Bylaw Committee Report, September 2001

The Bylaw Committee met September 11-18 and recommended the following amendments to the Bylaws:

RECOMMENDATION: Remove Office Clerk Language

Article IX. Section 2. (b) A printed ballot prepared by the Election Committee will be presented at the polls to each member in good standing who shall sign a roster of eligible voters prepared by the President [Secretary-Treasurer].

 Article IX. Section 2. (c) The Office Clerk [Secretary-Treasurer or his/her designate] must be present at election headquarters throughout election hours and must furnish records to the Election Committee in any matter of dispute of eligibility.

Article IX. Section 2. (d) All offices of the Local shall be closed on election day and shall remain closed throughout the entire time that the polls are open.  No member or officer of Local 655 shall have access to, or be permitted use of any part of Local business offices and/or any of their facilities except that part of the Local Headquarters designated as the polling area. The Office Clerk [Secretary-Treasurer or his/her designate] shall be the sole exception to this rule.  His/Her use of his office shall be limited to the performance of those duties as defined in the preceding subsection (c).

RECOMMENDATION: Nomination and Election Dates

Article IX Section 1 (b) Nominations for all officers and delegates to Conventions and Conferences of the AFM shall be held biennially during the third [calendar] week of September of each odd numbered year at a special membership meeting for that purpose alone.  The meeting shall be held at the local headquarters or a central location approved by the Executive Board and shall be called to order at a day and time set by the Executive Board which shall avoid schedule conflicts as best as possible, regardless of any quorum requirement provided elsewhere in these bylaws.  

Article IX Section 2 (a)  Elections for all officers and the third and alternate delegate to Conventions and Conferences of AFM shall be held biennially during the third [calendar] week in November of each odd numbered year at the local headquarters or a central location approved by the Executive Board , and, if possible, a satellite location in West Palm Beach, with the polls open between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The specific date shall be set by the Executive Board and shall avoid schedule conflicts as best as possible.

RECOMMENDATION: Vacation Time

Article VII Section 6. Any officer or staff member engaged by the local shall be entitled to two weeks annual paid vacation. [In their third and fourth years of service, they shall be entitled to three weeks annual paid vacation.] In their fifth and following years of service, they shall be entitled to [four] three weeks annual paid vacation.

RECOMMENDATION: Officer Office Hours

NEW SUBSECTION: Article VII Section 2(m) The President shall be required to maintain a minimum of 15 office hours per week during normal business hours.

NEW SUBSECTION: Article VII Section 3(g) The Vice President shall be required to maintain a minimum of 10 office hours per week during normal business hours.

NEW SUBSECTION: Article VII Section 4(l) The Secretary-Treasurer shall be required to maintain a minimum of 5 office hours per week during normal business hours.

RECOMMENDATION: Budget

Article VII Section 5 (k) The Executive Board shall have the authority to approve an Annual Budget which shall be presented by the Secretary-Treasurer at the January meeting[in the fourth quarter preceding each fiscal year]. They shall also approve all non-budget expenses over $200.

RECOMMENDATION: Student Membership

ARTICLE V Section 1. Any full-time student (as defined by the Federal Government) ages 21 to 25  [registered in an accredited school, college, or university] may join the Local as a Student Member and remain in that classification until their 25^st birthday

 NEW ARTICLE V Section 2.  Student members shall have all the rights and obligations of Regular members, and shall be subject to all Federation and Local rules, regulations, and Bylaws.

 ARTICLE X Section 1. The initiation fee of the Local shall be the Federation Initiation Fee plus the Local Initiation Fee of $50.00 for Regular Members, $25 [$0] for Student Members, and $0 for Youth Members.

RECOMMENDATION: Wage Scale Amendments

ARTICLE XIII Section 1. The Executive Board or any twenty-five members in good standing may present in writing to the President a resolution to amend the Bylaws or Wage Scales. Such [Bylaw] Amendments may only be submitted between August 1 and March 1 of each year. [Wage Scale Amendments may only be submitted between August 1 and December 1 of each year.]

 Article XIII Section 6. A resolution [to amend the bylaws] having been adopted shall become effective immediately unless provided otherwise in the resolution. [A resolution to amend the Wage scales having been adopted shall take effect the following September 1].

RECOMMENDATION: Symphonic Rep 

Article VII Section 2(g) He/She shall have authority with the approval of the Executive Board , to employ business agents and other personnel to assist him/her in his/her duties and shall visit places in the jurisdiction where musicians are performing. The wages for such business agents and other personnel shall be determined by the Executive Board .

Article VII Section 2(h)  He/She shall act as Business Representative and Symphonic Representative.

Article VII Section 2(l) The President shall meet with the Orchestra Committee of each orchestra having a collective bargaining agreement with Local 655 in order to maintain a direct line of communication between Local 655 and these orchestras.  Such meetings shall take place not less than once every two months during each orchestras’ season.

 NEW Article VIII BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES:

NEW Section 1. The Local shall employ Business Representatives to represent Symphonic and other Musicians.

NEW Section 2. Business Representatives shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Executive Board , subject to the approval of the respective standing committee.

Section 3. Wages and hours of Business Representatives shall be set by the Executive Board .  

NEW Section 4. DUTIES OF SYMPHONIC REPRESENTATIVE. He/she shall meet with the Orchestra Committee of each orchestra having a collective bargaining agreement with Local 655 in order to maintain a direct line of communication between Local 655 and these orchestras.  Such meetings shall take place not less than once every two months during each orchestras’ season.