By-Laws

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MARIST COLLEGE COUNCIL ON THEATRE ARTS
Marist College
BY-LAWS
Amended April 18, 2007

ARTICLE ONE: NAME
The name of this organization shall be Marist College Council on Theatre Arts (MCCTA).

ARTICLE TWO: PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization is to encourage and develop skills and creativity for the theatre
arts; to coordinate all theatrical productions that MCCTA produces; and to foster an appreciation
of all theatre arts.
The organization has four separate programs that will generally work together to fulfill the purpose
of MCCTA.
Traditional programs include the genres of musical, drama, or comedy that are commercial,
popular, or theatrical pieces.
Children’s Theatre Projects include community service activities in the Hudson Valley area and a
mainstage.
Experimental Theatre Guild’s (ETG) purpose is to stage experimental productions, which may be
original works or standard works not likely to be selected for mainstage productions. ETG can
also produce stage readings or evenings of monologues.
The HuMarists serve as an improvisational comedy group with some emphasis on sketch comedy.
The four facets of MCCTA will work together as colleagues on the Board.

ARTICLE THREE: MEMBERSHIP
Membership is extended to all students of Marist College that have an appreciation for any of the
different aspects of theatre.
SECTION 1: A general member is considered active within the club if he/she has earned guild
points for at least two activities per academic year, not including general meetings.
SECTION 2: Priority points are distributed based on guildship points earned throughout the year.
SECTION 3: Only members of the current Marist College student body (part-time or full-time)
may participate in MCCTA affiliated events, unless an exception has been made by the MCCTA
executive Board.

ARTICLE FOUR: MCCTA EXECUTIVE BOARD
The organization shall be governed by a group of individuals that shall simply be known as the
Executive Board which:
SECTION 1: Shall act as the executive producer for every production.
SECTION 2: Shall act in conjunction with the general membership as well as the college as the
supervisor of all equipment, supplies, and papers involved in or purchased for all productions.
SECTION 3: Shall have the power and responsibility to grant the titles of Apprentice, Journeyman,
Master, and Supermaster.

ARTICLE FIVE: VOTING
Once a motion is placed on the table, and a vote is called for, a majority of votes must be in favor
of the motion in order for it to pass.
SECTION 1: A majority is defined as half of all present members eligible to vote, plus one.
SECTION 2: In order for the result of a majority vote to be overturned, the vote to reverse the
decision must be unanimous.
A: In the event that the outcome of a fair vote is questionable, or cause for concern
amongst Board members, a second vote may be called for only if a vote to overturn the
initial decision results in all Board members’ favor and support of such action.
B: If a vote to overturn the initial decision does not have unanimous results, a second vote
cannot be called for, and the results of the first vote stand.

