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 The Bylaws of
The Clown Krewe Alley

 

 The Bylaws of
The Clown Krewe Alley

Article 1
IDENTIFICATION

Section 1.  Name:  The name of this clown alley is The Clown Krewe.  It shall interact with other performing arts organizations as the alley membership dictates.

Section 2.  Fiscal Year:  The fiscal year of the alley shall be July through June.

Article II
PURPOSE

Section 1.  Purpose:  The purpose of this alley shall be to organize all members desiring to pursue their interest in the performing art of clowning, as well as the supporting arts, for the continuing education of its members and to be service to the local community.

Article III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  Membership: 

a.         Professional Membership:  Membership shall consist of all those persons with a demonstrated interest in the performing arts (juggling, magician, balloonist, etc.) who are 16 years of age or older.  Who have supplied appropriate proof of age, when requested, and have completed and submitted to the alley secretary an application for membership in The Clown Krewe alley.  Applicants 16 and 17 years of age must include written parental permission with their membership applications.  Clown applicants’ must be a graduate of a recognized clown school or class that teaches clown makeup, etiquette, skits and basic clown rules that meet The Clown Krewe alley’s standards.  All required fees and dues must be paid.

b.         Auxiliary Membership:  Auxiliary Members shall be those persons with a demonstrated interest in the performing arts who:  are 14 years of age or older (14 to 17 year olds require written parental permission), have completed and submitted to the alley secretary an application for auxiliary membership in the Clown Krewe alley, and have paid the required $12.00 Auxiliary Member dues.  Auxiliary Members may:  act in a support role at alley sponsored activities, may not hold office, may not chair a committee, and do not have voting rights.  Auxiliary members must be “sponsored” by a member of The Clown Krewe alley to perform at events under the supervision and guidance of their sponsor.

Section 2.  Dues:  Membership dues in the amount of $24.00 will be paid on an annual basis.  Each additional family member shall pay annual membership dues of $12.00.  Dues must be paid prior to the last day of June with membership commencing July 1, and will expire on the last day of June the following year.  Dues for new members shall be prorated for the year in which they join The Clown Krewe Alley.  Existing and past members shall pay the full dues regardless of when payment is rendered. 

 

Section 3.  Termination: 

a.         Membership shall cease by written resignation or death.

b.         A member in good standing may resign by sending a written resignation to the alley secretary.  The resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless otherwise specified.

c.         A member shall be dropped for non-payment of dues.  Dues shall be received by the last day of June or the membership will be terminated.

Section 4.  Reinstatement:  Reinstatement of membership shall be made automatically by payment of the delinquent dues and any applicable fees set by the membership.

Section 5.  Rules of Conduct:  Each member of The Clown Krewe alley is expected to adhere to the Code of Ethics of COAI and pledge to uphold that code.  Members found not complying with the Code of Ethics may be subject to disciplinary action by the Alley, should their actions be determined to have been damaging to the alley or the profession of clowning.

Code of Ethics

  1. I will keep my acts, performance and behavior in good taste while I am in costume and makeup.  I will remember at all times that I have been accepted as a member of the clown club only to provide others, principally children, with clean clown comedy entertainment.  I will remember that a good clown entertains others by making fun of himself or herself and not at the expense or embarrassment of others.
  2. I will learn to apply my makeup in a professional manner.  I will provide my own costume.  I will carry out my appearance and assignment for the entertainment of others and not for personal gain or personal publicity when performing for either the International club or alley events.  I will always try to remain anonymous while in makeup and costume as a clown, though there may be circumstances when it is not reasonably possible to do so.
  3. I will neither drink alcoholic beverages nor smoke while in makeup or clown costume.  Also, I will not drink alcoholic beverages prior to any clown appearances.  I will conduct myself as a gentleman/lady, never interfering with other acts, events, spectators, or individuals.  I will not become involved in or tolerate discrimination.
  4. I will remove my makeup and change into my street clothes as soon as possible following my appearance, so that I cannot be associated with any incident that may be detrimental to the good name of clowning.  I will conduct myself as a gentleman/lady at all times.
  5. While on appearance in makeup and costume, I will carry out the directives of the producer or his designated deputies.  I will abide by all performance rules without complaint in public.
  6. I will do my very best to maintain the best clown standards of makeup, costuming, properties, and comedy.
  7. I will appear in as many clown shows as I possibly can.
  8. I will be committed to providing an atmosphere free of discrimination and harassment for clowns of all ages to share ideas and learn about the art of clowning.

 

Section 6.  Compensation:  Any member shall not receive a salary for services related to alley duties.  A member may be reimbursed for expenses incurred which directly affect the functioning of the alley, with prior approval of the board.


Article IV
OFFICERS

Section 1.  Officers:  The officers of The Clown Krewe Alley shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and three Directors-At-Large.  These officers shall be known as the Board.

