Article I – Name

This organization shall be known as the Michigan Unit of the International Association for Jazz Education, a Unified Associated Organization of the Music Educators National Conference, an affiliate of the National Education Association.

Article II – Purpose

The purpose for which the Association is organized and operated is exclusively literary and educational as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended. The purpose of the Association shall be to advanced music education, and in specific furtherance thereof:

1. To Foster and Promote the understanding and appreciation of jazz and popular music, and its artistic performance.
2. To lend assistance and guidance in the organization and development of jazz and popular music curricula in Michigan schools, colleges, and universities to include courses of study at all levels of instruction, jazz ensembles, vocal/choral groups and organizations, and ensembles of all types.
3. To involve and guide general music and vocal teachers and students as well as instrumental teachers and students in actual relative experiences in both understanding and playing currently popular music; as one means to this end, to provide encouragement and assistance in the formation of vocal electronic-(and/or) conventionally instrumented school music groups, from the middle school through high school levels.
4. To foster the application of jazz principles to music materials and methods at all levels.
5. To disseminate educational and professional news of interest to Michigan music educators.
6. To organize and to assist in the organization of clinics, festivals, and symposiums in jazz and popular music at local, regional, and state levels. To cooperate with the International Association for Jazz Education and other State Units of the parent organization in the same or similar activities at national or regional levels.
7. To cooperate with all organizations dedicated to the development of musical culture in Michigan and Internationally.

Article III - Active Membership

1. Active membership shall be open to all active, active-research, life, and partial members of the Music Educators National Conference and the Michigan Music Educators Association. Active membership shall provide the privileges of participation in all activities of the International Association for Jazz Education and of the Michigan Unit of the International Association for Jazz Education, including the right to vote and hold office.
2. An official recommendation, signed by the President of the Michiga Unit, for honorary membership in the Michigan Unit may be approved and forwarded to the Executive Board of the International Association for Jazz Education (for its action) by unanimous vote of the Executive Board of the Michigan Unit. Such membership shall be for individuals outside the field of professional music education in recognition of distinguished service to jazz or popular music in Michigan music education. If approved and granted by the IAJE Executive Board, such honorary membership shall carry with it all the privileges of active membership in the Michign Unit except the right to vote and hold office.

Article IV - Student Chapters

The Michigan Unit of the International Association for Jazz Education encourages Michigan high school, college and university students interested in the purposes, projects, programs and publications of the International Association for Jazz Education to form local student chapters of IAJE. Publications and other material originating with the International Association for Jazz Education will be made available on a continuing basis to such interested members of IAJE student chapters. One of the primary functions of the Michigan Unit of IAJE is the provision of encouragement, guidance, and practical assistance to high school, college and university students who seek to develop their interests or improve their personal knowledge, performance/improvisational techniques, and teaching capabilities in the areas of jazz and popular music.

Article V – Dues

No State dues shall be assessed. Dues should be paid through the appropriate international official(s) of the International Association for Jazz Education. The period for which payment of dues will apply shall be for twelve months.

Article VI - Officers and Executive Board

1. The elected officers of the Michigan Unit shall be:
   1. President (ratification or election of the first Michigan Unit President only; thereafter, the office of President shall be filled through succession to that office of the President-Elect);
   2. President-Elect;
   3. Vice-President;
   4. Secretary;
   5. Treasurer
2. The appointed officers of the Michigan Unit shall be:
   1. State Chairman, Elementary/General Music;
   2. State Chairman, Instrumental Music (winds & percussion);
   3. State Chairman,Vocal/Choral Music;
   4. State Chairman, String Music;
   5. State Chairman, College Coordination;
      
