SECTION 1. The name of this organization shall be the Northland Instrumental Music Parents Association, hereinafter also known as NIMPA. NIMPA may be used throughout this document and official correspondence.
SECTION 2. The term, Instrumental Music program, as used throughout this document shall include members of the band, orchestra, and any subdivision thereof, majorettes, drum majors and Valkyries.
SECTION 1. Membership in NIMPA shall be open to any adult with declared interest in the progress and development of the Instrumental Music program at Northland.
SECTION 2. Membership dues shall be required for membership in NIMPA. Dues shall be set by the Executive Board such that no person shall be excluded due to lack of ability to pay.
SECTION 3. Non due paying Associate memberships shall be open to all adults who desire an interest in the Instrumental Music program at Northland; however, Associate members may not be members of the Executive Board, nor shall they be permitted to vote.
SECTION 1. To lend all possible moral, physical, and financial support to the Instrumental Music program of Northland High School.
SECTION 2. To cooperate and communicate with the school administration, those in charge of the Instrumental Music program and parents, so that the Instrumental Music program be maintained at the highest possible degree of efficiency of operation.
SECTION 1. NIMPA shall be a non-profit organization.
SECTION 2. NIMPA shall not support a partisan candidate nor shall its name be used commercially or for political benefit.
SECTION 3. NIMPA shall not seek to control or direct the administrative activities or policies of the Director of the Instrumental Music program or Northland High School.
SECTION 4. School administration shall be advised of all meetings of NIMPA and invitations extended for their attendance.
SECTION 5. Except as otherwise specified in Article VIII, Section 2 of the By Laws, individual expenditures exceeding $100.00 shall require approval of the Executive Board.
SECTION 1. The officers of NIMPA shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian and Historian.
SECTION 2. The School Principal or a designated representative, Director of Instrumental Music and Director of Valkyries shall be ex-officio officers.
SECTION 3. The Parliamentarian and Historian shall be appointed by the President.
SECTION 4. Officers must have a student currently enrolled in the Instrumental Music program and must have current membership status in NIMPA.
SECTION 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of NIMPA, and with the approval of the majority of Officers appoint chairpersons of all committees, and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
SECTION 2. The Vice President shall assume all the duties of the President in his or her absence.
SECTION 3. The Secretary shall keep accurate records and minutes of all meetings and attend to the correspondence of NIMPA.
SECTION 4. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all receipts and disbursements, showing each activity separately as well as a complete record of all funds, including a fiscal year-end accounting of cash receipts and disbursements, and revenue and expenses which shall be provided to the Audit Committee. The Treasurer shall maintain all financial accounts on behalf of NIMPA, and in accordance with Article IV, Section 5 of the Constitution shall make disbursements, and direct the receipt and deposit of funds received by or owed to NIMPA. The Treasurer shall be an ex-officio member of any Standing Committee, Ad Hoc Committee or other committee whose responsibilities include the receipt or direct disbursement of NIMPA funds, or planning or review relating to same. The Treasurer shall be bonded to the amount set by the Executive Board.
SECTION 5. In the absence of the Treasurer, the Secretary may be authorized by a written order of the Executive Board, signed by the President, to disburse NIMPA funds.
SECTION 6. The Parliamentarian shall be versed in the rules and procedures of parliamentary law. During meetings, the Parliamentarian will advise the presiding officer on questions of procedure in transacting the business of the assembly legally, efficiently, and impartially.
SECTION 7. The Historian shall be responsible for maintaining historical records of relevant NIMPA and Instrumental Music program activities, including the collection of files, records, and documents from officers and committee chairpersons. The historian shall prepare and maintain a record of accomplishments of students in the Instrumental Music program both past and present, in order that present and future members may enjoy Northland's musical heritage.
SECTION 1. The Executive Board shall be composed of officers of NIMPA, ex-officio officers, and standing committee chairpersons.
SECTION 2. The Executive Board shall have general supervision over the business affairs of NIMPA.
SECTION 3. Except as outlined in Article III, Section 2 of the By Laws, Executive Board meetings shall be announced and open to all members of NIMPA.
SECTION 1. The Executive Board shall meet regularly as determined by the President or Executive Board.
