly June Executive Council meeting. Budgets may only be amended by a quorum of the Executive Council. Two members of this quorum must be the President and Secretary/Treasurer.
Section 2. President. The president shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the executive council. The president has the authority to call special meetings, appoint and be an ex-officio member of all committees. The president will serve as the WCMMEA representative on the MMEA executive council.
Section 3. The fiscal year of the organization shall be from April 1st to March 31st. The books of the secretary/treasurer should be prepared for audit at the end of each even numbered fiscal year. The audit should be completed by May 15th so that the incoming officer may have the completed books by the June executive council meeting. The President Elect will appoint a committee for the audit that will include the Treasurer, President Elect, and two other executive board members.
Section 4. High School Band Vice-President. The high school band vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The high school band vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the All-District Band auditions and concert associated with these auditions.
Section 5. High School Orchestra Vice-President. The high school orchestra vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The high school orchestra vice-president shall serve as a resource for string education in the WCMMEA boundaries and oversee any orchestra district level events.
Section 6. High School Choral Vice-President. The high school choral vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The high school choral vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the 11/12 All-District Choir auditions and concert associated with these auditions. The high school choral vice-president has the authority to appoint a 9/10 All-District Choir coordinator that will be subject to the approval of the executive council.
Section 7. Junior High School Choral Vice-President. The junior high school choral vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The junior high school choral vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the 7/8 All-District Honor Choir clinic and concert.
Section 8. Elementary Choral Vice-President. The elementary choral vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The elementary choral vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the 5th Grade and 6th Grade All-District Honor Choirs clinic and concert. The elementary choral vice-president has the authority to appoint a 5th grade coordinator that will be subject to the approval of the executive council.
Section 9. Secretary/Treasurer. The secretary/treasurer shall keep the minutes and records of the association and shall be the custodian of the funds of the association. This officer shall devise and keep such records as may be necessary for the efficient conduct of the office. All checks shall be signed by the secretary/treasurer. The funds, books, canceled checks, receipts, documents, and records, in their complete form together with all correspondence, shall be turned over to the successor after an audit has been completed by a qualified individual appointed by the current office holder and approved by the executive council.
Section 10. Junior High School Band Vice-President. The junior high school band vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The junior high school band vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the 7th and 8th All-District Honor Bands clinic and concert. The junior high band vice-president has the authority to appoint a 7th grade coordinator that will be subject to the approval of the executive council.
Section 11. Mentoring Chair. The Mentoring Chair shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The Mentoring Chair shall be responsible for distributing information about new teacher/mentoring opportunities and work with the state level organization on helping/educating new teachers.
Section 12. Jazz Band Vice-President. The Jazz Band Vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The Jazz Band Vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the West Central All-District Jazz Band.
Section 13. Technology Chair. (as voted on by the membership in January of 2022). The Technology Chairperson shall be responsible for updating and maintaining the district website (www.wcmeea.com). This is an appointed position by the president.
ARTICLE V - MEETINGS
Section 1. Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of the WCMMEA will be held every January in conjunction with the MMEA State Convention at Tan-Tar-A Resort. Members shall be given notice not less than fifteen days prior to the date of the meeting.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the WCMMEA may be called with the approval of the simple majority of the executive council or when requested by not less than twenty members representing a simple majority of the counties represented in the WCMMEA. Written or printed notice of any special meeting must be sent to all members not less than fifteen days prior to the date of the meeting.
Section 3. Executive Council Meetings. The executive council shall meet two times a year to conduct the business of the association. These meetings shall be at the call of the president, or the joint request of not less than four members of the council with the president’s approval. The executive council shall meet in June and have one other meeting in December or January preceding the annual membership meeting at the MMEA State Convention.
Section 4. Departmental Meetings. Each vice-president should conduct a meeting of directors in their respective areas at least once per year. This meeting may be held in conjunction with an event coordinated by the vice-president. The vice-president should report any informative feedback from this meeting to the executive council for discussion.
ARTICLE VI - LEGISLATION
Section 1. Time Allotted. Any proposed legislation shall be presented to the executive council at least fifteen days before the annual meeting in January.
Section 2. Passage Of Proposals. Legislation may be passed by a simple majority vote of the members present at the annual meeting if the proposal has the approval of the executive council. Without such approval, it shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the members present.
ARTICLE VII - ELECTIONS
Section 1. Nominating Committee. The nominating committee shall consist of the outgoing officers. Each outgoing officer shall prepare and present the names of two candidates for his or her office that is being vacated. The only exception will be the president who will be succeeded by the president-elect. Names should be submitted for all offices listed in Article II, Section 3. Further nominations shall be accepted from the floor if offered.
Section 2. Elections. Elections shall be by ballot at the annual meeting in January. The candidate receiving the most votes shall be elected.
