This is the Fairlawn International Thespian Society (ITS) constitution. All officers and members must abide by these rules and regulations; in order to be better leaders in our dept., school and community.
Thespian Troupe # 7939 Constitution
Adopted: _____________________
Article I: Name, Purpose, and Governance
Section 1: Name: This organization shall be called Troupe # 7939. The troupe has been chartered by Fairlawn High School. The charter affiliates it with the International Thespian Society (ITS), a division of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA).
Section 2: Purpose: The troupe is the honors component of the schools theatre program. Its purpose shall be the advancement of standards of excellence in theatre. More specifically, the troupe will encourage students to obtain 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 their exemplary accomplishment.
Section 3: Governance: This troupe constitution and its bylaws are two components of a hierarchy of documents that govern the Educational 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 bylaws. This constitution may not be altered in any way that conflicts with a superceding document or school policies and procedures.
Article II: 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, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and clerk/scribe. 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 III: Meetings and Participation
Section 1: Meetings: Thespian troupe meetings shall be held monthly throughout the 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 dissension 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 and the consent of the troupe director. Any member requesting reinstatement of participation rights may have them restored with the consent of the troupe director and two-thirds of the troupe's membership.
Article IV: Dues and Fees
Section 1: Dues: There shall be no mandatory dues for Thespian induction except as provided by the Educational Theatre Association Board of Directors.
Section 2: Fees: Troupes may approve additional fees for local Thespian troupe participation. This requires consent of the troupe director and a two-thirds vote of the active troupe members at a regular troupe meeting. The school and it's troupe director may also assess user fees in accordance with school policy.
Article V: Bylaws
Section 1: Purpose: Bylaws provide additional guidance for the 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's director.
Article VI: Amendments
Section 1: Exclusions: Article I may not be amended.
Section 2: Procedure: Articles other than Article I may be amended by approval by two-thirds of the troupe's active membership with the consent of the troupe director. This constitution and its amendments shall be subject to change according to any and all requirements of the International Thespian Society.
Adopted: _________________________________
Troupe Director: _____________________________________
Signature: _________________________________
Troupe President: ____________________________________
Signature: _________________________________