By-Laws West Texas A&M University
United States Institute for Theatre Technology
Student Chapter
Article I - Name and Purpose
Section 1 - Name
The name of the organization shall be The United States Institute for Theater Technology - West Texas A&M University Student Chapter. (The name of this organization, or any part thereof, can be changed without amendment to these By Laws.)
Section 2 - Purpose
This Chapter shall implement the purposes of USITT as stated in Article II, Section 1 of the By Laws (National) and shall encourage the performing arts as a right rather than a privilege for all the people of Texas and especially stimulate the finding of performing talent, the training of performing artists, and excellence in technical theatre.
Article II - Members, Membership, and Meetings
Section 1 - Members
A person must meet the following qualifications to be a member:
A. They must be a student enrolled at WTAMU
B. They must have, and maintain, a 2.0 overall GPA.
C. They must be an active participant in theatre at WTAMU
Section 2 - Membership
A. The membership of the Chapter shall assess dues, as they deem necessary. Such dues are to be in addition to National and Section dues, and are to be used for local projects.
B. Payment to Chapter dues shall be made on an annual or semester basis.
C. Failure of a member to pay Chapter dues shall not affect the member's status with USITT (National) or USITT - Texas Section.
D. A member upon payment of dues shall have the right to vote in any chapter business.
Section 3 - Meetings
A. This Chapter's meetings shall be held at a time and place to be determined by a two thirds vote of the members.
B. Special Meetings of the Chapter may be called in the following ways.
i. President of the Chapter
ii. Majority of the Officers
iii. Sponsor request
iv. Filed requests of half of the membership
C. The president shall call an executive meeting of the officers if the President deems it necessary to discuss business other than in the regular meeting
D. At the meetings of the Chapter (regular or special) 50% of all voting members must be present to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business. If a quorum is not present, the Chapter will then proceed with an informal meeting at which time the members cannot adopt any resolutions.
E. Robert's Rules of Order shall be consulted to resolve any questions about procedures in conducting business during the meeting.
F. At all meetings of the Chapter each voting member present shall be entitled to one vote. All questions, except as otherwise indicated, shall be determined by a quorum.
Article III - Officers
Section 1 - General Officers
The officers of the Chapter shall be:
A. President
B. Vice - President
C. Secretary
D. Treasurer
The officers of this Chapter shall be elected by the membership of the Chapter at the last regular meeting of the spring semester.
Section 2 - Duties
A. PRESIDENT: The president shall preside at meetings and take general charge of the activities of the Chapter. In addition, he/she shall be responsible for periodic Chapter reports to the USITT Vice President for Relations. The annual report to the vice-president for Relations, which is required by USITT for annual action by the Board of Directors in order to renew the Chapter
charter, must be prepared by the Chairman to arrive on or before November 1 of each year. The President shall be responsible for the appointment of the President of the various committees.
B. VICE-PRESIDENT: The vice-president shall, in the absence or incapacity of the President, perform all the functions of the President and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him/her by the President.
C. SECRETARY: The Secretary shall act as secretary for all meetings of the members, the Executive Committee, and the officers, and shall keep minutes thereof. The Secretary shall keep and file all records of meetings. The Secretary shall notify all members of the Chapter of Special meetings and record the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall perform other duties as
assigned by the President.
D. TREASURER: The Treasurer shall be responsible for the care and custody of the funds of the Chapter and, subject to the Executive Committee, shall be responsible for depositing same in the name of the Chapter in such banks, trust companies, and safe deposit vaults as the Executive committee may designate. The Treasure shall supervise the collection of and receipt of all
dues, charges, and other money s payable to the Chapter and shall have supervision of the books and records showing all receipts and expenditures. An audit of these books and records must be provided to the Executive Committee at the end of each school year. The Treasurer shall perform other duties as assigned by the President.
Article IV - Faculty Sponsor
A. The Chapter must have at least one faculty sponsor. The sponsor(s) must be a member in good standing of National USITT. More than one sponsor may be invited to be a faculty sponsor.
B. The term for each sponsor is from the final meeting in May until the final meeting of the following May.
C. The members of the Chapter may invite a faculty member to be a sponsor only after an affirmative vote in favor of the faculty member has been given by a majority of the Chapter members. Annual renewal of the invitation shall be extended to the sponsor only after a majority vote of the Chapter members is given in the affirmative, at the last spring semester meeting.
D. The invitation for sponsorship may be withdrawn at any time provided that the Chapter members have voted, and two thirds of those voting have voted against the retention of the faculty member as a sponsor.
Article V - Nominations and Elections Procedures
Section 1 - Nominations
Robert's Rules of Order shall be consulted for all nomination procedures.
Section 2 - Elections
Robert's Rules of Order shall be consulted for all election procedures.
Section 3 - Qualifications
A. All officers shall be members in good standing in the student chapter.
B. Members of the student chapter shall elect officers and election procedures must be followed as stated in Article V, Section 2.
C. Officers may not hold more than one office at the student chapter level. Officer may hold an office at the National or Regional level while an Officer at the student chapter level.
D. Any Officer may be removed from office at a regular or special meeting of the Chapter by the affirmative vote of two thirds of the voting members, provided that it was not include in the official agenda circulated at the meeting.
E. No Officer shall receive moneys for his/her services as an Officer of the student chapter.
Article VI - Committees
All committees shall be appointed by the presiding officer and shall report to the members at the next general meeting.
Article VII - Amendments
The by-laws may be amended and/or repealed at any meeting by a two thirds of all the members either in person or by proxy.
Section 1 - Proposal for Amendment
Proposal from members on amendments must be in writing and filed not less than tech days before the meeting with the Secretary. Not less than three (3) other members of the Chapter must subscribe it. Before filing it must be discussed with the sponsor(s) and officers of the chapter.
Section 2 - Adoption of Amendments
Amendments shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the members present at the meeting to consider the adoption.
Section 3 - Copies
A copy of the Amendments will be mailed to the National Office and the Campus Organizations Office and to any members who request copies.
Article VIII - Dissolution
In the event of dissolution of the student chapter, all debts must be paid and the remaining money shall be donated to the theatre department scholarship fund or as the members see fit.