ARTICLE SIX: OFFICERS
The executive Board shall consist of: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Managing Directors of
Mainstage, Children’s Theatre, Experimental Theatre Guild, the HuMarist, and Musical Theatre.
There will be elected divisional leaders from each of the following sections: Sets/Props,
Costumes/Makeup, Publicity/House, and Technical Theatre. Overseeing the entire entity of
MCCTA will be its advisor. All members of the Board shall have equal voting power with the
exception of the president (See Section 1, subsection F).
SECTION 1: PRESIDENT
A: Shall oversee the entire organization to ensure the smooth operations of MCCTA.
B: Shall be the official spokesperson for MCCTA for external purposes.
C: Shall preside over the MCCTA Board meetings and general meetings.
D: Shall have an agenda set for all meetings.
E: Shall have a working knowledge of parliamentary Procedures, Robert’s Rules of Order,
and shall see that the by-laws of the organization are followed.
F: Shall only have the right to vote in the event of a tie and in the nomination process for
play selections and awards.
G: Shall maintain regular meetings with the Faculty Advisor.
H: Shall approve priority points set by the Vice President.
SECTION 2: VICE PRESIDENT
A: Shall be first in command in the absence of the President. This includes taking over all
responsibilities and duties of the President.
B: Shall take roll call at all meetings.
C: Shall take accurate minutes at all Board meetings and shall have them prepared for the
following meeting for approval by the MCCTA Board.
1. In the event that closed minutes are taken during a meeting, open minutes will
be handled in the pre-described manner while closed minutes will be handled as
follows: closed minutes will be prepared for the President, Vice President and the
Faculty Advisor. They will not be seen by the remaining officers, or by any general
member. They will then be archived, and if they must be referred to at any point,
this will be done only through the President or the Vice President.
D: Shall generate all the official communication (such as correspondence and memos) for
the club as a whole. Will keep messages on box office phone line accurate.
E: Shall maintain the membership list and update the members’ standing.
F: Shall have voting power.
G: Shall distribute priority points.
H: Shall maintain guild points.
SECTION 3: TREASURER
A: Shall be the official manager of all the MCCTA funds.
B: Shall be responsible for keeping neat and accurate accounts of all receiving and
distributing of funds.
C: Shall maintain all financial records.
D: Shall work with the President in formulating a budget.
E: Shall attend the mandatory Budget Meetings.
F: Shall make a report at the weekly MCCTA Board meetings on the financial status of the
club.
G: Shall have voting power.
SECTION 4: MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MAINSTAGE
A: Shall be the supervising producer of all mainstage productions of MCCTA.
B: Shall be the acting producer of all mainstage productions oin the absence of a Board
Appointed producer.
C: Shall guide the reading committee in the selection process of all mainstage productions.
D: Shall have voting power.
SECTION 5: MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S THEATRE
A: Shall be the supervising producer of all Children’s Theatre projects.
B: Shall be the acting producer of all Children’s Theatre productions in the absence of a
Board-appointed producer.
C: Shall guide the reading committee in the selection process of all Children’s Theatre
productions.
D: shall guide and organize community service projects involving children.
E: Shall have voting power.
SECTION 7: MANAGING DIRECTOR OF EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE GUILD
A: Shall be he supervising producer of all experimental productions.
B: Shall be the acting producer of all experimental theatre productions in the absence of a
Board-appointed producer.
C: Shall guide the reading committee in the selection process of all experimental theatre
productions.
D: Shall have voting power.
SECTION 8: MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HUMARISTS
A: Shall be supervising producer of all HuMarist productions.
B: Shall report HuMarist activities at weekly Executive Board meetings.
C: Shall have voting power.
SECTION 9: MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MUSICALS
A: Shall be the supervising producer of all musical productions of MCCTA.
B: Shall be the acting producer of all musical productions in the absence of a Board
Appointed producer.
C: Shall guide the reading committee in the selection process of all musical productions.
D: Shall have voting power.
SECTION 10: ELECTED DIVISIONAL MANAGERS
(Sets/Props, Costumes/Makeup, Publicity/House, and Technical Theatre)
A: Shall oversee the safekeeping and maintenance of all divisional supplies and materials.
B: Shall serve as a resource person in their given division.
C: Will be the division crew chief for at least one production, and will continually strive to
train others interested in the given division.
D: If a crew chief is not found for a show for the given division, the manager of that
position must assume the role.
E: Shall approve the person appointed by a producer as a crew chief of production stage
manager for each production.
F: Shall attend strike for all productions, and ensure that strike and maintenance is
satisfactorily completed as per standards set forth by the Executive Board/Producer after
every production, and shall ensure that all changes and necessary follow-ups be completed.
G: Shall have voting power.
SECTION 11: ADVISOR
A: Shall make valuable suggestions and ideas to the club.
B: Shall assist the club in formulating short and long-range goals.
C: Shall represent the club in faculty and other meetings.
D: Shall assist in evaluating group projects, performances, and progress.
E: Shall attend all formal events and functions that the club may have, including Board
meetings.
F: Shall meet with the president of MCCTA on a regular basis to discuss organization of
plans and problems.
G: Shall make recommendations concerning and then approve the financial budget.
H: Shall be the archivist.
I: Shall have voting power.
SECTION 12: COMMITMENT TO THE BOARD
A: When a Board Member is elected to his or her position, a certain level of commitment
to the Board is expected of him or her.
B: If the Board Member then decides to apply to study abroad, he or she must resign his
Board position in anticipation of the very likeliness that he or she will be accepted to the
program. This will allow him or her sufficient time to train a replacement while he or she
is still present on campus.
C: In the event that a Board Member takes on an internship or some other work
experience, he or she must be able to maintain his or her commitment to regular Board
meetings and duties. In the event that maintenance of Board responsibilities becomes
difficult or impossible, resignation is encouraged.
D: If the individual holds the position of President, the Vice-President shall take over their
duties.
E: This is not to discourage Board Members from taking advantage of opportunities, but to
maintain a certain level of commitment to the Board to encourage consistency and stability
for the best interest of the club.

