Member-Proposed Amendments to AGMA’s Constitution
Submitted for a Referendum Vote of the Membership
Referendum #1: Amendment of AGMA Constitution, Article III:
Should Article III of the AGMA Constitution be amended by amending Sections 1 and 2, adding a new Section 3, renumbering and amending existing Section 3, adding a new Section 5, and renumbering existing Section 4, as follows (additions shown in italics, deletions shown in strikeout, omitted Sections indicated by ellipses):
ARTICLE III: Classification
Section 1: Membership Classifications. Members shall be divided into seven (7) classes: Active Solo Singers, Active Stage Directors, Active Stage Managers, Active Choristers, Active Choreographers, Active Dancers, and Active Actors. M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶v̶i̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶t̶o̶ ̶n̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶(̶9̶)̶ ̶c̶l̶a̶s̶s̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶:̶ ̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶S̶o̶l̶o̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶S̶t̶a̶g̶e̶ ̶D̶i̶r̶e̶c̶t̶o̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶S̶t̶a̶g̶e̶ ̶M̶a̶n̶a̶g̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶C̶h̶o̶r̶u̶s̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶C̶h̶o̶r̶e̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶D̶a̶n̶c̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶H̶o̶n̶o̶r̶a̶r̶y̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶C̶h̶a̶r̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶L̶i̶f̶e̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶D̶i̶s̶t̶i̶n̶g̶u̶i̶s̶h̶e̶d̶ ̶S̶e̶r̶v̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶A̶G̶M̶A̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶G̶o̶v̶e̶r̶n̶o̶r̶s̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶a̶u̶t̶h̶o̶r̶i̶z̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶r̶e̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶ ̶S̶t̶u̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶A̶f̶f̶i̶l̶i̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶c̶l̶a̶s̶s̶i̶f̶i̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶i̶n̶ ̶A̶G̶M̶A̶ ̶p̶u̶r̶s̶u̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶e̶n̶r̶o̶l̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶f̶u̶l̶l̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶r̶e̶g̶u̶l̶a̶r̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶ ̶s̶t̶u̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶p̶u̶r̶s̶u̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶r̶s̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶s̶t̶u̶d̶y̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶i̶c̶,̶ ̶d̶a̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶d̶u̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶m̶a̶n̶a̶g̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶l̶i̶g̶i̶b̶l̶e̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶G̶o̶v̶e̶r̶n̶o̶r̶s̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶a̶u̶t̶h̶o̶r̶i̶z̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶d̶e̶t̶e̶r̶m̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶p̶r̶i̶v̶i̶l̶e̶g̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶r̶e̶s̶p̶o̶n̶s̶i̶b̶i̶l̶i̶t̶i̶e̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶S̶t̶u̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶A̶f̶f̶i̶l̶i̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶c̶l̶a̶s̶s̶i̶f̶i̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶A̶G̶M̶A̶’̶s̶ ̶B̶y̶-̶L̶a̶w̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶r̶e̶s̶o̶l̶u̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶.̶
Active Solo M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ Singers: All Solo A̶r̶t̶i̶s̶t̶s̶ Singers who have performed or intend to perform for compensation as solo a̶r̶t̶i̶s̶t̶s̶ singers within the jurisdiction of the Guild and who are paid up members.
Active Stage Directors: All Stage Directors who have performed or intend to perform for compensation as stage directors within the jurisdiction of the Guild and who are paid up members.
Active Stage Managers: All Stage Managers who have performed or intend to perform for compensation as stage managers within the jurisdiction of the Guild and who are paid up members.
Active C̶h̶o̶r̶u̶s̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ Choristers: Singers who have performed or intend to perform for compensation as members of any choral group within the jurisdiction of the Guild and who are paid up members.
Active Choreographers: Choreographers who have performed or intend to perform for compensation as choreographers within the jurisdiction of the Guild and who are paid up members.
Active D̶a̶n̶c̶e̶ M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ Dancers: Dancers who have performed or intend to perform for compensation as members of any dance group within the jurisdiction of the Guild and who are paid up members.
Active Actors: Actors who have performed or intend to perform for compensation as actors, narrators or supernumeraries within the jurisdiction of the Guild and who are paid up members.