   6. State Chairman, Theory and Improvisation;<>
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3. All of the elective and appointed officials named above shall be members in good standing of the Michigan Unit of the International Association for Jazz Education.
4. The President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected by vote of the membership, and said officers shall hold office for a term of two years. Terms of these officials shall expire at midnight June 30/July 1 of the odd numbered years (i.e. 93, 95, 97, etc.). Their duly-elected successors shall automatically take office at that time.
5. In the event of a vacancy in any elective office other than that of President, the President, with the majority consent of the Michigan Unit Executive Board as constituted at the time at which the vacancy occurred, shall appoint an active member in good standing (Michigan Unit) to finish the unexpired term of the last incumbent.
6. Should the office of President become vacant, the Vice-President shall become acting President to fill the unexpired term.
7. The President-Elect automatically succeeds to the office of President upon expiration of the term of the incumbent President, or upon expiration of the term of an acting President.
8. The President, upon expiration of the term of the Presidency, automatically assumes the office of Vice President.
9. Appointments of State Chairmen shall be made by the President upon taking office, with majority consent of the following members of the Michigan Unit Executive Board: President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
10. All State Chairmen so appointed and confirmed shall for the following two-year term
    hold office and shall serve as voting members of the Michigan Unit Executive Board.
11. A majority of the full Executive Board present at annual or called meetings shall be deemed a quorum for the transaction of Michigan Unit business.
12. The activities of the Michigan Unit shall be determined by the Executive Board by vote of a majority of the members of said Board, or by vote of the majority of a quorum sufficient for the transaction of business, as described above.

Article VII – Meetings

1. General meetings of the Michigan Unit shall be held once or twice annually at such time and place as shall be designated by the President with the approval of a majority of the full Michigan Unit Executive Board.
2. All members of the Michigan Unit shall be notified of general meetings either by mail or through a Michigan Unit publication of general circulation at least 30 days in advance of the meeting.
3. Special general meetings may also be called by the President upon receipt of written requests from at least five members of the Executive Board, with the proviso that 30 days' notice be given as described above.
4. The full Executive Board shall meet three times a year (fall, winter, spring). The time and place for these meetings shall be designated by the President. A quorum for the transaction of business shall be a majority of the full Executive Board.
5. Special meetings of the full Michigan Unit Executive Board may be called in emergency situations by the President, with the consent of the President-Elect and the Vice-President. In such cases, all members of the full Executive Board shall be notified at least 24 hours prior to such special meetings. A quorum for the transaction of business at such special meetings shall be a majority of the full Executive Board. Minutes of such special meetings shall reflect all transactions of the Board, and shall be available to membership upon request, as shall be the minutes of all general meetings and other Executive Board meetings.

Article VIII - Private Property

The private property of individual members of the Michigan Unit of the International Association for Jazz Education shall not be liable for International Association for Jazz Education or Michigan Unit, International Association for Jazz Education debts.

Article IX – Amendments

These Articles, with the exception of Article VIII, may be amended by a 2/3 vote of those Michigan Unit members who cast a legal ballot. Notice of a proposed change in the Constitution shall be given as provided in these Articles, or by the By-Laws, or as required by statute.

Article X - By-Laws

The Michigan Unit may make and alter By-Laws consistent with the provision indicated heretofore and in accordance with the provisions contained in Article VII relative to the meetings.

Article XI – Conflicts

The Michigan Unit of the International Association for Jazz Education shall make no amendments to this Constitution and shall enact no By-Laws or Special Rules which contravene the purposes, Constitution, or By-Laws of the International Association for Jazz Education.

Article I - Rules of Order

The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the meetings in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the By-Laws or the Special Rules of the Michigan Unit. The Secretary of the Michigan Unit, shall act as Parliamentarian and advisor to the President at all general meetings and meetings of the Executive Board in matters related to parliamentary procedure, and shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of all meetings up to date and in good order. The order of business for all meetings shall be:

1. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting, their correction if necessary, and their approval.
2. Treasurer's report
3. Reports of officers and committee chairpersons
4. Unfinished business
5. New business

The agenda for meetings shall be prepared by the President with the approval of the Executive Board.

