The Spartan Tappers Constitution

• Article I. Name and Purpose

Section I. Name
The name of this organization will be “The Spartan Tappers”

Section II. Affiliation
The Spartan Tappers will not be affiliated with any national organization, nor any other organization within the university.

Section III. Purpose
The purpose of this organization will be to establish a group of undergraduate students with interest in tap dancing. The organization will allow members to learn new dancing technique skills, share their own skills and creativity, and have performance opportunities throughout the semester.


• Article II. Membership Requirements

Section I. Non-Discrimination Clause
Candidacy for membership will be open to all students of Case Western Reserve University, provided they are in good academic standing with the university, and faculty and staff of Case Western Reserve University may also participate. Non-Case affiliates may participate according to Section IV. The organization will not discriminate on the basis of color, course of study, creed, culture, disabilities, fraternal membership, gender, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation.

Section II. Membership Status
A member is in good standing if he or she has fulfilled his or her membership obligations as stated in the organization’s bylaws. These obligations may include, but may not be limited to, attendance at a minimum number of meetings and partaking in a minimum number of rehearsals. Requirements may vary for members to participate in the end-of-semester performance(s), as stated in the organization’s bylaws.

Section III. Dues
There will be no dues collected from Case affiliates (including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff) for the general use of the organization. However, members may be responsible for purchasing their own equipment, which could include but is not limited to, tap shoes, dance apparel, music, and performance props.

Section IV. Non-Case Affiliates
Due to student participation being supported by the student activity fee, community members (HS graduate and older) are required to pay $50/semester to attend lessons and any other Tappers functions. A two-week trial period is permitted, with a cost of $5/lesson, applicable to the $50 fee if attendance continues.


• Article III. Officers and Duties

Section I. The President:
a) will serve as the presiding officer at all regularly scheduled and special meetings and rehearsals.
b) will serve as chief spokesperson and representative of the organization.
c) will see that the organization operates in conformity with the policies set forth in the constitution and bylaws.
d) will work with the advisor and members to arrange schedules and locations for rehearsals and performances.
e) will arrange member instruction and choreographing for rehearsals.
f) must have been a member in good standing for at least one semester before becoming President.


Section II. The Vice-president:
a) will perform all presidential duties in the absence of the President.
b) will assist the president in the reserving of rooms and scheduling of rehearsals and performances.
c) will coordinate the election of officers at the end of the spring semester.
d) will be responsible for an end-of-semester reception and handling of appreciative gestures, as deemed necessary.
e) will be responsible for maintaining a records binder containing all meeting agendas, lesson plans, contact information, and other information necessary for running the club.
f) will be responsible for the coordination of ExtravaDance in the spring.
g) will be responsible for coordination of publicity not related to recruitment.


Section III. The Treasurer:
a) will handle all financial transactions of the organization and keep an accurate record thereof.
b) will conduct an audit of the organization’s financial records at the end of his/her term.
c) will compile member requests for purchases and place orders for group purchases.


Section IV. The Secretary:
a) will keep an accurate record of the attendance of each member at meetings and rehearsals, including a list of members and their membership status as determined by the bylaws.
b) will see that absent members are aware of missed information and have the opportunity to learn missed choreography if necessary.
c) will coordinate recruiting of new members.
d) will see that all other officers are fulfilling their duties according to schedule.


Section V. Costume Coordinator
a) Is an optional office depending on the interest of members, and may be combined with another office.
b) Will coordinate tee shirt orders for all group members.
c) Will organize tap shoe ordering and maintain contact with the Capezio Store to receive a Tappers discount.
d) Will assist in finding and ordering any other costume or prop items as necessary.
e) Is suggested to be someone with access to a car.


Section VI. Webmaster
a) May be held by an already existing officer.
b) Will be responsible for creating and/or maintaining updated content for the Tappers website, which may include but is not limited to, announcements, media, shoe and costuming resources, documents, steps and music, officer profiles, performance request pages, and any additional pages needed by the organization as they arise.
c) Will be responsible for ensuring that the Tappers website meets all legal guidelines of the Aurora Project.
d) Is the main contact person for Case ITS Aurora Project employees.

Section VII. Teachers
a) May be held by an already existing officer.
b) Must have been members in good standing for at least one semester before becoming a teacher.
c) Will be responsible for creation of lesson plans and choreography for his or her assigned level for every Tappers rehearsal.
d) Must attend every rehearsal to teach, unless there are extenuating circumstances approved by the President (or Vice President, if the teacher requesting an excused absence is the President).
e) Is an appointed position by approval from the current teachers.
f) Must have at least 1/3 of the choreography for each dance finished at the first officer meeting of the semester.


Section VIII. Any Temporary Officers:
a) will be created and appointed by the President as deemed necessary
b) will be approved by a majority of the active members present at a chapter meeting where quorum exists


Section IX. Election of officers:
a) elections will be held at the end of the spring semester, as soon as possible after spring break.
b) members will be alerted of upcoming elections and informed of the duties of officers as described in the constitution
c) non-graduating members must submit a letter of intent (email is acceptable) to the current vice president if they wish to seek office; nominations may also be taken at the final meeting if the nomination is proposed and seconded by two members other than the one being nominated
d) officers will be selected by the majority vote of the members in good standing present at the meeting, done by anonymous ballot


• Article IV. Amending the Constitution

The constitution will be amended in the following manner:
a) proposed amendments must be submitted, in writing, to the secretary, president, or vice president
b) the officer will inform the members of the group of an upcoming vote for amendment, to take place at a regularly scheduled group meeting
c) an affirmative vote of ¾ of the members in good standing present at the vote is required for an amendment to be added


• Article V. Bylaws

The group will maintain a set of bylaws to clarify this constitution. Bylaws will be approved by the officers, and can be challenged by members. If controversy exists, the president must present the questionable issue for a majority vote of members in good standing present at a regularly scheduled meeting.

Bylaw I. Membership Status
a) Good Standing
To be a member in good standing, a member must be registered as a member of the group (through the secretary). A member must be present at 75% of the meetings and rehearsals of the group that have taken place in a given semester, unless excused for extenuating circumstances, as decided by the officers.
b) Performance privileges
For a member to participate in performance(s), he or she must be a member in good standing. In addition, a member with performing privileges may have only one unexcused absence for the semester; the secretary must be alerted ahead of time of all other absences, and the secretary must grant excusal. Questionable excuses will be resolved by the officers. If the secretary, other officers, or a majority of other members in good standing deem it necessary, a member with performing privileges is responsible for learning missed material outside of the regularly scheduled rehearsals. A member with performing privileges must also be present at dress rehearsal, unless there are extenuating circumstances as determined by the president.