ARTICLE VIII - VACANCIES
Section 1. Appointments. The president, with the consent of a majority of the executive council, may make an appointment as required to fill a vacancy on the executive council except for president. The president may also make appointments as required to fill a vacancy in any standing or special committee.
Section 2. President-Elect Vacancy. If a vacancy occurs in the office of president-elect a special election shall be held at the first meeting of the association following the vacancy.
ARTICLE IX - QUORUMS
Section 1. Active Membership. A quorum shall consist of 25 active members.
Section 2. Executive Council. A quorum shall consist of 5 members.
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendment Procedures. The constitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a simple majority vote of the membership present, providing that the proposed amendment or amendments shall have been submitted to the executive council at least two weeks prior to such a meeting and notification that such amendment to be considered be included in the notice of the regular meeting.
BY - LAWS
Article I
Section 1. Honorary members shall be exempt from paying dues.
Section 2. District dues are included with the Missouri Music Educators Association dues.
Section 3. The fiscal year of the organization shall be from April 1st to March 31st. The books of the secretary/treasurer should be prepared for audit at the end of each even numbered fiscal year. The audit should be completed by May 15th so that the incoming officer may have the completed books by the June executive council meeting.
Article II
Section 1. Parliamentary procedure of business meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order (revised).
Article III
Section 1. The constitution of the WCMMEA shall be reviewed for any corrections or changes every two years by the current president-elect. The reviewed constitution shall be presented to the executive council for discussion and approval. The president has the privilege of appointing a review committee if he or she deems it necessary. The review committee shall consist of the president, president-elect, and at least 3 active members appointed by the president.
Article IV
Section I
Alternative Audition Procedures (AAP)-Instrumental Ensembles
If a school has another state or national music event on the date of live auditions, an alternative audition procedure must be requested in writing prior to April 1st of the calendar year. (This deadline falls in line with the fiscal year as stated by Article 1, Section 3 in the constitution)
A school administrator must write a letter stating what the conflict is and submit that to the event Vice-President (band, orchestra, or jazz) prior to April 1st. Failure to submit the appropriate documentation by the stated deadline will forfeit the option to participate in an Alternative Audition Procedure.
The event Vice-President (band, orchestra, or jazz) must have an Alternative Audition Procedure Plan in place 4 weeks prior to the event. This criteria will be created with a committee of at least 4 individuals from their respective content area appointed by the Vice-President.
The school administrator must sign-off on the AAP plan showing that they and the director understand the plan in place in order for the AAP to occur.
January 28, 2023, constitution proposal to add a by-law for Alternative Audition Procedure and added Technology Chairperson description. sr
January 25, 2020 the constitution was revised and approved at the annual meeting. Added Orchestra VP/District Orchestra, updated Band and Choir descriptions to match practices already in place, reduced notice from 6 to 2 weeks for amendments and legislation. cgm
January 26, 2008 the constitution was revised at our meeting at Tan-Tar-A. Amendments included the addition of a 7th grade band coordinator and a 5th grade elementary choir coordinator. Deleted from the constitution was annual meeting at WCMSTA. kl
January 26, 2004 the constitution was revised at our meeting at Tan-Tara-A. Amendments included addition of jr. high band vp, jazz vp, and MIOSM coordinator. sl
January 2022 (REVISED)
January 2020 (REVISED)
JUNE - 2001 (REVISED)
SEPTEMBER - 1992 (ORIGINAL)
Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the “West Central Missouri Music Educators Association.”
Section 2. Goal. The goal of this organization shall be the promotion of “better school music” by utilizing all the best efforts of the various agencies of music education.
Section 3. Affiliations. This organization shall function as a District Division of the Missouri Music Educators Association and all its affiliates.
Section 4. Relationships. This organization shall maintain a cooperative relationship with the National Association for Music Education, Missouri Music Educators Association, Missouri State High School Activities Association, Missouri State Teachers Association, Missouri National Education Association, and the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This organization shall maintain a cooperative relationship with any other organization that seeks to promote improved school music.
Section 5. District Boundaries. The WCMMEA boundaries shall include the following: All public and private schools within the counties of Cass (except Belton), Jackson (except Kansas City, Raytown, Independence, Blue Springs, Hickman Mills, Lee’s Summit, Center, and Grandview), Bates, Lafayette, Johnson, Henry, St. Clair, Saline, Pettis, Benton, Morgan, Cooper, Moniteau, and Hickory.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership. Any member of the Missouri Music Educators Association who resides and/or teaches within the boundaries of Article I, Section 5 is automatically a member of the WCMMEA. A person may not be a member of the WCMMEA without belonging to MMEA.
Section 2. Good Standing. A WCMMEA member must pay dues in a timely manner to be considered in good standing.
