International Thespian Society
Troupe #536
David Douglas High School
Constitution
Article I. Name and Purpose
Section 1. This organization shall be called Troupe #536 of the International Thespian Society, a component of the Educational Theatre Association.
Section 2. The purpose of this troupe shall be the advancement of standards of excellence in the theatre. More specifically, the troupe shall encourage students to attain a better mastery of the theatre arts.
Section 3. The organization forbids secrecy; membership is given as recognition for meritorious work in the theatre arts.
Article II. Membership
Section 1. All nominees for active membership shall be regularly enrolled as students of David Douglas High School.
Section 2. To become an active member you must have participated in at least two (2) productions, and have earned a minimum of fifteen points.
Section 3. Final authority concerning membership requirements shall be vested in the troupe sponsor(s).
Section 4. Honorary membership may be granted to adults for unusual and worthy assistance in the promotion of the theatre in the school and the community.
Article III. Officers
Section 1. Officers shall be installed at the last social or program meeting of the school term.
Section 2. Requirements for all elected officers are as follows: Each student must be an active member (See II. 2.) of the troupe for at least one school year and at the time of election must be enrolled in grades ten or eleven.
Section 3. An Acting Stage Manager will be appointed by the theatre director/sponsor(s) and will serve during the current production.
Section 4. The following elected officers are to have the stated duties:
A. President: presides at all meetings, appoints all standing and special committees, runs the president's panel, acts as spokesperson for the troupe, and counsels with the troupe sponsor.
B. Vice President: presides at meetings in the absence of the president, organizes induction ceremonies and the theatre banquet.
C. Secretary: keeps all rolls and records of the meetings, attends to all correspondence.
D. Treasurer: records all money accounts (fundraising, membership, etc.), provides receipts of all transactions, and plans fundraising events.
E. Historian: keeps pictorial and written records of the thespian year, and will organize a presentation to be given at the theatre banquet.
F. Public Relations Representative: deals with publicity for productions and all Thespian events, corresponds with sponsor(s) and patrons, and keeps troupe members updated on current theatre events.
G. Sergeant at Arms: keeps order at all meetings, removes disrupters when necessary, follows up on all members for money and attendance issues, administer disciplinary actions.
Section 5. All officers must be elected by active members for a specific position. However, once elected the President and Vice President may have the option to become Co-Presidents. In which case "Co-President" will be the official and standing title during the current term of office. Co-Presidents will share equally both the responsibilities of President and Vice President.
Section 6. The duties of the sponsor(s) will be to oversee all troupe activities, to be the final authority in selection of new members, and to be the guide of the troupe.
Section 7. The Board of Directors shall be composed of the sponsor(s) and all elected officers. They will carry out all the basic business functions of the society.
Article IV. Meetings
Section 1. Meetings shall be held at least once a month.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the sponsor(s), any officer, or by a quorum.
Section 3. A quorum shall be fifty-one percent of the active membership and must include two officers.
Section 4. Any member that causes deliberate dissention to disrupt a production or business meeting shall be dropped from active membership in the troupe. The board of directors may make special exceptions for reasons deemed valid by the troupe.
Article V. Amendments
Section 1. All amendments to this constitution must have the vote of two-thirds of the troupe membership. This constitution and its amendments shall be subject to change according to any or all requirements of the International Thespian Society.
Section 2. Membership includes active International Thespian Society members.
BYLAWS
Article I. Attendance
Section 1. Late arrival to or leaving early from meetings without a reason considered valid by the theatre director/sponsor(s) and/or a current officer will result in a demerit. Three such offenses will be counted as an absence from a meeting without excuse.
Section 2. Irregular attendance indicates a lack of interest. Any member who, without proper excuse, misses four meetings per school year shall be suspended from active membership in the troupe.
Section 3. Absences shall accumulate for only one school year at a time.
Article II. Inductions
Section 1. Inductions shall be held at least once each year, as often as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The time and place of induction as well as the form will be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. All members will be given a copy of this constitution upon induction.
Section 4. There shall be no dues for the troupe except as provided by the International Thespian Society Board of Trustees, unless determined by a two-thirds vote of the active members at the regularly yearly election.
Article III. Troupe Activities
Section 1. The troupe is not a secret organization, so faculty and students interested in theatre, as well as honorary members and alumni, shall be invited to its meetings.
Section 2. At least one business meeting a year of Troupe #536 shall include an open invitation to all students for the purpose of playing theatre games and creating improvisations.
Section 3. The troupe shall sponsor at least one "Good Neighbor" program a year for the purpose of establishing good relationships with nearby dramatic groups.
Article IV. Point Award System
Section 1. The theatre director/sponsor(s) will determine the exact number of points to be awarded in all theatrical and non-theatrical participation.
Section 2. Points will be awarded as suggested by the point system of the International Thespian Society.
Article V. Elections
Section 1. Officers shall be elected at a business meeting in the month of May for the coming fall term.
Section 2. Nominations for officers are to be made by active members of Troupe #536 of the International Thespian Society. Ballots will be developed by the Board of Directors. Officers will be elected by a majority vote.
Section 3. Nominations and voting will be done by secret written ballot.
Article VI. Recall
Section 1. Potential recall of any officer(s) shall be carried out in the following manner:
A. Three members (including one officer) may request in writing, to the sponsor(s), a recall election of all or any elected officer(s). This written request must state adequately the need for such an election.
B. A special meeting will be scheduled by the sponsor within five school days upon receiving the request. The letter will be read by the sponsor(s), for the purpose of voting on whether or not a recall election is necessary. The officer will have the same length of time for a rebuttal as was used to read the letter.
C. Two thirds of the membership is required to mandate the recall of an officer(s). If a recall election is necessary, election of officers will follow the procedure set in Article V. Section 2 of the Bylaws.
