CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
OF THE
ELEMENTARY SECTION
OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I - NAME AND RELATIONSHIPS
Section 1. Name: The name of the organization shall be
the Elementary Section of the North Carolina Music
Educators Association, an affiliate of the Music
Educators National Conference.
Section 2. Relationships: This organization shall
maintain a close relationship with all sections of the
North Carolina Music Educators Association, and with
other organizations devoted to the cause of elementary
education, i.e. Society of General Music, ACDA,
OAKE, AOSA, etc.
ARTICLE II - OBJECTS AND FUNCTIONS
Section 1. Objects (a) The improvement of the quality
of music education for student in North Carolina,
Grades K-6.
(b) The broadening of curriculum offerings in music at
the elementary level.
(c) The fostering of a closer relationship among
teachers devoted to the advancement of Elementary
Music in North Carolina, thereby bringing an
interchange of ideas beneficial to all.
Section 1. Functions: (a) The Elementary Section shall
encourage and promote music education in North
Carolina by means of clinics, workshops and other
activities.
(b) The Elementary Section shall promote a
membership drive at the beginning of each school year
at the city, county and district levels.
(c) Members of the Elementary Section shall endeavor
to assist in the interpretation of the music program to
classroom teachers and administrators in areas where
Elementary Music Specialists are not employed.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Active membership may be granted to any
individual engaged in elementary music education in
North Carolina who is a member of the North Carolina
Music Educators Association.
Section 2. The right to vote or hold office is reserved to
active members.
ARTICLE IV - DUES
Section 1. Active membership in the North Carolina
Music Educators Association shall be the only dues
requirement in the Elementary Section of the North
Carolina Music Educators Association.
ARTICLE V - GOVERNMENT
Section 1. The elective officers of the Elementary
Section shall be the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson
Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and two members-at-large.
These elected officers will serve as the Executive
Committee of the Elementary Section.
Section 2. The term of office for all elected officers
shall be two (2) years.
Section 3. The Elementary Section Board shall consist
of the Executive Committee and one appointed
representative from each district.
Section 4. Vacancies in all elective offices shall be
filled upon recommendation of the Executive
Committee until an election for the unexpired term is
held at the next regularly scheduled Fall In-Service
Conference.
Section 5. Vacancies in appointed offices will be filled
by the Executive Committee as necessary.
Section 6. Past Section Chairs shall serve as ex-officio
members of the board at the chairperson’s discretion.
ARTICLE VI - ELECTIONS
Section 1. The Chairperson, Chairperson-Elect,
Secretary, Treasurer, and Members-at-Large shall be
elected by secret ballot in even-numbered years at the
annual In-Service Conference. Installation of said
officers shall precede adjournment of this Conference.
(a) District representatives shall be appointed by the
Chairperson when he/she assumes his/her term of
office.
Section 2. (a) A nominating committee composed of the
Executive Committee shall prepare a racially balanced
slate of candidates for the officers to be elected which
shall be presented to the membership.
(b) Additional nominations by any active member may
be made from the floor.
ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS
Section 1. The Elementary Section of the North
Carolina Music Educators Association shall meet
annually at the Fall In-Service Conference. At least one
NCMEA District Meeting will also be held each year
upon the call of the District President.
Section 2. The Elementary Board shall meet four times
annually, including the Fall In-Service Conference.
Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of
the Chairperson.
Section 3. Members of the Executive Board shall be in
attendance at three of the four required meetings.
Absences may be excused by the chair. In the event of
an excused absence, detailed reports are to be submitted
to the Elementary Board.
ARTICLE VIII - QUORUM AND VOTING
Section 1. A quorum shall consist of twenty per cent
(20%) of the active members registered at the Fall In-
Service Conference.
Section 2. (a) The election of officers shall be by secret
ballot.
(b) All other business shall be voted upon by a counted
show of hands, unless a secret ballot is requested by an
active member present.
ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS AND BY-LAWS
Section 1. The Constitution and/or By-Laws of the
Elementary Section of the North Carolina Music
Educators Association may be amended with the
approval of the Executive Board, followed by the
approval of two-thirds of the membership present at the
regularly scheduled Fall In-Service Conference.
Section 2. Proposed amendments to the Constitution
must be submitted by mail to the entire membership at
least thirty (30) days prior to a regularly scheduled
meeting.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The Chairperson shall preside at meetings of
the Elementary Section, enforce due observance of the
Constitution and By-Laws; call meetings of the
Executive Committee and appoint committees not
otherwise provided for in the Constitution. The
Chairperson shall provide the committees the necessary
information pertaining to the carrying out of their
responsibilities. When an immediate decision is
necessary, the Chairperson shall be empowered to act
with the concurrence of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Vice-
Chairperson/Chairperson-Elect to perform all the duties
of the Chairperson in the event of the absence of the
Chairperson.
