1. BYLAWS of SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY MUSIC THERAPY ASSOCIATION

2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The purpose of the Shenandoah University Music Therapy Association (SUMTA) is to promote awareness, establishment, and growth of music therapy within Shenandoah University and the greater community; to serve as a support organization for the members of SUMTA; to provide to the community; to organize and carry out an annual service project in the community; to be active members of MARAMTS (Mid- Atlantic Region American Music Therapy Students) at the regional level and AMTA (American Music Therapy Association) at the national level.

3. ARTICLE I – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. SUMTA Members. A SUMTA member is defined as a student who has paid $10/semester or $20/year dues.
The SUMTA Member:
Has the privilege to vote
Must attend all meetings. In case of absence, Secretary 24 hours in advance with excuse. Two unexcused absences allowed per semester. Emergency absences taken into consideration on case-by- case basis.
Will benefit in cost reductions through SUMTA by participating in and/or helping plan/coordinate fundraisers in accordance with the point system
Is encouraged to join AMTA
Will give any information regarding SUMTA to the Secretary to forward to the rest of the organization
Has the privilege to sit as a Committee Chair
Has the privilege to join any committees of interest

4. ARTICLE II – OFFICERS
Section 1. Elected Officers. The elected officers of SUMTA shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, and Public Relations
Elected Officers:
Will attend 85% of all planned SUMTA activities
Will be responsible for turning over materials and training the newly elected individual of the respective office
Will be a member of AMTA
Will maintain professional and accountable attitude while working with SUMTA- related activities
May not be elected to the same office for more than two consecutive terms
Will give any information regarding SUMTA to the Secretary to forward to the rest of the organization

5. ARTICLE II – OFFICERS Section 2. Duties of Officers. President:
Will preside over all meetings of SUMTA
Will remain in contact with all committee chairs
Does not have the right to vote
Will call and preside over the meetings of the executive board once a month
Will call and preside over the meetings with the chapter representatives as needed
Will establish an agenda for all meetings of SUMTA
Will pass along all documents to the Faculty Advisor
Will check and balance checkbook with Treasurer and Faculty Advisor mid-semester
Required to attend national and regional conferences
Is required to give his/her signature for the official resignation of an Executive Board officer or Standing Committee Chair

6. ARTICLE II – OFFICERS Vice President:
Will undertake the duties of the President in his/her absence
Will remain in contact with all Committee Chairs
Will record the minutes of the meetings in the absence of the Secretary
Required to attend national or regional conference
Will head the annual service project

7. ARTICLE II – OFFICERS Secretary:
Will keep minutes of all organization and Executive Board meetings
Will keep record of meeting attendance
Will inform members of meetings
Will serve as contact for SUMTA
Will be responsible for monitoring points system
Will serve as the Student Government Association representative
Will sit as SGA committee chair

8. ARTICLE II – OFFICERS Treasurer:
Will collect and keep account of all funds belonging to SUMTA
Will receive vouchers for payment of all expenses incurred by SUMTA
Will report the financial standings of SUMTA to the organization at every regular meeting
Will allow all books to be open for audit at the discretion of the SUMTA Executive Board, the organization, and the Faculty Advisor
Will present an estimated annual budget at the beginning of the academic year to the Executive Board and the organization
Will check and balance checkbook with President and Faculty Advisor mid- semester

9. ARTICLE II – OFFICERS Parliamentarian:
Will enforce Robert’s Rules of Order
Will preside over the election of officers and committee chairs
Does not hold right to vote
Will maintain a running list of SUMTA events and dates
Will contribute pictures of events
Will maintain Facebook page
Will remain familiar with the standing bylaws

10. ARTICLE II – OFFICERS Public Relations:
Will reserve location for SUMTA meetings
Will promote SUMTA to the University and the community
Will advertise fundraisers and events
Will contact fundraising locations and special guest speakers
Will sit as fundraising committee chair

11. ARTICLE II – OFFICERS
Section 3. Term Length of Offices. The term of office begins with the installation of officers at the final meeting of each year and ends when the new officers are installed at the final meeting of the next year.
Section 4. Vacancies in Office. Two-week phase-out period will be held for a vacancy. Form of resignation to be signed by Faculty Advisor, President, and resigning officer. (If president and resigning officer are the same, Vice President signs.) Election for replacement officer will take place at the next occurring SUMTA meeting. Resigning officer will be responsible for turning over materials and training the replacement officer.