SECTION 2. Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President or by the Executive Board for the purpose of addressing emergency or urgent business matters; such meetings may be held without notice and open only to members of the Executive Board.
SECTION 3. There shall be at least two General Meetings of NIMPA each year between the months of September and May: (i) the Spring General Meeting shall be held during April or May and shall be conducted in accordance with Article VI, Section 4; (ii) the Fall General Meeting shall be held at a time which generally coincides with the beginning of the school year and shall be conducted in accordance with Article V, Section 2(b); (iii) ad hoc General Meetings may be called by the President for special purposes if deemed necessary by the Executive Board.
SECTION 1. Ten members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum at Executive Board Meetings.
SECTION 2. Ten members of NIMPA, plus a quorum of the Executive Board, shall constitute a quorum at General Meetings.
SECTION 1. There shall be the following Standing Committees:
(a) Ways and Means. The Ways and Means Committee shall have charge of all plans and arrangements for the raising of funds to effect the objectives of NIMPA, except for Concessions and other fund-raising projects excepted by the Executive Board. Such plans and arrangements shall be submitted to the Executive Board and, if necessary, to school administration for approval;
(b) Apparel. The Apparel Committee shall be responsible to work with and on behalf of the Director and students of the Instrumental Music program in the purchase, distribution, maintenance, and cleaning of apparel and related accessories used by the Instrumental Music program;
(c) Concessions. The Concessions Committee shall be responsible for all concessions required on behalf of NIMPA;
(d) Chaperons. The Chaperons Committee shall be responsible to work with the Director of Instrumental Music in providing adequate chaperons for all Instrumental Music program activities and the activities of NIMPA involving students;
(e) Newsletter. The Newsletter Committee shall be responsible for preparing, editing, compiling, printing, publishing and distributing NIMPA’s newsletter, which newsletter shall serve as the official method of communication with the general membership;
(f) Hospitality. The Hospitality Committee shall be responsible for organizing special events concerning NIMPA, and providing refreshments as needed for meetings, outings and special events. The Hospitality Committee also shall assist the Director of Instrumental Music as needed to provide refreshments for students in relation to instrumental music activities;
(g) Publicity. The Publicity Committee shall provide public relations support for NIMPA and the Instrumental Music program in accordance with the objectives of NIMPA. Publicity Committee responsibilities shall include but not be limited to preparing and disseminating press releases, contacting media representatives, and cooperating with the Newsletter Committee as required.
(h) Calling. The Calling Committee shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining a telephone network to help ensure timely and direct contact with instrumental music students and their families as may be necessary to support the activities of NIMPA and the Instrumental Music department.
(i) Travel. The Travel Committee shall be responsible for planning, coordinating and otherwise assisting the Director of Instrumental Music in preparation for Instrumental Music program trips involving overnight travel.
SECTION 2. There shall be the following Ad Hoc Committees:
(a) Budget. The Budget Committee shall be responsible for planning, preparing and revising (as directed by NIMPA or the Executive Board) the annual budget of NIMPA. The Budget Committee shall be composed of the Director of Instrumental Music, Director of Valkyries, a member of school administration, the Treasurer, the chairperson (or designee) of the Ways and Means Committee, the chairperson (or designee) of the Apparel Committee, and at least two members at large. The Treasurer shall be designated Chairperson of the Budget Committee unless otherwise determined by the committee. The Budget Committee shall meet not more than two months after the first day of each fiscal year to plan and prepare the annual fiscal year budget. Said budget shall be presented to the Executive Board, whose approval shall be required to submit the Budget for approval by the general membership at the Fall General Meeting.
(b) Audit. The Audit Committee shall be responsible for auditing the Treasurer books at fiscal year end. The audit committee shall be composed of at least three (3) members of NIMPA, one of whom shall be the newly elected Treasurer. Audit Committee members preferably will be knowledgeable or experienced in financial matters; however such knowledge or experience is not required. The Audit Committee shall present its findings and recommendations to the general membership at the Fall General Meeting, and to the Executive Board prior to the Fall General Meeting.
(c) Nominating. The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for presenting a slate of candidates for NIMPA Offices in accordance with Article VI. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of at least three (3) members appointed by the President, one of whom shall be selected by the President to serve as Chairperson.
