Please refer to this document for all procedural issues
Centennial High School Tri-M Music Honor Society
Local Chapter Bylaws
Preamble
We, the members of the Centennial High School music department, in an effort to inspire music participation, create enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, and promote leadership in the music students of our school, accept these bylaws for the establishment and operation of our Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter.
Article I - Chapter Name, Location, and Governance
The name of this chapter will be known as: Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter 4273 at Centennial High School. The three M initials stand for Modern Music Masters. Tri-M is under the sponsorship and supervision of The National Association for Music Education (NAfME), 1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, VA 20191. NAfME shall have, hold, and administer all property, funds, and affairs of Tri-M.
Article II - Chapter Classifications
This chapter will be a Senior chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Members will be Senior division members of Tri-M.
Article III - Purpose
The purpose of this chapter will be to strengthen our school’s music program, help our member’s reach their full musical potential, inspire and challenge our members, and focus public attention on our school’s music program through community service.
Article IV - General Powers
The Tri-M chapter participants are limited to the powers vested to them by NAfME, the Tri-M Program Guidelines, and these bylaws.
In any matter not provided for in the Tri-M Program Guidelines, these chapter bylaws, or by local, state, or federal law, Tri-M Chapter 4273 at Centennial High School will act by majority vote of those present at any annual, regular, or special meeting.
As a program of Centennial High School, this Tri-M chapter understands that the principal and school administration have the power to veto any local Tri-M decisions.
Only NAfME has the power to amend or revise the Tri-M Program Guidelines.
Article V - Membership
Members shall be active, alumni, or honorary.
Active members are any students accepting membership in a currently active Tri-M chapter. Active members have a voice and a vote in chapter affairs. Individual Tri-M active member fees collected by chapter or state affiliates, if any, shall not exceed $20 inclusively.
Active members, upon graduation, become alumni members. Alumni members shall have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.
The chapter reserves the right to bestow honorary membership to guest clinicians, school officials, principals, teachers, Tri-M advisors, adults, or students with disabilities who are unable to fully meet the active-member criteria. Honorary members have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.
Article VI - Active Membership
A. Selection Responsibility
The Tri-M advisor is responsible for candidate selection. Advisors may coordinate a faculty committee to designate Tri-M student candidates, or they may make the selections alone.
B. Public Notice
A written description of the selection procedure shall be made available in a timely fashion to all music students and their parents prior to candidate consideration. The selection procedure shall be consistent with articles of the Tri-M Program Guidelines.
C. Candidate Eligibility
Candidates are selected from school music students that exhibit exceptional scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
Candidates for active student membership shall be chosen by the chapter advisor and/or faculty committee made up of faculty members appointed by the advisor. Candidates for active student membership shall be chosen from those students enrolled in the music department at Centennial High School. Candidates, at the time of their selection, shall meet the following requirements:
They must have enrolled in a music ensemble and/or class for at least one semester of the current school year at Centennial High School;
They must exhibit leadership, service, and character in their activities while at Centennial High School and the community (community events must be verified by a community member); and
They must have maintained for the previous semester at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA (These are the minimal requirements and are subject to change by the chapter advisor)
Transfer students who were Tri-M members at their previous school will not be automatically inducted into the Centennial chapter and must apply for admission.
D. Active Membership Requirements
To remain an active member in good standing, each member must complete 4 credits of service each semester. Service events are assigned credits by the events coordinators based on how long the events last. Each member is responsible for obtaining a credit-recording sheet from the chapter advisor prior each of his/her service events. Each member is responsible for getting a sheet signed by a designated adult at each service event and submitting the signed sheet to the chapter advisor.
E. Non-Selection
Tri-M membership is an honor bestowed upon a student as a privilege, not a right. Concerns about the selection process may be brought to school administration.
F. Grandfather Clause
Students who were members in good standing at the end of the previous academic school year reserve the right to be members of Tri-M until they graduate.
Article VII - Lapsed Membership
A. Annual Review
Members and their eligibility for Tri-M membership shall be reviewed on an annual basis to consider their continued participation in the Tri-M program. These reviews shall be done at the end of each academic school year by the chapter advisor and/or faculty committee made up of faculty members appointed by the advisor. The review shall confirm the member’s enrollment in a Centennial High School music ensemble and/or class for the upcoming academic school year and that the member has maintained for the previous academic school year at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA minimum. If a current member does not or cannot meet the academic or music criteria necessary to be considered a Tri-M member, his or her membership will lapse in good standing until the music and academic criteria are once again met.
B. Lapsed Member Rights
Lapsed members retain the right to claim Tri-M membership during that year or those years of membership for the purpose of college applications, resumes, or other such documents.
