Southwestern Region of the American Music Therapy Association for Students Bylaws

Article I:TITLE

Section 1. The title of this organization shall be Southwestern Region of the American Music Therapy Association for Students, herein referred to as SWAMTAS.

Article II:COMPOSITION

Section 1. (SW)AMTAS is a regional body covered under the constitution of the American Music Therapy Association for students, herein referred to as AMTAS.

Section 2. The purpose of SWAMTAS is to carry out the purpose and goals of AMTAS, as stated in Article II, Section 1 of the bylaws, within the Southwest region.

Article III:AFFILIATION

Section 1. Any school with an AMTA approved Music Therapy Program in the Southwestern Region that meets the following criteria shall be granted club affiliation with SWAMTAS.

Section 2. The following shall be considered as the criteria for the club affiliation:

1. A)The club must submit a constitution and/or bylaws of the                 local club for approval by the SWAMTAS Board of Directors.
2. B)Each affiliated club must submit a report of all activities to the Secretary/Newsletter Editor of SWAMTAS at or before Regional and National conference(s).
3. C)The local club must pay a sum of $25 plus individual member dues to SWAMTAS by November 1^st.

Section 3.  SWAMTAS members from each student organization shall elect two representatives. Their responsibilities shall be:

1. A)Act as liaison between SWAMTAS officers and the schools to which they represent
2. B)Must attend Regional Conference and all Student Business Meetings at the Regional Conference
3. C)Current student representatives will submit two brief written reports to the Secretary. The first one by October 15^th, the second one by February 15^th and they will also submit a list of active members from their university on each date.
4. D)For newsletter responsibilities, refer to Article IX, Section 2.
5. E)Representatives will give a brief oral report at the Regional Conference Business Meeting

Article IV:MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  Membership shall be open to any student or intern enrolled in an AMTA approved school in the Southwestern Region of AMTA.

Section 2.  Membership shall be of one type:

1. A)Voting- online (Survey Monkey) or ballot

Section 3.  Voting membership shall be granted to any student who meets the following criteria:

1. A)A member of SWAMTAS affiliated club
2. B)Paid $5.00 to SWAMTAS

Section 4. Each member of SWAMTAS will receive a regional newsletter.

Section 5. Each SWAMTAS and AMTA member is eligible to run for regional office. A student may not run or be elected to an office if he/she is not a SWAMTAS member. Additionally, the office of the President and President-Elect must be members of AMTA. 

Section 6. Each SWAMTAS and AMTA member shall not discriminate in the determination of membership of any member or officer candidates based on gender, orientation, and race. 

Article V:OFFICERS

Section 1.  The officers of SWAMTAS shall be President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary/Newsletter Editor, and Parliamentarian.

Section 2.  An officer may be elected to the same office for no more than two consecutive terms.

Section 3.  Only voting members may be eligible to hold office.

Section 4.  The term of office of all SWAMTAS officers will commence at the close of the Regional Conference. The term will last until the close of the next Regional Conference. 

Section 5. In the event that an officer should vacate an office or if the board and student reaches a consensus to ask the officer to step down before the end of his/her term, the President shall appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term.

Section 6.  The duties of the President shall be:

1. A)Preside over all meetings of SWAMTAS
2. B)Represent SWAMTAS on the Board of Directors of the Southwestern Region of AMTA
3. C)Maintain communication with the representatives of each local club affiliated with SWAMTAS
4. D)Attend the AMTA National Conference and the Southwestern Regional Conference
5. E)Appoint committees as needed
6. F)Represent SWAMTAS on the Student Affairs Advisory Board
7. G)The term of office shall be one year.
8. H)Responsible for writing reports of the region’s activities for national and regional conferences as well as all other executive meetings.
9. I)Prepare President-Elect for the duties of the President, and inform President-Elect of all AMTAS executive and SAAB business.

Section 7. The duties of the President-Elect shall be:

1. A)Assume the position of President if the President is unable to complete the term of office or other duties.
2. B)Attend the Southwestern Regional Conference and National Conference.
3. C)Assume the responsibilities for any special projects that SWAMTAS commits to.
4. D)Assist the President as requested.
5. E)The term of office shall be one year, with the understanding of a two-year commitment to the SWAMTAS Board of Directors (1 year as the President-Elect and one year as President).
6. F)Maintain communication with the representatives of each local club affiliated with SWAMTAS.
7. G)Oversee all three committees (fundraising, special projects, and publicity). 
8. H)Act as a lesion between these committees and the SWAMTAS Board of Directors. 
9. I)Must attend regional conference and all student business meetings. 
10. J)Submit two brief written reports by October 15 and the second by February 15. 

