bylaws

FOLK, ROUND AND SQUARE DANCE FEDERATION OF NORTH CAROLIA
CONSTITUTION

Section 1. This organization shall be known as the Folk, Round and Square Dance Federation.

Section 1. The aims and objectives of this organization are as follows:
The encouragement and enjoyment of international folk, round and square dancing and its related arts and promotion of a spirit of friendship and understanding.
To provide for and conduct, if possible, festivals in which all may participate.
To encourage research in authentic dance forms and to make available recognized patterns of folk, round and square dances.
To assist in the formation and development of folk, round and square dance groups which such assistance is requested or desired.
To encourage among folk, round and square dance groups mutual cooperation and exchange of dance techniques, instructors and leaders.
To compile and maintain a directory of all member groups that may be interested in the purpose of this organization.

Section 1. Membership in this Federation shall consist of those persons meeting the
requirements as provided hereinafter or the By-Laws.

Section 1. The officers of the Federation shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and
a Treasurer, and their spouses as honorary participants with suitable badge if they
so desire.

Section 2. Officers shall be elected by the member groups as provided in the By-Laws. The
Executive Board shall have the power to fill vacancies in any of the said offices
Which occur between elections.

Section 3. Officers shall be elected at the November Council Meeting for a period of one year
beginning January 1st of the new year and terminating December 31st of the same
year.

Section 1. There shall be an Executive Board consisting of the four officers the immediate Past
Presidents, chairpersons of the standing committees, and four Regional Directors.
ARTICLE VI - COUNCIL

Section 1. The Executive Board, two representatives' maximum for each participating folk, round
and square dance group, selected in such manner as each group shall determine and
properly identified to the Council so that when these representative vote on Council
matters they can be recognized as being official representatives and each is eligible
to vote, and such Chairperson of special committees as may be deemed as necessary
by the Executive Board shall constitute the Council.

Section 1. The President, with the approval of the continuing members of the Executive Board,*
shall appoint, for the same term of office as the President, Chairpersons and members
for the following committees and positions: Publicity and Public Relations, Research
and Planning, Constitution and By-Laws, Publications, Square Dance Program, Round
Dance Program, Federation Charity Ball, Membership, Education, State Convention,
Chaplain, Parliamentarian, and Historian, and their spouses as honorary participants,
appropriate badges shall be provided for all appointees.
*continuing members of the Executive Boards defined as the incoming Vice-President,
Secretary Treasurer, Immediate Past President and the Chairpersons of the Federation
Charity Ball, and State Convention Committees, the latter two being multi-year
appointments.
Section 2. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of three Federation
members, none of whom shall be a presently elected officer.
Section 3. The President shall appoint four Regional Directors, none of whom shall be a presently
elected officer, for the same term of office as the President. The Regional Directors
shall be selected one from each of the four Regions into which the state shall be divided
by the Executive Board.
Section 4. Such other committees may be appointed by the President as may be deemed necessary
in the interest of the Federation.

Section 1. The constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of member groups voting,
provided that a ballot of proposed changes, additions, and/or deletions has been mailed
to each member group entitled to vote, at least six full weeks prior to the next Council
meeting. The Secretary shall mail a ballot, along with an envelope marked to allow
authentication, to each member group entitled to vote and each member group will cast
one vote for each issue, returning to ballot, in the marked envelope, to the Secretary
prior to the next Federation meeting.
Section 2. A Counting Committee shall be appointed by the President and shall consist of five (5)
members, none of whom were members of the Constitution and By-Laws Committee
that year, and two (2) of whom shall be members of the Executive Board. These latter
two (2) members shall act as overseer and assist with the counting. Ballots shall be
authenticated, using the marked envelope identification, counted and recorded. When
complete and verified correct by the entire committee, the results shall be reported to
the President who will announce the meeting.
FOLK, ROUND AND SQUARE DANCE FEDERATION OF NORTH CAROLINA

Section 1. Membership in the Federation shall be designated as Individual, Institutional, Group
and Associate. The Federation is for the people of North Carolina with the exception
of those persons residing in neighboring states and belonging to clubs within North
Carolina.

