LOUISIANA-MISSISSIPPI
Color Guard and Percussion Circuit
BY-LAWS
As of
September 30, 2015
ARTICLE 1. NAME
Our organization shall be known as the “Louisiana-Mississippi Color Guard and Percussion Circuit” and will be referred to as “THE CIRCUIT” in the following document.
ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of our organization are as follows:
To assist area color guard, percussion, and wind ensembles financially and through leadership in achieving a means to provide opportunity for competition corresponding but not limited to the Winter Guard International’s rules and guidelines. To provide a means to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information on subjects of common interest, namely winter guard, winter percussion, and winds.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Any bona-fide Color Guard, Winter Drumline, or Winds group is eligible for membership.
Section 2. There shall be two classes of membership.
a. Competitive
b. Exhibition
ARTICLE IV. DUES/FEES
Section 1. Membership dues shall be voted on at the annual circuit meeting and posted in the Contest Policies.
ARTICLE V. COMPETITIVE CLASSIFICATIONS
The Circuit offers the same classes that Winter Guard International offers plus any classes added by the Board of Directors and listed in the Contest Policies.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
Section 1. BI-ANNUAL MEETING. The Executive board shall decide the bi-annual meeting of membership of the Circuit. During the meeting the election of the Executive Board for the ensuing year shall take place. The Executive Board shall take office immediately following elections. Also, the competition season shall be discussed and approved by quorum of the membership present.
Section 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings may be held at the call of the Executive Director or by written notice of three (3) members of the Executive Board. At least five (5) days notice in writing of each special meeting shall be mailed to all members of the organization at their usual place of business or residence.
Section 3. ORDER OF BUSINESS. Order of business at the bi-annual meeting or special meetings called shall be as follows:
a. Meeting called to order
b. Reading of the Mission Statement
c. Reading of minutes from previous meeting
d. Report of Executive Director
e. Report of Secretary
f. Report of Treasurer
g. Reports of committees (if any)
h. Old Business
i. New Business
j Election of Officers (Spring Meeting)
k. Forum
l. Adjournment
Section 4. QUORUM. At least five (5) members in good standing present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 5. VOTING. Each paying school/organization in good standing shall have the right and be entitled to one vote, in person, upon every proposal submitted to vote at any meeting of the organization.
a. Band Director/Organization Director or Director’s Written Proxy to be sent 7 days prior to meeting to the Secretary.
ARTICLE VII. ADMINISTRATION
Section 1. THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CIRCUIT shall be vested in the Executive Board to be elected by the membership. The executive board shall consist of the following:
a. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
b. SECRETARY
c. TREASURER
d. THREE (3) MEMBERS AT LARGE: 1-GUARD, 1-PERCUSSION, 1-WINDS
e. CONTEST DIRECTOR
The executive board shall be employed with the power to interpret and enforce all rules and regulations as set forth in the by-laws and shall further have the power to decide on all issues not specifically covered by the by-laws. The Executive Director will administer the decisions of the executive board. The Executive Board shall act as an appeals board for the membership on matters of a by-law nature. All appeals must be submitted to the Executive Director in writing and must be acted on by the executive board within 10 days.
Section 2. REQUIREMENTS:
Board shall come from interested persons at least 21 years of ages prior to the date of the elections willing to fulfill the responsibilities rendered by their elected office. Officers may be a member in good standing or a non-member. No member of the executive board shall hold more than one office.
Section 3. TERM OF OFFICE:
Each board member shall hold office for two years, elected at the Spring meeting and until his/her successor is elected.
Section 4. DUTIES OF THE BOARD:
The Executive Board shall manage the business, property, and affairs of the organization. The board shall develop policies and make recommendations concerning financial matters to the general membership, and in general assume responsibility for guidance of the affairs of the organization.
Section 5. QUORUM FOR EXECUTIVE BOARD MEEETINGS:
A majority of (3) of the members of the executive board shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the board.
Section 6. MEETINGS:
The Executive Director shall call executive board meetings. A quorum (3) must be in attendance in order to have a meeting.