Article II – Expenditures

1. All expenditures necessary to the administration of the activities of the Michigan Unit shall be made with the consent of the President.
2. A Financial statement shall be presented annually to the Executive Board by the Treasurer. The annual Treasurer's Report on finances shall be available to any active member in good standing of the Michigan Unit upon written request to the Treasurer.
3. Duties of the Treasurer related to financial affairs of the Michigan Unit shall include those of banking of the funds of the unit, and a continuous written audit of income and expenditures. Checks or bank drafts drawn upon the accounts of the Michigan Unit shall be signed by the President and countersigned by the Treasurer.

Article III - Balloting at Other than Regular or Special Meetings

When the Executive Board determines that it is necessary to submit matters to the active membership of the Michigan Unit at times other than at general or special (general) meetings, said Board shall give notice of such matters by mail or through a Michigan Unit publication of general circulation, and shall request a return vote or ballot on said matters by the membership. Voting shall be accomplished on an official ballot provided by the Michigan Unit for this purpose; however, for convenience in certain situations, the official ballot and the notice to membership prescribed above may be printed in combination. Ballots shall be mailed to membership or published at least 30 days before the votes or ballots are to be returned and counted by said Board, and are to bear an official address for mail return. Members who fail to vote, or who vote neither "yes" or "no" on such matters shall be counted as having voted in favor thereof. Official ballots are to bear notice of a return postmark deadline beyond which ballots are to be counted as a favorable vote on all matters submitted thereon.

Article IV - Duties of Officers

In addition to specific functions of certain officers heretofore described, the elected officers and appointed state chairmen shall perform such usual duties as may be necessary to the functioning of the Michigan Unit and such additional duties as may be prescribed by the Executive Board from time to time, or by the By-Laws.

Article V - Election of Officers

1. The election of officers shall be by mail ballot of the Michigan Unit active membership. Official Michigan Unit Ballots for this purpose shall be mailed or otherwise provided not later than May 1 of alternate years in which officers are to be elected, and are to be returned by mail to the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee at his current home address or other address of his choice, this address to be made a part of the information supplied on each ballot. Ballots are to be counted under the supervision of the Chairman of the Nominating Committee, assisted by other members of said Committee upon his or their request. Ballots bearing a return postmark dated later than June 1 shall be declared null and void and shall not be counted as a vote for or against any persons nominated thereon, or as a "yes" or "not" vote upon any other matters submitted thereon. Results shall be announced immediately and the new officers shall begin their terms of office at midnight June 30/July 12 for a term of two years.
2. Those nominees receiving the largest number of votes cast by legal ballot shall be certified as elected to the offices for which they were nominated. Ties shall be broken by a special run-off election held by mail ballot as described above.
3. The Nominating Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and four members appointed by the full Executive Board. The Chairperson shall be the Vice-President. The Nominating Committee shall submit two names for each of the following offices: President-Elect; Secretary; Treasurer.
4. The agenda of the regular or special general membership meeting of the Michigan Unit held immediately preceding election of Michigan Unit officials (in the alternate business years in which such elections are held) shall include a call by the President for nominations from the floor for the elective offices of the Michigan Unit (President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer). Any active member in good standing and in attendance may at this time place in nomination the name of one person for one elective office, provided that a second to such nomination is forthcoming from an additional attending active member in good standing. Floor nominations which satisfy the above requirements shall (upon consent of the nominee) be submitted to the membership on the official ballot for election of the officials named. If nominations are made from the floor, the Nominating Committee may, at its option, utilize such nominations in fulfillment of all or part of its obligation to submit two names for nomination to each elective office. However, the Nominating Committee may, in addition to floor nominations, supply two names for each elective office as required in the section above.

Article VI – Amendments

These Articles may be amended by a 2/3 vote of those Michigan Unit members who cast legal ballots. Notice of a proposed change in the Constitution or By-Laws shall be given as heretofore prescribed.