Constitution

AMERICAN MUSIC THERAPY ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS

STUDENT ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC THERAPY

TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY

 

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

 

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the Texas Woman’s University Student Association for Music Therapy, hereby affirm the following statement of purpose: “To support student music therapists, encourage awareness of our profession, and encourage membership in the American Music Therapy Association, Inc.”

 

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I. Title and Functions

1. The title of the organization at Texas Woman’s University shall be the Student Association for Music Therapy, herein after referred to as SAMT.
2. 2. The purpose of SAMT is consistent with that of the American Music Therapy Association, Inc., herein after referred to as AMTA:  To advance music therapy and to increase access to quality music therapy services (AMTA Bylaws, Art II, Sec. 1).
3. The function of the organization shall be the following:
   1. To meet at regular intervals as a pre-professional group
   2. To advance the membership in preparations for the profession of music therapy every way possible
   3. To provide a means of awareness of current research in the field and related professional areas
   4. d. To participate in music therapy activities, including national and regional conferences
   5. e. To encourage individual membership in AMTA and the Southwestern Region of AMTA, herein after referred to as SWAMTA
4. 4. At the beginning of each fall semester, this organization shall submit an updated Student Organization Charter Renewal with the names and addresses of its officers and advisors. This report, along with an updated copy of the constitution and bylaws, shall be submitted to the Center for Student Development (Room 135 in the Student Union) by the university-approved deadline.

 

ARTICLE II. Membership

1. Membership in SAMT shall be open to any student in good standing at Texas Woman’s University who is interested in music therapy, including undergraduate, graduate, or equivalency students in the music therapy program.
2. Official members of SAMT are those who have paid their dues for the semester and are in agreement with the functions of SAMT.
3. 3. Rights and privileges of membership will be restricted to those who are in good financial standing with SAMT.

 

ARTICLE III. Officers

1. The elected officers of the organization shall be President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian.  The President-Elect is elected to serve two (2) consecutive years, one (1) year as President-Elect and one (1) year as President.
2. The qualifications of the officers shall be as follows:

 

1. President – the President shall be a declared music therapy major in good standing with SAMT, having served as President-Elect the previous term.  The president shall preside at all meetings, shall vote only in the event of a tie, shall appoint all committees, and shall act as student representative to all national and regional functions.
2. b. President-Elect – the President-Elect shall be a declared music therapy major in good standing with SAMT who has been enrolled for at least one full semester at Texas Woman’s University and be willing to commit to two (2) consecutive terms of office.  The President-Elect shall be responsible for attending meetings of Texas Woman’s University’s House of Representatives.
3. Secretary – the Secretary shall be in good standing with SAMT for at least one semester and be enrolled in a music therapy course.  The secretary shall keep the minutes at all meetings, conduct the correspondence of the organization, and shall post all minutes.  The Secretary shall be in charge of any web-pages and email accounts the organization may employ, and will act as historian.
4. Treasurer – the Treasurer shall be in good standing with SAMT for at least one semester and be enrolled in a music therapy course.  The treasurer shall collect dues, pay all bills of the organization, keep account of all transactions of the organization, and provide regular financial reports.  The Treasurer shall also be responsible for submitting a list of members and their dues to SWAMTA at the regional conference.
5. Parliamentarian – The parliamentarian shall be in good standing with SAMT for at least one semester and be enrolled in a music therapy course.  The Parliamentarian shall keep order at all meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order and will also act as historian.
6. Any vacancy of office shall be filled by a majority vote during a regular meeting by secret ballot, except for a vacancy of the President, which will be filled by the President-Elect.

 

ARTICLE IV. Meetings

1. 1. Meetings shall be held at least two (2) times a month.
2. 2. Special meetings may be called as needed.
3. 3. A quorum shall consist of two-thirds of the active membership and at least two officers.
4. 4. Executive meetings shall be held at the convenience of the elected officers any time prior to the weekly meetings.
5. 5. The meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised.

 

ARTICLE V. Amendments

 

1. The constitution and bylaws may be amended at any regularly scheduled meeting.
2. Any amendment must be proposed at least one (1) meeting before it is to be voted on.
3. A two-thirds majority vote shall be required to pass an amendment.

 

 

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I. Dues and Membership Privileges

1. Chapter dues shall be set by the majority officer’s vote at the first officer meeting of the school year.  The final date for payment of dues shall be set at this meeting.
2. Active membership shall be declared upon those who have paid their dues and met the qualifications of membership set forth in Article II of the Constitution.
3. Silent Membership – If a person wants to be a member of SAMT but is unable to attend the meetings due to classes, work, commuting problems, or other commitments, may become a “silent member.”  Members requesting silent membership must submit a letter of petition, voted on by the membership, to the officers, explaining why attending the meetings is not possible.  If the letter is approved, the person petitioning must sign up for at least one committee.  Within the committee, they must uphold the responsibility delegated to them.  The “silent member” must also attend at least three (3) functions and/or meetings during the semester.  Attendance at either national or regional music therapy conferences will meet this requirement.  If any of these requirements are not met, the “silent member” will become inactive.
4. 4. Absences – an absence note, given to an officer or posted on the SAMT discussion board on Blackboard by the day of the meeting, shall precede all absences.  Active members missing more than four (4) meetings during the semester shall be declared inactive.  Inactive members missing may petition to regain their active membership.  All requests for reinstatement must be submitted in writing to the officers for consideration.  Each request will be considered and put to vote by the membership.
5. There shall be at least one fundraising event per semester.
6. Active membership shall have the right to vote and to participate in all of the organization’s activities.
7. The membership year shall coincide with the Texas Woman’s University school year

 

ARTICLE II. Officers

1. A term of office shall be two (2) semesters.
2. No single person shall hold the same office for more than four (4) consecutive semesters.
3. 3. A special office entitled “Webmaster” may be developed to assist the Secretary with online correspondence, if needed.  The Webmaster shall be in good standing with SAMT for at least one semester and be enrolled in a music therapy course.  The Webmaster will help develop and maintain any website related to SAMT.  This position will be appointed by the President and approved by the other elected officers.

 

ARTICLE III. Elections

 

1. Officers shall be elected in the spring and shall officially take office the final meeting of the spring semester.
2. Elections shall be held in the following manner:
   1. Nominations shall be volunteered from the floor.
   2. Voting shall be done by secret ballot.
   3. A two-thirds majority is necessary to elect an officer.
3. All retiring officers shall deliver all articles pertaining to that office to the newly elected officer before the final class day of the spring semester.