ARTICLE I – NAME

This organization shall be known as the Richland Area Band Boosters, known herein and elsewhere as RABB.

 

ARTICLE II – PURPOSES

This association is organized exclusively for charitable and/or educational purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

The purposes of the organization, in accordance with the philosophy of the Birdville Independent School District, are as follows:

A. To promote parental understanding of the students’ activities, opportunities, and objectives in the band program. (The program shall refer to and encompass marching band, concert bands, jazz band, percussion and color guard activities.)

B. To secure closer contact between parents, students and band directors.

C. To foster closer ties between parents of younger students and parents of high school students.

D. To promote music culture in the community by fostering concert attendance and public support of band activities thereby rendering moral support to the students.

E. To render financial aid in areas necessary for realizing the objectives of the Richland Area Bands.

 

ARTICLE Ill – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 – Any person or family with special interest in the Richland Area Bands upon payment of dues as herein provided, may become members of RABB.

Section 2 – Commercial memberships may be available to firms that make contributions.

 

ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 – Regular meetings shall be held a minimum of two times per school year. The dates shall be set by the executive board according to the needs of the RABB in a given year and notice will be given at least 15 days prior.

Section 2 – A quorum for general membership meetings shall be at least 20 dues paid members or 10% of current membership, whichever is lower.

 

ARTICLE V – ELECTIONS

Section 1 – The nominating committee as described in Article VIII, Section 4(a), shall prepare a list of nominees to be made available to the general membership through the regular publicity channels of the association at least fifteen (15) days before the general election meeting.

Section 2 – The nominating committee shall nominate at least one eligible person for each office to be elected at the final general membership meeting of the fiscal year. Additional nominees may be made from the floor. If there is more than one nominee for any one office, the outcome will be determined by a simple majority vote by secret ballot. Results will be collected and tallied by two committee members including the chairperson and verified by a band director. The elected nominees will be announced through the regular publicity channels of the association on the first business day following the final general membership meeting. Only those persons who have signified their consent to serve if elected shall be nominated for or elected to such office. Each existing officer shall serve until their successor is duly elected.

 

ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS & THEIR DUTIES

Section 1 – Officers of RABB shall consist of the president, first vice-president (Aide to President), second vice-president (Membership), third vice-president (Fundraising), fourth vice-president (Equipment), fifth vice-president (Communications), secretary, treasurer, special projects, hospitality, promotions, volunteers, chaperones, and uniforms.

Section 2 – Newly elected officers will begin their duties on July 1st. If a vacancy occurs in any office, with the exception of the president, the executive board has the authority, by majority vote, to replace the open office with a new officer. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the president, the office shall be filled by the first vice-president.

Section 3 – All officers shall be limited to two consecutive terms in one office unless otherwise approved by the nominating committee and executive board.

Section 4 – It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings, to appoint all special committees not otherwise provided for, and to be an ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 5 – The first vice-president shall, in the absence of the president, preside at all meetings of the executive board and the general body. He/she shall act as the president’s aide in all activities.

Section 6 – The second vice-president shall act as chairperson of the membership committee, shall sponsor membership enrollment campaigns, and, with the secretary, keep an accurate record of membership.

Section 7 – The third vice-president shall serve as the fundraising chairperson. He/she shall, with the approval and assistance of the executive board, suggest and supervise to their completion the fund-raising projects undertaken by the RABB.

Section 8 – The fourth vice-president shall serve as the band equipment coordinator. He/she will supervise the movement of specified band equipment to selected band functions, and will be responsible for ensuring the proper maintenance and storage of all physical property owned by RABB.

Section 9 – The fifth vice-president shall oversee all communications activities including website, publicity, electronic and print communications.

Section 10 – The secretary shall keep records of all meetings of the general membership and of the executive board, conduct the correspondence of the RABB and perform such other duties as may be delegated to him/her.

Section 11 – The treasurer shall receive all monies of the organization, shall keep accurate records of receipts and expenditures, and shall pay out funds only as authorized by the organization. The treasurer shall present a statement of each account at every meeting of RABB and at other times when requested by the organization. The treasurer is responsible for timely tax filings as may be required.

Section 12 – The parliamentarian shall be a non-voting appointee and shall interpret to the membership of the question of procedure not specifically stated in the bylaws, using Robert’ s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, as the authority.

Section 13 – Any of the above officers shall have the authority to conduct a regular monthly meeting with seniority in the order named in the paragraphs above.

Section 14 – Qualification of Officers – All elected officers must be RABB members in good standing. The President and 1st Vice-President must be members of RABB for at least one year.

 

ARTICLE VII – EXECUTIVE BOARD DUTIES

Section 1 – The following elected officers shall constitute the voting members of the Executive Board: president, first vice­president (Aide to President), second vice-president (Membership), third vice-president (Fundraising), fourth vice­president (Equipment), fifth vice-president (Communications), secretary, treasurer, and special projects. The head band director and fine arts director of Birdville Independent School District shall serve on the executive board as an ex-officio member, without vote.

Section 2 – The executive board shall have the power to transact in the interim of all general membership meetings all business not otherwise provided for in the bylaws, except that of modifying any action taken by the general body.

