Many MTNA members hold membership in three music teacher associations - local, state and national. This total MTNA membership provides services and information on three levels - a membership that is bigger than the sum of its parts. Each of MTNA's members, state associations and local associations are important parts of the MTNA structure. Local, state and national associations form a solid foundation upon which MTNA anchors its commitment to furthering the art of music. An MTNA local association is an organization formed within an MTNA-affiliated state association by a group of active members interested in advancing musical knowledge and education. Generally, such members share a geographical area in which they live or teach. To become an affiliated local association, the organization must adopt a constitution and bylaws, which must be ratified by the state MTA executive board.

MTNA Local Associations Provide Opportunity

• Local associations represent the interests of professional music teachers in specific geographical areas.
• Local associations provide expanded avenues for professional and personal growth, including the development of teaching, communication and leadership skills.
• Local associations stimulate music students to accomplish and achieve by sponsoring performance opportunities.
• Local associations promote the value of music education and the importance of music study with a qualified teacher.
• Local associations assist with providing direction to members in an independent studio, multi-staff studio, college, university or conservatory.
• Local associations work within the community to support and promote the awareness of the value of music education for all individuals.

Local Associations Are Your Link to:

• A nationally organized network of music teachers
• Direct communication with state and national representatives who are specifically designated to assist with local matters
• State and national programs and services designed to meet the needs of music teachers and students, including certification, conferences, auditions, competitions, publications, and insurance and financial services
• Liability insurance coverage for local association events on request
• MTNA FOUNDATION Local Association Matching Grants and Start Up Grants

Local Associations Work for You

• A number of regularly scheduled meetings take place during the year. The frequency of the meetings, issues discussed and programs presented are planned according to the needs of the membership in each local association.
• Publications, such as a local newsletter, keep local association members informed about association business. Items that may be included in the newsletter are music articles, news columns, reviews or announcements.
• Directories, including the program schedule for the fiscal year, encourage member participation and also may be used for publicity purposes.
• Membership drives provide for the continued growth of the association and the recognition of the organization and its purposes.
• Services, such as a teacher referral service, are beneficial to the membership and to the community.
• Other programs include:
  • workshops
  • seminars
  • lectures
  • performances
  • demonstrations
  • study courses
  • music and book reviewsÑsome membership associations discuss articles published in American Music Teacher and other periodicals
  • music appreciation classes
  • presentations by collegiate chapter members
  • leadership conferences
  • fundraising activities
  • guest speakers—lawyers (liability), accountants (income tax), doctors (performance-related health problems), music merchants, newspaper reporters or others
  • panel presenting, discussing and offering solutions to problems and other items of interest
• Student programs include:
  • auditions
  • competitions
  • recitals
  • ensemble classes
  • multi-piano concerts
  • music camps
  • music festivals
  • scholarships
  • composition contests
  • collegiate chapters
• Reception themes include:
  • welcoming new members and meeting prospective members
  • recognizing outstanding leaders and members in the community or in the association
  • promoting social interchange among members
  • honoring featured clinicians or performers
  • introducing private- and public-school music teachers and college faculty members to the association members and vice versa
• Local associations periodically:
  • provide information on the advantages of membership in the local, state and national associations
  • encourage interest and participation in programs sponsored by the association
  • promote MTNA certification
  • develop leaders
  • plan publicity campaigns that stress the purpose, goals and programs of the affiliated local associations

Additional possibilities may be obtained from MTNA publications such as American Music Teacher; by attending state conferences and national conferences; and by contacting other local, state and national representatives.

Organizing a New MTNA Local Association

A leader is selected for the geographical area of the desired local association. The leader may be chosen by the state president, state local associations chair or by those interested in forming the local association.

A meeting is planned and arranged by the local leader. Music teachers from the area are invited to attend. A list of teachers may be obtained from local music merchants. If possible, the state president or the state local associations chair should attend the organizational meeting, and a representative from the state executive board should attend a subsequent meeting. The organizational meeting includes:

• Stating the purpose of the meeting
• Open discussion
• Distributing MTNA membership applications to non-members
• Checking the membership list for the new local association to guarantee that only state and national members are included
• Electing officers - if the election is to be held at a later date, the local leader may invite those present to submit, in writing, the names of qualified individuals for the various offices

Local association officers may include only a president and a secretary/treasurer or a complete set of officers: president, president-elect, vice president for membership, vice president for programs, recording and corresponding secretaries, and treasurer.

Immediately following the election of officers, the executive board should appoint a committee to draft a constitution and bylaws to be adopted by the members. After the constitution and bylaws have been adopted locally, the documents must be submitted to the state MTA executive board for ratification. The local association constitution and bylaws must be drafted in accordance with those of the state MTA and MTNA. The local association membership requirements must be in agreement with the state and national membership requirements.

Suggested Responsibilities of Local Association Presidents

• Plans and presides at all local association business meetings
• Supervises all program planning and projects of the local association
• Appoints appropriate committees and chairs to accomplish the work and activities of the local association
• Oversees financial integrity of the local association, including the filing of required IRS forms each year
• Submits regular reports of all activities, list of officers and any other requested information to the state local associations chair
• Sends copies of newsletters and other mailings to the state local associations chair and the national local associations chair
• Attends required state association meetings, the state conference and the national conference
• Invites the state local associations chair and the state president to visit a local association meeting or a special event each year
• Is thoroughly acquainted with the goals of the local association, state organization and MTNA
• Studies the Constitution and Bylaws to ascertain that the local association is operating within the requirements of the state and national associations
• Responds promptly to all inquiries from local association members, and the state and national local associations chairs
• Informs local association members of all state and national communications
• Carries out all responsibilities of the particular local association presidentÕs job description, as well as those designated by the state constitution, bylaws and standing rules

Suggested Form of Constitution & Bylaws for MTNA Local Associations

Constitution of the [name] Association in the [state] Music Teachers Association

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the [name] Local Association in the [state] Music Teachers Association.

