BYLAWS
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Symphony League of the South Carolina Philharmonic.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purpose of this League shall be to foster, promote and increase musical knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts in the community and to cooperate with and support the South Carolina Philharmonic.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
The membership of this League shall include these classifications: Individual, Family, Supporting, Life and Honorary.
A. Members are those who participate in functions of the organization.
B. Supporting members are members who provide additional financial support to the general fund.
C. Family membership is for those members who want to include his/her spouse and/or dependent children who wish to participate in the functions of the organization.
D. Life members are those who make a single payment of which sixty percent (60%) is designed for the General Fund and forty percent (40%) for the Endowment Fund.
E. Honorary membership may be conferred by a vote of the Board of Directors.
F. Dues shall be assessed of Members in such amounts and at such times as determined by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. The Officers of the League shall be a President, two or more Vice Presidents, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and Projects Treasurer..
Section 2. The Officers of the League shall constitute the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The duties of the officers shall be such as are implied by the respective titles and/or as assigned by the organization.
Section 4. The President shall serve on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Philharmonic concurrent with the term of office.
ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The members of the Executive Committee, Committee Chairmen, two members-at-large, the Immediate Past President and the Parliamentarian to be appointed by the President shall constitute the Board of Directors.
Section 2. In the event that the Immediate Past President is unable to serve,
the incoming Executive Committee shall have the authority to elect another Past President to serve in that capacity.
ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES
Section 1. There shall be no less than twelve and not more than twenty Committee Chairmen as determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Each Committee Chairman may select a Vice Chairman and others to complete the committee, if desired. If a Committee Chairman must unavoidably be absent from a Board of Directors meeting, the Vice Chairman may attend with voice, but without vote.
Section 3. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of six members. A Chairman and two Committee members shall be elected by the outgoing Board of Directors at the Board meeting preceding the annual business meeting of the organization. The current Nominating Committee chairman shall be a member of the Nominating Committee for the succeeding year. One additional Committee member shall be nominated and elected by the general membership at the annual business meeting. The immediate Past President shall serve as the sixth member of the Nominating Committee as an ex officio member.
ARTICLE VII. ELECTION
Section 1. With the exception of the Immediate Past President, Parliamentarian and Nominating Committee Chairman, officers and members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the general membership from a proposed slate submitted by the Nominating Committee at the last regular meeting prior to the annual business meeting. Additional nominations may be taken from the floor.
Section 2. A vacancy on the Board of Directors occurring during an unexpired term shall be filled by the Executive Committee, except the Office of the President. The First Vice President shall fill the unexpired term of the President.
Section 3. The Nominating Committee may announce their nomination for First Chair Gourmet and Major Events Committee Chairman prior to announcing the complete slate of nominees. In the event that the Nominating Committee announces these positions earlier than the completed slate, the membership may vote on these positions at the next general membership meeting following the announcement by the Nominating Committee, provided the Committee has given the members at least 15 days prior notice.
ARTICLE VIII. TERMS OF OFFICE
Section 1. Terms of office shall be one year or until their successors are elected.
Section 2. All members of the Board of Directors, with the exception of the Treasurer and Recording Secretary, shall be limited to two consecutive one year terms in the same position, with the exception of certain committee chairmen as voted by the Board.
Section 3. Terms of office shall begin with the installation of the Board of Directors at the annual business meeting. In the event elections are held for the First Chair Gourmet and Major Events Committee Chairman prior to the annual business meeting, these two board positions may take office at the time of their election.
ARTICLE IX. MEETINGS
The number and dates of the meetings of the League shall be decided by the Board of Directors at the first official Board meeting. The annual business meeting shall be held in May.
ARTICLE X. SYMPHONY LEAGUE ENDOWMENT FUND
Section 1. The Symphony League Endowment Fund was established through a Trust Agreement between the Women's Symphony Association’s Board of Directors and Trustees of the Endowment Fund on January 29, 1974, to benefit the Columbia Philharmonic Orchestra (nor the South Carolina Philharmonic).
Section 2. This fund shall be administered by three Trustees to be elected by the Board of Directors of the League to serve staggered terms of three years each. Beginning with the meeting of the Board in April 1975, and continuing with each succeeding year, one Trustee shall be elected at the April Board meeting. No Trustee shall be eligible for election to more than two consecutive terms.
Section 3. At the last Endowment meeting of the fiscal year, the trustees shall select officers as follows: Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. The Chairman may be selected to any number of consecutive terms while she/he remains eligible to serve as a Trustee.
ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION
The Organization shall continue in existence until terminated upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, approved by a majority vote of the membership at a duly called meeting for the purpose. In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the organization will be turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as organizations described in section 501 (c) (3) and 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or corresponding sections of any prior or future Internal Revenue Code, or to the Federal, State, or Local Government for exclusive public purposes.
ARTICLE XII. QUORUM
Section 1. A quorum for the general membership shall consist of thirty-five members.
Section 2. A quorum for the Board of Directors shall consist of fifteen members.
Section 3. A quorum for the Executive Committee shall consist of four members.
ARTICLE XIII. AUTHORITY FOR CONDUCT
Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall be the authority for conduct.
ARTICLE XIV. AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the Bylaws must first be approved by the Board of Directors. The proposed changes shall then be presented to the general membership at least two weeks prior to voting.