Policies and By-laws

Policies

1 – The annual membership drive of this association ends January 31 of each year.

2 – Current membership dues are $25/family or $20/individual per fiscal year.

3 – The state treasury receives 100% of the membership dues received in the chapters.

4 – Money received for performances by chapters remains in the chapter. Money received from state
performances (Utah State Fair, Panguitch, Cannonville, etc.) is kept in the state treasury.

5 – This is an organization of acoustical instruments; non-acoustical instruments are strongly discouraged. One exception is an electric bass when an acoustic bass is not available. Individual chapters may electrically amplify acoustic instruments, judiciously, upon agreement of chapter members when used to support other acoustic instruments.

6 – State association commitments take precedence over local commitments.

7 – Ownership of property by state or local organizations is strongly discouraged.

8 – When negotiating a fee for programs, consider the event, the size of the audience, length of performance, etc. While UOTF provides many free programs as a service, a fee is encouraged to support chapter expenses. An example of guidelines would include $100 for community functions; $75 for company parties; $50 per hour for church parties, family reunions, and private parties; and $35 for convalescent homes.

9 – Members can be paid when their personal sound equipment is used for programs. Suggested guideline: $25 for local gigs and $50 for a program such as Panguitch.

10 – Various committees function within the framework of the association. For example, the Education Committee helps with the selection and arrangement of music used by the association, and directs workshops from time-to-time. A Nominating Committee functions on a state level to help with elections. Local chapters can appoint committees as needed.

11 – An historian is appointed by the board of Trustees to collect and maintain articles, pictures and other information for historical purposes of the association.

12 – A newsletter, Fiddlin’ Around, is published in January, April, July, and October. In addition, it may be published on an “as needed” basis.

By-laws

By-Laws

Amended and approved, September 14, 2002

ARTICLE I

A. Purposes:

The purposes for which this corporation is formed are not for pecuniary profit and are for educational, social and cultural purposes. These purposes include the following:

  1. To promote and perpetuate old-time fiddling and country music; to encourage young people to develop their musical talents and afford them opportunity to perform in public; to provide said young people with opportunities to improve their spiritual, mental, social and physical lives; and to better prepare them to become useful citizens.

  2. To hold jam sessions and fiddling contests for the enjoyment of members of the association, as well as the enjoyment by the public; to furnish musical entertainment in convalescent homes, hospitals and private homes for the purpose of brightening the lives of shut-ins; and to educate the public to the values of fiddling entertainment.

  3. To encourage members to participate in public events and activities including local, county, regional, sectional and national events.

  4. To encourage fiddle meeting and parties for the purpose of exchanging ideas in the techniques of fiddling; and for making and exchanging sound tapes to preserve old fiddle tunes as well as record new fiddle tunes and other country music.

  5. To publish and to contribute to magazines featuring the activities of the association and the members thereof; to honor deceased Utah fiddlers who have contributed to the old-time fiddling and country music and to the musical industry in the State of Utah.

  6. To provide meeting places for those who are interested in the old-time fiddling and country music and for all activities in any way related to or required by the other aims of the association.

  7. To do other such things reasonably related to the above listed purposes.

  8. This association is an organization pursuant to UCA 59 13 4(7) as a club organized and operated exclusively for pleasure, recreation and other purposes not for profit – no part of the next earning of which inures to the benefit of any shareholder or individual.

ARTICLE II

A. Membership:

Any person who plays a fiddle or other compatible instrument, or anyone, who has a definite interest in old-time fiddling music and who is of good reputation and character, may become a member of this association.

  1. Adult members. Any person 21 years or older, upon payment of the dues for the current fiscal year and upon subscribing to the laws and agreeing to be bound by the provisions thereof, may have full rights to vote and hold office.

  2. Youth Members. Any person under the age of 21, upon payment of the dues for the current fiscal year, may become a member with no right to vote or hold office.

  3. Associate Members. A non-resident fiddler or accompanist may become a member of this association upon payment of dues for the current fiscal year, without having voting rights and is not eligible to hold office.

  4. Honorary Members. Any person elected to membership in the association by a majority vote of the members present at the Annual Meeting or meeting called by the Board of Trustees for that purpose, may become a member without voting rights or eligibility to hold office or obligation to pay dues.

B. Membership Term.

A term of membership shall extend from January 1 to December 31 of any given year.

C. Membership dues.

Membership dues in this association shall be determined by the Board of Trustees based on the needs of the association.

  1. Function of Dues. Membership dues are to be used as expense money for the association to purchase membership cards, stationary, stamps, make phone calls, or other association business.

  2. Prorating of Dues. Dues for new members only will be prorated depending on the quarter in which they join and determined by a fraction of the dues remaining for the current fiscal year.