Article II - Object

Section 1. The object of the Association is the advancement of musical knowledge and education.

Section 2. Activities of the Association are aimed at the promotion of the art of music and the advancement of musical knowledge by disseminating the knowledge of educational activities and the appreciation of music among the people of this community.

Section 3. [name] Association is not organized for profit and no part of its net earnings benefits any private individual.

Section 4. In the event of the dissolution of this organization, any funds remaining in the treasury after the payment of any outstanding debts shall be contributed to a nonprofit organization, which qualifies under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

Article III - Membership

Section 1. Membership classifications in this Association shall be: Active, Patron and Student.

Section 2. Membership privileges and dues are prescribed by the Bylaws of the Association.

Article IV - Affiliation

Section 1. All members of this Association shall hold membership in the [state] Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association.

Article V - Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be: President, President-elect, Vice President for Membership, Vice President for Programs, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2. The manner of election and the duties of each officer shall be defined in the Bylaws.

Article VI - Meetings

Section 1. Meetings of the Association shall be held at such time and place as are decided upon by the officers of the Association, but they shall be guided by the wishes of the membership.

Section 2. Two-thirds of the Active members present constitute a quorum of the Association for the transaction of business. [Note: This may vary with individual associations for all practical purposes for transacting association business.]

Article VII - Fiscal Year

Section 1. The fiscal year shall be the same as the membership year, beginning July 1 and ending June 30.

Article VIII - Amendments

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended at any business meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote of the Active members present and voting, the proposed amendment having been submitted to the members at least thirty (30) days prior to the voting.

Bylaws

Article I - Membership

Section 1. Active membership is open to all persons professionally engaged in any field of musical activity who also are members of an affiliated state association and MTNA. Such membership provides the privileges of participation in the activities of the Association, holding office and voting.

Section 2. Patron membership is open to all persons not professionally engaged in any field of musical activity who wish to support the programs of the Association, subject to membership regulations of the affiliated state association and MTNA. Such membership provides admission to all meetings of the Association, but does not include the right to vote or hold office.

Section 3. Student membership is open to any bona fide student of music subject to membership regulation. Student members may attend all meetings of the Association, but do not have the right to vote or hold office.

Article II - Dues

Section 1. Annual dues will be established by the Board of Directors and reviewed annually.

Article III - Duties of Officers

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association, shall call and preside at meetings of the officers, shall appoint all standing committees, shall appoint all special committees, as needed, and shall perform all other duties implied by this title.

Section 2. The President-elect shall assume all duties of the President in the absence of that officer and shall perform such other duties as may be designated by the President.

Section 3. The Vice President for Membership shall preside in the absence of the President and President-elect, and shall coordinate all activity relating to recruitment, retention and development of members.

Section 4. The Vice President for Programs shall preside in absence of the President, President-elect and Vice President for Membership, and shall oversee the development and implementation of the AssociationÕs programs and activities.

Section 5. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Association and of the officers, shall see that the minutes are in legal form and properly preserved, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.

Section 6. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the payment of all bills authorized by the Association, shall keep an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements and shall present an official report to the Association upon request.

Article IV - Election of Officers

Section 1. A Nominating Committee of three members shall be appointed by the President at the final meeting of each fiscal year to serve for the ensuing year. The procedure of the Nominating Committee will follow the prescribed rules of the Bylaws set up by the Local Association.

Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall present at the last business session of the fiscal year the names of six (6) candidates, one for each of the elected offices. Additional nominations may be made from the floor. Those members qualified to vote cast ballots for not more than six (6) candidates so named. Those candidates receiving the largest number of votes will be declared elected for a term of one (1) or two (2) years. They will assume office at the first meeting of the fiscal year.

Section 3. The President will appoint tellers immediately following the report of the Nominating Committee. The tellers will be responsible for distributing, collecting and counting the ballots, and reporting the results to the Secretary.

Article V - Amendments

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended at any business meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote of the Active members present and voting, the proposed amendment having been submitted to the members at least thirty (30) days prior to the voting.

For more information about Bylaws and Constitutions contact MTNA’s Local Associations Chair.

The Connection: Your State Chair

The state local associations chair is your direct connection with your state MTA and MTNA. This person:

• Provides necessary networking between the national local associations chair and all local association presidents within the state
• Assures that the state local associations chair is included in the local association mailing lists in order to receive newsletters and other correspondence
• Submits the names and addresses of local association presidents to National Headquarters
• Establishes close communication with local association presidents through regular mailings
• Provides assistance to local presidents whenever needed
• Schedules annual visits to local association meetings
• Meets with the local association presidents during the state conferences
• Answers all communications promptly
• Keeps files up to date
• Attends state and national conferences
• Encourages the affiliation of new local associations within the state
• Carries out all responsibilities of the state local associations chair as designated by the individual state constitution, bylaws and standing rules. Local associations are an important way MTNA can provide information and support for music teachers across the country. Your local association will be another strand linking you to larger music teacher associations at the state and national levels. Join us and find information, benefits and services to increase your knowledge and abilities in all aspects of your music-teaching career.

For more information about establishing an MTNA local association or MTNA membership, contact:
MUSIC TEACHERS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
The Carew Tower
441 Vine St., Ste. 3100
Cincinnati, OH 45202-3004
(513) 421-1420 or (888) 512-5278
Fax: (513) 421-2503
E-mail: mtnanet@mtna.org
Website: www.mtna.org