H̶o̶n̶o̶r̶a̶r̶y̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶h̶i̶p̶:̶ ̶P̶e̶r̶s̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶n̶d̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶d̶i̶s̶t̶i̶n̶g̶u̶i̶s̶h̶e̶d̶ ̶s̶e̶r̶v̶i̶c̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶G̶u̶i̶l̶d̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶f̶e̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶s̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶s̶y̶m̶p̶a̶t̶h̶y̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶b̶j̶e̶c̶t̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶p̶u̶r̶p̶o̶s̶e̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶G̶u̶i̶l̶d̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶b̶u̶s̶i̶n̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶s̶s̶o̶c̶i̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶t̶a̶g̶o̶n̶i̶s̶t̶i̶c̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶t̶o̶,̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶p̶i̶n̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶a̶d̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶h̶i̶p̶,̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶l̶i̶g̶i̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶H̶o̶n̶o̶r̶a̶r̶y̶
̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶h̶i̶p̶.̶ ̶H̶o̶n̶o̶r̶a̶r̶y̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶a̶t̶t̶e̶n̶d̶ ̶m̶e̶e̶t̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶s̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶a̶j̶o̶r̶i̶t̶y̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶s̶e̶n̶t̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶s̶u̶b̶j̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶d̶u̶e̶s̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶s̶s̶e̶s̶s̶m̶e̶n̶t̶s̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶b̶l̶i̶g̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶h̶i̶p̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶ ̶"̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶"̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶r̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶e̶i̶n̶a̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶i̶n̶c̶l̶u̶d̶e̶ ̶H̶o̶n̶o̶r̶a̶r̶y̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶.̶
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̶C̶h̶a̶r̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶:̶ ̶A̶l̶l̶ ̶L̶i̶f̶e̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶n̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶F̶e̶b̶r̶u̶a̶r̶y̶ ̶1̶,̶ ̶1̶9̶3̶8̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶n̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶s̶i̶g̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶r̶i̶g̶i̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶s̶t̶i̶t̶u̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶G̶u̶i̶l̶d̶,̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶C̶h̶a̶r̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶.̶ ̶C̶h̶a̶r̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶c̶i̶s̶e̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶s̶,̶ ̶p̶r̶i̶v̶i̶l̶e̶g̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶d̶u̶t̶i̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶o̶b̶l̶i̶g̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶;̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶ ̶"̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶"̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶e̶i̶n̶,̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶e̶m̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶i̶n̶c̶l̶u̶d̶e̶ ̶"̶C̶h̶a̶r̶t̶e̶r̶"̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶.̶ ̶A̶l̶l̶ ̶v̶e̶s̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶L̶i̶f̶e̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶r̶i̶g̶i̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶s̶t̶i̶t̶u̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶i̶n̶c̶l̶u̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶p̶e̶r̶t̶y̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶i̶m̶m̶u̶n̶i̶t̶y̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶p̶a̶y̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶d̶u̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶e̶b̶y̶ ̶m̶a̶d̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶u̶b̶j̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶y̶-̶L̶a̶w̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶n̶a̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶/̶o̶r̶ ̶m̶o̶d̶i̶f̶i̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶s̶c̶r̶e̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶.̶
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̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶L̶i̶f̶e̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶D̶i̶s̶t̶i̶n̶g̶u̶i̶s̶h̶e̶d̶ ̶S̶e̶r̶v̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶A̶G̶M̶A̶:̶ ̶A̶n̶y̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶A̶G̶M̶A̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶s̶e̶r̶v̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶O̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶/̶o̶r̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶G̶o̶v̶e̶r̶n̶o̶r̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶f̶e̶w̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶t̶w̶e̶l̶v̶e̶ ̶(̶1̶2̶)̶ ̶y̶e̶a̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶p̶i̶n̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶G̶o̶v̶e̶r̶n̶o̶r̶s̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶f̶o̶r̶m̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶q̶u̶a̶l̶i̶f̶y̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶d̶i̶s̶t̶i̶n̶g̶u̶i̶s̶h̶e̶d̶ ̶s̶e̶r̶v̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶A̶G̶M̶A̶,̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶n̶t̶i̶t̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶c̶l̶a̶s̶s̶i̶f̶i̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶“̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶L̶i̶f̶e̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶D̶i̶s̶t̶i̶n̶g̶u̶i̶s̶h̶e̶d̶ ̶S̶e̶r̶v̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶A̶G̶M̶A̶.