Birmingham Music Teachers Association

Why join the BMTA?  As a teacher, you can enjoy association with over 130 other music teachers from the greater Birmingham metropolis.  There are 5 teacher programs for professional development presented throughout the year, (usually the 3rd Wednesday of September, November, January, March, and May).  The BMTA's Laura B. Haynes Library located at Ellis Piano provides valuable reference resources including books, DVD's, videos, recordings, magazines and reference materials.

Students of BMTA members are afforded numerous performance opportunities through recitals such as Christmas at Brookwood Mall and, the Musical Miniatures scholarship audition, and the Elbert-Lingo Keyboard Artist Contest in Brookwood Mall and the Donna Shugart Sonata-Sonatina Competition.   Additionally, students of members who are also federated with the Alabama Federation of Music Clubs and sponsor a "Junior Club" may participate in the November Hymn Festivals or the February Junior Piano Solo, Duet/Concerto, Strings or Voice Festivals. 
Birmingham, Alabama
BMTA is a Senior Club in the Alabama Federation of Music Clubs . You must be a member of a senior club in order to be a junior club counselor. Dues are $20, payable by June 1. Dues paid after July 1 will accrue a $1 per month late fee. Renewal dues must be paid by the first meeting in September if members wish to enter their students in BMTA functions.





Membership in BMTA affords teachers the opportunity to continue your musical growth through its programs and activities. Students may participate in BMTA Musical Miniatures, Sonata/Sonatina Auditions, Christmas at Brookwood Mall and the Keyboard Artist Competition. Meetings are usually held the third Wednesday morning in September, November, January, and March.

2009-2011 BMTA OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
Officers
President –  Dr. Melodie King
Vice President – Connie Macon              
Recording Secretary –  Jenny Haltermann              
Corresponding Secretary – Kim Bates
Treasurer – Dr. Kathryn Fouse
Parliamentarian – Amy McLelland 

Committees and Chairs
Finance – BMTA Officers
Historian – Donna Shugart
Scrapbook – Marni Ferderber
Yearbook – Dr. Melodie King
Library/Education – Dr. Brent Reeves
BMTA Miniatures – Tatiana Kasman
Christmas Mall Recitals – Joy Wilson, Co-chair Amy McLelland
Membership – Sandy Stephenson
Keyboard Artist – Jane Davis
Sonata/Sonatina – Melodie King, Chair; Connie Macon, Co-chair
Hospitality : Susan Berg, Chair

AFMC District II Officers
District II Jr. Counselor – Wendy Slauson
District II Treasurer – Jody Coombs
Jr. Club Membership – Cheryl Walls
District II Gold Cup Chair – Meagan McCollum
District II Routing Chair – Juliann Haley
District II Jr. Site Chair – Christina Mathis
District II Packets – Bonnie Knight
District II Newsletter – Margie Maughan
Jr. Composers Contest – Dr. Mira Kruja (256) 372-4093 go to www.nfmc-music.org

Membership in AFMC organization offers students the opportunity to participate in all JUNIOR FESTIVALS and other activities, such as scholarships, composition awards, gold cup incentives for points accumulated in each festival, and junior convention participation. A junior club is also required to be affiliated with a senior club (such as BMTA, Bush Hills, Shades Valley, Gadsden, etc.).

The amount of dues depends on the size of your junior club, with a $25 minimum + $1 for each additional student member. DEADLINE FOR DUES IS JULY 31st. New members are welcomed April - July to be able to participate in that school year's festival events. For membership procedures, please contact the current District II Membership Chair.

BMTA Library

BMTA Code of Ethics
1. Studios should be maintained upon a strictly professional basis by requiring that:
a. Tuition be paid in advance;
b. No lessons be made up unless at least 24 hours notice is
given with a reasonable excuse;
c. No deduction for missed lessons be made except in the case of
illness of at least two weeks duration;
d. A suggested fair price per 30-minute lesson should be
charged, and the same to all patrons;
e. Acquaint all patrons with your rules when you accept
the students.
2. Pupils of other teachers should be invited through their teacher to attend recitals of other
Association members. An Association member should  never make overtures to pupils of other
teachers. A new pupil should not  be accepted until definite proof is given that he has severed all
relations with his former teacher, and that his fees have been paid-in-full.
3. A pupil or teacher should have studied at least six months with any  teacher before he can be
considered a pupil of said teacher. An Association member should at all times maintain a
dignified silence about  the work of other teachers, unless that which he can say is
commendable.

Articles of Incorpation
(A complete copy of the Articles and By-Laws is in the BMTA Library, Ellis Piano)

Article I 
The name of the Corporation shall be and is BIRMINGHAM MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. 

Article II 
The Corporation shall have perpetual succession and shall exist until it is dissolved pursuant to law.  

Article III 
The Corporation is organized exclusively for charitable purposes, pursuant to Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and its successors, and regulations issued thereunder. To that end, the following provisions shall apply: 

The Corporation shall receive and administer funds for scientific, educational and charitable purposes, within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and its successors, and regulations issued thereunder, and in connection therewith, the Corporation shall take and hold by bequest, devise, gift, grant, purchase, lease or otherwise any property, real, personal, tangible or intangible, or any undivided interest therein, without limitation as to the amount or value. It shall have the power to sell, convey and otherwise dispose of any such property and to invest, reinvest, or deal with the principal or income thereof in such manner as, in the judgment of the Directors, will best promote the purposes of the Corporation without limitation, except such limitations, if any, as may be contained in the instrument under which such property is received, these Articles of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation, or any laws applicable thereto. 