12. ARTICLE III – CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES
Section 1. Senior and Junior Representatives.
A. Each academic year, two individuals will represent SUMTA regionally. Individuals chosen must be able to hold position for two consecutive years. The first year the individual is named junior representative and is trained by the senior representative. The following year the junior representative moves to senior representative, and trains the newly appointed junior representative.
Section 2. Duties of Chapter Representatives
Will attend all MARAMTS business meetings
Will attend regional conference
Will be a member of AMTA
Will correspond between MARAMTS and SUMTA

13. ARTICLE IV – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Qualifications. To be elected to office or committee chair, a member:
Must have 85% attendance of meetings and fundraisers
Must be a rising sophomore or junior
May be a rising senior if internship is not occurring spring of senior year
Section 2. Nominations. To be nominated for office or committee chair, a member:
May be nominated by another SUMTA member
May nominate his or herself
Section 3. Elections. At the time of the elections, a nominated member:
Will conduct a speech to the members of SUMTA in attendance. If nominated member is unable to be in attendance for an excusable reason, nominated member may speech to the Secretary, to be read by the Secretary to the SUMTA members in attendance of the election
Must leave the room during the voting process

14. ARTICLE V – MEETINGS Section 1. Regular Meetings
Will occur once a week
Section 2. Special Meetings
Can be called by the President in an emergency

15. ARTICLE VI – COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing Committees. Standing committees are ongoing committees, which have continuing responsibilities throughout the year. These are:
Fundraising
Advertising
Alumni
SGA
Activity
Section 2. Special Committees. Special committees may be created by the organization as needed to function until completion of a specified assignment. These may include but are not limited to:
Mr. Shenandoah
Partnership Day
Benefit Concert

16. ARTICLE VI – COMMITTEES
Section 3. Duties of Committee Chairs. Each Committee Chair:
Will be responsible for calling and presiding over meetings with his/her committee
Will be responsible for reporting committee activity to SUMTA at regular meetings
Will be responsible for turning over materials and training the newly elected individual of the respective chair
Will maintain professional and accountable attitude while working with SUMTA-related activities
May not be elected to the same chair for more than two consecutive terms
Will give any information regarding SUMTA to the Secretary to forward to the rest of the organization

17. ARTICLE VI – COMMITTEES
Section 4. Term Length of Committee Chairs.
Standing Committees
1. Committee chairs will be voted on at the conclusion of the spring semester, to hold position until the conclusion of the following spring semester.
Special Committees
1. Committee chairs will be voted on prior to specified assignment, to hold position until completion of specified assignment.
Section 5. Vacancies in Standing Committee Chairs.
Two-week phase-out period will be held for a vacancy. Form of resignation to
be signed by faculty advisor, president, and resigning chair. Election for replacement chair will take place at the next occurring regular meeting. Resigning chair will be responsible for turning over materials and training the replacement chair.

18. ARTICLE VII – ADVISORS Section 1. The Faculty Advisor:
Will meet with the Executive Board twice a semester
Is required to give his/her signature for the official resignation of an Executive Board officer or Standing Committee Chair
Will check and balance checkbook with Treasurer and President mid-semester

19. ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed at any regular meeting and voted upon at the next regular meeting.

20. THANKS FOR READING YOU ROCK
(Now enjoy this photo shoot with my roommate’s dog)
(Moose LOVES BYLAWS YAY! He’s so happy you read them)