̶”̶ ̶W̶h̶e̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶f̶o̶r̶e̶s̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶m̶e̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶e̶g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶q̶u̶a̶l̶i̶f̶i̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶G̶o̶v̶e̶r̶n̶o̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶u̶p̶o̶n̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶E̶x̶e̶c̶u̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶D̶i̶r̶e̶c̶t̶o̶r̶,̶ ̶e̶f̶f̶e̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶x̶t̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶c̶e̶e̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶d̶u̶e̶s̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶i̶o̶d̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶c̶l̶a̶s̶s̶i̶f̶y̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶e̶i̶n̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶v̶i̶d̶e̶d̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶c̶i̶s̶e̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶s̶,̶ ̶p̶r̶i̶v̶i̶l̶e̶g̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶d̶u̶t̶i̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶o̶b̶l̶i̶g̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶e̶x̶c̶e̶p̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶,̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶f̶o̶r̶m̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶E̶x̶e̶c̶u̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶D̶i̶r̶e̶c̶t̶o̶r̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g̶,̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶x̶c̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶y̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶b̶a̶s̶i̶c̶ ̶d̶u̶e̶s̶ ̶(̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶y̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶d̶u̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶s̶s̶e̶s̶s̶m̶e̶n̶t̶s̶)̶ ̶l̶e̶v̶i̶e̶d̶ ̶u̶p̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶g̶e̶n̶e̶r̶a̶l̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶h̶i̶p̶,̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶s̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶e̶f̶f̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶s̶o̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶p̶r̶a̶c̶t̶i̶c̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶a̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶r̶e̶c̶e̶i̶p̶t̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶E̶x̶e̶c̶u̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶D̶i̶r̶e̶c̶t̶o̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶’̶s̶ ̶w̶r̶i̶t̶t̶e̶n̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶i̶f̶i̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶.̶ ̶W̶h̶e̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶ ̶“̶A̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶”̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶s̶t̶i̶t̶u̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶B̶y̶-̶L̶a̶w̶s̶,̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶e̶m̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶i̶n̶c̶l̶u̶d̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶l̶a̶s̶s̶i̶f̶i̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶v̶i̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶e̶i̶n̶.̶
Section 2: Change of Classifications. For the purpose of keeping membership classifications current, no later than May 31st of every even-numbered year, Guild staff shall audit each member’s work under AGMA collective bargaining agreements for the past twenty- four (24) months. If the audit reveals that 60% or more of the weeks worked are in a member classification other than the member’s currently assigned classification, the member’s classification will be automatically updated to the classification in which the majority of the weeks were worked. The classification will remain unchanged if the member has not worked under any agreements during that time. In addition, within ninety (90) days of the adoption of the amendment of this Section, Guild staff shall conduct an initial audit for the purpose of determining classifications for the 2021 election census. Any member currently serving in a position representing a particular membership classification who changes classifications due to this audit may continue to serve in that position until the election of 2021.
The Board of Governors, with the subsequent approval of the Guild given at the next annual or special convention or given by referendum vote of the membership, may alter, reclassify, change, enlarge, diminish or terminate (1) the rights and/or membership of any member or group of members and/or (2) the present and future membership of the Guild, and define the qualifications for membership of present members and/or persons becoming members, in any present, changed, new or additional classes. Should such action diminish, alter, change, terminate or destroy the vested rights of any person then a member in good standing, the concurrence of two-thirds (2⁄3) of the votes cast at the convention at which such action is approved shall be necessary.
Section 3: Definition of Professional Categories. An individual’s membership classification shall also serve as the individual’s professional category for all governance and audit purposes.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶3̶ Section 4: Rights of Members. Nothing herein shall be construed to narrow or impinge on rights members have pursuant to the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959. O̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶i̶n̶t̶e̶r̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶v̶e̶s̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶w̶i̶s̶e̶,̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶s̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶p̶e̶r̶t̶y̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶G̶u̶i̶l̶d̶.̶
(a) All members and candidates for membership shall be allowed to exercise all prescribed rights and privileges on a basis of unqualified equality, free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or political belief.
(b) Members shall suffer no impairment of freedom of speech concerning the operations of this Guild. Active discussion of Guild affairs shall be encouraged and protected within this organization.
(c) Members shall have the right to conduct the internal affairs of the Guild free from employer domination.
(d) Members shall have the right to fair and democratic elections, at all levels of the Guild. This includes due notice of nominations and elections, equal opportunity for competing candidates, and proper election procedures.
(e) Members shall have an equal right to run for and hold office, subject only to constitutionally specified qualifications, uniformly applied.
(f) Members shall have the right to a full and clear accounting of all Guild funds at all levels. Such accounting shall include, but not be limited to, periodic reports to the membership by the appropriate fiscal officers and periodic audits by independent auditors not otherwise connected with the Guild.
(g) Members have the right to full disclosure from the leadership. This includes the right to receive upon request copies of any AGMA governing document including this Constitution, any other rules, minutes of membership, Board of Governors or Area Committee meetings, as well as to be informed of the composition of all task forces, committees, sub-committees and working groups.