The purpose of the Association shall be the raising of the standard of music teachers in Birmingham, the stimulation of interest in all things musical, presentation of more music to the students, and cooperation with the public schools for mutual benefit and assistance.

Article IV 
I. OFFICERS
a. President
b. Vice-President
c. Recording Secretary
d. Corresponding Secretary
e. Treasurer
f.  Executive Board
II. DUTIES
a. The President shall preside at all meetings, sign all contracts, vouch for all bills, and have general
supervision of all activities of the Association. (S)he shall be the member ex-officio of all committees, and shall act for the Association in any emergency.
b. The Vice-President shall be the chairman of the program committee and perform the duties of the President when necessary.
c. The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of all regular meetings of the Board and Association and shall sign all contracts with the President.
d. The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Association, shall send out
newsletters and notices of meetings unless otherwise done, and keep a correct list of all members with addresses.
e. The Treasurer shall receive all dues and shall send statements to members on May 1st and October 1st; and, on March 1st, shall mail statements notifying members that unless dues are paid in full, name will be dropped from the roll at year s end.
f. The Executive Board shall be composed of all officers of the Association and chairman and co-chairman of committees, and shall have the power to execute all business of the Association in the interim of regular meetings.

Article V
I. MEMBERSHIP 
a. Active members shall be the music teachers, or former music teachers, who are sympathetic to the purposes of the Corporation who have paid their dues or obtained a waiver for payment.
b. Associate members may be music teachers or music lovers interested in the work of the Corporation. Association members have voting privileges, but may not enter students in auditions sponsored by the Corporation.
c. Patrons will be recognized as supporters of the Corporation.
d. Honorary membership shall be bestowed upon members at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
e. The Corporation may have such other classes of membership with the qualifications and rights, not
inconsistent with these Articles, as may be provided for in the By-Laws. 
II. Members, when necessary, should resign in writing with dues paid in full. Such members may be reinstated at any time they so desire.

Article VI
DUES
I. The annual dues for active members shall be $16.00. This is due by June 1. 
II. The annual dues for associate members shall be $10.00.
III. The annual dues for patrons shall be $35.00.
IV. Dues paid after July 1 will accrue $1.00 additional per month, as a late fee. Dues must be paid by the first meeting in September if members wish to enter students in BMTA functions. 
V. The calendar year shall begin July 1st and end June 30th. In the event that the Association ceases to exist for any reason or circumstance, the funds including certificates of deposit remaining in any and all BMTA accounts will be divided equally among the music departments of Birmingham-Southern College, Samford University, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to be used as they see fit.

Article VII
MEETINGS 
Regular meetings of the Association shall be held in September, November, January, and March. 

Article VIII
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
A nominating committee of three, elected at the January meeting, shall present a slate of officers at the March meeting to be voted upon by the active members present. The President and Officers shall be elected for a term of two years.

Article IX
QUORUM
I. Nine members shall constitute a quorum at Association meetings.
II. Five members shall constitute a quorum at Executive Board meetings.

Article X
CONSTITUTION
The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the active members present, provided the changes have been presented in writing and read at the previous meeting. 

Article XI
MEETING PROCEDURES
Roberts Rules of Order shall govern all proceedings.
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. Meetings of the Executive Board will be called at the discretion of the President.
2.  Interest bearing  accounts shall require the signature of the President and the Treasurer for disbursement of funds.
3. Funds shall be disbursed by the vote of the majority of the Association membership.
4. The BMTA, as a Senior Club of the Alabama Federation of Music Clubs, will pay Senior Member dues plus other appropriate fees.
5. The BMTA will present any workshops to be planned by the Library/Education committee and the Vice President and under-written by the Sara Mallum Fund.
STANDING COMMITTEES AND/OR CHAIRS
1. The following committees and/or chairpersons shall be appointed by the President:
a) Finance
b) Historian
c) Scrapbook
d) Yearbook
e) Library/Education
f) BMTA Miniatures Recitals
g) Special Projects/ Community Outreach
h) Membership
i) Keyboard Artist Competition
j) Sonata/Sonatina Competition
k) Hospitality
l) Parliamentarian
The duties of these committees and/or chairpersons are as follows:
a. Finance: makes a budget for the year, subject to the approval of the Association. Chairperson shall be the immediate past Treasurer. The committee consists of current officers.
b. Historian: maintains and presents a historical record of BMTA and its activities.
c. Scrapbook: prepares a scrapbook and gives to the librarian for inclusion in BMTA library.
d. Yearbook: gathers data and prepares the yearbook for printing during the summer and oversees printing of the yearbook.
e. Librarian/Education: maintains and acquires items for BMTA library and oversees circulation.
f.  BMTA Miniatures: organizes, publicizes, produces, and evaluates BMTA Miniature events.
g. Special Projects/Community Outreach: coordinates holiday performances at the Galleria Mall, coordinates nursing/retirement home performances, and other projects as may be assigned by the president.
h. Membership: receives membership application forms from the treasurer, serves as a contact for those wishing to join BMTA/AFMC, introduces new members at meetings, and forwards new member information to corresponding secretary.
i. Keyboard Artist: chairman recruits and chairs the committee to oversee and produce the Keyboard Artist Competition.  The committee obtains judges, schedules performers, and prepares the site. 
j. Sonata/Sonatina: chairman recruits and chairs committee to oversee and produce the Sonata/Sonatina Competition. Committee obtains judges, schedules performances, and prepares site.
k. Hospitality: coordinates provision of refreshments for BMTA events.

BMTA 2006 Teacher Survey Results