  3. Voting Rights. No member of this association shall be eligible to vote without payment of dues; or to enjoy any of the privileges or benefits offered by the association, including the right to hold office.

ARTICLE III

A. Meetings

  1. Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting of this association shall be held in the month of August or September of each year.

  2. Regular Board of Trustee Meetings. The regular business meetings of the Board of Trustees (which includes the chapter chairpersons of the association) for the transaction of ordinary business, shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Board of Trustees.

  3. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the association may be held at any time upon the call of the President or upon the call of the Board of Trustees. Upon demand in writing, members may call a special meeting, stating the object of the proposed meeting and signed by not less than 20% of the members entitled to vote. Notice of the time, place and object of such special meeting shall be given to all officers and members in good standing, in writing by United States mail, not less then seven days prior to the date fixed for the holding of the meeting. The Board of Trustees shall determine the place of such special meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be held at any time on the call of the President or, on demand in writing to the secretary, by four members of the Board of Trustees.

ARTICLE IV

A. QUORUM

  1. Association. A majority of the members of the association entitled to vote who are present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum at that meeting.

  2. Board of Trustees. A majority of the members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE V

A. Officers, Powers, Terms and Duties.

The officers of the association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past -President and Trustees who, acting together, shall constitute the Board of Trustees.

  1. Duties of President. The President shall preside at all meeting of the association and the Board of Trustees. He shall be a member ex officio to all committees and shall perform such duties as usually pertain to this office.

  2. Duties of Vice President. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in his or her absence at his or her request.

  3. Duties of Secretary. The Secretary shall conduct all official correspondence pertaining to the proper preparation and forwarding of all reports and letters required of the association and notify the members of the Board of Trustees of all meetings, and all members of special and annual meetings. The Secretary shall keep a true record of all meetings of the Board of Trustees and association and have custody of the books and papers of the association.

  4. Duties of Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the association and place the same in such bank or banks as may be approved by the Board of Trustees. Such money shall only be withdrawn by checks signed by the President and Treasurer, and for the payment of such bills as shall have been approved by the Board of Trustees. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of financial transactions and render a detailed report with vouchers at any meeting of the Board of Trustees when requested and present to the association of each Annual Meeting an annual report and a certified audit for his or her term as Treasurer.

  5. Duties of Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall have general supervision and control of all activities, events and contests of the association. The Board of Trustees consists of the state officers and the chapter chairpersons.

  6. Duties of the Immediate Past-President. The Immediate Past-President shall act the same as a member of the Board of Trustees.

B. Chapter Boundaries.

  1. The State of Utah shall be divided into chapters by the Board of Trustees, depending on the number and location of members in the association. The chairperson of each chapter and others as appointed by the Board shall be members of the Board of Trustees.

  2. Chapters may be added or deleted, or boundaries realigned, as determined by the Board of Trustees.

ARTICLE VI

A. Elections.

  1. The President and Vice President shall each be elected for a two-year term. The President shall be elected from the Executive Board, Board of Trustees, or should have served previously on the Board of Trustees.

  2. The Secretary and Treasurer shall also be elected for a two year term, in alternate years to the President’s and Vice President’s terms, and by a majority vote of the members present at the Annual Meeting of the association. The state officers of the association shall take office on January 1 following the Annual Meeting.

  3. The Immediate Past-President shall remain as a member of the Board of Trustees until a new President is elected.

  4. All officers will be nominated from the floor and will have given prior consent.

  5. Chapter chairpersons shall be elected by the members of the chapters in which they reside. A majority of the members present at a chapter meeting shall elect their chairperson. This meeting shall be held after the Annual Meeting and before the end of November. The chapter chairpersons shall take office immediately.

ARTICLE VII

A. Recall.

An officer may be removed from office and any member may be suspended or expelled from the association for just cause, by two- thirds vote of the members in good standing and present at any special meeting called for that purpose. No vote on suspension, removal or expulsion may be taken unless at least 15 days notice, in writing, shall be given to the officer or member with the reason(s) for their removal or suspension, and the time and place of the special meeting for which such ballot is to be taken.

ARTICLE VIII

A. Committees.

Committees as needed for the operation of the association will be appointed by the Board of Trustees.

ARTICLE IX

A. Amendments.

Any amendment of these by- laws may be introduced by any member of the association and acted upon at any regular or special meeting called for that purpose, provided a copy of the proposed amendment has been sent to each association member by United States mail at least 10 days previous to the meeting. A two-thirds vote of the members present will be necessary to pass or reject the amendment.

ARTICLE X

A. Exploitation.

No member shall exploit the name of the association or use the name for pecuniary gain. Such exploitation or use shall constitute grounds for cancellation of membership.