(h) Members shall have the right to full participation, through discussion and vote, in the decision-making processes of the Guild, and to pertinent information needed for the exercise of this right. This right shall specifically include the right to observe Board of Governors meetings (either in-person or remotely) except for any portion held in executive session, approval of decisions concerning the acceptance or rejection of collective bargaining contracts, memoranda of understanding, or any other agreements directly affecting their wages, hours, or other terms and conditions of employment and the right to voice their opinion on the direction of AGMA or any policy or action related to AGMA.
(i) All members shall have an equal right to vote and each vote cast shall be of equal weight.
(j) Charges against a member shall be specific and shall be only on grounds provided in the Constitution and By-Laws. Accused members shall have the right to strict adherence with due process. The accused shall be considered innocent until proven guilty.
(k) Only active members shall have any interest vested or otherwise, in any of the rights or property of the Guild.
(l) The right to full disclosure and full participation may be abridged or suspended by the Board of Governors for a member who is deemed to be in Conflict of Interest, as defined in the By-Laws.
Section 5: Special Recognitions. There shall be three (3) special recognitions available within AGMA. They are Charter Member, Active Life Member for Distinguished Service to AGMA and Honorary Member. Individuals who receive such recognition who are also current AGMA members shall retain all rights, privileges, duties, responsibilities, and obligations related to their appropriate membership classification.
(a) Charter Members: All Life Members in good standing on February 1, 1938, and all members in good standing who signed the original Constitution of the Guild, shall be recognized as Charter Members. All vested and other rights of Life Members under the original Constitution including property rights and immunity from payment of dues, are hereby made the subject of the By-Laws to be enacted and/or modified at the discretion of the Board.
(b) Active Life Member for Distinguished Service to AGMA: Any active member of AGMA who has served as an Officer and/or Member of the Board of Governors for no fewer than twelve (12) years, or any member who in the opinion of the Board of Governors has performed a qualifying distinguished service to AGMA, shall be entitled to be classified as an “Active Life Member for Distinguished Service to AGMA.” Whenever an Active Member has met the foregoing qualifications, the Board of Governors, upon notice from the Executive Director, effective with the next succeeding dues period shall notify the member in writing of this recognition. The member, if they so choose and inform the Executive Director in writing, shall be excused from the payment of basic dues (but not from the payment of other dues and assessments) levied upon the general membership, with said choice to take effect as soon as practicable after receipt by the Executive Director of the member’s written notification.
(c) Honorary Membership: Persons who have rendered distinguished service to the Guild or to the profession, or persons in sympathy with the objects and purposes of the Guild and having no business or association antagonistic thereto, or any other who in the opinion of the Board should be granted such recognition, may be eligible for Honorary Membership. Honorary Members may not attend meetings without the consent of the majority of those present and shall not be subject to dues or assessments or any of the obligations of membership. The term “members” wherever used in this document does not include Honorary Members.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶4̶ Section 6: Termination. In the event of the termination of any membership by resignation, expulsion, or any other cause, the right of the former member in and to any properties or assets of the Guild shall cease. No member may resign in any case without the consent of the Board, nor when the good faith or loyalty of such member is subject to question or investigation, nor unless all of his indebtedness to the Guild is paid.
Rationale: This proposal provides for the maintenance of correct membership classifications by establishing a consistent process for the automatic updating of members’ classifications. It also declares a bill of rights for AGMA members based on the principle that in a democratic and progressive union, members have a right to actively participate in their union and make decisions about issues in the union that affect them.
Yes, I am in favor of the referendum.
No, I am opposed to the referendum.
Referendum #2: Amendment of AGMA Constitution, Article V:
Should Article V of the AGMA Constitution be amended by amending existing Section 4, adding a new Section 5 and Section 6, and renumbering the existing sections thereafter, with renumbering to account for any other amendments to this Article that may be adopted by the membership, as follows (additions shown in italics, deletions shown in strikeout, omitted Sections indicated by ellipses):
ARTICLE V: Government
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Section 4: Delegation of Powers. The Board shall have the power to appoint an Executive Director, committees, executives, agents, assistants to officers, and such employees to carry on the work of the Guild as it may deem proper and subject to its direction, and shall determine their authority, powers, duties and compensation. The Board may not delegate to a committee its power to establish temporary committees or to recommend or appoint committee members. I̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶a̶b̶s̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶ ̶q̶u̶o̶r̶u̶m̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶r̶e̶g̶u̶l̶a̶r̶l̶y̶ ̶s̶c̶h̶e̶d̶u̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶m̶e̶e̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶E̶x̶e̶c̶u̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶C̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶ ̶m̶a̶d̶e̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶,̶ ̶a̶ ̶q̶u̶o̶r̶u̶m̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶r̶e̶e̶ ̶(̶3̶)̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶e̶m̶e̶r̶g̶e̶n̶c̶y̶ ̶m̶a̶t̶t̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶.̶ ̶A̶n̶y̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶E̶x̶e̶c̶u̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶C̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶s̶u̶b̶j̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶a̶p̶p̶r̶o̶v̶a̶l̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶x̶t̶ ̶m̶e̶e̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶o̶f̶.̶
Section 5: Executive Committee. An Executive Committee consisting of all elected officers described in the Section of this Article entitled “Officers” may be authorized to act on behalf of the Guild on matters requiring immediate action in between meetings of the Board. A quorum of the majority of an Executive Committee is required for any action to be considered. Any such action taken by an Executive Committee will be subject to approval by the Board at the next full board meeting.
