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The Nice Shoes Constitution | |
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as a student organization at mount holyoke college, but more
importantly, as a political organization at mount holyoke college, it
was important to the nice shoes to have a organization
constitution. this constitution lays out the procedural rules and
regulations for our group, but also gives us a place to look to to
remember the group's purpose, and why this organization was
started in the first place.
Nice Shoes Feminist A Cappella
Constitution
Article I: Name, Purpose, and Affiliation
Section 1 NameThis is the Constitution for the Nice Shoes Feminist A Cappella Group, herein after referred to as the Nice Shoes.
Section 2 Objectives
The Nice Shoes is an a cappella group whose goal is to spread feminist messages through music; promote feminism as a positive movement; and to raise awareness of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia on and off our college campus.
Section 3 Affiliation
The Nice Shoes are a Mount Holyoke student organization. We aim to bring our message to other campuses and areas of the country.
Article II: Adhering to College Rules and other Laws
Section 1 College Rules and RegulationsAn organization based on integrity, the members of the Nice Shoes shall adhere to the rules, regulations, and policies of MHC including the MHC Honor Code.
Section 2 Federal and State Laws
The members of the Nice Shoes shall obey all local, state, and federal laws. However, we actively seek to change any laws that impede on equality for all people.
Section 3 Anti-Discrimination Policy
The Nice Shoes will not discriminate against any hopeful member based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, age, socioeconomic status, or US citizenship. We take affirmative action to ensure diversity within the organization.
Article III: Membership
Section 1 Requirements of MembershipMembers must be members of the Mount Holyoke College community.
Members must identify as a feminist.
Members must be prepared to commit to the Nice Shoes by attending all rehearsals.
If unable to attend for acceptable reasons (listed below), she must make verbal contact with at least one member of the group.
-- Academic (a conflicting class)
-- Religious
-- Personal Day/Health Related (A valid personal day can be taken when a member feels that their presence at rehearsal will be detrimental to the group’s progress.)
Section 2 Membership Privileges
Members have the opportunity to travel throughout the northeast to perform.
Members have a chance to share their love for music and feminism with others who share their enthusiasm and knowledge.
Members may have the chance to become a part of a vast network of feminists.
When funds allow, members may be able to record a CD with Nice Shoes for national distribution.
Section 3 Termination of Membership
a. A member of the Nice Shoes loses membership privileges:
° When a member graduates from Mount Holyoke College.
° If a member decides to permanently leave the group.
° If a member is on leave for more than two continuous years.
° If a member shows excessive use of personal days.
° If a member shows unacceptable or unprofessional behavior.
- If such a need arises to discuss membership with a member, a meeting must be held with the entire group and the member. A second chance must be offered as an option for continued membership.
b. A member may reenter the Nice Shoes if:
° She has been abroad or on leave for one to four semesters.
c. A member may re-audition for the Nice Shoes if:
° She has been abroad or on leave for more than four semesters.
° She voluntarily or involuntarily leaves the group.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1 Officer Titlesa. Officers of the Nice Shoes include a) business manager, b) treasurer, c) pitch bitch, d) keeper of the stuff / a cappella room coordinator, e) webmaster / web page designer, f) Time Keeper, g) warm-up person.
Section 2 Qualifications of Officers:
a. All officers must show responsibility and commitment to their role in the Nice Shoes.
b. More than one person may hold the position of officer, however a member may not take over an official position with less 2 semesters left in the group. No first semester members may hold an official position (except for TK of warm-up person).
c. Every member is qualified to be Time Keeper and Warm-up person.
d. The Nice Shoes is an egalitarian group. Duties of officers and of all members must be distributed as evenly as possible throughout the group. No member should hold more than two permanent positions.
