Bylaws of Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association
Adopted at General Membership Meeting
April 2, 2008

ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit association is the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association (hereinafter referred to as PMTA or the Association), an affiliate of Music Teachers National Association (hereinafter referred to as MTNA).
 

1. To promote the professional growth and development of its members by providing programs that encourage and support teaching, performance, composition, and research;
2. To provide ongoing performance and educational opportunities for students of its membership;
3. To promote and support the study, performance and creation of music and to promote and support endeavors that strengthen music education in the schools and community;
4. To promote public awareness of the value of music education for all individuals.

1. Active Membership shall be open to all professional musicians actively engaged in any field of music. Those persons holding Active Membership shall be entitled to participate in all activities and programs of the Association upon payment of the registration fee, if any, vote, hold office, and receive the official Association publications. Members who reach the age of 70 and are still teaching will receive a 25% discount of state dues.
2. Collegiate Membership shall be open to all full-time (as defined by the student's educational institution) college students currently involved in regular music study. Collegiate student members shall be entitled to participate in all PMTA sponsored activities and programs of the Association upon payment of the registration fee, if any, and shall have the right to vote, hold office, and receive the official Association publications.  
3. Retired Membership is open to those who have been Active members for at least twenty (20) continuous years, who have reached the age of sixty-five (65), and who have essentially retired from teaching. A member must send written notice to the President in order for this class of membership to be activated. Retired members are entitled to attend all activities and programs of the Association upon payment of the registration fee, if any, vote, and to receive the official Association publications, but they may not hold elective office or enter students in MTNA or PMTA competitions or events. Retired members shall be entitled to a discount of the annual membership dues.
4. Honorary Life Membership may be conferred by the PMTA Board of Directors upon individuals who have given distinguished service to PMTA or to the art of music. Honorary Life members qualifying for Active Membership shall have the rights and privileges of such membership, but shall be exempt from paying PMTA dues.
5. Institutional Membership shall be open to those institutions that have an interest in furthering the mission of PMTA. Institutional members shall receive the official Association publications, but shall not have the right to vote, hold office, or enter students in MTNA or PMTA competitions or events.
6. Corporate/Business shall be open to those businesses or corporations who have an interest in furthering the mission of PMTA. Corporate/Business members shall receive the official Association publications, but shall not have the right to vote or hold office, or enter students in MTNA or PMTA competitions or events.
7. Patron Membership shall be open to all individuals who wish to support the programs of the Association. Patron members shall be entitled to attend all activities and programs of the Association upon payment of the registration fee, if any, and to receive the official Association publications, but shall not have the right to vote, hold office, or enter students in MTNA and PMTA competitions and events.
    

1. Annual dues for all categories of membership shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall annually review and establish the dues amount at its fall business meeting and shall publish the dues information in the next issue of the official publication.
2. Dues are delinquent if not paid in full within sixty (60) days beyond the stated renewal date of June 30th, after which time members are automatically declared to be “not in good standing” and are not entitled to any of the privileges of membership until dues are paid for the current membership year.

1. A group of music teachers in Pennsylvania may become an affiliated Local Association of PMTA provided that group fulfills the membership requirements established by MTNA and guarantees on the basis of submitted membership rosters, that one hundred percent (100%) of its prospective membership who meets the requirements of PMTA Active or Collegiate membership are members in good standing of PMTA.
2. A group of collegiate music students in Pennsylvania may become an affiliate Collegiate Student Chapter of PMTA provided that group fulfills the membership requirements established by MTNA and guarantees on the basis of submitted membership rosters, that one hundred percent (100%) of its membership who meets the requirements of PMTA Active or Collegiate membership are members in good standing of PMTA.

1. A group of music teachers may petition for PMTA affiliation by completing and submitting the MTNA Local Association Affiliation Application and all required documents to the PMTA Board for approval and recommendation.
2. A group of collegiate music students may become a PMTA Collegiate Student Chapter by completing and submitting the required MTNA documents under the guidance of a faculty advisor who is a PMTA member in good standing, and by submitting all required documents to the PMTA Board for approval and recommendation.