ARTICLE III - ORGANIZATION
Section 1. Legislative Power. The legislative power of this organization shall be vested in the membership and the executive council. The executive council shall consist of the officers listed in Article III, Section 2 and the ex-officio members listed in Article IV, Section 1.
Section 2. Officers. The officers of this organization shall consist of: President, President-Elect, High School Band Vice-President, High School Orchestra Vice-President, High School Choral Vice-President, Junior High Choral Vice-President, Junior High Band Vice-President, Elementary Choral Vice-President, Mentoring Chair, Jazz Band Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer. All officers must be in good standing with the WCMMEA in the respective field of their office.
Section 3. Committees. The president, with the approval of the executive council, shall appoint standing and special committees of this organization.
Section 4. Terms of Office. The officers of this organization, as described in Article III, Section 2, shall be elected to a term of two years at the January meeting of the WCMMEA at the state convention of the MMEA at Tan-Tar-A Resort. The elections shall be held on even numbered years with each term beginning on April 1st and ending two years later on March 31st.
ARTICLE IV - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. Executive Council. The Executive Council shall have general powers of administration of the officers of this organization with the authority to act and to enact legislation except as contrary to this constitution or as herein after expressly provided. The Executive Council shall consist of all officers of the organization and the immediate Past-President. The Past-President and UCM Music Department Representative shall be ex-officio officers with no voting privileges. Departmental budgets shall be submitted at the yearly June Executive Council meeting. Budgets may only be amended by a quorum of the Executive Council. Two members of this quorum must be the President and Secretary/Treasurer.
Section 2. President. The president shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the executive council. The president has the authority to call special meetings, appoint and be an ex-officio member of all committees. The president will serve as the WCMMEA representative on the MMEA executive council.
Section 3. The fiscal year of the organization shall be from April 1st to March 31st. The books of the secretary/treasurer should be prepared for audit at the end of each even numbered fiscal year. The audit should be completed by May 15th so that the incoming officer may have the completed books by the June executive council meeting. The President Elect will appoint a committee for the audit that will include the Treasurer, President Elect, and two other executive board members.
Section 4. High School Band Vice-President. The high school band vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The high school band vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the All-District Band auditions and concert associated with these auditions.
Section 5. High School Orchestra Vice-President. The high school orchestra vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The high school orchestra vice-president shall serve as a resource for string education in the WCMMEA boundaries and oversee any orchestra district level events.
Section 6. High School Choral Vice-President. The high school choral vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The high school choral vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the 11/12 All-District Choir auditions and concert associated with these auditions. The high school choral vice-president has the authority to appoint a 9/10 All-District Choir coordinator that will be subject to the approval of the executive council.
Section 7. Junior High School Choral Vice-President. The junior high school choral vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The junior high school choral vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the 7/8 All-District Honor Choir clinic and concert.
Section 8. Elementary Choral Vice-President. The elementary choral vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The elementary choral vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the 5th Grade and 6th Grade All-District Honor Choirs clinic and concert. The elementary choral vice-president has the authority to appoint a 5th grade coordinator that will be subject to the approval of the executive council.
Section 9. Secretary/Treasurer. The secretary/treasurer shall keep the minutes and records of the association and shall be the custodian of the funds of the association. This officer shall devise and keep such records as may be necessary for the efficient conduct of the office. All checks shall be signed by the secretary/treasurer. The funds, books, canceled checks, receipts, documents, and records, in their complete form together with all correspondence, shall be turned over to the successor after an audit has been completed by a qualified individual appointed by the current office holder and approved by the executive council.
Section 10. Junior High School Band Vice-President. The junior high school band vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The junior high school band vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the 7th and 8th All-District Honor Bands clinic and concert. The junior high band vice-president has the authority to appoint a 7th grade coordinator that will be subject to the approval of the executive council.
Section 11. Mentoring Chair. The Mentoring Chair shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The Mentoring Chair shall be responsible for distributing information about new teacher/mentoring opportunities and work with the state level organization on helping/educating new teachers.
Section 12. Jazz Band Vice-President. The Jazz Band Vice-president shall assist in all general items of business of the association. The Jazz Band Vice-president shall be responsible for the administration of the West Central All-District Jazz Band.
Section 13. Technology Chair. (as voted on by the membership in January of 2022). The Technology Chairperson shall be responsible for updating and maintaining the district website (www.wcmeea.com). This is an appointed position by the president.
ARTICLE V - MEETINGS
Section 1. Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of the WCMMEA will be held every January in conjunction with the MMEA State Convention at Tan-Tar-A Resort. Members shall be given notice not less than fifteen days prior to the date of the meeting.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the WCMMEA may be called with the approval of the simple majority of the executive council or when requested by not less than twenty members representing a simple majority of the counties represented in the WCMMEA. Written or printed notice of any special meeting must be sent to all members not less than fifteen days prior to the date of the meeting.