Section 3 Duties of Officers
a. Business Manager: in charge of communication between the Nice Shoes and any other organization. This includes communication between organizations and events hosting the Nice Shoes, guest groups, other campus a cappella groups, and potential members during the audition period. The business manager will be responsible for all email contact with the group, in order to answer questions and plan performances. The business manager will bring all outside business to the group for discussion during rehearsal, or will submit it via email when possible. (See auditions below.)
b. Treasurer: the Treasurer is responsible for maintaining an active budget for the Nice Shoes, collecting all money and receipts; making all deposits and withdrawals, approving all charges and purchases for the Nice Shoes.
c. Note Giver: responsibility for learning and being able to deliver all starting notes for the Nice Shoes current repertoire. (See auditions below.)
d. A Cappella Room Coordinator: Responsible for keeping track of all of the Nice Shoes materials over the summer and throughout the school year and bringing CDs and merchandise to all Nice Shoes events. Also in charge of communication with Student Programs.(See auditions below.)
e. Webmaster/designer: the Nice Shoes Webmaster/designer is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive, easily navigated Nice Shoes website and updating it as needed in a timely manner. The Webmaster/designer should keep track of and update all necessary online information, contact numbers, and directions to events.
f. Time Keeper: The Time Keeper is a rotating weekly responsibility that all Nice Shoes members should hold at least once per year. She is responsible for developing a daily schedule, taking notes at business, keeping the rehearsal on task, and sending out reminder emails after each rehearsal.
g. Warm-up Person: The Warm-up Person is responsible for starting the rehearsal on time with a 10-minute warm up of their choice.
Section 4 Officer Removal
a. Officers will be asked to forfeit their position if they neglect their responsibilities as described above.
Article V: Auditions
Section 1 Duties Within Auditionsa. The Pitch Bitch will be in charge of keeping the musical materials for the first round of auditions and playing the piano for the first round of auditions.
b. The A Cappella Room Coordinator will be responsible for bringing words and music to audition pieces, the poster, and the auditionee cards to auditions.
c. The Business Manager will be responsible for bringing the sign-up sheet to auditions, being email contact for auditionees with questions, as well as coordinating audition details with other Mount Holyoke a cappella groups.
d. A designated committee of non-officers is responsible for creating posters, and creating and posting the sign-up sheet for auditions.
Section 2 Audition Process
a. Auditions
° Greeting and Introduction
° Warm-ups to test vocal range
° Play chord sequence
° Play melody sequence
° Auditionee sings prepared verse and chorus
° Schpiel (goals, objectives, and commitment of the Nice Shoes; call back information)
b. Discussion and Contact
° Discussion of Auditionees
° Contacting Auditionees as to their callback status
c. Call Backs
° Get to Know you Game/Name Tags
° Warm up
° Vocal Jam
° Teaching/Learning First Song
° Listen to First Song
° Rotation
° Teach/Learn Second Song OR Review First Song
° Listen
° Dismissal
Section 3 Audition Guidelines
a. General Guidelines
° Discretion concerning the audition process must be used around all non-Shoes.
° All members must demonstrate respect for other members’ thoughts, opinions, and preferences.
° Auditionees may be sent home at any time during the course of the callback process if all members agree.
b. Discussion Guidelines
° Post-Audition
- Auditionees will be called back if at least one person needs to hear said auditionee again.
° Post-Call Backs
- All members accepted into the Nice Shoes must be admitted through a unanimous vote.
- Auditionees may be vetoed by any member of the group.
Article VI: Rehearsals
Section 1 General Guidelinesa. Rehearsals shall be held a three to four times per week, for a range of 6 to 10 hours. At the start of each semester, a designated member of the group will coordinate member schedules in order to create the comprehensive rehearsal schedule for the semester.
b. Members are expected to stay on task by:
° Listening for starting notes for each song
° Not engaging in unnecessary or excess chatter
° Respecting the Time Keeper’s schedule
Section 2 Attendance
a. Members are expected to get to rehearsal at least 5 minutes before the starting time.
b. If a member needs to leave rehearsal (to use the restroom or get a drink of water) she must verbally notify at least one other member of the group.
c. Leaving rehearsal is not permitted unless:
° The departure is pre-approved
° The member becomes physically ill
° Or the member feels that her presence in rehearsal will be a detriment to herself and/or the other members of the group.
