Thespian Troupe #6257 Constitution

Article I. Name and purpose

Section 1. This organization shall be called Troupe #6257 of the International Thespian Society, a branch of the Educational Theatre Association.

Section 2. The purpose of this troupe shall be the advancement of standards of excellence in the theatre. More specifically, the troupe shall encourage students to attain a better mastery of the theatre arts.

Section 3.The organization forbids secrecy; membership is given as recognition for meritorious work in the theatre arts.

Article II. Membership

Section 1. All nominees for active membership shall be regularly enrolled as students of Madrid High School.

Section 2. All active members must have participated in at least two (2) full-length plays, and have earned a minimum of ten (10) points, i.e., 100 hours of superior work. Also, active members must be enrolled in grades 9-12.

Section 3. Final authority concerning membership requirements shall be vested in the troupe sponsor.

Section 4. Honorary membership may be granted to adults for extraordinary and worthy assistance in the promotion of the theatre in the school and the community.

Article III. Officers

Section 1. Madrid High School Troupe #6257 shall elect officers once a year in the first full month of the school term at a regular business meeting.

Section 2. Requirements for all elected officers are as follows: Each student must be an active member of the troupe for at least one school year and at the time of the election must be enrolled at grades 9-12.

Section 3. If not an elected officer, a Stage Manager will be appointed by the theatre director/sponsor and will serve during the current production.

Section 4. The elected officers are to have the following duties:

President

	Presides at All Meetings
	Appoints all Standing & Special Committees
	Directs & Supervises Troupe Activities

Vice-President

	Presides in absence of President
	Responsible for Induction of New Members

Secretary

	Keeps Records of Meetings
	Attends to Troupe Correspondence
	Keeps Point Records of All Activities

Treasurer

	Keeps The Troupe’s Books/ Pays Bills
	May Act as Business Manager of Troupe Productions

Section 5. The duties of the sponsor will be to oversee all troupe activities, to be the final authority in selection of new members and to be the guide and inspiration of the group.

Section 6. The Board of Directors shall be composed of the sponsor, all elected officers, and any honorary members appointed by the sponsor.

Article IV. Meetings and attendance

Section 1. Meetings shall be held once a month, usually after school hours.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the sponsor, any officer, or by a quorum.

Section 3. A quorum shall be fifty percent of the active membership and must include two officers.

Section 4. Any member who is absent four meetings per school year, four rehearsals during a current production, unless they have an excuse considered valid by the sponsor or who does not participate in a current production, which would earn one or more points, shall be dropped from active membership. Any member who causes deliberate dissension, which would disrupt the workings of any production or business meetings, shall be dropped from active membership by a vote of two thirds of the membership with the consent of the sponsor. Any member requesting readmittance after suspension must have the consent of the sponsor and two thirds of the membership.

Article V. Dues, etc.

Section 1. There shall be no dues for the troupe except as provided by the International Thespian Society Board of Trustees, unless determined by a two thirds vote of the membership at the regularly yearly election.

Article VI. Amendments

Section 1. All amendments to this constitution must have the vote of two thirds of the troupe membership. This constitution and its amendments shall be subject to change according to any or all requirements of the International Thespian Society.

BYLAWS.

Article I. Attendance

Section 1. Late arrival to or leaving early from meetings or rehearsals without a reason considered valid by the theatre director/sponsor will be demerited. Three such offenses will be counted as an absence from a meeting without excuse.

Section 2. Regular after—school meetings will begin at 4 p.m. and evening meetings at 7 p.m. unless special notice be posted as to the change of time.

Section 3. Irregular attendance indicates a lack of interest; therefore any member absent four (4) meetings per school year without a written excuse submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer, Stage Manager, or sponsor the day of, or after the scheduled meetings shall be automatically suspended from the active roll or membership.

Section 4. Attendance shall be considered in the point award system.

Section 5. Absences shall accumulate for only one school year at a time.

Article II. Inductions

Section 1. Inductions shall be held once each year, or as often as deemed necessary by the sponsor.

Section 2. The time and place of induction as well as the form will be determined by the sponsor.

Section 3. The Vice-President will be held responsible for the training of the speakers of the induction ceremony, must schedule and rehearse said speakers, as well as take care of the preparation of the stage and induction properties.

Article III. Troupe Activities

Section 1. The troupe is not a secret organization, so faculty and students interested in theatre, as well as honorary members and alumni, shall be invited to its meetings.

Section 2. At least one business meeting of Troupe #6257 shall include an open invitation to all students for the purpose of playing theatre games and creating improvisations.

Section 3. The troupe shall sponsor at least one “Good Neighbor” program a year for the purpose of establishing good relationships with nearby dramatic groups.

Section 4.The troupe shall cooperate with all other departments and clubs within the school in helping the school in helping them with their programs in any way it can.

Article IV. Point award system

Section 1. The theatre director/sponsor will determine the exact number of points to be awarded in all theatrical and non-theatrical participation.

Section 2. Points will be awarded as suggested by the point system of the International Thespian Society.

Article V. Elections

Section 1. Officers shall be elected at a business meeting in the month of February for the coming fall term. All officers for the 2002-03 school year shall be elected within one month after adoption of Troupe #6257 constitution.

Section 2. No nominations will be taken, all offices will be write-in candidacies.

Section 3. Voting will be done by secret written ballot.

Section 4. Three members, including one officer, may request, in writing, to the sponsor, a recall election of all or any elected officers. This written request must state the need for such an election. A special meeting will be scheduled within five school days upon receipt of the request, for the purpose of voting on whether or not a recall election is necessary. Two thirds of the membership is required to mandate a recall election. If a recall election is necessary, election of officers will follow the procedure set in Article V. Section 2.

Article VI. Installations

Section 1. Officers shall be installed at the last social or program meeting of the school term.

Article VII. Adoption

Section 1. Two thirds of the current voting members is needed for adoption of this constitution.

Article VIII. Class Representatives

Section 1. Each grade shall have one elected representative. Said representatives will be elected the first business meeting of the school year. Representatives for the 2002-03 school year shall be elected prior to the September 24^th meeting.

Section 2. The duties of each representative will be to distribute newsletters, collect membership money from classmates, inform his/her grade of any new information, and aid any officer if requested to do so.

Article IX. Conflict Resolution

Section 1. In the event issues/conflicts arise between a Thespian and a Sponsor which can not be solved through communication between the two parties, the issue should be resolved by the school administration.