Section 3. The immediate past Chairperson of the
Elementary Section shall serve as consultant to the
Chairperson.
Section 4. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all
meetings and shall furnish the editor of the North
Carolina Music Educator a summary of said minutes
for immediate publication and shall perform other
duties as directed by the Chairperson and/or the
Executive Committee.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall administer all Honors
Chorus revenues and any other monies, pay local
Honors Chorus expenses, and submit the balance to the
Executive Director of the North Carolina Music
Educators Association. The Treasurer will also submit
an expense report to the NCMEA Executive Director,
the Elementary Chairperson and the Elementary Board.
Section 6. The Elementary Board shall: (a) Administer
the business and educational affairs of the Elementary
Section and have responsibility for its general policies
and program of activities;
(b) Fill vacancies in offices by temporary appointments
pending regular elections:
(c) Plan and develop effective means of promoting
music education by working closely with all other
sections of NCMEA;
(d) Serve as the planning committee for the Elementary
Section meetings at the NCMEA Fall In-Service
Conference.
ARTICLE II
Section 1. The following Committee Chairpersons shall
be appointed as deemed necessary by the Chairperson
of the Elementary Section:
Membership Committee
Publications Committee
Constitution Committee
Elections Committee
Program Committee
Legislative Committee
Honors Chorus Committee
ARTICLE III - DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEES
Section 1. At the beginning of each year, the
Membership Committee shall provide each district
representative with information pertaining to
membership in the Elementary Section of NCMEA, and
shall request from district representatives the names of
all teachers intending membership in this organization.
The complete list should be forwarded to the
Chairperson of the membership Committee and by the
Chairperson to the Secretary of the Elementary Section.
Section 2. The Publications Committee shall work
closely with the editor of the North Carolina Music
Educator to ensure that news and articles pertinent to
the membership of this section be included in each issue
of this publication.
Section 3. The Constitution Committee shall review
annually the Constitution and By-Laws and make
recommendations for revisions and/or amendments
Section 4. The Elections Committee shall supervise all
elections to insure that only active members are
permitted to cast ballots. It shall also be the duty of this
committee to count the votes and announce the results.
Section 5. The Program Committee shall be responsible
for working with the convention committee to plan the
demonstrations, speakers and activities that shall be
presented at the In-Service Conference.
Section 6. The Legislative Committee shall update the
membership on the activities of the legislature as they
pertain to music education in North Carolina.
Section 7. The Honors Chorus Committee shall
coordinate the annual Elementary Honors Chorus
activities.
ARTICLE IV - RULES OF ORDER
Section 1. (a) Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall
govern all business meetings of the Elementary Section
in all cases to which they are applicable and in which
they are not inconsistent with the By-Laws or the
specials rules of order of this Elementary Section.
(b) The Chairperson shall appoint a parliamentarian
from the board to oversee the implementation of
Roberts Rules of Order.
PHILOSOPHY
We believe that when children respond to music, they
respond with their feelings and emotions, manipulative
skills, through intellectual means and a combination of
these.
The primary purposes of music education are musical;
in addition to helping children enjoy and perform
music, today’s teachers help children to understand
music.
Children need to discover what music communicates
and by what technical means this communication takes
place. The vehicles of communication are such
elements and concepts as rhythm, melody, tempo,
intensity, harmony, form, tone color, pitch, mood and
text. Singing, note-reading, listening, rhythmic
response, playing instruments and creating music of
their own are basic activities in which music elements
and concepts are emphasized.
STATEMENT OF LONG-RANGE GOALS
Each student will have the opportunity to develop his
abilities to the greatest possible extent through the
following.
SKILLS
1. He will develop skills to listen to music with
discrimination and definition. The generally educated
person listens with a purpose.
2. He will discover his own abilities to sing. The
general educated person is articulate. He uses his voice
confidently in speech and song.
3. He will have hands-on experiences with as many
musical instruments as possible. A generally educated
person is curious. He is interested in how instrumental
music is produced and is willing to try his hand at
making music, if only at an elementary level with
percussion, melody and harmony instruments.
4. He will be able to interpret music notation. The
generally educated person is literate. He understands
arithmetical and musical symbols.
