Ratified September 22, 1997
These are completely obsolete
1. GENERAL
The name of this organization is the HEWLETT-PACKARD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (hereafter "HPSO"). The HPSO is an unincorporated association organized for educational and recreational purposes and not for profit.
The HPSO is a member orchestra of the American Symphony Orchestra League.
2. PURPOSE
The purposes of the HPSO are to:
A. Promote and foster an appreciation of symphonic music throughout the Hewlett-Packard community and to advance the cause of music education among members of the HPSO and the community at large.
B. Provide and foster an outlet for as wide a range of musical participation as practicable, to allow members of various skill levels to participate in a positive way at their own level, while maintaining a high level of musical enjoyment for audiences and the HPSO as a whole.
3. MEMBERSHIP
A. Any Hewlett-Packard employee (full-time, flex-time, SEED or retired) and any member of the Hewlett-Packard Board of Directors is eligible for Regular membership in the HPSO, subject to approval by the Governing Board.
B. Any other person who is musically qualified and who wishes to participate in the HPSO is eligible for Associate membership, subject to approval by the Governing Board.
4. MUSICAL PARTICIPATION
A. The Principal Conductor determines the number of musicians needed in each section for each piece to be played in each concert.
B. If there is an insufficient number of musicians in a particular section, additional Associate members may be solicited to achieve the proper blend.
C. If a particular section has more musicians than the requisite number needed for a particular piece, it is up to the section to determine how to share the load.
D. In keeping with the purpose of the HPSO, Regular members are to be preferred when limiting the number of musicians in a section according to bylaw 4.C above.
5. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
A. The Governing Board can call two types of membership meetings: general and special.
B. There shall be a general membership meeting annually in September. The membership shall be given 30 days notice of the date and time for the meeting. The meeting announcement shall include the agenda for the meeting.
C. The agenda of the general meeting includes the election of Officers and Directors and such other business as may be brought before the meeting.
D. A special membership meeting may be called by the Governing Board. The membership shall be given 30 days notice of the date and time for the meeting. The meeting announcement shall include the agenda for the meeting. A special membership meeting is typically called to conduct business which must be approved by the general membership and cannot wait for the next general membership meeting.
E. In the event that a Regular member is unable to attend a membership meeting, the member may lodge a proxy vote with any member of the Governing Board.
F. A majority of the Regular members (either in person or by proxy) constitutes a quorum at a membership meeting. Associate members may attend and speak at a membership meeting, but they may not vote.
6. OFFICERS
A. The Officers of the HPSO include a President/Manager, a Librarian, a Principal Conductor, and a Publicity Chairperson, all of whom must be Regular members.
B. Each Officer’s term of office begins with his/her election at a general membership meeting and terminates on the date of the general membership meeting two years hence. The Board shall attempt to stagger the 2-year terms such that there is partial continuity of Board membership across general membership meetings.
C. Other officers, who may be Regular or Associate members, may be appointed from time to time by the Governing Board for a term not to exceed one year.
D. There is no limit on the number of consecutive terms served by a particular member in a particular Office.
7. GOVERNING BOARD
A. The Governing Board includes the President/Manager, the Librarian, the Principal Conductor, the Publicity Chairperson, and three Directors elected by the general membership.
B. Each Director’s term of office begins with his/her election and terminates on the date of the next general membership meeting.
C. The Board decides what musical works the HPSO will perform, when and where the HPSO will rehearse and give concerts, chartering of committees, resolution of issues, and other matters related to overall governance of, and participation in, the HPSO.
D. The Board meets from time to time as may be convenient, but not less often than semi-annually. A majority of the Board constitutes a quorum.
E. A Board meeting can be initiated by any member of the Governing Board.
F. If any Office or Directorship becomes vacant, the Board may fill the vacancy by majority vote of the remaining members of the Board. The position so filled terminates on the date of the next general membership meeting.
8. NOMINATING PROCEDURES
A. A solitication for nominations to fill Officer and Directorship positions shall be communicated to the HPSO membership (by electronic mail) 45 days prior to the next general membership meeting.
B. Any Regular HPSO member may nominate an HPSO member for one of the open positions (subject to the restrictions stated in bylaws 6.A and 6.C, above.
C. In parallel, the Governing Board shall draft a slate of candidates for the open positions.
D. Nominations from the floor at the general membership meeting shall be accepted.
E. All nominated members, regardless of the source of nomination, shall be voted upon by the membership at the next general membership meeting.
9. COMMITTEES
A. From time to time, it may be necessary for the Governing Board to charter a committee of HPSO members to study a particular area of interest.
B. The charter of the committee shall include the purpose of the committee, the requisite output from committee deliberations, the proposed size of the committee, and the termination date for the committee.
C. The President shall populate the committee and monitor its progress.
10. ISSUES
A. Any HPSO member may escalate an issue for resolution to any Governing Board Member.
B. The Governing Board shall attempt to resolve said issue, either at its next scheduled board meeting or via a specially invoked board meeting.
C. In the event that the Board is unable to resolve the issue, the President shall decide its resolution.
D. Regardless of the manner in which it is resolved, the President shall communicate the issue resolution to the HPSO membership.
11. DUTIES OF OFFICERS
A. The President/Manager shall:
- Preside at all meetings of the HPSO and the Governing Board and enforce all of its bylaws and regulations.
- Populate committees and monitor their progress.
- Approve all expenditures.
- Maintain the roster of members.
- Be principal contact with the external (to Hewlett-Packard) musical community.
- Ensure that rooms/auditoriums are reserved for rehearsal and concerts, as approved by the Governing Board.
- Resolve disputes and make final judgements in keeping with the stated purposes of the HPSO.
B. The Principal Conductor shall:
- Conduct, or appoint an associate to conduct, rehearsals and concerts.
- Ensure parts are covered at rehearsals and concerts, and make substitutions as necessary.
- Maintain the level of quality of the orchestral playing in keeping with the range of musical skills of the members and the purposes of the HPSO.
C. The Librarian shall:
- Collect and maintain the scores and instrumental parts that belong to the HPSO.
- Provide instrumental parts to all playing members, and scores to all conductors, for rehearsals, concerts, and home practice.
- Ensure extra parts are available at all rehearsals and concerts.
D. The Publicity Chairperson shall:
- Arrange for all concert publicity, including announcements and posters as appropriate, at all sites where concerts are to be held, or where potential audience members are likely to be found.
- Arrange for announcements for the enlistment of new members.
12. AMENDMENTS
Any amendments to these Bylaws must be approved by a majority of the Governing Board and then presented for confirmation by a majority of the Regular members at the next general membership meeting.
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