Texas Choral Directors Association Constitution

Revised and Approved December 2023

ARTICLE I   Name

The name of this organization shall be the Texas Choral Directors Association; an Affiliated State Association of the American Choral Directors Association; henceforth referred to in this constitution as the TCDA.

ARTICLE II   Purpose

The purpose of the TCDA shall be to secure and to maintain statewide cooperation within the choral directing profession in order:

A.    To achieve the highest standards of education through the medium of choral music

B.    To improve the professional status of choral directors

C.    To promote cultural, intellectual, material, social, and civic interests within the profession

D.    To create statewide good will, good fellowship, and a fraternal spirit

E.    To promote events and programs that include opportunities for professional development of both choral directors and choristers.

F.    To foster and promote membership in and activities of the American Choral Directors Association.

ARTICLE III   Membership

Membership in the TCDA shall be classified as follows:

A.     TCDA-ACDA Active Membership:  Any person who is actively engaged as a teacher, director, consultant, or supervisor of choral music, who lives and works in Texas, who desires to partake of and enhance the purpose of the TCDA, who pays the prescribed dues, and who after proper application procedures is accepted as an Active Member in the American Choral Directors Association, may become a full Active member.

B.    TCDA Active Membership:  Any person who is actively engaged as a teacher, director, consultant, or supervisor of choral music, who lives and works in Texas, who desires to partake of or enhance the purposes of the TCDA, who pays the prescribed dues may become a TCDA Active Member.

C.    TCDA Student Membership:  Any student who is actively enrolled in a choral music program at an accredited junior college, college, or university, , who lives and works in Texas, who desires to partake of or enhance the purposes of the TCDA, and who pays the prescribed dues may become a Student Member.

D.    TCDA Associate Membership:  Any person who is interested in the objectives of the TCDA is eligible for Associate Membership.  Privileges accorded the Associate Member shall be the same as those for the Active Member, except for voting and the right to hold office in the TCDA.  Transfer of an Associate Member to Active may be made upon compliance with the requirements and procedures for Active Membership.  Any person who pays the prescribed dues after proper application procedures may become an Associate Member.

E.    TCDA Retired Membership:  Any person who is retired from the teaching, directing, consulting or supervising of choral music, who desires to partake of or enhance the purposes of the TCDA and who pays the prescribed dues may become a TCDA Retired member.

F.    TCDA Sustaining Membership:  Any institution of faith or learning, any commercial concern whose products pertain to choral music activities, shall become a Sustaining Member of the TCDA upon payment of the prescribed dues.

G.    TCDA Life Membership:  Any Active Member who has served a term as the president of the TCDA will be extended the privilege of Life Membership in the TCDA.  Past presidents of the TCDA will have the TCDA membership dues and registration fees waived.

H.    TCDA Honorary Membership:  Any person whom the TCDA wishes to honor or whose counsel is desired, or who has retired from active directing for any reason, and who by his deeds and actions evidences a profound and sympathetic interest in the welfare of the TCDA, may become a non-voting Honorary Member upon recommendation of the TCDA Board of Directors.  

I.    Privileges of voting and serving as an officer are accorded to the TCDA-ACDA Active, TCDA Active, TCDA Retired and TCDA Life Members only.

ARTICLE IV   Organization

A.     This organization shall be constituted as a non-profit, educational organization.

B.    The fundamental authority and responsibility of the TCDA shall reside in the corporate active, life and retired membership and shall be exercised by the vote of each individual member, by representative legislative powers vested in the Board of directors, and by the executive powers delegated to the officers.  

C.    Neither the Board of Directors, nor any member thereof, nor any appointed officer or representative of the TCDA, nor any member shall be required to accept financial responsibility for duly authorized activities of the TCDA carried on in good faith and in pursuit of the purposes and activities prescribed or authorized by the Constitution.

ARTICLE V   Dues and Fees

A.    TCDA Active Membership - $50.00 per year

B.    TCDA Student Membership - $20.00 per year

C.    TCDA Associate Membership - $50.00 per year

D.    TCDA Retired Membership - $25.00 per year

E.    TCDA Sustaining Membership for Exhibitor and/or Advertiser - $80.00 per year. Non-Exhibitor/Advertiser - $250.00 per year.