C. Reinstatement
Lapsed members shall be reinstated upon once again meeting all Tri-M membership criteria.
Article VIII - Dismissal
A. Dismissal
Dismissal is a permanent revocation of Tri-M membership without the option of reinstatement unless overturned by an appeal. Dismissal is warranted by flagrant violation of schools rules or criminal law. A member may be dismissed without warning. The dismissal of a member will be recorded in the records of the secretary.
B. Dismissal Appeal
A member who has been dismissed may appeal the decision. The principal of the school shall assign an impartial faculty committee of three or more to review the appeal. The same rules that would be used for a disciplinary appeal in the school system shall apply.
Article IX - Executive Committee
A. Primary Advisor
The chapter advisor of this chapter shall be a teacher in the music department at Centennial High School. The advisor shall regularly confirm that NAfME has current contact information for the advisor and his or her chapter and has no term limit for being Tri-M advisor. Advisor duties include, but are not limited, to:
Select candidates for membership or oversee a faculty committee to select candidates for membership
Responsible for the day-to-day supervision as the chapter and act as liaison between faculty, administration, students, and community
Maintain or oversee financial transactions
Attend all chapter meetings
Regularly review the actions of each member to ensure compliance with Tri-M standards and obligations
B. President
The chapter president will lead the members toward the attainment of the goals of the chapter and of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. The president will preside at all meetings of the chapter and of the executive committee. The president and the other officers will conduct the induction ceremony for the new members and hold an election to appoint new officers to preside the following year. The president will oversee the student board, ensure that all members are fulfilling their duties, and be in charge of communication with club members.
C. Vice President
The chapter vice president shall preside at all meetings of the chapter in the presence of the president, and it will be his or her duty to assist the president. If programs. special projects, or activities are planned in addition to the membership presentation ceremony, he or she will also serve as program chairperson. The vice presidents is in charge of maintaining the club website.
D. Secretary
The chapter secretary is responsible for all correspondence of the chapter and will keep an accurate record of attendance, minutes, and all transactions and meetings of the chapter. The secretary will create and maintain a spreadsheet recording the service credits of each member.
E. Events Coordinators
The chapter events coordinators are responsible for scheduling service events in the community for chapter members. The events coordinators are responsible for posting event sign-ups as well as maintaining relationships with partners such as local nursing homes, elementary schools, etc. The events coordinators will assign credits to each service event based on how long the event lasts.
F. Nomination and Election of Officers
During a spring meeting, the president will announce the date of the election for the board of the upcoming year. Members will self-nominate themselves by completing an application and submitting it to the chapter advisor and/or a faculty committee. The advisor and/or committee will review the applications and propose a slate of officers for the coming year and present it at the following meeting. The candidates will be elected by a majority ballot vote. New officers will be installed before the close of the year in which the election takes place.
G. Vacancies on the Executive Committee
Vacancies occurring on the executive committee during the school year will be filled on a temporary basis with chapter members selected by the chapter advisor. Temporary executive committee assignments are valid only until the next meeting of the chapter, when an election will be held to fill such vacancies.
E. Events Coordinators
The chapter events coordinators are responsible for scheduling service events in the community for chapter members. The events coordinators are responsible for posting event sign-ups as well as maintaining relationships with partners such as local nursing homes, elementary schools, etc.
Article X - Chapter Meetings
A. Planning
The executive committee will meet in advance to outline scheduled meetings.
B. Times
Regular meetings during the school year shall be on days designated by the executive committee and in accordance with school policy and regulations.
C. Frequency
There will be at least 6 scheduled meetings of this chapter per year and determined by our chapter advisor.
D. Voting
All members must attend scheduled meetings. No meetings may be held unless the chapter advisor is present. Only the chapter advisor and active student members may have a voice or vote in chapter affairs.
E. Special Meetings
The chapter president or other designated student leader may call special meetings approved by the executive committee.
Article XI - Bylaw Ratification
Bylaws must be approved by the chapter advisor and school administration and receive a two-thirds affirmative vote from chapter members to be ratified as law of the organization.
Article XII - Amendments
The chapter shall regularly review these bylaws and amend or revise them if they do not meet the current needs of the chapter. Any amendment or revision must be consistent with the Tri-M Program Guidelines.
Any member may submit minor revision drafts to the Executive Committee for consideration.
A specially appointed bylaws revision committee shall draft major revisions or complete bylaw rewrites.
Revision proposals must be passed by an Executive Committee majority vote to be presented to the chapter membership for a vote.
When the Executive Committee passes a revision proposal with a majority vote, that revision proposal shall be presented to the chapter in written form prior to a chapter vote for adoption as chapter law. Proposed amendments or revisions require a two-thirds affirmative vote by chapter membership and school administration approval for adoption.