Section 6: Minutes. Detailed minutes shall be taken at all meetings of the Board of Governors (except when the Board, by a seven-eighths (7/8) vote of those present, decides that the best interests of the Union would be served by an informal discussion of the membership of the Board, in which event the Board shall confine itself to discussion but shall take no formal action, and no minutes shall be taken). Such minutes shall be transcribed promptly, and copies thereof shall be distributed to all AGMA board members and officers as soon as completed. Such copies shall be made available to any interested AGMA member in good standing, other than members deemed to be in Conflict of Interest, as defined in the AGMA By-Laws. In addition, a summary of official Board of Governors action shall be prepared after each Board Meeting, which shall be sent to each Area Committee. The Board may redact from the written minutes any sensitive information related to strike strategies, bargaining strategies, personnel matters, member grievances, litigation, or disciplinary procedures as the Board deems necessary to protect such sensitive information before being made public.
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Rationale: This proposal clarifies the decision-making structures and responsibilities of the AGMA government. It also affirms the membership’s right to information related to the AGMA governance.
Yes, I am in favor of the referendum.
No, I am opposed to the referendum.
Referendum #3: Amendment of AGMA Constitution, Article V, Sections 2, 6, 8-9:
Should Article V of the AGMA Constitution be amended by amending Section 2, Section 6, Section 8, and Section 9, adding a new Section 7, Section 8, Section 9, and Section 10, and renumbering the existing sections thereafter, with renumbering to account for any other amendments to this Article that may be adopted by the membership, as follows (additions shown in italics, deletions shown in strikeout, omitted Sections indicated by ellipses):
ARTICLE V: Government
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Section 2: Number of Board. Said Board shall consist of 75 (or 76 or 77) members determined in accordance with the procedures described in Article X, S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶6̶,̶ in addition to the officers of the Guild set forth in Section 6 of this Article V. O̶n̶e̶-̶h̶a̶l̶f̶ ̶(̶1̶⁄̶2̶)̶ ̶o̶f̶ The Board shall be elected biennially to hold office for f̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶(̶4̶)̶ two (2) year terms as provided herein with its r̶e̶s̶p̶e̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶r̶o̶t̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ term commencing at 12:01 AM, E.T. June 1st, and expiring at Midnight, E.T., May 31st in the appropriate q̶u̶a̶d̶r̶e̶n̶n̶i̶a̶l̶ biennial year. Vacancies occurring during the term of office may be filled by the Board to hold office until the next biennial election of Board members, at which time said office shall be filled through regular election procedures. f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶u̶n̶e̶x̶p̶i̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶r̶e̶m̶a̶i̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶u̶r̶r̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶s̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶t̶.̶
Section 6: Officers.