Section 3. Executive Council Meetings. The executive council shall meet two times a year to conduct the business of the association. These meetings shall be at the call of the president, or the joint request of not less than four members of the council with the president’s approval. The executive council shall meet in June and have one other meeting in December or January preceding the annual membership meeting at the MMEA State Convention.
Section 4. Departmental Meetings. Each vice-president should conduct a meeting of directors in their respective areas at least once per year. This meeting may be held in conjunction with an event coordinated by the vice-president. The vice-president should report any informative feedback from this meeting to the executive council for discussion.
ARTICLE VI - LEGISLATION
Section 1. Time Allotted. Any proposed legislation shall be presented to the executive council at least fifteen days before the annual meeting in January.
Section 2. Passage Of Proposals. Legislation may be passed by a simple majority vote of the members present at the annual meeting if the proposal has the approval of the executive council. Without such approval, it shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the members present.
ARTICLE VII - ELECTIONS
Section 1. Nominating Committee. The nominating committee shall consist of the outgoing officers. Each outgoing officer shall prepare and present the names of two candidates for his or her office that is being vacated. The only exception will be the president who will be succeeded by the president-elect. Names should be submitted for all offices listed in Article II, Section 3. Further nominations shall be accepted from the floor if offered.
Section 2. Elections. Elections shall be by ballot at the annual meeting in January. The candidate receiving the most votes shall be elected.
ARTICLE VIII - VACANCIES
Section 1. Appointments. The president, with the consent of a majority of the executive council, may make an appointment as required to fill a vacancy on the executive council except for president. The president may also make appointments as required to fill a vacancy in any standing or special committee.
Section 2. President-Elect Vacancy. If a vacancy occurs in the office of president-elect a special election shall be held at the first meeting of the association following the vacancy.
ARTICLE IX - QUORUMS
Section 1. Active Membership. A quorum shall consist of 25 active members.
Section 2. Executive Council. A quorum shall consist of 5 members.
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendment Procedures. The constitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a simple majority vote of the membership present, providing that the proposed amendment or amendments shall have been submitted to the executive council at least two weeks prior to such a meeting and notification that such amendment to be considered be included in the notice of the regular meeting.
BY - LAWS
Article I
Section 1. Honorary members shall be exempt from paying dues.
Section 2. District dues are included with the Missouri Music Educators Association dues.
Section 3. The fiscal year of the organization shall be from April 1st to March 31st. The books of the secretary/treasurer should be prepared for audit at the end of each even numbered fiscal year. The audit should be completed by May 15th so that the incoming officer may have the completed books by the June executive council meeting.
Article II
Section 1. Parliamentary procedure of business meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order (revised).
Article III
Section 1. The constitution of the WCMMEA shall be reviewed for any corrections or changes every two years by the current president-elect. The reviewed constitution shall be presented to the executive council for discussion and approval. The president has the privilege of appointing a review committee if he or she deems it necessary. The review committee shall consist of the president, president-elect, and at least 3 active members appointed by the president.
Article IV
Section I
Alternative Audition Procedures (AAP)-Instrumental Ensembles
If a school has another state or national music event on the date of live auditions, an alternative audition procedure must be requested in writing prior to April 1st of the calendar year. (This deadline falls in line with the fiscal year as stated by Article 1, Section 3 in the constitution)
A school administrator must write a letter stating what the conflict is and submit that to the event Vice-President (band, orchestra, or jazz) prior to April 1st. Failure to submit the appropriate documentation by the stated deadline will forfeit the option to participate in an Alternative Audition Procedure.
The event Vice-President (band, orchestra, or jazz) must have an Alternative Audition Procedure Plan in place 4 weeks prior to the event. This criteria will be created with a committee of at least 4 individuals from their respective content area appointed by the Vice-President.
The school administrator must sign-off on the AAP plan showing that they and the director understand the plan in place in order for the AAP to occur.
January 28, 2023, constitution proposal to add a by-law for Alternative Audition Procedure and added Technology Chairperson description. sr
January 25, 2020 the constitution was revised and approved at the annual meeting. Added Orchestra VP/District Orchestra, updated Band and Choir descriptions to match practices already in place, reduced notice from 6 to 2 weeks for amendments and legislation. cgm
January 26, 2008 the constitution was revised at our meeting at Tan-Tar-A. Amendments included the addition of a 7th grade band coordinator and a 5th grade elementary choir coordinator. Deleted from the constitution was annual meeting at WCMSTA. kl
January 26, 2004 the constitution was revised at our meeting at Tan-Tara-A. Amendments included addition of jr. high band vp, jazz vp, and MIOSM coordinator. sl
January 2022 (REVISED)
January 2020 (REVISED)
JUNE - 2001 (REVISED)
SEPTEMBER - 1992 (ORIGINAL)