ARTICLE SEVEN: MEETINGS
SECTION 1: General meetings shall take place on a monthly basis during the academic year.
SECTION 2: The Executive Board shall meet on a regular weekly basis throughout the academic
year.
A. Unless suspended, all meetings will be run according to Robert’s Rules of Order,
Newly Revised.
B: Attendance is mandatory at these meetings. If a Board member cannot attend, they are
to notify the Vice-President or President.
C: Any Board member with two unexcused absences per year shall receive a written letter
of possible removal from office. After the third unexcused absence, this member will be
removed from his/her position. The Executive Board will appoint a general member to the
vacant position.

ARTICLE EIGHT: COMMUNICATION
SECTION 1: No major communications are to take place without prior notification of the
MCCTA Board.
SECTION 2: The Board shall appoint a webmaster to keep the website accurate.
SECTION 3: Three separate mailing lists shall be created and maintained for on and off campus
communication, as well as alumni.

ARTICLE NINE: PRODUCERS
SECTION 1: All producers must submit an application and go through the interview process with
the MCCTA Executive Board.
SECTION 2: Producers of all shows must attend weekly Board meetings during the rehearsal
process, and the meeting following the show’s completion to give reports.
SECTION 3:
A: Guild points are due to the Board at the meeting immediately following the conclusion
of a given production. Points are subject to approval by the Board, which reserves the right
to change the points.
B: A financial statement is to be submitted to the Board at the meeting immediately
following the conclusion of a given production.
C: The producer must report all major production difficulties to the executive Board. If
the Board makes a decision or offers a directive; the producer must abide by the set
solution.
D: A video of production is due to the Board for archive at the meeting following closing
of a given production.
SECTION 4: Producers, Executive Board members and crew chiefs only are allowed access to
props and costume lofts. Names along with job/position and CWID Number must be typed and
will be held in College Activities and must be submitted there by President/Producer at the start of
each academic year and/or production.
SECTION 5: The Producer forfeits the right to audition for said production.
SECTION 6: All Producers in conjunction with crew chiefs are in charge of organizing strike.
Cast and crew members who do not participate forfeit their guild points, unless extenuating
circumstances are previously discussed and consent is given.

ARTICLE TEN: DIRECTORS
SECTION 1: All directors of MCCTA productions (staff, faculty, professors, students, and other)
must be approved by the Board.
SECTION 2: Directors forfeit the right to audition for or be cast in the production for which they
are chosen to direct.

ARTICLE ELEVEN: THE READING COMMITTEE
SECTION 1:
A: Each current managing director shall form a reading committee made up of general
members and Board members to select scripts to be considered for the following season.
B: After elections, the managing director elected for the following season shall take over
the reading committee from the current managing director.
SECTION 2:
A: The reading committee shall select a minimum of three to four scripts for each
production to present to the Executive Board.
B: A majority vote of the Executive Board can ask for additional scripts for consideration
if the majority feels that the selection pool does not provide the best possible show for
MCCTA.
SECTION 3:
A: The entire season must be determined by the time of the MCCTA Banquet.
B: If circumstances beyond the Executive Board’s foreseeable control prevent the season
from being determined by the time of Banquet, the season must then be chosen by
September.