Officers prior to the election of 2023. Prior to the election of 2023, the The officers of the Guild shall consist of a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice- President, Fourth Vice-President, Fifth Vice-President, Recording Secretary and Treasurer. A̶l̶l̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶f̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶(̶4̶)̶ ̶y̶e̶a̶r̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶i̶r̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶s̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶e̶n̶c̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶1̶2̶:̶0̶1̶ ̶A̶M̶,̶ ̶E̶.̶T̶.̶,̶ ̶J̶u̶n̶e̶ ̶1̶s̶t̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶i̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶M̶i̶d̶n̶i̶g̶h̶t̶,̶ ̶E̶.̶T̶.̶,̶ ̶M̶a̶y̶ ̶3̶1̶s̶t̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶a̶p̶p̶r̶o̶p̶r̶i̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶q̶u̶a̶d̶r̶e̶n̶n̶i̶a̶l̶ ̶y̶e̶a̶r̶.̶ ̶V̶a̶c̶a̶n̶c̶i̶e̶s̶ ̶o̶c̶c̶u̶r̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶d̶u̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶F̶i̶f̶t̶h̶ ̶V̶i̶c̶e̶-̶P̶r̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶,̶ ̶S̶e̶c̶r̶e̶t̶a̶r̶y̶,̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶T̶r̶e̶a̶s̶u̶r̶e̶r̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶l̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶u̶n̶t̶i̶l̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶x̶t̶ ̶r̶e̶g̶u̶l̶a̶r̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶ ̶s̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶l̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶r̶e̶g̶u̶l̶a̶r̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶c̶e̶d̶u̶r̶e̶.̶ ̶S̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶v̶a̶c̶a̶n̶c̶y̶ ̶o̶c̶c̶u̶r̶ ̶d̶u̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶P̶r̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶,̶ ̶F̶i̶r̶s̶t̶ ̶V̶i̶c̶e̶-̶P̶r̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶,̶ ̶S̶e̶c̶o̶n̶d̶ ̶V̶i̶c̶e̶-̶P̶r̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶,̶ ̶T̶h̶i̶r̶d̶ ̶V̶i̶c̶e̶-̶P̶r̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶,̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶F̶o̶u̶r̶t̶h̶ ̶V̶i̶c̶e̶-̶P̶r̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶;̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶V̶i̶c̶e̶-̶P̶r̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶m̶o̶v̶e̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶x̶t̶ ̶h̶i̶g̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶p̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶.̶ ̶S̶u̶b̶s̶e̶q̶u̶e̶n̶t̶l̶y̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶F̶i̶f̶t̶h̶ ̶V̶i̶c̶e̶-̶P̶r̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶l̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶e̶a̶r̶l̶i̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶e̶t̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶t̶h̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶s̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶.̶
Effective January 1, 2023, the preceding paragraph shall be superseded and replaced with the following paragraph:
Officers commencing with the election of 2023. Effective June 1, 2023, the officers of the Guild shall consist of a President, Executive Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Chorister Vice-President, Soloist Vice-President, Dancer Vice-President, Stage Manager Vice-President, Director Vice-President, Actor Vice-President, Choreographer Vice-President, and Small Geographic Area Vice-President.
Section 7. General Provisions. The National Officers shall serve as members of the Board of Governors and as members of any Executive Committee of the Board. A Board of Governors member may not serve in two capacities on the board at the same time.
Section 8: Tenure. Effective January 1, 2023, all officers shall be elected to hold office for two (2) years with their terms commencing at 12:01 AM, E.T., June 1st, and expiring at Midnight, E.T., May 31st in the appropriate biennial year.
Section 9: Authority and Duties of Officers. The authority and duties of the Officers shall be as follows:
(a) Authority and Duties of the President. The President shall be the chief elected officer of the Guild and shall be charged with carrying out policies established by the Board of Governors and Convention. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Convention, the Board of Governors, National, Regional and Leadership Conferences and any Executive Committee. The President shall be the chief spokesperson for the Guild and shall represent the Guild in affiliated and other organizations. The President shall serve as a non-voting member of the Personnel Committee. The President shall have the authority to delegate duties and responsibilities to other elected officials of the Guild in accordance with the Constitution and Guild policies. The President shall nominate the members of AGMA committees to the Board for approval. The President shall perform any other duties and responsibilities assigned to them by the Board of Governors or set forth in the Constitution and policies of the Guild. The President shall consult with and be assisted by the other National Officers in furthering the objectives and policies of the Guild. The President may not concurrently serve as the Chair or Vice Chair of an AGMA Regional Area Committee, Shop Negotiating Committee or Shop Organizing Committee. Any current service as such shall be terminated no later than upon assumption of the presidency.
(b) Authority and Duties of the Executive Vice-President. Effective June 1, 2023, the Executive Vice-President shall act in the place of the President at and between meetings of the Convention, Board of Governors, and any Executive Committee if the President is absent or otherwise unavailable to perform their presidential duties. In consultation with and at the direction of the President, they shall assist the President in the governance of the Guild. The Executive Vice-President may perform such other duties as may be assigned to them by the President or the Board.
(c) Authority and Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer. Effective June 1, 2023, the Secretary-Treasurer shall be the primary elected officer responsible for the general financial administration of the Guild, including overseeing the Guild’s funds, financial assets and fiscal records, and shall serve as chair of the Finance and Budget
Committee. The Secretary-Treasurer shall cause a quarterly financial report to be presented to the Board of Governors. The Secretary-Treasurer shall register any and all amendments to the Constitution, By-Laws, and the Guild’s Standing Rules, and shall maintain the official version of same. The Secretary-Treasurer shall have charge of the funds, securities, receipts and disbursements of the Guild. The Secretary-Treasurer shall deposit all monies to the credit of the Guild in such institutions as the Board of Governors may designate and shall disburse the same as the Board may direct. The Secretary-Treasurer shall cause a budget to be prepared consistent with general acceptable accounting principles for approval of the Board of Governors. The Secretary- Treasurer shall be the chief elected officer responsible for the books and records of the Guild, including the drafting and publication of the official minutes of meetings of the Convention, Board of Governors and any Executive Committee. The Secretary-Treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to them by the President or the Board of Governors.