Section 2. Individual Membership shall consist of square/round dance callers/cuers/teachers, and
others not affiliated with regular, or organized square/round dance groups, but who
are interested primarily in folk, round and square dancing and the related arts.

Section 3. Institutional Membership shall consist of schools, colleges, playgrounds, YMCA,
YWCA, and other institutions conducting folk, round and square dance classes or
Sponsoring such activities as part of their program.

Section 4. Group Membership shall consist of any organized adult group consisting of eight or
more persons interested in folk, round and square dancing, and the related arts. Such
groups may not be operated primarily for profit. Callers/Cuers/Teachers for Group
Members shall hold automatic affiliation with the Federation. In the event that the
Member Group either removes itself from affiliation with the Federation, or is removed
from affiliation by a vote of the Federation, or in event that Member Group ends its
affiliation with the caller/cuer/teacher, said caller/cuer/teacher may apply for
membership status of Individual Membership, under the provisions of ARTICLE I,
Section 2 of the By-Laws.

Section 5. Associate Membership shall be any person or group not qualifying under Sections 2, 3,
or 4 who is interested primarily in folk, round and square dancing and the related arts,
and/or the principles and aims of the Federation.

Section 6. Annual dues, as set by the Council, shall be due and payable on October 1st of each year,
For the ensuing calendar year. Dues for a new member joining after October 1st shall be
Prorated on a quarterly basis.

Section 7. Additional funds, if required, shall be raised by an assessment. A request for an assess-
ment, with complete details, shall be submitted in writing at a regular Council Meeting.
A two-thirds majority of the Council members voting shall be required for approval,
Which approval will be binding on all member groups.

Section 8. Any member who fails to pay annual dues by December 31st shall be automatically
removed from membership in the Federation, but may be restored to full membership
upon full payment of dues for the current year. During the period of suspension,
however, persons shall forfeit all rights and privileges of membership.
ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP (continued)

Section 9. All applications for membership shall be submitted in proper form to the Membership Committee, who will investigate and confirm that the qualifications of the applicant(s)
Conform to the requirements of the By-Laws. They will then recommend approval or
Rejection of the applicant(s) to the next regular Council meeting. Membership may be approved or rejected by a simple majority of the Council members present.

Section 10. Only Group Members in good standing shall have the right to vote or hold office.

Section 1. The duties of the officers shall be those common to the respective office held.

Section 2. The President of the Federation shall act as presiding officer of the Executive Board
And the Council.

Section 3. The Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, act as presiding officer of the
Executive Board and the Council. He/She shall serve as Chairperson of the Hall of
Fame and Golden Slipper Awards Committee. He/She shall perform such other duties
As are assigned by the Executive Board and/or Council, or delegated by the President.

Section 4. The Secretary will be responsible for keeping the records of the business of the
Organization and for sending proper notices of all meetings to those who should receive
them, and shall perform other duties referred to him or her from time to time by the
President, Executive Board and the Council.

Section 5. The Treasurer shall receive and hold all funds of the Federation and shall disburse funds
Only as authorized by the Executive Board and/or Council.

Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Executive Board to carry out the instructions of the Council,
And to take official action between meetings of the Council.

Section 2. It shall be the duty of each of the four Regional Directors to coordinate communications
and other activities between the Federation and the clubs in their respective regions.
The Regional Directors are expected to visit on regular basis the Federation clubs in
their regions to achieve this objective. The Regional Directors are also expected to
Visit non-Federation clubs and attempt to bring them into membership.

Section 3. Any vacancies of Chairpersons or members of standing or special committees occurring
During the year shall be filled by appointment by the President with the approval of the
Executive Board.

Any vacancies in elected-officer positions occurring during the year shall be filled by
Appointment by the Executive Board with the approval of the Council. The person(s)
Thus appointed shall hold office for the unexpired term or until a successor is elected
and qualified through a regular election.

Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Council to carry out the business of the Federation. It shall
Have referred to it all maters pertaining to policy and legislation.

Section 2. The Council may delegate such duties as it may deem necessary and advisable to the
Executive Board with power to act.