ARTICLE TWELVE: ELECTIONS
SECTION 1: Elections shall be held as called for by SGA.
SECTION 2: The outgoing President, if a graduating senior, will assume the responsibilities of an
elections commissioner and oversee the following: (if the President is not a graduating senior, the
Executive Board will appoint a graduating senior of their choosing.)
A: Coordinating all elections events with the Executive Board.
B: Shall be in charge of and responsible for the official election results.
C: Ensure that all procedures and policies set forth by the MCCTA by-laws are adhered to.
D: Shall report to the Executive Board weekly during the time of elections.
E: Shall act as an official spokesperson for the official elections during this time period.
F: Shall work with the Executive Board should any problems arise.
G: Shall work with the Vice-President to compose a list of those eligible to vote based on
MCCTA’s by-laws.
H: Shall create an official ballot that adheres to the standards by the by-laws of MCCTA
and Marist Student Government.
I: Shall coordinate candidates and their speeches to ensure that all information is truthful.
SECTION 3: Only active members meeting a requirement set by the Board may vote in an
election.
SECTION 4: Those interested in running shall submit an application along with a resume of
theatre experience and a statement of why they are suited for specific positions on the Board.
SECTION 5: All candidates must be full-time, undergraduate students at Marist College.
SECTION 6: Those interested in running for the positions of President and Vice President should
hold the rank of Master. Those interested in running for the remaining positions must hold the
rank of Journeyman. In the event that no one of these ranks apply, the Executive Board may open
the elections to members of the next-lesser status.
SECTION 7: Guild points used in determining election eligibility will be based upon the points as
of the last show, event, or meeting concluded prior to the deadline as set by the Executive Board,
according to SGA elections calendar.
SECTION 8: Vote Balloting:
A: A NO vote shall be added to the ballot of a candidate running unopposed. This
candidate must receive the majority (50% + 1) of the membership president at the time of
the election.
B: Of the election ballot, an abstention vote will be provided. The abstention vote does
not count as part of the majority of the members present at the time of the election.
Therefore, the winning majority shall be determined form those who voted for one of the
candidates.
SECTION 9: New officers will begin their term on the date of transition set by Student
Government. From the time of elections until that date, the Board elect will be the reading
committee.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN: GUILD SYSTEM
SECTION 1: The maximum number of points on can earn per production is five.
SECTION 2: Titles will be awarded to individuals at the end of year banquet.
A: The title of Apprentice shall be awarded upon earning 1-20 points.
B: The title of Journeyman shall be awarded upon earning 21-50 points.
C: The title of Master shall be awarded upon earning 51-100 points.
D: The title of Supermaster shall be awarded upon earning 101+ points.
SECTION 3: Withholding of Guild Points
A: In the event that a participant in a show (cast member, crew member, or crew chief)
does not attend set strike for that performance, his or her Guild Points will be withheld
until he or she makes up the time missed at strike.
I. This member’s points will remain “Pending” until work is made up
SECTION 4: Performers and Build Hours
A: Each student performer will sign a contract at the first rehearsal for every show
produced by MCCTA with stipulations regarding required build hours.
1. The performers will be given a schedule of times the set will be constructed by
the technical director(s) as soon as possible
B: If, by the end of the production, the total initially agreed upon amount of hours are not
completed, the right of the performer to audition for following shows will be withheld until
the hours are completed as specified by board sanctioned events.
1. These events may include work area clean-outs and construction for other
productions.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN: AWARDS
SECTION 1: The nomination and voting committee shall consist of all incoming and outgoing
Board members who have seen all MCCTA productions that year.
SECTION 2: The “GERARD A. COX THEATRE ARTS AWARD” will be established as a hall
of fame for graduating seniors who have shown outstanding dedication and contribution to the
Theatre Arts during their undergraduate years at Marist College. The award shall read, “Gerard
Cox Award, Excellence in Marist College Theatre Arts, date.” The MCCTA Board shall have the
power to vote upon and bestow this award to nominees each year. The award is given for the
quality and quantity of work performed on behalf of MCCTA. Years in the organization is only a
factor to be considered.
SECTION 3: The “JIM BRITT AWARD” will be established as a hall of fame for non-students
associated with Marist College who has shown outstanding dedication and contribution and
contributions to theatre in local community theatre and/or theatre at Marist College. The award
shall read, “Jim Britt Memorial Award, Mid-Hudson Theatre Arts, date.” The nomination and
voting committee shall have the power to vote upon and bestow this award to nominees each year.
SECTION 4: The “JENNIFER DRESSEL AWARD” is given annually to undergraduate student
who has been outstanding in his or her dedication to theatre arts through work behind the scenes of
MCCTA’s productions. In extraordinary year, second award may be given in this name to a
graduate senior who had not been so recognized while an underclassman. However the
scholarship grant may go only to an underclassman and the grant is used at Marist College.
SECTION 5: “OUTSTANDING ACHEIVEMENT AWARDS” will be awarded at the end of the
year at the MCCTA banquet. These awards will be presented by the Board members and
graduating seniors. Award categories will be up to the discretion of the nomination and voting
committee. These awards will encompass all four production divisions.

ARTICLE FIFTEEN: AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the members of the MCCTA Board,
provided that a quorum is present. If such amendments pass by the majority, then it must be
presented to the Student Government Association for final approval.

ARTICLE SIXTEEN: HAZING
The Marist College Division of Judicial Affairs holds this policy for the college: Any action, which
endangers the mental, emotional, or physical health or safety of a student, or which destroys or
removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or
as a condition for continued membership in an organization or team whose members are, or
include, students at Marist. MCCTA strongly prohibits such actions.

ARTICLE SEVENTEEN: POLICIES AND ACTIONS
Marist College Council on Theatre Arts, and any individual associate with it, shall abide by and
conform to all Federal and New York State Laws, all rules and regulations of Marist College, and
all directives of the Student Government Association. Any violation of the aforementioned criteria
may result in disciplinary action take on the club’s charter.