Section 8.  The duties of the Treasurer shall be:

1. A)Assume the responsibilities of monetary concerns.
2. B)Reimburse the Board of Directors members for appropriate expenses within two weeks of receiving receipts and appropriate reimbursement form.
3. C)Has the duty of ordering the fundraiser
4. D)Attend the Southwestern Regional Conference.
5. E)The term of office shall be one year.

Section 9.  The duties of the Secretary/Newsletter Editor shall be:

1. A)Take minutes of all Regional and Board of Directors meetings and forward a copy of the minutes to each affiliated club within the region.
2. B)Publish and mail the newsletter at least twice a year, once after Regional Conference and once before (November 1^st) National Conference. One newsletter, titled “Sounds of the Southwest”, will be mailed to each student representative, will be emailed to all members, and will be posted on the website.
3. C)The term of office shall be one year.

Section 10.  The duties of the Parliamentarian shall be:

1. A)To assure that all SWAMTAS meetings are conducted to Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised
2. B)To conduct an annual review of SWAMTAS bylaws and make appropriate recommendations for changes.
3. C)To ensure membership of nominees for regional office in SWAMTAS and/or AMTA.
4. D)To distribute an updated, electronic copy of the SWAMTAS bylaws to all SWAMTAS officers and to post a copy of the bylaws to the website.
5. E)These Bylaws may be amended at any general business meeting by two-thirds majority vote of the active members present.
6. F)A proposed amendment must be submitted in writing at the first general business meeting of SWAMTAS and voted on during the second general meeting.
7. G)The term of office shall be one year.

Section 11.  At the end of the term, all past officers shall meet with the newly elected officers at conference or via a conference call to relinquish all materials pertaining to their respective offices.

Article VI:RESIGNATION, REMOVAL, AND REPLACEMENT OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES

Section 1.  If any Executive Officer or Student Representative to an AMTAS Standing Committee is unable to fulfill his or her duties, including attendance at Regional Conference, he/she can notify the SWAMTAS President and the SAAB Advisor of his/her resignation in writing.  

Section 2.  If unable to attend Regional Conference and if he/she chooses not to resign, he/she may find a replacement, and may consult the SWAMTAS President and Advisor for assistance in securing a replacement.  

Section 3.  If he/she chooses to resign, he/she must surrender any records related to his/her office to the SAAB Advisor.  If he/she chooses to find a replacement, he/she will be responsible for providing the replacement officer with all information relevant to fulfill the duties of the office.

Section 4: In the event that an Executive Officer or Student Representative to a Standing Committee does not communicate according to the plan established by these Bylaws, the SWAMTAS President will attempt to make contact with the officer by email, phone, and registered mail.  If the SWAMTAS President is the inactive Executive Officer, the SAAB Advisor will attempt to make contact through the same channels.  If, after 30 days, the officer or representative has not made contact, a registered letter will be sent by the SAAB Advisor stating that if contact is not made within 30 days, he/she will be considered resigned from office by abandonment.  After the waiting period has expired, the position will be considered vacant and will be filled as prescribed by these Bylaws.

Article VII:BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1.  President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary/Newsletter Editor, and Parliamentarian shall be elected to serve a term of one year. 

Section 2.  The SAAB Advisor or his/her designee shall serve on the Board of Directors as a non-voting member.

Section 3.  The Board of Directors shall meet at least once prior to the first general SWAMTAS Business Meeting at the Regional Conference and shall conduct one conference call per month, which is to be attended once every three months by the SAAB Advisor.

Section 4.  The Board of Directors may meet additional times at the Regional Conference.  The President, in consultation with other Board members, will determine the need for these meetings.

Article VIII:ELECTIONS

Section 1.  Any student meeting the qualifications outlined in Article IV, Section 3, in attendance at the Regional Conference shall be allowed one vote.

Section 2.  Election procedures shall be followed as stated in Article XII, Section 6 of the bylaws of AMTAS.

Section 3.  Voting shall be done by secret ballot and counted by the President-Elect and the SAAB Advisor or his/her designee.

Article IX:ADVISOR

Section 1.  An advisor shall be appointed by the SWAMTA President to serve a term of two years. The qualifications for the advisor shall be:

1. A)The advisor shall be an MT-BC
2. B)The advisor shall be a member of AMTA and SWAMTA

Article X:FINANCES

Section 1.  Local club dues shall be used for:

1. A)The amount of $20 from each club to be given to the President for National Conference expenses
2. B)The amount of $5/club and $5.00/member is to be used as working money for SWAMTAS

Section 2.  All dues, club and individual, and a list of paid members should be submitted to the Treasurer at Regional Conference. 

Article XI.MEETINGS

Section 1. SWAMTAS shall meet at least two times at the Southwestern Regional Conference.

Parliamentarian Revised: Spring 2015 by Ressa Gallardo, 2014-2015 SWAMTAS.