F.    Registration fee for any TCDA event shall be set by the Board of Directors

G.    The annual period for which payment of the membership dues shall be applied shall be January 1 – December 31.

ARTICLE VI   Officers

Officers of the TCDA shall be:  President, President-Elect, High School Division Vice President, Middle School/Junior High Division Vice President, Elementary Division Vice President, Worship & Community Vice President, College & New Professionals Vice President, Secretary, Special Projects & Public Relations Vice President and Immediate Past President and Executive Director, ex officio.

ARTICLE VII   Nominations and Election to Office

A.    Nomination Procedures:

1.    The governance committee will present a slate of nominees to the general membership no later than at the business during the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the February prior to the election to office.

2.    Nominations from the floor will be accepted at the Summer Convention the year prior, and/or at the TCDA meeting scheduled during the Texas Music Educators Association Convention after which the nominations will be closed.

3.    Subject to completion of the appropriate terms, the nominees for office will be selected from their respective area of emphasis as follows:

a.    President-Elect – Membership at large

b.    High School Division Vice President – High School

c.    Middle School/Junior High Division Vice President – Middle School/Junior High

d.    Elementary Division Vice President – Elementary

e.    Worship & Community Division Vice President – Church or Community

f.    College & New Professionals Vice President – College

g.   Secretary – Membership at Large

h.   Special Projects & Public Relations Vice President - Membership at Large

B.    Election Procedures:

1.    The election to office shall be a majority vote using an online ballot of the voting membership.

ARTICLE VIII   Term of Office

A.    Officers will be elected for the following terms of office:
1.    High School Division Vice President, Secretary, and Middle School/Junior High Division Vice President will be elected in odd numbered years for two-year terms.
2.    Worship & Community Division Vice President, Elementary Division Vice President, Special Projects & Public Relations Vice President, and College & New Professionals Vice President will be elected in even numbered years for two-year terms.
3.    President-Elect will be elected during even numbered years for a one-year term.  At the end of this special one-year term, President Elect shall serve the regular two-year term as President.  The President-Elect may also hold any other position on the Board of Directors.
B.    No officer, after completing a two-year term of office, may be re-elected to the same office in the following term.
C.   Any officer, while holding an office, may be appointed to another office which may be open at the time, in which case his successor will be appointed for the balance of the original term only.
D.    A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Immediate Past President for the remainder of the term.
E.    Vacancies which occur in an office of the TCDA shall be filled through appointment by the President.  The appointment shall be for the duration of the unexpired term.
F.    Any officer may be removed with or without cause, at any time, by majority vote of the remaining Board of Directors if in their judgment the best interest of the organization would be served thereby. No officer of the organization shall be expelled without an opportunity to be heard and notice of such expulsion shall be given to the member in writing no less than seven (7) days prior to the meeting at which motion shall be presented, setting forth the reasons of the Board for such expulsion.