Section 2.  President:  The President shall be the chief executive officer of the alley and shall preside at all meetings of the membership.  They shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and the Membership are implemented.  The President shall appoint, with the approval of the Board, such committees and members of the committees, as is determined necessary.  The President shall be a member ex officio of all such committees, and shall have the power and authority to perform all other duties incident to such office.

Section 3.  Vice-President:  The Vice-President, in the absence of the President or in case of the inability of the President, shall perform the function of the President.  The Vice-President shall complete those duties assigned by the Board to insure good order and discipline in the alley’s affairs.

Section 4.  Secretary:  The Secretary shall attend all alley meetings, act as the clerk of the alley, record all correspondence, votes and minutes of all proceedings in the book to be kept for that purpose.  The secretary shall give or cause to be given notice of all meetings of the alley and of the officers, when required to do so by the President or the Board.  The Secretary shall answer all correspondence that comes to the alley or direct the correspondence to the appropriate officers, and shall keep files and records of all meetings.

Section 5.  Treasurer:  The Treasurer, subject to the supervision of the Board, shall have custody of the alley funds and shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the alley.  They shall monitor the deposit of all monies and other valuable effects in the alley name, and to the credit of the alley in such depositories, as may be designated by the Board.  The Treasurer shall prepare or cause to be prepared all income reports and filings.  The Treasurer shall provide a report of the alley’s dealings with each meeting of the alley.

Section 6.  Election and Qualifications:

a.         All officer candidates, at the announcement of their candidacy, and persons holding office, shall be members of The Clown Krewe alley.  All members of the Board shall take office on the first of July following their election.

b.         Elections shall be conducted during the regular business meeting scheduled during the month of June.

c.         Any member, who has paid their alley dues, is eligible to vote.  Absentee votes will be permitted.

d.         Write in votes will not be allowed.

e.         Any member desiring to be a candidate shall be nominated by the membership at a regular business meeting conducted at least 25 days prior to the meeting in which elections are scheduled.

Section 7.  Term of Office:  The term of office shall be one year or until a successor or successors are elected.  The terms will start July 1 of each year.

Section 8.  Removal from Office:  The alley membership at a regular or, special meeting called for that purpose, may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership, remove any officer by declaring that the office is vacant.

Article V
MEETINGS
Section 1.  Meetings:

a.         There shall be a membership meeting conducted each month on a date set in advance and agreed to by the membership.
b.         The Board will meet on an as needed basis, at the direction of the President and all Board meetings shall be open to the membership.

Section 2.  Notice of Meetings:  The notice of alley meetings shall be by first class mail, email or by general announcement agreed to by the membership.

Section 3.  Quorum:  The quorum at any meeting shall be twenty-five percent (25%) of all members the Treasurer shows in good standing.

Article VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1.  Duties:
a.         The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and three Directors-At-Large (hereinafter referred to as the Board).  The Board shall administer the concerns of the alley while taking direction from the membership.
b.         Additional duties of the Board shall include, but not be limited to:
1.         Approve and/or amend the annual budget.
2.         Provide for an annual review of the books.
3.         Have spending authority of up to $300.00.

Section 2.  Vacancy:  In the event there is an interim vacancy, the Board shall have the power to fill that vacancy with the approval of the membership.  The vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the membership at any regular meeting of The Clown Krewe alley.

Section 3.  Board Meetings:  Board meetings shall be conducted by the President, on an “as needed” basis.  The majority of the Board must be present at a Board meeting for the Board meeting to convene.  All Board meetings shall be open to the general membership.

Section 4.  Notice:  Notice of not less than seven (7) days or more than thirty (30) days shall be given to all officers.  The President shall give the notice personally, by first class mail or by email.

Section 5.  Open Board Meetings:  All meetings of the Board shall be open to members of the alley.  The Board may go into executive session (closed) when matters of privacy are concerned.

 

Article VII
ORDER OF BUSINESS

Section 1.  Order of Business:  The proceedings at the monthly meeting and at Board meetings shall be governed by and conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.

Article VIII
AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  Amending the Bylaws:  Proposals for amendments and additions to these bylaws must be in writing and read at a regular meeting and cannot be voted upon until the next regular meeting where a quorum exists.  Notice of proposed amendment shall be given with the notice of the meeting.  In order for the amendment to pass it shall require a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote cast by members present and voting.

Article IX
GENERAL AUTHORITY

Section 1.  Books and Records:  Correct and complete books, which include records of accounts and transactions, minutes of the proceedings of membership meetings and Board meetings shall be kept by The Clown Krewe alley and reviewed yearly, if necessary.

Section 2.  Publicity:  The President or two or more Board members must approve all alley publicity releases except for routine meeting notices.

Article X
DISSOLUTION

In the event that The Clown Krewe alley shall cease to exist and shall leave no successors, then, the persons who are members of the Board even if less than a quorum, shall be authorized to sect another organization dedicated to similar purposed to succeed to the powers and property of the alley.  In dissolution, none of the monies or property of the alley shall be distributed to the benefit of any member of record.