Section 1. The Membership Committee shall be particularly responsible to implement the
objectives of the Federation. They shall encourage qualified groups and persons in the
folk, round and square dancing fields to apply for membership in the Federation, and
proceed as outlined in ARTICLE I, Section 9 of the By-Laws when applications are
received. When applicants are approved by the Council, the committee shall forward
names and addresses of the new members to the Secretary, and dues received to the
Treasurer. Rejected applicants should be notified and given the reason(s) for rejection.

Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of officers as provided hereinafter
under ARTICLE VI, "Nomination and Election Procedure".

Section 3. The Publicity and Public Relations Committee shall promote the Federation, its aims
and objectives shall publicize folk, round and square dancing in North Carolina in
general, and shall perform other duties as directed by the Council.

Section4. The Research and Planning Committee shall conduct studies and enlist interest in and
support research and planning projects and submit adequate reports on subjects
requested by the Council. It shall receive applications for and assign Federation
Festivals to clubs so applying, when they are found to be qualified to act as host for a
Festival. The Council will supply guidelines to the committees for this action.

Section 5. The Constitution and By-Laws Committee shall make recommendations for amendment
revision of the Federation Constitution and By-Laws when deemed necessary. Also,
the Committee shall interpret the Constitution and By-Laws when deemed necessary.

Section 6. The Publications Committee shall edit all publications of the Federation.

Section 7. Special Committees may be set up from time to time and shall perform such duties as
directed by the President and Executive Board.

Section 8. The Square Dance Program Committee is responsible for administering the means
necessary to carry out the objectives of the Federation, insofar as square dancing is
concerned. The Square Dance Program Committee shall schedule/program and chair
the square dance portions of all Quarterly Federation Festivals. The Committee shall be
responsible for printing the square and round and program for such Federation Festival.

Section 9. The Round Dance Program Committee is responsible for administering the means
Necessary to carry out the objectives of the Federation, insofar as round dancing is
Concerned. The committee shall schedule/program the round dance portions of all
Quarterly Federation Festivals, and shall present the round dance schedule to the Square
Dance Program Committee in time to be included in the printed program.

Section 10. The Federation Charity Ball Committee shall consist of three members (a chairperson
Appointed by the President for a 3-year term, a co-chairperson also appointed by the
President and the Vice-President of the Federation) plus area dance chairperson
Appointed by the Charity Ball chairperson. The Committee shall set up and arrange all
details for the Charity Ball to be on the last Saturday in September. Dances shall be
arranged in sufficient number of geographical locations to cover the state. The charity
shall be selected at the November Council Meeting. Nothing herein shall preclude a
particular charity from continuing participation from year to year, nor prevent the
Federation from changing its designation at any regularly scheduled Council Meeting.
The Federation President with the approval of the other elected officers may change
The Chairperson of the Charity Ball.

Section 11. The Chaplain shall perform all duties common to the office, especially opening each
Executive Board and/or Council Meeting with prayer for Divine guidance.

Section 12. The Hall of Fame and Golden Slipper Awards Committee shall consist of six members
appointed by the President, each to serve a three-year term. The President shall appoint
Two new members each year in order to maintain years experience. Membership shall consist of two (2) Callers, two (2) Cuers and two (2) Dancers. Efforts should be made
to insure that membership appointments to this Committee serve to maintain
geographic balance of representation . The Vice-President shall serve as the
Chairperson of this committee. The Committee will accept applications, with life
resume, from Group Members, recommending a caller or a cuer for the Hall of Fame
Award, and one dancing couple for the Golden Slipper Award. Each year, the
Committee shall select from the applications one candidate for each award (but under
extraordinary circumstances, may recommend to the Executive Board two candidates
for either award, in which event, the Executive Board will decide whether one or both
candidates should receive the award). Selected candidates' names shall be kept secret
until announced at the August state convention, with awards to be presented at the
night's Festival. The Council will supply guidelines to the Committee as to how their
selections are to be made.

Section 13. The Parliamentarian shall all duties common to the office, assisting the presiding officer
of the Executive Board and/or Council Meeting in interpreting rules or order using
"Robert's Rules of Order" where the Constitution or By-Laws of the Federation do not
specifically apply.

