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TEXAS OLD TIME FIDDLERS ASSOCIATION

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I.

The name of the organization shall be Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association.

ARTICLE II.

The purpose of the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association shall be to promote Texas fiddling, improve Texas fiddling contests, sponsor a state contest, and publish a monthly newsletter for benefit of the members. 

ARTICLE III.

Officers for the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association shall consist of a six member Board of Directors, one of which shall serve as President.  The officers shall be elected for two year terms by a majority of the voting membership.  Officers may be re-elected to serve consecutive terms in office.  Officers shall be nominated by committee.  The President and three board members shall constitute a quorum for Directors Meetings. 

A.      Duties of President:

1.      He shall be responsible for all business of the Association.

2.      He shall be responsible for printing and mailing a monthly newsletter, the expenses of which shall be paid by the Association.

3.      He shall open an account at a bank to handle all money for the Association and shall have the authority to write checks for necessary Expenses. 

4.      He shall keep a written record of all income and expenses and offer the books for audit once each year.

5.      He shall not be allowed expenses for travel and accommodations

unless authorized by the Board of directors, and then only for

necessary association business.

6.      He shall have the right to appoint committees as needed

concerning Association business.

B.      Duties of Board of Directors:

1.      They shall aid and advise the President.

2.      They shall audit the books kept by the President and report to the Convection.

3.      They shall select a date and place and formulate plans for a yearly convention and State Contest. 

4.      They shall have the right to suspend members not complying with Association rules.

5.      They shall have the right to appoint committees as needed

concerning Association business.

6.      They shall be reimbursed for necessary Association expenses.

ARTICLE IV.

Membership in the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association shall consist of four types.  All members shall receive a copy of the monthly newsletter.

A.    Fiddlers shall be a contest fiddler that resides in Texas. Persons who live temporarily out of Texas in the Armed Services, but who retain their Texas domicile shall be considered a Fiddler. 

1.      They shall have the right to vote and hold office.

2.      They shall pay an annual due of $25.00.

B.      Accompanist shall be a contest accompanist that resides in Texas.

1.      They shall have the right to vote and hold office.

2.      They shall pay an annual due of $25.00.

C.    Associate Members shall be any non-contesting fiddler or accompanist, and friends and fans of Texas riddling.

1.      They shall have the right to participate in Association business meetings as spectators only unless appointed to a committee by the Board of Directors.

2.      They shall have the right to vote on Favorite Fiddler and Favorite Accompanist.

3.      They shall pay an annual due of $15.00.

D.      Out-of-State Fiddler shall be a contest fiddler that does not live

in Texas.

1.      They shall not vote or hold office.

2.      They shall have the right to judge Approved Contests only when

requested by contest directors.

3.      They shall not play in the Texas Old Time Fiddler Association

State Championship Fiddlers Contest.

4.      They shall pay an annual due of $25.00.

      E.      Duties of All Members

            1.      They shall fully support and stand behind the Bylaws of the

Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association.

2.      They shall participate in as many Association approved

activities as possible.

3.      They shall report news of events in their area to the newsletter.

4.      They shall encourage all interested parties to become members of the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association.

ARTICLE V.

Section 1:

The business of the Association requiring a vote of the membership shall be conducted at the annual convention.  A quorum for the convention shall be 25 voting members plus a majority of the officers.  Issues shall be passed with a majority of the vote for, or defeated by a majority of the vote against, except amendments to the Bylaws.  Amendments shall require a two-thirds majority of the vote at the Convention.

Section 2:

Any necessary business between Conventions shall be handled by the President and Board of Directors.  The minutes of each Directors Meeting shall be printed in the following monthly newsletter.  Policies approved by the Board of Directors during the year shall be presented to the membership as minutes at the Annual Convention.  If these minutes are accepted by the voting members at the convention, the policies will become accepted policies of the Association.  This does not include a change in the Bylaws. 

Article VI.

The Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association shall compile a list of Standard contest rules and rules for Becoming an Association Approved contest.  All fiddling contests in Texas, with the exception of Bluegrass-style fiddling contests held in conjunction with Bluegrass Festivals, shall be required to adopt these rules after December 31, 1973 in order to become an association Approved Contest.  After December 31, 1973 no person may compete in an Association Approved Contest as a fiddler unless he is a Fiddler Member or Out-of-State Fiddler Member of Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association except at the Annual Fiddler’s Reunion contest.  The board of directors shall select one contest per year called the "Annual Fiddlers Reunion" where non-members will be allowed to compete but all other bylaws will remain in effect for the contest.  Fiddler Members of Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association may compete in any fiddlers contest anywhere.  Out-of-State Members shall not compete in the state contest sponsored by the Association. 

ARTICLE VII.

General Provisions:

A.      Membership includes family.

The Payment of dues by a member automatically includes Associate Member status for all immediate family members, with the exception of married sons or daughters.

B.      Fiddlers shall have the right to file complaints against judges.

Fiddler members of the Association shall have the right to file complaints against judges, when after due consideration, they feel some particular judge is discriminating against any member of the Association.  Complaints shall be written, signed by the member, and filed with the President of the Association. 

C.      Suspension of members from the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association. 

1.      A fiddler member shall not be suspended for competing in Non-Association approved contests in Texas.

2.      Any fiddler member who resigns from the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association will be suspended.  The suspension will last for a period of one year from the date of his or her resignation.  Names of persons being suspended shall be listed in the newsletter.  The member under suspension shall not receive the newsletter nor receive refund of any dues.  Suspended members shall not be allowed to compete in any Association approved contests.  If a member is suspended two times, he or she will have to appear before the membership at the annual Convention if he or she wishes to be reinstated. 

D.    Approved contests not following Standard Contest Rules.  In the event that a contest agrees to follow the Standard Contest rules, but plainly is not set up to do so at the time the contest occurs, it shall be the responsibility of all Association members present to persuade the contest officials to follow the Rules.  Should the official refuse, the Fiddler Members of the Texas Old Time fiddler Association shall not compete in the contest. 

ARTICLE IX.

Proposed amendments to the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association Bylaws shall be written and signed by a voting member, and filed with the President of the Association.  The President shall turn it over to the Board of Directors for evaluation.  If the Board of Directors advises for the adoption of the amendment, the President shall bring it before the membership for a vote at the next annual Convention.  A member proposing an amendment rejected by the Board of Directors may have a proposed amendment brought before the membership for a vote by securing the signature of 1/3 of the voting membership to the proposed amendment and filing it with the President.  The president shall be bound to bring it before the member for a vote at the next annual convention. 

ARTICLE X. 

TOTFA Officers may elect to contribute TOTFA funds to any TOTFA contest and or any TOTFA function the sum of which shall not exceed $1,000.00 (One-thousand dollars) and must be approved by an unanimous vote of all TOTFA officers.