We, the members of the Centennial High School music department, in an effort to inspire music participation, create enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, and promote leadership in the music students of our school, accept these bylaws for the establishment and operation of our Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter.
Article I - Chapter Name, Location, and Governance
The name of this chapter will be known as: Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter 4273 at Centennial High School. The three M initials stand for Modern Music Masters. Tri-M is under the sponsorship and supervision of The National Association for Music Education (NAfME), 1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, VA 20191. NAfME shall have, hold, and administer all property, funds, and affairs of Tri-M.
Article II - Chapter Classifications
This chapter will be a Senior chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Members will be Senior division members of Tri-M.
Article III - Purpose
The purpose of this chapter will be to strengthen our school’s music program, help our member’s reach their full musical potential, inspire and challenge our members, and focus public attention on our school’s music program through community service.
Article IV - General Powers
The Tri-M chapter participants are limited to the powers vested to them by NAfME, the Tri-M Program Guidelines, and these bylaws.
In any matter not provided for in the Tri-M Program Guidelines, these chapter bylaws, or by local, state, or federal law, Tri-M Chapter 4273 at Centennial High School will act by majority vote of those present at any annual, regular, or special meeting.
As a program of Centennial High School, this Tri-M chapter understands that the principal and school administration have the power to veto any local Tri-M decisions.
Only NAfME has the power to amend or revise the Tri-M Program Guidelines.
Article V - Membership
Members shall be active, alumni, or honorary.
Active members are any students accepting membership in a currently active Tri-M chapter. Active members have a voice and a vote in chapter affairs. Individual Tri-M active member fees collected by chapter or state affiliates, if any, shall not exceed $20 inclusively.
Active members, upon graduation, become alumni members. Alumni members shall have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.
The chapter reserves the right to bestow honorary membership to guest clinicians, school officials, principals, teachers, Tri-M advisors, adults, or students with disabilities who are unable to fully meet the active-member criteria. Honorary members have no voice or vote in chapter affairs.
Article VI - Active Membership
A. Selection Responsibility
The Tri-M advisor is responsible for candidate selection. Advisors may coordinate a faculty committee to designate Tri-M student candidates, or they may make the selections alone.
B. Public Notice
A written description of the selection procedure shall be made available in a timely fashion to all music students and their parents prior to candidate consideration. The selection procedure shall be consistent with articles of the Tri-M Program Guidelines.
C. Candidate Eligibility
Candidates are selected from school music students that exhibit exceptional scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
Candidates for active student membership shall be chosen by the chapter advisor and/or faculty committee made up of faculty members appointed by the advisor. Candidates for active student membership shall be chosen from those students enrolled in the music department at Centennial High School. Candidates, at the time of their selection, shall meet the following requirements:
They must have enrolled in a music ensemble and/or class for at least one semester of the current school year at Centennial High School;
They must exhibit leadership, service, and character in their activities while at Centennial High School and the community (community events must be verified by a community member); and
They must have maintained for the previous semester at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA (These are the minimal requirements and are subject to change by the chapter advisor)
Transfer students who were Tri-M members at their previous school will not be automatically inducted into the Centennial chapter and must apply for admission.
D. Active Membership Requirements
To remain an active member in good standing, each member must complete 4 credits of service each semester. Service events are assigned credits by the events coordinators based on how long the events last. Each member is responsible for obtaining a credit-recording sheet from the chapter advisor prior each of his/her service events. Each member is responsible for getting a sheet signed by a designated adult at each service event and submitting the signed sheet to the chapter advisor.
E. Non-Selection
Tri-M membership is an honor bestowed upon a student as a privilege, not a right. Concerns about the selection process may be brought to school administration.
F. Grandfather Clause
Students who were members in good standing at the end of the previous academic school year reserve the right to be members of Tri-M until they graduate.
Article VII - Lapsed Membership
A. Annual Review
Members and their eligibility for Tri-M membership shall be reviewed on an annual basis to consider their continued participation in the Tri-M program. These reviews shall be done at the end of each academic school year by the chapter advisor and/or faculty committee made up of faculty members appointed by the advisor. The review shall confirm the member’s enrollment in a Centennial High School music ensemble and/or class for the upcoming academic school year and that the member has maintained for the previous academic school year at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA minimum. If a current member does not or cannot meet the academic or music criteria necessary to be considered a Tri-M member, his or her membership will lapse in good standing until the music and academic criteria are once again met.
B. Lapsed Member Rights
Lapsed members retain the right to claim Tri-M membership during that year or those years of membership for the purpose of college applications, resumes, or other such documents.
C. Reinstatement
Lapsed members shall be reinstated upon once again meeting all Tri-M membership criteria.