(d) Constitution and By Laws. The Constitution and By Laws Committee shall be responsible for ensuring the integrity of the Constitution and By Laws by carefully reviewing or proposing amendments to the Constitution and By Laws made in accordance with Article IX. Said Committee shall be directed in its activities by the Executive Board.
SECTION 3. The President or Executive Board may appoint other committees as necessary to meet the objectives of NIMPA.
SECTION 1. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President three (3) months prior to the election of Officers.
SECTION 2. The Nominating Committee shall report at the Spring General Meeting the name of at least one candidate for each office to be filled. Additional nominations may be made from the floor; however, no member may be nominated without the nominee’s consent. Officers shall be elected by ballot, unless there shall be but one candidate for any office, in which case the election for that office may be by voice or show of hands. The general membership shall be notified of the slate of officers prior to the Spring General Meeting.
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Article IV, Section 2, for purposes of election of Officers a majority of members present shall constitute a quorum.
SECTION 4. Officers shall be elected at the Spring General Meeting, and shall take office on July 1. Terms of office for Officers shall coincide with the Fiscal Year; however, for purposes of continuity and transition newly elected officers may share duties of office with their predecessors upon being elected at the Spring General Meeting. In accordance with Article I, Section 4, the Treasurer shall remain involved beyond the expiration of his or her term in order to fulfill year end reporting requirements.
SECTION 5. Any officer who shall willfully be absent from three (3) Executive Board meetings or shall fail to carry out duties of office may be deemed by the Executive Board to have relinquished said office, in which case a successor shall be appointed by the Executive Board to fill out the remainder of the term.
SECTION 6. No officer shall be allowed to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same elected position. For purposes of clarification, the term of a successor appointed by the Executive Board pursuant to Article VI, Section 4 does not constitute a term under this Section.
SECTION 1. The fiscal year shall commence on July 1 and end on June 30.
SECTION 1. NIMPA shall establish an annual fiscal year operating budget (“Budget”), which Budget shall contain reasonable estimates of major revenue and expenditure categories necessary to meet the objectives of NIMPA. Total budgeted expenditures shall not exceed total budgeted revenues. From time to time the Executive Board shall review and, if necessary revise the Budget to ensure that revenues are sufficient to fund expenditures.
SECTION 2. A “Director’s Account” shall be created as a separate expenditure line item in the Budget. The purpose the Director’s Account shall be to grant discretionary authority to the Director of Instrumental Music to disburse funds up to the budgeted amount of the Director’s Account without Executive Board approval. Said funds may be budgeted and used to purchase sheet music, purchase or repair musical instruments, purchase or repair electronic equipment, or for such other uses as the Director deems necessary. The Director of Instrumental Music shall be authorized to disburse funds from the Director’s Account in any amount up to the budgeted amount, however prior to making purchases in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00) the Director shall contact the President and Treasurer to determine that sufficient funds are available to meet ongoing NIMPA financial obligations. If the President and Treasurer determine that sufficient funds are not available for said purchases exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00), the Director defer said purchases until approved by the Executive Board. In no event shall expenditures from the Director’s Account exceed the budgeted amount.
SECTION 3. To assist Standing Committees in planning and carrying out their duties, the Budget shall contain expenditure line items for each Standing Committee with anticipated disbursements in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00) during the fiscal year, excluding administrative expenses. It shall be the responsibility of each Standing Committee to operate within the limits of its budget.
SECTION 1. The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order Revised, shall govern NIMPA in all cases in which they do not otherwise conflict with the Constitution and By Laws.
SECTION 1. The Constitution and By Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote at any General Meeting at which a quorum is present. The proposed amendment must have been approved by the Executive Board or presented at the preceding regular meeting of NIMPA.
SECTION 2. Provision may be made to suspend a portion or portions of the Constitution and By Laws for a specified period of time by a two-thirds vote of the membership at any General Meeting at which a quorum is present. The proposed suspension must have been approved by the Executive Board or presented at the preceding regular meeting of NIMPA.
SECTION 1. In the event of dissolution of NIMPA, all assets shall become the property of the Northland High School Instrumental Music program.