Section 3 Check-ins and Business
a. Check-ins
° Check-ins will be held once a week on a day determined at the start of the semester. Everyone must attend, it must be outside of rehearsal time, and outside of the rehearsal space.
b. Business
° Business will be conducted during the last 10-20 minutes of each rehearsal. All business should be items that require discussion, email should be used and ALWAYS READ for better communication between members.
Article VII: Performances
Section 1 Attendance
a. Attendance at all performances is mandatory. A member may not miss a performance unless her absence is pre-approved by the group.
b. Prompt arrival to all performances is expected.
Section 2 Transportation
a. Some performances are located off the Mount Holyoke Campus, and transportation to these events is necessary, and will be provided by the Nice Shoes.
b. The Nice Shoes will reserve and drive Fleet vehicles to all off-campus events.
° Fleet vehicles are provided by the college for official use by student organizations. The reason to use these vehicles is to minimize constraints on the organization’s budget, seeing as the college pays for all transportation costs on Fleet vehicles.
° Fleet licenses should be obtained by all members who are eligible. The Nice Shoes will cover the costs necessary to secure member driving records.
° Fleet vehicles need not be reserved for those events within the five college area.
c. If a Fleet vehicle is not available for the date and time of the off-campus event, or if adequate space to transport Nice Shoes members within the Fleet vehicles is lacking, then members in the group with cars will drive.
- Depending on the length of the trip, reimbursement for gasoline and tolls will be provided by the Nice Shoes.
d. If a fleet vehicle is not available, and Nice Shoes members cannot provide adequate transportation in privately owned vehicles, then other means of transportation must be arranged, or the off-campus event must be cancelled.
Section 3 Set List
a. The list will be determined due to the appropriateness of the venue.
b. The set list for the performance during Family Weekend should aim to showcase those members who have family in town.
Section 5 Semester Jam
a. The date of the semester jam will be decided as early as possible, in order to assure available space and to ensure that all members will be able to attend.
b. Committees
- Decorations: responsible for purchasing decorations and decorating the performance space.
- Skit: responsible for writing and teaching the jam skit.
- Publicity: responsible for designing, copying, and distributing posters and other promotional materials.
- Hospitality: responsible for care of guest group(s) and securing a party location.
c. The business manager will be in charge of securing a guest group for the jam that is approved by the group.
d. The Webmaster will be responsible for publicizing the Jam on the website, chat, and the Daily Jolt.
e. The treasurer will be in charge of supplying all funds for decorations, food, and the skit.
f. Every member of the group must be help set up and clean up, before and after, the jam.
g. The theme and attire for the jam will be discussed and voted on by the group, at least 2 weeks before the jam date.
Article VIII: Repertoire
Section 1 New Songs
a. Listening Day
° At the beginning of each semester a listening day will be conducted to determine the new songs.
° Each member may bring 2 songs, although seniors may bring up to 3.
° Each song’s feminist message should be introduced before it is played. If the song does not have a message relevant to the group it should not be played.
° Lyrics and feminist message should be provided.
° After all songs are played, members vote for their top five choices. From those five, three will be chosen with a second vote as the songs that will be arranged for the semester. This number can be up to the discretion of the group.
° If a song does not obtain the majority of votes, the runoff method will be used. [See Appendix]
° Members of the group will split into three arranging groups, with at least one experienced arranger and one piano proficient member in each group.
b. Song Criteria
° All Nice Shoes songs must reflect a feminist message.
° All Nice Shoes songs must be a cappella transferable.
Section 2 Retiring Old Songs
a. Songs will be discussed for retirement at end of semester meetings. Group consensus must be reached for permanent or “P-town” retirement.
Section 3 Solos
a. General Guidelines
° A soloist keeps her solo for one academic year.
° All auditionees and other members of the group must maintain the utmost respect when auditioning for songs. This includes respect for other auditionees as well as respect for the group as a whole.