(d) Authority and Duties of the Vice-Presidents. The Vice-Presidents shall perform the duties and responsibilities assigned to them by the President or the Board of Governors. Each Vice-President shall be responsible for providing support to Guild members within their geographical area or membership classification.
Section 10: Vacancies. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, in the event the office of President becomes vacant for any reason, until May 31, 2023, the First Vice- President, and on or after June 1, 2023, the Executive Vice-President, shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the President set forth in this Constitution until the next meeting of the Board of Governors, which shall elect from eligible members a President to serve the balance of the former President’s unexpired term of office if six months or less is remaining in the term. In the event the office of President becomes vacant with more than six months remaining, until May 31, 2023, the First Vice-President, and on or after June 1, 2023, the Executive Vice-President, shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the President set forth in this Constitution until a special election of the entire membership can be held to fill the vacancy. This election shall be held within forty-five (45) days of the vacancy and may be held by electronic means subject to applicable laws. At least three (3) weeks’ notice must be given to all members of the nominations and elections process. The Board of Governors shall have the power to fill any vacancy occurring in the Board or in any office other than the Presidency, and such appointee shall hold office until the next biennial election.
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S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶8̶ Section 12: Area Committees. The Board of Governors shall b̶e̶ ̶e̶m̶p̶o̶w̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ provide for the election, by secret ballot, of an Area Committee in each geographical area as established and provided for elsewhere in this Constitution. Such Area Committee shall have such powers and duties as shall be provided by the Board of Governors. Each such Area Committee s̶o̶ ̶e̶s̶t̶a̶b̶l̶i̶s̶h̶e̶d̶ shall have a chair, vice chair, secretary-treasurer and a̶t̶ ̶l̶e̶a̶s̶t̶ one other officer from each membership classification elected biennially by secret ballot among the active members in good standing of such geographic area. All Area Committee members shall be elected to hold office for two (2) years with their terms commencing at 12:01 AM, E.T., June 1st, and expiring at Midnight, E.T., May 31st in the appropriate biennial year i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶a̶n̶n̶e̶r̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶e̶i̶n̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶v̶i̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶A̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶C̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶t̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶r̶e̶e̶ ̶(̶3̶)̶ ̶y̶e̶a̶r̶s̶ on the same ballot that elects members to the Board of Governors. All currently serving Area Committee members’ terms are hereby either shortened or lengthened such that their term in office will expire at Midnight, E.T., on May 31st, 2021.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶9̶ Section 13: Action by Board without Assembling. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided by statute, in any case, the National Board may, without assembling, act by resolution signed by the members thereof. Such signatures may be subscribed on duplicate copies of the resolution, and except as otherwise expressly provided by statute or in this Constitution, a concurring majority vote shall be sufficient to carry the resolution. The Executive Director shall prepare and m̶a̶i̶l̶ send via email to each member of the Board a copy of the proposed resolutions for signature together with notice of the date within which said vote is to be returned. The return via email to the Executive Director of signed copies approved by a majority of the Board shall establish the passage of such resolution.
Rationale: This proposal reorganizes the AGMA officer corps to guarantee both member category and small geographic area representation within the National Officers, establishes Area Committees in all geographic areas and ensures member category representation within Area Committees, codifies the duties of the National Officers, and reduces term lengths for all elected offices to two years.
Yes, I am in favor of the referendum.
No, I am opposed to the referendum.