Section 7. RENUMERATION:
The Executive Director, Contest Director, Secretary, Treasurer, Percussion, Color Guard and Winds Rep. of the Circuit shall each receive an annual compensation for service to this organization.
Section 8. VACANCIES:
Vacancies in the executive board shall be filled by the designation of a successor by a majority of the Executive Board and such successor shall serve for the remainder of the term.
Section 9. REMOVAL OF BOARD MEMBER OR OFFICER:
Any of the elected or appointed officers can be removed from office by two-thirds vote of the membership at any meeting.
ARTICLE VIII. OFFICERS
Section 1. OFFICERS:
The officers of the executive board shall be the officers of the Circuit.
Section 2. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
The Executive Director shall:
a. Preside at all meetings of the executive board and at all membership meetings.
b. Perform all duties usually pertaining to the office of Executive Director.
c. Be Chairman of the Executive Board.
Section 3. SECRETARY:
The Secretary shall:
a. Learn and use the current edition of the “Robert’s Rules of Order”
b. Record the minutes of all meetings.
c. Read the minutes of each previous meeting to membership.
d. Maintain committee reports (if any).
e. Carry on all necessary correspondence of the Circuit.
f. Make report at annual meeting and special reports when requested.
g. Perform such other duties as may be delegated to him/her by the executive board.
Section 4. TREASURER:
The Treasurer shall:
a. Be custodian of all funds and securities of the organization and collect interest thereon.
b. Keep a record of the accounts of the Circuit.
c. Deposit all monies of the Circuit in the name of the Louisiana-Mississippi Color Guard and Percussion Circuit in a bank designated by the executive board, subject to withdrawal for authorized purposes upon the signature of the treasurer or the Executive Director.
d. Perform such other duties as may be delegated to him/her by the executive board.
Section 5. COLOR GUARD, PERCUSSION, AND WINDS REPRESENTATIVES:
Members at Large shall:
a. Attend the annual meeting and any meeting called by the Executive Director.
b. Vote on all issues presented them as board members of the organization.
c. Perform duties delegated to them by the Board of Directors.
d. Act as a representative for the units of the circuit.
e. Promote the continuing education of all unit directors and members to advance the performance skills and activity knowledge of all member units.
f. Schedule clinics and workshops for unit directors and members on an as needed basis.
g. Keep unit directors abreast of any updates and rule changes announced by WGI.
ARTICLE IX. CONTEST DIRECTOR
The executive board shall appoint a contest director for all circuit contests. The Contest Director shall not have a competing unit in the contest. The Contest Director will be the circuit official in charge of the competitive aspects of the event.
The Contest Director’s duties will include:
a. Assess penalties by the penalty judge.
b. Preside over pre-contest meeting.
c. Assists with equipment inspection.
d. Oversee and complete control of the tabulation process.
e. Distribute checks to judges.
f. Instruct each unit as to when to take the starting line.
g. Instruct and direct the runners to their duties.
h. Assist the announcer on the P.A.
i. Fee for the Contest Director shall be the same as a judge for each contest.
ARTICLE X. DISPERSEMENTS
All expenditures must be approved by a majority of the current board of directors.
ARTICLE XI. RULES OF ORDER
The latest edition of “Robert’s Rules of Order” shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these by-laws.
ARTICLE XII. CIRCUIT SHOWS/COMPETITION
All circuit shows and their sponsors shall abide by the published Louisiana-Mississippi Color Guard and Percussion Circuit contest rules approved by the membership at the annual meeting. The appointed contest director shall assume the responsibility for implementation of designated rules and guidelines.
ARTICLE XIII. AMMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors and membership may amend, revise, add to, repeal, or rescind these bylaws and/or adopt new by-laws at pleasure by a quorum (3) of the Executive Board and 2/3 vote of membership present at the annual meeting, provided that ample notice of the proposed alteration, amendment, revision, addition, repair, or rescission of the by-laws or adoption of new by-laws has been given to membership.