Thespian Troupe Constitution
Article 1: Name, Purpose, and Governance
Section 1: Name: This organization shall be called Troupe # 6299. The troupe has been chartered by Alonso High School. The charter affiliates it with the International Thespian Society, a division of the Educational Theatre Association.
Section 2: Purpose: The troupe is an honors component of the school’s theatre program. Its purpose shall be the advancement of standards of excellence in theatre. More specifically, the troupe will encourage students to attain a better mastery of the theatre arts and will reward those who achieve it with induction into the troupe. Thespians achieving honor ranks shall receive recognition of the exemplary accomplishment.
Section 3: Governance: This troupe constitution and its bylaws are two components of a hierarchy of documents that govern the Education Theatre Association and its membership. The documents affecting troupes, in order of authority, are: the Educational Theatre Association Code of Regulations and Membership Policy, the troupe handbooks, the troupe constitution, and troupe by laws. This constitution may not be altered in any way that conflicts with school policies and procedures.
Article 2: Organization and Officers
Section 1: Membership: Membership is achieved by complying with all induction criteria as defined in the troupe handbook. The ITS Thespian point system is the official guideline for awarding induction points. Any changes to induction criteria, including the thespian point system, must be adopted as a troupe bylaw.
Section 2: Officers: The thespian troupe shall have the following officers: president and vice president. Other officers may be elected/chosen based on individual need. Duties shall be defined in the troupe’s bylaws.
Section 3: Elections: The troupe shall elect officers for the next school year in the last full month of the current school term.
Article 3: Meetings and Participation
Section 1: Meetings: Thespian troupe meetings shall be held monthly throughout the school year. Special meetings may be called by the troupe director, any officer, or by a quorum of Thespians.
Section 2: Quorum: A quorum shall be a majority of the troupe’s active membership.
Section 3: Denial of Participation: Any thespian who causes deliberate dissention or disruption of any production or business meeting may be denied participation in troupe activities by a vote of two-thirds of the troupe’s membership or the consent of the troupe director. Any member requesting reinstatement of participation rights may have them restored with the consent of the troupe director or two-thirds of the troupe’s membership.
Article 4: Dues and Fees
A one-time membership fee of $50 will be collected at the time of application. This fee includes membership dues and any honor recognition fee the student achieves.
Article 5: Bylaws
Section 1: Purpose: Bylaws provide additional guidance for governance and operations of the troupe. No bylaw may be in conflict with the EdTA Code of Regulations, EdTA policies, troupe handbook, troupe constitution or school policy or procedures.
Section 2: Adoptions and amendments: The troupe director may adopt or amend bylaws as deemed appropriate. Bylaws may also be added or amended by approval of a simple majority of the troupe’s active membership and the consent of the troupe director.
Article 6: Amendments
Section 1: Exclusions: Article 1 may not be amended.
Section 2: Procedure: Articles other than article 1 may be amended by approval of two –thirds of the troupe’s active membership with the consent of the troupe director. This constitution and it’s amendments shall be subject to change according to any or all requirements of the International Thespian Society.
Thespian Troupe 6299 Bylaws
Meeting Attendance
Section 1: Regular meetings will be held in conjunction with the Alonso High School club meeting schedule.
Section 2: Additional meetings may be called outside of regular school hours. Members will be given at least a week’s notice of such meetings.
Section 3: Irregular attendance indicates a lack of interest; therefore, any member absent 2 meetings per school year without a written excuse submitted to the troupe director shall be automatically suspended from troupe activities. The troupe director has sole authority to reverse the suspension.
Section 4: Absences shall accumulate for only one school year at a time.
Thespian Points
Section 1: Induction/membership points must be earned over the course of at least two Alonso productions.
Section 2: Induction points will be awarded for theatre-related work done outside the school’s theatre program, but will not count toward troupe membership. To qualify for points, a copy of the program or other verification must be provided.
Section 3: One induction point may be earned for attending productions. To qualify, a ticket stub or program must be provided as proof of attendance.
Section 4: Thespian points will be awarded based on the guidelines set forth by the International Thespian Society. See attachment.
Induction
Section 1: An induction ceremony shall be held at least once each year. Additional ceremonies may be held as often as deemed necessary by the troupe director.
Section 2: Induction fees are the responsibility of the inductee.
Section 3: The troupe director determines the time, place, schedule, and format of the induction ceremony.
Maintaining Membership
Section 1: Members are required to maintain thespian membership in the following way:
- participation in at least one district event each school year
- participation in at least one school production each school year
- earning a minimum of 10 thespian points per school year
- enrolling in at least one theatre course each year at Alonso High School
Section 2: If a member fails to maintain his/her membership, he/she will be placed on probation until the requirements are met. At this point, the member may petition to be re-instated to the troupe. This is the sole decision of the troupe director.
Section 3: A member must maintain a grade point average of at least a 2.0 to participate in Alonso theatre/thespian activities.
Section 4: A member must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.5 to walk with distinction at graduation.
Section 5: A member must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.5 to walk with honors at graduation.
Section 6: Any member suspended from school for any reason will be automatically placed on probation and will only be allowed back into the troupe by petition. This is the sole decision of the troupe sponsor.
Section 7: All members must check the Alonso Theatre Department’s website weekly for updates and important information regarding troupe activities. The member is responsible for accessing all information through the website. The Alonso Theatre Department website is: www.alonsotheatredepartment.com
Officers
Section 1: Duties: Troupe officer duties are defined below. The troupe director may assign other duties and offices.
- The president presides over all meetings, appoints all standing and special committees, and directs and supervises troupe activities.
- The vice-president presides in the absence of the president. The vice president should also serve as secretary, keeping meeting notes and updating members on current activities.
Section 2: Requirements for all elected officers are as follows: each student must be an active member of the troupe for at least one school year.
Section 3: Nominations for officers are permitted from the floor. Students may self nominate. Officers will be elected by a majority vote.
Section 4: Voting will be done by written ballot.
Section 5: Three members may request a recall election of all or any elected officer. This request must be submitted to the troupe director in writing and state the need for such an election. A special meeting will be scheduled within five school days upon receipt of the request for the purpose of voting on whether or not a recall election is necessary. Two-thirds of the membership is required to mandate a recall election. If a recall election is necessary, election of officers will follow the procedures set in sections 2-4 above.
Troupe Activities
Section 1: The troupe is not a secret organization. All interested faculty, students, parents, honorary thespians, troupe alumni and administrators are welcome at troupe meetings.
Section 2: At least one meeting or special event of troupe 6299 shall include an open invitation to all students for the purpose introducing the program and providing information on club membership.
Section 3: The troupe shall cooperate with all other departments and clubs in the school in helping them with their programs in any way it can.
Conflict Resolution
Section 1: In the event issues/conflicts arise between a Thespian and the troupe director that cannot be solved through communication between the two parties, the issue should be resolved by the school administration.
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