Article VIII - Dismissal
A. Dismissal
Dismissal is a permanent revocation of Tri-M membership without the option of reinstatement unless overturned by an appeal. Dismissal is warranted by flagrant violation of schools rules or criminal law. A member may be dismissed without warning. The dismissal of a member will be recorded in the records of the secretary.
B. Dismissal Appeal
A member who has been dismissed may appeal the decision. The principal of the school shall assign an impartial faculty committee of three or more to review the appeal. The same rules that would be used for a disciplinary appeal in the school system shall apply.
Article IX - Executive Committee
A. Primary Advisor
The chapter advisor of this chapter shall be a teacher in the music department at Centennial High School. The advisor shall regularly confirm that NAfME has current contact information for the advisor and his or her chapter and has no term limit for being Tri-M advisor. Advisor duties include, but are not limited, to:
Select candidates for membership or oversee a faculty committee to select candidates for membership
Responsible for the day-to-day supervision as the chapter and act as liaison between faculty, administration, students, and community
Maintain or oversee financial transactions
Attend all chapter meetings
Regularly review the actions of each member to ensure compliance with Tri-M standards and obligations
B. President
The chapter president will lead the members toward the attainment of the goals of the chapter and of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. The president will preside at all meetings of the chapter and of the executive committee. The president and the other officers will conduct the induction ceremony for the new members and hold an election to appoint new officers to preside the following year. The president will oversee the student board, ensure that all members are fulfilling their duties, and be in charge of communication with club members.
C. Vice President
The chapter vice president shall preside at all meetings of the chapter in the presence of the president, and it will be his or her duty to assist the president. If programs. special projects, or activities are planned in addition to the membership presentation ceremony, he or she will also serve as program chairperson. The vice presidents is in charge of maintaining the club website.
D. Secretary
The chapter secretary is responsible for all correspondence of the chapter and will keep an accurate record of attendance, minutes, and all transactions and meetings of the chapter. The secretary will create and maintain a spreadsheet recording the service credits of each member.
E. Events Coordinators
The chapter events coordinators are responsible for scheduling service events in the community for chapter members. The events coordinators are responsible for posting event sign-ups as well as maintaining relationships with partners such as local nursing homes, elementary schools, etc. The events coordinators will assign credits to each service event based on how long the event lasts.
F. Nomination and Election of Officers
During a spring meeting, the president will announce the date of the election for the board of the upcoming year. Members will self-nominate themselves by completing an application and submitting it to the chapter advisor and/or a faculty committee. The advisor and/or committee will review the applications and propose a slate of officers for the coming year and present it at the following meeting. The candidates will be elected by a majority ballot vote. New officers will be installed before the close of the year in which the election takes place.
G. Vacancies on the Executive Committee
Vacancies occurring on the executive committee during the school year will be filled on a temporary basis with chapter members selected by the chapter advisor. Temporary executive committee assignments are valid only until the next meeting of the chapter, when an election will be held to fill such vacancies.
E. Events Coordinators
The chapter events coordinators are responsible for scheduling service events in the community for chapter members. The events coordinators are responsible for posting event sign-ups as well as maintaining relationships with partners such as local nursing homes, elementary schools, etc.
Article X - Chapter Meetings
A. Planning
The executive committee will meet in advance to outline scheduled meetings.
B. Times
Regular meetings during the school year shall be on days designated by the executive committee and in accordance with school policy and regulations.
C. Frequency
There will be at least 6 scheduled meetings of this chapter per year and determined by our chapter advisor.
D. Voting
All members must attend scheduled meetings. No meetings may be held unless the chapter advisor is present. Only the chapter advisor and active student members may have a voice or vote in chapter affairs.
E. Special Meetings
The chapter president or other designated student leader may call special meetings approved by the executive committee.
Article XI - Bylaw Ratification
Bylaws must be approved by the chapter advisor and school administration and receive a two-thirds affirmative vote from chapter members to be ratified as law of the organization.
Article XII - Amendments
The chapter shall regularly review these bylaws and amend or revise them if they do not meet the current needs of the chapter. Any amendment or revision must be consistent with the Tri-M Program Guidelines.
Any member may submit minor revision drafts to the Executive Committee for consideration.
A specially appointed bylaws revision committee shall draft major revisions or complete bylaw rewrites.
Revision proposals must be passed by an Executive Committee majority vote to be presented to the chapter membership for a vote.
When the Executive Committee passes a revision proposal with a majority vote, that revision proposal shall be presented to the chapter in written form prior to a chapter vote for adoption as chapter law. Proposed amendments or revisions require a two-thirds affirmative vote by chapter membership and school administration approval for adoption.