BY LAWS OF ARENA CIVIC THEATRE
ARTICLE I: NAME/INCORPORATION
The
corporate name of this organization shall be ARENA CIVIC THEATRE, Inc., doing business as ARENA CIVIC THEATRE. ARENA CIVIC
THEATRE, Inc. shall be incorporated as a non-profit, civic, educational and charitable institution under the Laws of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
ARTICLE II: DEFINITIONS
ACT means Arena Civic
Theatre or Arena Civic Theatre, Inc.
Member means a person in good standing, who is current with their
annual dues to Arena Civic Theatre.
Membership fee means the annual dues of Arena Civic Theatre.
Board
means the Board of Directors of Arena Civic Theatre, Inc.
Regular meeting means the monthly meeting of
the Board of Directors.
Annual meeting means the yearly general membership meeting held in the month of
November.
ARTICLE III: PURPOSE
Arena Civic Theatre
is a volunteer community organization dedicated to the perpetuation of theatre arts. It recognizes the unique social enrichment,
spiritual fulfillment, and opportunity for personal growth that theatre provides its participants and shall endeavor to embrace
all members of the community through exposure to the art form. ACT shall provide for the furtherance of and dedication to
the performing arts, for the production of living theater for the entertainment and edification of the general public, and
provide cultural activity to community members of all ages, including children, the elderly and the handicapped without discrimination
of religion, race, sex or sexual preference. It shall promote educational programming, activities and quality repertory that
demonstrate the excitement and vitality that is the theatre experience.
ARTICLE
IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The policies and financial obligations of Arena Civic Theatre, Inc. shall be supervised
by a Board of Directors. This Board shall consist of up to fifteen (15) in number. Each Board member will serve a one (1)
year term. The period of the term will commence upon nomination of the full Board of Directors at the first annual meeting
of the corporation. Board members must be a minimum of eighteen (18) years of age. A simple majority of the Board shall be
a quorum. In the event that a Board member is unable to fulfill his or her term, for whatever reason, the president of the
Board may select a member to fill the term until the next annual meeting. Board members must make a reasonable effort to attend
at least nine (9) of the twelve (12) monthly meetings. Failing to do so may warrant dismissal from the board subject to the
discretion of the president. The president has the option of dismissing a Board member who misses more than three meetings,
and/or fails to perform their duties.
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS
The officers
of the corporation shall be duly elected members of the Board of Directors. The offices shall be President, Vice President,
Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers of the Board shall be elected by the Board at their first meeting, after the annual
meeting. The Nominating Committee shall be the same as that which selects nominees for the board, and nominations may also
be taken from the floor. The officers shall be elected for a term of one year and shall perform the duties of their respective
offices to the best of their ability and for the best interest of the Theatre. If an officer fails to perform their duties,
they may be removed from office by a two-thirds majority vote of the board.
ARTICLE VI: EMPLOYEES
The
Board of Directors may establish positions of employment within the organization, describe the powers and responsibilities
of said positions, and hire or relieve of duty said employees as the board may deem necessary.
ARTICLE
VII: MEMBERSHIP
Anyone who pays the annual membership fee shall be a member of ARENA CIVIC THEATRE, Inc. with full
rights. Membership shall be from one annual meeting to the month prior to the next annual meeting. The amount of the fee,
and the number of admissions inherent, shall be determined by the Board. The Board may establish, at its discretion, classes
of membership which recognize a greater contribution to the activities of this Theatre. Such other classes of members shall
have no privilege other than those enjoyed by regular members.
ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES
Committees
of the Theatre, not necessarily connected with the production of plays, shall be appointed by the President.
ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS
A. Annual Meetings
The annual business meeting
of the general membership shall be held during the month of November. Notice of the meeting and the agenda shall be posted
for the members at least two weeks before said meeting. Each paid member shall be entitled to vote at the annual meeting.
A Nominating Committee consisting of two Board members and one membership representative shall propose a slate of nominations
for the Board of Directors at the annual meeting. This shall prevail after the initial election. Those members present and
voting shall constitute a quorum. A voting member of Arena Civic Theatre must be a minimum of eighteen (18) years of age.
B.
Monthly Meetings
The Board of Directors shall meet once a month.
C. Special Meetings
A
special meeting of the Board may be called by any three Directors upon due notice to the full Board. A simple majority of
the members shall constitute a quorum at said Board meeting.
D. Committee Meetings
Committees
shall meet at the discretion of its members to complete business required by them.
ARTICLE X: ASSETS/DISSOLUTION
All
real estate, buildings, furnishings and equipment, and other kinds of property owned by the corporation shall belong on a
per capita basis to the current paid membership. Upon dissolution or liquidation of the corporation, the assets of the
corporation shall be disposed of in accordance with the Articles of Organization, Article number 4.
ARTICLE
XI: AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of paid members who are present at the annual meeting.
All proposed amendments must be posted for perusal by the membership at least two weeks before the annual meeting.
**Drafted:
March 15, 1974
**Amended through: October 21, 1984
November 22, 1991
October 16, 2000
November 8, 2004
November 16, 2009