1. The President shall be the principal elected officer of the Association and shall preside at all meetings of the Association, the Executive Committee, and the Board of Directors. He or she shall recommend for appointment by the Board of Directors all standing and ad hoc committees as required by the Bylaws or as he or she may deem beneficial to the Association. The President shall serve as a member ex officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee. He or she shall perform such other duties applicable to the office and as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.
2. The President-Elect shall assume all duties of the President in the absence of that officer, shall coordinate the MTNA competitions, and assist the President as needed. He or she may perform such other duties as applicable to the office as requested by the President and Board of Directors and as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.
3. The First Vice President shall preside in the absence of the President and President-Elect and shall be responsible for planning the annual conference. He or she may perform such other duties as applicable to the office as requested by the President and Board of Directors and as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.
4. The Secretary shall record minutes of the Executive Committee, Board, and Association meetings, maintain files of reports from various officers, distribute copies of minutes in legal form to all members of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. He or she may perform such other duties as applicable to the office as requested by the President and Board of Directors and as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.
5. The Treasurer shall be responsible for overseeing, in cooperation with the President, all financial affairs of the Association; shall chair the Finance Committee; shall be responsible for the preparation of periodic reports to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and a written annual report to the entire membership. He or she may perform such other duties as applicable to the office as requested by the President and Board of Directors and as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.
6. The Immediate Past-President shall serve as an advisor to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors and as chair of the Nominating Committee. He or she may perform such other duties as applicable to the office as requested by the President and Board of Directors and as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.
7. The Past-President/Representative-at-Large shall serve as an advisor to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. He or she may perform such other duties as applicable to the office as requested by the President and Board of Directors and as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association

1. The President-Elect, upon completion of his or her term of office, shall automatically become President of the Association. Should the President-Elect be unable to assume the Presidency, the President shall be elected, for that term only, in the same manner of the other officers.
2. The President, upon completion of his or her term of office, shall automatically become Immediate of the Association. Should the President be unable to assume the duties of the office of Immediate Past-President, the President shall nominate and recommend for approval by the Board a candidate to fill this position.
3. The Immediate Past-President, upon completion of his or her term of office, shall automatically become Past- President/Representative-at-Large of the Association. Should the Immediate Past-President be unable to assume the duties of the office of Past-President/Representative-at-Large, the President shall nominate and recommend for approval by the Board a candidate to fill this position.

1. A vacancy in any office, except that of President, for any reason, shall be filled by appointment by the President, and be subject to the approval of the PMTA Executive Committee.
2. Any officer or committee chair, whether elected or appointed, shall cease to hold office upon termination of membership in the Association.
3. All officers will turn over to incoming officers all information and supporting papers pertaining to their responsibilities within thirty (30) days after leaving office.

1. Each officer shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, except the Treasurer. No officer may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in any one office, except the Treasurer. All officers will serve until his or her successor assumes office.
2. The term of office commences immediately following the adjournment of the annual conference of the Association in the election year.

1. There shall be an annual General Membership Meeting of the Association, time and place to be determined by the Executive Committee. The general membership shall be notified of such meeting at least sixty (60) days prior to the time appointed. At this meeting, the President shall permit the general membership to bring forward items for consideration.
2. In order to transact business, a quorum of twenty (20) members in good standing, at least two (2) of whom shall be Executive Committee members, and two (2) of whom shall be Standing Chairs, must be present.

1. These Bylaws may be amended at any General Membership Meeting of the Association by a two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting.
2. These Bylaws may be amended via a mail or electronic mail ballot by a two-thirds majority vote. The date for the return of the completed ballots must be clearly stated on the ballot. The membership will be notified of the results of the balloting along with any revised amendments within sixty (60) days of the return deadline.