Section 3 – The executive board shall normally meet once per month, but the president shall have the authority to cancel a meeting if none is needed, or to call special meetings if needed. A meeting of the executive board can be called by any two other officers or by the head band director.

Section 4 – The quorum for executive board meetings is a simple majority of the executive board voting membership.

Section 5 – Any elected officer who misses two or more consecutive regular meetings in a row may be considered resigned from their position by the board.

 

ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES & APPOINTEES

Section 1 – There shall be the following appointees for the following program areas: Color Guard, section parents, Percussion and Nurse. Other appointees may be added as needed.

Section 2 – Appointees may determine that the area of responsibility requires the addition of an assistant and/or committee members. Membership of each committee is at the discretion of the committee chairperson and does not require executive board approval. Appointees are not considered part of the Executive Board. Appointed special committees shall have a special charter and time for completion of its project.

Section 3 – The appointed positions shall be selected by the Executive board with input from the band directors as appropriate. Appointees are not part of the executive board, nor voting members, unless they are already members of the executive board.

Section 4 – There shall be the following special committees: nominating, auditing, budget, scholarships and bylaws.
(a) The nominating committee of five (5) members shall be appointed no later than September 15th annually. It shall consist of at least one, but not more than two, members of the execute board. After observing prospective candidates for the bulk of the year, the committee shall nominate a slate as provided in Article V. No member of the nominating committee shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms or serve as nominating committee chairperson for more than a single term.

(b) The budget committee is defined as the President, 3rd Vice-President (Fundraising), Treasurer and the head band directors of the high school. The committee shall meet in the summer and propose the budget to be read and approved at the first general membership meeting of the fiscal year.

(c) The auditing committee of three (3) members shall review the RABB books by September 15th annually.

(d) The Scholarship Chair is appointed by the Executive Board to administer the program. He/she will arrange for three independent people to serve on the selection committee who are not affiliated with Band or Richland High School to judge applications and select winners according to set guidelines.

(e) The bylaws committee shall periodically review the RABB bylaws and make recommendations for updates as needed.

(f) The president and head band directors may serve as ex-officio members of all committees except scholarship.

 

ARTICLE IX – FINANCIAL STRUCTURE

Section 1 – The fiscal year shall begin on July 1st and end on June 30th.

Section 2 – Income may be secured from membership fees, grants, gifts, donations, and projects. The executive board shall have the authority and obligation to periodically evaluate and set rates for membership fees, and make adjustments not requiring an amendment to the bylaws.

Section 3 – All monies shall be placed in a unified general fund or an approved special account, a portion of which may be placed in a savings account at the discretion of the executive board. Additional checking accounts may be opened and limited for a specific purpose upon simple majority of the Executive Board. All bills shall be paid by check signed by the treasurer and either the president or first vice-president.

Section 4 – Expenditures shall be based on the budget requested by the band directors, submitted by the budget committee, and approved by the general membership. If, during the year, an amendment to the budget is needed, it must be approved by the general membership at a regular meeting. This flexibility clause further provides that funds designated for one purpose may, with a simple majority of the executive board, be re-designated for new purposes.

Section 5 – Donations: For any cash donations with restrictions, as well as all non-cash donations, the executive board must vote to accept the donation.

Section 6 – Student based fundraisers that are not affiliated with RABB must be approved according to district guidelines. Funds shall not be collected or held by RABB.

Section 7 – All funds, shall be deposited in the general fund with the expenditures going toward the fulfillment of the total RABB budget to coincide with Section 4.

Section 8 – The financial records shall be reviewed by the auditing committee after the end of the fiscal year. Review results shall be presented to the executive board and made available to the general membership.

 

ARTICLE X – FINANCIAL POLICIES

Section 1 – No part of the net earnings of RABB shall be used for the benefit of, or distributed to, its members, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments in the furtherance of the purposes set forth in ARTICLE II.

Section 2 – No part of the net earnings of the association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to its members or officers. No substantial part of the activities of the association shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the association shall not participate in, or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Section 3 – Not withstanding any other provision of these articles, the association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an association exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an association, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Upon the dissolution of the association, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state of local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the Principal office of the association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

 

ARTICLE XI – AFFILIATION

Section 1 – This organization, although not officially affiliated with any other organization of adults in the school system, shall recognize the need for unity in the school, and through its aid to the bands support the other activities in the school.

Section 2 – RABB may not supersede, nor be subordinate to, any other ‘booster’ organization.

 

ARTICLE XII – LINE OF AUTHORITY

The final authority in student involved policy or decision-making must rest with the head high school band director, fine arts director and the administration of the Birdville Independent School District.

 

ARTICLE XIII – RULES OF ORDER

Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the authority on all questions of procedure not specifically stated in the bylaws.

 

ARTICLE XIV – AMENDMENTS

Section 1 – Any proposed amendment to or revision of these bylaws is to be presented first to the executive board and approved by a two-thirds majority of the executive board. A copy may then be introduced at a general membership meeting or made available to the general membership through the regular communications channels 15 days prior to a general membership meeting and approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the general membership present at that meeting.

Section 2 -These revised bylaws shall be effective immediately upon approval.

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