° Members should be conscious of how many solos they and other members of the group have before either choosing to audition for songs or voting for soloists. The Nice Shoes is an egalitarian group and aims to distribute solos evenly throughout its members.
° Solos should be given to people who sing them best.
b. Audition Process
° Any member that wishes to audition for a song must volunteer before the song audition commences.
° Once a member decides to audition, she cannot back out of it.
° After all auditionees have auditioned, the group votes to decide who gets the solo.
° If an auditionee has not won the majority of the vote, a run-off vote must take place. [See Appendix]
Article IX: End of the Semester Meeting
Section 1 General Guidelines
a. The meeting should be held at the end of the semester after all events and performances are completed.
b. Attendance at the end of the semester meeting is mandatory for all members.
c. The utmost respect must be exhibited in regards to this meeting.
d. The meeting should be held in a comfortable, private environment, usually a dorm room.
e. The meeting will last for as long as necessary (normally from 2-4 hours); members must plan their schedules accordingly.
Section 2 Meeting Agenda
a. Semester Evaluation
° Discussion of performances
° Group dynamic
b. Expectations for the Following Semester
° General Goals
° Auditions
c. Graduating seniors or members who will be missing for the following semester must write down a clear list of their respective voice parts on the current Nice Shoes repertoire, preferably in the TK notebook.
d. The group should make a concerted effort to end the meeting, and thus, the semester, on a positive note.
Article X: Amendments
Section 1 Amending the Constitution
a. Any current member of the Nice Shoes may present a written proposal for an amendment to the constitution. In order for this amendment to be put into effect, it must receive the approval of all current members of the Nice Shoes.
b. Any amendment that is ratified will be implemented immediately, or as soon as applicable.
Article XI: Ratification
Section 1 Ratification of the Constitution
a. If all current members of the Nice Shoes favor the ratification of this document, it shall take effect immediately and supercede all previous constitutions and written by-laws of the organization.
Appendix
Run Off Voting Technique to be used when deciding new songs, and soloists.
For Solo Auditions:
a. After the auditions are finished, all members will vote for their first choice auditionee – the person they most want to get the solo.
b. After the initial vote where all auditionees are listed, if one auditionee does not have a majority (50% +1) then a runoff vote must be conducted.
c. If this is the case, all auditionees with the fewest votes will be dropped from the runoff vote.
° The number of auditionees remaining in the vote could range from 2 auditionees to as many auditionees that had more than one vote.
d. Then the group will vote again only including those members with the most votes.
e. Auditionees with the least amount of votes will be eliminated until one auditionee has the majority of the vote.
Example:
a. There are twelve members in the group (meaning that 7 votes are needed to be considered a majority).
b. Five members audition for a solo (we will call them a), b), c), d), and e)). After the initial vote, a) has 4 votes, b) has 3 votes, c) and d) have 2 votes each and e) has one vote.
c. c), d) and e) will all be dropped from the runoff vote.
d. The runoff vote will be conducted only including a) and b). By including the reallocated votes from those members who voted for c), d) and e), either a) or b) will receive the majority of the vote.
For New Songs:
a. Members will do an initial vote and vote for their 5 top choices of songs to sing that semester. The five songs (or six depending on if there are two songs with equal votes in the 5th spot) that were most voted for will move on to the next vote.
b. In the next round, members will vote for their top three favorite songs. If three songs* are chosen by the group with a majority of the vote, then those three songs* will be the three songs* that will be sung by the group that semester.
c. If any of the three songs* with the most votes do not have a majority of the vote, a runoff vote will take place. Whatever song(s) do not have a majority of the vote, will be included in a vote that disregards: songs that did receive a majority vote, and songs that received one to two votes less than that song(s) that received many votes, but not a majority of the vote.
Example:
a. Five songs are voted into the final vote (we will call them a), b), c), d), and e)). After the initial vote, a) has 11, b) has 8, c) has 6, d) has 6 votes and e) has 5 votes.
b. A), b) and e) are dropped from the vote. The group them proceeds to vote between c) and d). If a majority still is not met, the group will discuss in order to decide which song will be picked.