Constitution and Bylaws
Constitution of Nashville Area Music Teachers Association
​
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be THE NASHVILLE AREA MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
Hereby referred to as NAMTA.
​
ARTICLE II: PURPOSES
The purposes of NAMTA shall be to provide educational programs and activities and encourage
networking opportunities that promote high professional standards for music educators of all levels in
independent studios and in undergraduate and graduate programs. Students of members have access to
performances, education and competitions. Professional standards in music education and increased
public awareness of the value of music education will be encouraged through its programming.
​
ARTICLE III: POLICY
Section l. NAMTA is affiliated with Tennessee Music Teachers Association (hereby referred to as TMTA)
and Music Teachers National Association (hereby referred to as MTNA).
Section 2. It shall be the policy of NAMTA to cooperate with other musical organizations for the greater
possibility of furthering the purposes stated in Article II of this Constitution.
​
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Active Membership shall be open to all individuals professionally engaged in any field of
musical activity through submission of annual dues to MTNA. Members shall be entitled to participate in
all Association activities and programs, to vote and to hold office.
Section 2. Student membership shall be open to all full-time college music students through submission
of annual dues to MTNA. Student members shall be entitled to attend NAMTA programs upon payment of
dues, but shall not have the right to vote, hold office, or to apply for national certification. They may enter
students in TMTA local and state auditions, but they may not enter students in MTNA competitions.
Section 3. Honorary Life Membership may be conferred by NAMTA, following the guidelines of MTNA,
upon individuals who have given distinguished service to NAMTA or to the art of music. Honorary Life
members shall not have the right to vote or hold office unless they also qualify for Active Membership.
​
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The elected officers shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President: Program
Coordinator, Recording Secretary, Webmaster, and Treasurer. The term of office shall be two years. It is
recommended that no person shall serve more than two succeeding terms in the same office unless there
are extenuating circumstances.
Section 2. The President-Elect, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected in odd years. The
Webmaster and Vice-President: Program Coordinator shall be elected in even years.
Section 3. Should an office become vacant for any reason, the President shall call an election to fill the
remainder of the term of office.
Section 4. Should the office of the President become vacant, the President-Elect, who serves in the
absence of the President, shall call an election to fill the remainder of the president’s term.
Section 5. The elected officers plus the immediate past president and the chairs of standing committees
shall constitute the Executive Board.
​
ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES
The president shall appoint such standing and ad hoc committees and chairs as may be required by the
By-Laws, or as he or she may deem beneficial to NAMTA. The President shall be a member ex officio of
all committees except the nominating committee.
​
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
Section 1. There shall be at least four NAMTA Meetings, preferably held in September, November,
February and April at a time and place designated by the Executive Board.
Section 2. There shall be at least three meetings of the Executive Board during the year at a time and
place designated by the President.
Section 3. A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of ten active members, including the
President or President-Elect and four other members of the Executive Board. In case of any emergency,
the President may transact business via email correspondence.
Section 4. Roberts’ Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the general guide for parliamentary procedure for
NAMTA.
​
ARTICLE VIII: TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS BY MAIL
Transaction of business by email may be conducted by the President. Such business must have the
approval of four of the Executive Board members prior to its submission to the total membership. Each
item of business submitted by the President must be approved by a simple majority (51%) of the active
members voting by mail to become an official act of NAMTA, on the condition that ten of the ballots of
members entitled to vote have been returned.
​
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This Constitution may be amended upon the recommendation of the Executive Board by a two-
thirds vote of the active membership present and voting at a regular business meeting, provided a notice
of such intended amendment has been given to each member at least thirty days prior to voting.
Section 2. Upon recommendation of the Executive Board, this Constitution may be amended by an email
ballot. Approval by a two-thirds vote shall constitute amendment, on the condition that ten of the ballots
have been returned. The ballot and proposed amendments must be submitted to the members thirty days
in advance of the required return date which should be clearly stated on the ballot.
​
​
​
Bylaws
​
ARTICLE I: ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Election of officers shall be held at the last NAMTA business meeting for the year, following
announcement of the slate by the nominating committee at the previous meeting or by notices mailed to
all members at least thirty days in advance of the business meeting.
​
ARTICLE II: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. President: the President shall preside at all meetings of NAMTA and Executive Board except in
case of disability; appoint committee chairmen except as designated in Article III of these By-Laws,
represent NAMTA on the TMTA Executive Board, and in general guide the work of NAMTA in the duties
ordinarily invested in the office of President. Furthermore, the President maintains and oversees the files
of NAMTA in the Gmail account.
Section 2. President-Elect: the President-Elect shall serve as chair of the Membership and Nominating
committees, and shall assume the duties of President in the event of disability or absence of the
President.
Section 3. Vice-President: Program Coordinator: the Vice-President: Program Coordinator shall serve as
chair of the Program committee.
Section 4. Recording Secretary: the Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of the General Meetings
and the Executive Board; keep a record of attendance.
Section 5. Social Media Historian: the Social Media Historian shall take care of correspondence as
directed by the President and serve as Historian by maintaining a digital scrapbook for the activities of
NAMTA.
Section 6. Treasurer: the Treasurer shall receive and disburse the funds of NAMTA, make a financial
report at each regular business meeting, and keep a current list of active members.
​
ARTICLE III: STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. Chairs of standing committees are appointed by the President and are voting members of the
Executive Board. The standing committees are: Hospitality, FallFest, Performance Auditions, Theory
Registrar, Musicianship Syllabus, Honors Recitals, Young Artist Achievement Awards (YAAA),
Pianorama, Social Media Historian, and Teacher of the Year.
Section 2. Nominating Committee: the President-Elect shall serve as the chair of the Nominating
committee with two other active members. This committee shall prepare a slate of officers to be
presented at a general meeting or in writing at least thirty days prior to the final meeting for election.
Section 3. Ad Hoc committees may be appointed by the President for a specified length of time.
​
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP DUES
Section 1. All dues shall be paid to MTNA, which will send state and local dues to the state and local
Treasurers.
Section 2. Annual dues for all categories of membership shall be due on the first day of the membership
year, July 1, after which date members are not in good standing nor entitled to any of the privileges of
membership until dues are paid for the current membership year.
​
ARTICLE V: FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year shall begin on July 1 and end June 30.
​
ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended upon the recommendation of the Executive Board by a two-
thirds vote of the active membership present and voting at a regular business meeting, provided a notice
of such intended amendment has been given to each member at least thirty days prior to voting.
Section 2. Upon recommendation of the Executive Board, these By-Laws may be amended by an email
ballot. Approval by a two-thirds vote shall constitute amendment, on the condition that ten of the ballots
have been returned. The ballot and proposed amendments must be submitted to the members thirty days
in advance of the required return date which should be clearly stated on the ballot.