New Member Nominations – Eligibility and Procedure

 

New Member Eligibility

1. To be elected to membership in Phi Beta Mu, an active member in good standing must nominate a prospective member for consideration to the Membership Committee. Under no circumstance shall the nominee know about their candidacy for membership into Phi Beta Mu until the Membership Committee has approved their membership. The Chapter Vice President serves as Chairperson of the Membership Committee.

2. The Membership Committee shall base membership decisions on the following consistent set of criteria. A new member of Phi Beta Mu shall:

   1. Have a minimum of seven years of successful band directing experience.

   2. Possess a valid teaching certificate or the equivalent as accepted by the State Department of Education.

   3. Currently hold or formerly held a position as conductor of a consistently superior band.

   4. Have demonstrated leadership in the profession by contributing to the progress of bands.  Examples include holding office or responsibility at the state, regional and national level, exemplary publications, compositions, dissertations, performances, etc.

   5. Have established a reputation for personal character that is ethically and morally above reproach.

   6. Hold membership in the state music education association.

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Nomination Procedure

1. Active Members must be a member of Phi Beta Mu for five years before they may nominate a candidate for membership and may only nominate one person every three years.  The chapter has recommitted itself to vigilantly preserving the highest expectations of its prospective members.  Members are asked to be very mindful of this commitment when nominating a candidate for membership.

2. Nominations are only made verbally from the floor at one of the regular meetings with a vote on the nominees occurring the following year, allowing members to observe candidates and investigate their less obvious qualities. As nominations for membership are made, the Secretary is to record the name(s) of the nominee(s), the name of the nominator (1) and the names of the sponsors (2) of each nominee.

1. The nominator shall secure an information sheet from the Chapter Vice President. This form must be completed and returned to the Vice President at the time the nomination is being made. The nominator must also provide a bio of the prospective member and two letters of recommendation from the sponsors to the Chairperson of the Membership Committee within 30 days after the date of the nomination. Nominations that are not so documented shall be considered invalid.

2. A list of fully documented candidates shall be provided electronically by secure email or website. The ballot vote of each member shall be completed electronically prior to the first scheduled day of the convention at which the Chapter meeting is held.

3. The Chairperson of the Membership Committee shall prepare a composite report of the ballots for the Membership Committee’s evaluation.

4. If a chapter member has valid reasons for objecting to the initiation of anyone on the nominee list, it is that member’s responsibility to notify the Membership Committee of these objections in person at the committee’s posted meeting, which is to be held prior to the annual meeting. No protests will be considered at any other time.

5. Nominators of candidates or their proxies are required to attend the meeting of the Membership Committee to represent their candidate. No protests will be considered at any other time.

6. Based on the recommendations of those making the new member nominations, the vote of the membership, and taking into consideration the objections of members to the candidates, the Membership Committee shall have sole authority to determine the candidates that shall be invited into membership in Phi Beta Mu. If there is a tie vote of the Membership Committee concerning the membership of a candidate, the Chapter President or the President’s proxy shall be present to cast the tie-breaking vote.

7. Only those candidates receiving support of the voting members and the majority vote of the Membership Committee shall be invited to membership in Phi Beta Mu.

8. THE DECISIONS OF THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE SHALL BE FINAL.

9. Each accepted candidate shall be notified and invited to membership by his/her nominator or designee. An initiation fee shall be assessed to each new member. This fee shall be set by the International Board of Directors and approved be the International Assembly. The chapter shall retain this initiation fee. The chapter shall include the newly initiated candidates in the Annual Per Capita Report beginning with the year of their induction.

10. The nomination of any candidate not attending the installation ceremony shall be tabled and voted on again the following year unless the nominator withdraws his/her name.

11. The nominator shall pay the candidate’s membership dues the first year (currently $45).