Section 14. The State Convention Committee shall be responsible for conducting each year, on the
third Saturday in August and the preceding Friday. A State Convention for the Folk,
Round and Square Dance Federation of North Carolina. The Convention Committee
shall consist of a Chairperson (appointed by the Federation President for a term of
three (3) years, four (4) members (appointed by the Federation President for terms of
two (2) years each), and two (2) members (appointed by the Convention Committee
Chairperson for terms of two (2) years each). The President of the Folk, Round and
Square Dance Federation of North Carolina, Federation Square Dance Programmer,
Federation Round Dance Programmer, and President of the North Carolina Callers
Association shall serve as ex-officio members of the State Convention Committee.
Terms of the Chairperson and all appointed members of the Committee shall expire on
September 1, of the appropriate year. Committee Chairperson and all regular members
the committee may be replaced during their term by the Federation President, with the
approval of the Council, sitting in regular session. Appointment of the Committee
Chairperson shall be made in accordance with ARTICLE VII, Section 1, of the
Constitution of the Folk, Round and Square Dance Federation of North Carolina.
The Convention shall be held at a location in North Carolina, to be determined by
the Convention Committee, with the advance approval of the Federation President. The
Committee shall consider geographical location, qualify of facilities, need or dancers
(i.e. housing, air conditioning, dance floor, food availability, etc.) as factors in making
the site selection.
Callers, cuers, line dance leaders and contra prompters for the Convention shall consist of Federated callers, cuers. line dance leaders and contra prompters (i.e., those
calling for Federated member clubs) and non-Federated callers, cuers. line dance
leaders and contra prompters who are members of the North Carolina Callers Association and residents of North Carolina. All Callers, Cuers, and Line Dance/Two Step/Contra instructors must be licensed by ASCAP/BMI.
The Convention Committee shall be empowered to established all necessary operation, procedures to include, but not be limited to, ticket prices, program content, program format, and the program schedule. The Federation President and/or the Federation Executive Board may request a change in the Convention program schedule to facilitate the conducting of Federation business matters. The Convention Committee shall be empowered to established such bank accounts as necessary to ensure the efficient operation of the Convention Committee, shall at all times maintain complete the accurate records of all monetary matters relating to the convention, and shall provide a full financial report of each year's operation for inclusion in the November Promenade.
The Federation President, or a vote by the Council sitting in regular session, may
request financial records at such time as they may deem necessary.
Recipients of the Hall of Fame of Golden Slipper Awards shall be admitted to the
Convention at no charge.

Section 15. The Historian shall collect and maintain Federation archives consisting of documents
such as minutes, copies of the Promenade and other memorabilia deemed significant.
The Historian shall also maintain the "Badge Board" depicting Federation members.

Section 16. The Education Committee shall provide an educational program at the State Convention
As well as educational sessions at the November, February and May Federation Dances.
These latter sessions should be devoted to educational activities aimed at helping the
Clubs and improving square dancing in North Carolina. A workshop for new and/or
Prospective club officers should be held at the November Federation dance.

Section 1. The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of officers and submit it to the
President at least one week prior to, and for action bgy the Executive Board in their
Meeting prior to the August Council Meeting. Only one nominee each for President,
Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be listed.
The Executive Board shall check the proposed candidates are properly qualified and
have agreed to serve if elected, and then present the slate to the Council at their August
meeting. When the slate has been approved by the Council, an opportunity shall be made available for any further nominations from the floor.
To be eligible for nomination, candidates must be regular members, in good standing
for the past year, must have served faithfully for at least one year (two years for the
presidential office) in some capacity on the Council, and taken an active part in
attending and acting upon that body's deliberations.
No person shall be nominated by the Committee without first securing that person's
consent; no individual shall be nominated for more than one office each year.

Section 2. In the event that no nominations are received from the floor, no further action shall be
required. Nomination is then tantamount to election at the November meeting of the
Council. The Secretary shall be instructed to cast one ballot for all four officers at the
meeting.

