Date: 27 Jan 2000, Issue 02
The Right to Vote
Periodically the question as to who has voting privileges at business meetings of the Associated Male Choruses of America is raised. This is understandable since few members of the Associated have occasion to read the Constitution and each district may have differences written into their individual district constitutions. However, the answer is fairly clear - only dues paying active singers in member choruses have the right to attend AMCA business meetings as voting delegates.
Misunderstanding is fostered when the Board becomes lax, as it sometimes has been, and allows meeting attendees to make motions and vote when they are not eligible to do so. This is unfortunate as it can lead to situations in which some members feel that they are being treated unfairly when their right to present motions and vote is questioned. This is further complicated by the apparently ambiguous statements in our Constitution that tend to muddy the waters. Let's see if we can't clarify the question of just who has "the right to vote"!
Section II of the By-Laws titled 'Voting Power' states in part "Each member of the Board of Directors, except Appointive Officers and the Immediate Past President, shall be entitled to one vote at all Associated meetings...."
The Board of Directors is defined in our Constitution, Article IV (D) as consisting of: (a) The Executive Committee (Elective Officers, Immediate Past President plus the Executive Secretary), (b) One elected Active Member (President/Governor) from each district, plus (c) Districts shall elect one Active Member representative per 100 members or major fraction thereof of dues paying singers within the district.
Whilst the Constitution details specific exceptions of persons that do not have voting privileges, it should be noted that only Active Members have the right to vote and an Active Member is defined in Article III (B) (1) as "Any dues paying member belonging to a chorus that has paid their current Associated dues...." (I think that the intent here was to indicate "Any dues paying singer (member) of ...." and if that is true our current Revision Committee Chair, Norm Goodling should take note of the need for further clarification in the wording?)
The exceptions referred to above include (a) Appointive Officers (Executive Secretary, Chorister Editor, Legal Counsel, and Historian), (b) Immediate Past President, and (c) all other individuals with membership other than "Active" such as; Life Members, Student Members, Associate Members, Affiliate Members, and Honorary Life Members.
There are admittedly *gray areas that are not specifically addressed in our Constitution and should be clarified to avoid continued debate, but the intent seems to be that the government of the Associated be in the hands of its active singing members.
Contact me if you disagree! I'd appreciate hearing your comments.
* I'd be glad to enlarge on this comment if requested to do so.
See you next month!
Bill
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