ARTICLE IX   Duties of Officers

A.    The duties of the President shall be:  to preside at all meetings of the TCDA; to appoint special committees and their chairmen; to serve as an ex officio member of the special committees; to call special meetings of the TCDA; to transact necessary business of the TCDA between general meetings; to be responsible for the general welfare of the TCDA; to serve as chairman of the Board of Directors; to call and preside over meetings of the Board of Directors; to appoint a member to fill any vacant office occurring during the President’s term of office; and to serve as the Texas President in the Assembly of State Chairmen and Presidents of the American Choral Directors Association.
B.    The duties of the High School Division Vice President shall be: to coordinate and host all events, clinics, and reading sessions pertaining to the division membership as prescribed by the Board of Directors; to serve as a member of the Board of Directors; to provide written progress reports of the duties of this office as requested by the President; and to implement directives specified by the President and duties as outlined in the handbook.
C.    The duties of the Middle School/Junior High Division Vice President shall be:  to host all events, clinics, and reading sessions pertaining to the division membership as prescribed by the Board of Directors; to serve as a member of the Board of Directors; to provide written progress reports of the duties of this office as requested by the President; and to implement directives specified by the President and duties as outlined in the handbook.
D.    The duties of the Elementary Division Vice President shall be:  to host all events, clinics, and reading sessions pertaining to the division membership as prescribed by the Board of Directors: to serve as liaison between the TCDA and the elementary division of the TMEA and other state and church elementary music organizations; to serve as member of the Board of Directors; to provide written progress reports of the duties of this office as requested by the President; and to implement directives specified by the President and duties as outlined in the handbook.
E.    The duties of the Worship & Community Division Vice President shall be:  to host all events, clinics, and reading sessions pertaining to the division membership as prescribed by the Board of Directors; to serve as a member of the Board of Directors; to provide written progress reports of the duties of this office as requested by the President; and to implement directives specified by the President and duties as outlined in the handbook.
F.    The duties of the College & New Professionals Division Vice President shall be:  to host all events, clinics, and reading sessions pertaining to the division membership as prescribed by the Board of Directors; to serve as a member of the Board of Directors; to provide written progress reports of the duties of this office as requested by the President; and to implement directives specified by the President and duties as outlined in the handbook.
G.    The duties of the Secretary shall be: to keep accurate records of all proceedings of general meetings; to coordinate the association's social media and digital presence; to serve as Chairman of Registration for the annual convention; to coordinate logistics for the Summer Convention; to correspond with the board candidates; to serve as a member of the Board of Directors; to provide written progress reports of the duties of this office as requested by the President; and to implement directives specified by the President and duties as outlined in the handbook.
H.   The duties of the Special Projects & Public Relations Vice President shall be: to assist the Secretary with the association’s social media and digital presence; to facilitate communication with the general membership in terms of promoting the organization; to coordinate and serve as liaison for regional representatives; to assist with special events and projects as directed by the President; to work with the President to create the schedule for the Summer Convention; to serve as a member of the Board of Directors; to provide written progress reports of the duties of this office as requested by the President; and to implement directives specified by the President and duties as outlined in the handbook.
I.    The duties of the Immediate Past President shall be: to preside at general TCDA meetings of the Board of Directors in the absence of the President, to serve as a member of the Board of Directors and to provide written progress reports of the duties of this office as requested by the President; and to implement directives specified by the President and duties as outlined in the handbook.
J.    The duties of the President-Elect shall be to perform tasks and serve on committees as assigned by the President, to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, and duties as outlined in the handbook.

ARTICLE X   Board of Directors

The TCDA Board of Directors shall consist of the President, High School Division Vice President, Middle School/Junior High Division Vice President, Elementary Division Vice President, Worship & Community Division Vice President, College & New Professionals Division Vice President, Secretary, Special Projects & Public Relations Vice President, Immediate Past President and the Executive Director and in even number years, the President-Elect.  Duties of the Board of Directors will be as follows:

A.    Make plans for carrying out the ideals and the purposes of the TCDA

B.    Provide for the general good and welfare of the membership at large

C.    Transact such business as is referred to it by the TCDA in general session

D.    Establish a contractual agreement with the Executive Director.

ARTICLE XI   Executive Director

A.    The Board of Directors shall hire an Executive Director who shall serve at the will of the Board.

B.    The Executive Director shall have immediate and overall supervision of the operations of the Corporation, and shall direct the day-to-day business of the TCDA, and perform such additional duties as may be directed by the Board of Directors.

C.    The Executive Director will attend all Board meetings, answer questions of Board members and carry out the duties described in the job description.

D.    The Executive Director may be hired at any meeting of the Board of Directors by a majority vote and shall serve until removed by the Board of Directors upon an affirmative vote of three-quarters (3/4) of the members present at any meeting of the Board Directors.

ARTICLE XII Standing Committees

A.  Governance Committee: This committee shall prepare a slate of nominees to be presented to the members as stipulated in Article VII, as well as suggest and assist with changes to the constitution and bylaws, approval of which occurs as stipulated in Article XIII.

B.  Budget Committee: This committee’s purpose is to review, revise or correct, if necessary, and recommend to the Board an annual budget submitted by the Executive Director.

C.  Personnel Committee: This committee’s purpose is to conduct an annual evaluation of the Executive Director and the other TCDA staff members.

D.  Other standing and ad hoc committees will be formed and/or dissolved as deemed necessary and voted on by a majority of the board of directors.

ARTICLE XIII   Amendments

Proposed amendments shall be presented to the Secretary/Treasurer in writing for review by the Board of Directors.  Upon board approval of the amendment(s), the amendment(s) shall be presented to the membership for review.  An electronic vote will be conducted, and the constitution will be amended if a majority of voters approve.

ARTICLE XIV   Annual Meeting

The annual meeting shall be held each year as set by the Board of Directors.  All members in good standing shall be notified in writing concerning the time and the place of the annual meeting a reasonable time in advance.

ARTICLE XV   Quorum

A.    The quorum of the Board of Directors shall be one more than half of the voting members of the Board. (source - boardsource.org)