Section 3. In the event that further nominations are made from the floor, the Secretary shall
prepare and mail to all member groups entitled to vote, not later than six (6) weeks prior
to the November meeting of the Council, a copy of the complete slate of officers
proposed, along with a photo and resume of each candidate as supplied by the candidates.
The resume should be approximately 100-150 words in length and, if the photographs are
not received in time by the Secretary for preparation and mailing, the photographs may
be eliminated from the ballot.

Section 4. The Secretary shall send to each member group a ballot, along with the resume of officers
running. Each member group will cast one vote for each office and return to the
Secretary before the November meeting.
ARTICLE VI - NOMINATING AND ELECTION PROCEDURE (continued)

Section 5. A Counting Committee shall be appointed by the President and shall consist of five (5)
Members, none of whom were members of the Nominating Committee that year, and
Two (2) of whom shall be members of the Executive Board. These latter two (2)
Members shall act as overseer and assist with the counting. Ballots shall be
authenticated, using the marked envelope identification, counted and recorded. When
complete and verified correct by the entire Committee, the results shall be reported
to the President who will announce them to the meeting.

Section 6. The person receiving the largest number of votes for each office shall be elected.
Ties will be broken by an immediate re-rote by the Council.

Section 1. The Council shall meet quarterly. The months for the Federation Dances shall be
February, May, August, and November, and the day will be the third Saturday.

Section 2. Two-thirds of the Council members present and voting shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business of the Federation. At least seven members of the Executive
Board shall constitute a quorum, provided that at least two of the seven are elected
officers.

Section 3. Special meetings of the Council may be called by the President or upon written
request of the members.

Section 4. Meetings of the Executive Board shall be at the call of the President or upon request
Of seven members of the Board, two of whom shall be elected officers.

Section 5. Meetings of groups of members with special interest may be called by the President
and presided over by him or her. Regional meetings may be called at the members
discretion.

Section 6. All parliamentary business not covered by the Constitution and By-Laws of the
Federation shall be governed by "Roberts Rules of Order".

Section 1. The By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of member groups voting,
provided that a ballot of proposed changes, additions, and/or deletions has been mailed
to each member group, entitled to vote, at least six (6) full weeks prior to the next
council meeting. The Secretary shall mail a ballot, along with an envelope marked to
allow authentication, to each member group entitled to vote and each member group
Will cast one (1) vote for each issue, returning the ballot, in the marked envelope, to the
Secretary prior to the next Federation meeting.

Section 2. A Counting Committee shall be appointed by the President and shall consist of five (5)
members, none of whom were members of the Nominating Committee that year, and
two (2) of whom shall be members of the Executive Board. These later two (2)
members shall act as overseer and assist with the counting. Ballots shall be
authenticated, using the marked envelope identification, counted and recorded. When
complete and verified correct by the entire committee, the results shall be reported to
the President who will announce them to the meeting.

Section 1. Callers, Cuers, and Line Dance/Two Step/Contra instructors for all quarterly
Federation dances and State Convention shall consist of Federated callers, cuers, line
dance/two step/contra instructors that call for a club that is a member of The Folk,
Round and Square Dance Federation of North Carolina, Inc. All Callers, Cuers, and Line Dance/Two Step/Contra instructors must be licensed by ASCAP/BMI. If a caller, cuer, line dance/two step/contra instructor become inactive, he/she has three years to start calling for A Federated club or he/she will be ineligible to call at the quarterly Federation dances
or State Convention.

Section 2. To be eligible to call at the quarterly Federation dances or State Convention as an
Associate Caller, a caller must meet all of the following:
Have a Federated club list the caller as their Associate caller in the Promenade.
Attend minimum of 50% of their club dances.
Call a minimum of one tip 50% of the club dances the Associate attends.
When the club caller is not available, the Associate is asked to substitute for
the caller.
Call a minimum of four, two-hour club-type dances per year, where the
Associate is the main caller.
Associate callers must have a Federated caller as a sponsor during the Associate
member status. Sponsors must sign the caller's card for the Associate member
to be able to call at a Federated dance.

From the date an Associate is listed in the Promenade as an Associate Caller, he/she
has three years to become a caller for a Federated Club or the Associate will be dropped
from the Associate Caller status. Associate Callers can re-apply after six months if they
demonstrate progress towards becoming a full-time caller.