UNDERSTANDINGS
5. He will understand the importance of design in
music. The generally educated person understands the
structure of the various disciplines.
6. He will relate music to man’s historical
development. The generally educated person has
historical perspective. He relates this knowledge to his
understanding of man’s social and political
development.
7 He will understand the relationships existing between
music and other areas of human endeavor. The
generally educated person integrates his knowledge.
8. He will understand the place of music in
contemporary society. The generally educated person
is aware of his environment.
ATTITUDES
9. He will value music as a means of self-expression.
The generally educated person has developed outlets
for his emotions. He recognizes music not only as a
source of satisfaction because of its fulfilling his desire
for beauty, but also because of the unique way in which
it expresses man’s feelings.
10. He will desire to continue his musical experiences.
The generally educated person continues to grow.
11. He will develop recognition of style and genre and
will develop discriminating skills with regard to music
excellence. He will recognize the worth of all musical
styles and the contribution that various cultures have
made and are making.
(Ernst, Karl D., and Gary, Charles L. (Editors). Music
in General Education. Washington, D.C.: Music
Educators National Conference, 1965, pp. 4-8, revised
by NCMEA Elementary Board).
PROCEDURES FOR
ELEMENTARY HONORS CHORUS
TAPE AUDITION
1. Prepare one application per student. Students must be
from the school submitting the tape. Duplicate the
number of forms needed. Students must be from Grades
four, five, and six.
2. Tape the MOST OUTSTANDING singers. Singers
with a limited range, inability to sing WITH
accompaniment or melodic and rhythmic errors should
not be included.
3. Submit ONE tap per school for all students
auditioning. Attach the teacher’s name, school, and
address label on each tape. Begin each tape with the
name of school and teacher. Allow each singer to
introduce him/herself BEFORE taping.
4. Use WRITTEN ACCOMPANIMENT only. Follow
indicated tempo markings in score. Begin taping one
measure before vocal entrance. Stop on last measures
sung.
5. Cover sheet should be attached with application form
including the school name, address, zip code, phone,
teacher, and alphabetized lists of students. Please mail
in an 8 x 11 envelope with teacher’s name, school,
address, and zip code in RETURN ADDRESS.
Application, check, and tape should be sent to the
Honors Chorus Coordinator.
6. Deadline for completed application, audition fee, and
tape is September 15, postmarked. Applications without
MENC membership number and expiration date will be
returned. See detailed instructions on application form
for new or renewing memberships. NO CERTIFIED
DELIVERIES, PLEASE.
7. The $10.00 per student audition fee should be made
payable to NCMEA ELEMENTARY HONORS
CHORUS on a school check. An additional $10.00
registration fee will be required upon acceptance.
8. Singers MUST PARTICIPATE IN ALL
REHEARSALS. Failure to do so will result in
relinquishment of the privilege to continue in this
endeavor.
9. All teachers must be present to register their students.
Teachers must also be present at all rehearsals to assist
as needed throughout the rehearsal. Please plan to fulfill
this responsibility when auditioning your students.
10. Failure to notify the Coordinator of the decisions
not to participate will result in relinquishing the
privilege to audition the following year.
11. ALL DECISIONS ARE FINAL.
12. Notifications of results will be mailed.
APPLICATION
NCMEA ELEMENTARY HONORS CHORUS
Type of print clearly. Complete all information.
Applicant: ___________________________________________________________
Last Name First Name
Grade:____ _____________ School Chorus: __ _____ No. Enrolled: ________
Rehearsals per week: ____________________ Time of Day: __________________
General Music: _____________________________Classes per week: ___________
School: ________________________________________________ Grades: ______________
Complete Address: ___________________________________________________
_______________________________ Phone: ______________________
Music Teacher: _________________________ Phone: _______________________
MENC I.D. Number: ____________________________ Expiration: ____________________*
Principal: ________________________ Superintendent: ______________________
County: _______________________ Arts Director/Coordinator: _________________
*New/Renewing members who have not yet received an I.D. Number must supply this
information to Honors Chorus Chair by October 15. Contact Reta Phifer, Executive
Director, NCMEA at rphifer@ncmea.net for information.
PLEASE SIGN THAT ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED.
Music Teacher: _______________________________________________________
FOR THE PRINCIPAL: This applicant is enrolled at this school
and is under the instruction of the above teacher.
Principal: _________________________________ Date: _____________________
APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 15 (postmarked)
(No certified mail, please)
Alphabetize applications, attach cover sheet. List students alphabetically.