Referendum #4: Amendment of AGMA Constitution, Article X:
Should Article X of the AGMA Constitution be amended as follows (additions shown in italics, deletions shown in strikeout):
ARTICLE X: Voting, Nomination, and Election
Section 1: Qualifications. Each active member in good standing shall be entitled to vote on all matters hereunder required or authorized for membership action. Each active member in good standing w̶h̶o̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶k̶e̶d̶ ̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶A̶G̶M̶A̶ ̶c̶o̶l̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶b̶a̶r̶g̶a̶i̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶g̶r̶e̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶(̶C̶B̶A̶)̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶A̶G̶M̶A̶ ̶s̶i̶g̶n̶a̶t̶o̶r̶y̶ ̶e̶m̶p̶l̶o̶y̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶l̶i̶g̶i̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶:̶ ̶(̶1̶)̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶,̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶v̶i̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶s̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶k̶e̶d̶ ̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶A̶G̶M̶A̶ ̶c̶o̶l̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶b̶a̶r̶g̶a̶i̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶g̶r̶e̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶(̶C̶B̶A̶)̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶A̶G̶M̶A̶ ̶s̶i̶g̶n̶a̶t̶o̶r̶y̶ ̶e̶m̶p̶l̶o̶y̶e̶r̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶l̶a̶s̶s̶i̶f̶i̶c̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶s̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶t̶ ̶r̶e̶p̶r̶e̶s̶e̶n̶t̶s̶,̶ ̶(̶2̶)̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶r̶,̶ ̶(̶3̶)̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶A̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶C̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶,̶ ̶(̶4̶)̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶d̶e̶l̶e̶g̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶v̶e̶n̶t̶i̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶(̶5̶)̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶g̶e̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶i̶c̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶.̶ (1) as President, Executive Vice- President or Secretary-Treasurer (or in the event that the offices of Executive Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer do not exist, as President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President, Fourth Vice-President, Fifth Vice-President, Recording Secretary and Treasurer), provided that said member has worked under an AGMA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for an AGMA signatory employer within the ten (10) years preceding the nomination, (2) as Small Geographic Area Vice-President, provided that said member has worked under an AGMA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for an AGMA signatory employer within the ten (10) years preceding the nomination and resides within or has as their principal place of business under AGMA jurisdiction a geographic area containing less than 1,000 members, (3) as Chorister Vice-President, Soloist Vice-President, Dancer Vice-President, Stage Manager Vice-President, Director Vice-President, Actor Vice-President, or Choreographer Vice-President, provided said member is an active member in good standing in the member classification that said Vice-Presidency represents, provided said member has worked under an AGMA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for an AGMA signatory employer within the classification that said Vice-Presidency represents within the ten (10) years preceding the nomination and provided said member has not worked more than 25 weeks under AGMA collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) for AGMA signatory employers in any single member classification other than the classification that said Vice-Presidency represents within the four years prior to such nomination or appointment to office, (4) to the Board provided said member is an active member in good standing in the member classification that said Board seat represents, provided said member resides within or has as their principal place of business under AGMA jurisdiction the geographic area said Board seat represents, provided said member has worked under an AGMA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for an AGMA signatory employer within the classification that said Board seat represents within the ten (10) years preceding the nomination and provided said member has not worked more than 25 weeks under AGMA collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) for AGMA signatory employers in any single member classification other than the classification that said Board seat represents within the four years prior to such nomination or appointment to office, (5) as the chair, vice chair or secretary-treasurer of an Area Committee, provided said member resides within or has as their principal place of business under AGMA jurisdiction the geographic area said Area Committee represents and provided said member has worked under an AGMA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for an AGMA signatory employer within the ten (10) years preceding the nomination, (6) as any other Area Committee member, provided said member is an active member in good standing in the member classification that said Area Committee seat represents, provided said member resides within or has as their principal place of business under AGMA jurisdiction the geographic area said Area Committee represents, and provided said member has not worked more than 25 weeks under AGMA collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) for AGMA signatory employers in any single member classification other than the classification that said Area Committee seat represents within the four years prior to such nomination or appointment to office, or (7) as a delegate to a convention. Members of any classification are eligible to for appointment to the Advisory Board.
Section 2: Conflict of Interest. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Constitution, no member who is deemed to be in Conflict of Interest, as defined the AGMA By-Laws, shall be eligible to serve in any position listed above or to serve on any committee.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶2̶ Section 3: Voting. Each active member in good standing and not in arrears in dues or other moneys owing to the Guild shall be entitled to cast one vote for each national officer with the exception of the Small Geographic Area Vice-President, for which the member must be affiliated with a geographic area containing less than 1,000 members in order to be entitled to cast a vote; one vote for each at-large member of the Board, one vote for each member of the Board from one’s designated AGMA area, one vote for each Area Committee member from one’s designated AGMA area, and one vote for delegates from one’s designated AGMA area to any convention called pursuant to this Constitution, and a majority of the votes so cast shall be necessary to elect. Any question, issue, rule, measure, or resolution may at any time, in the discretion of the Board, be submitted to a referendum vote of the voting membership, under such rules as the Board may determine.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶3̶ Section 4: Delinquent Members. Delinquent members, as defined in the By- Laws, although entitled to receive notice of meetings, shall not be eligible to attend such meetings or to cast a vote while so delinquent.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶4̶ Section 5: Vote by Referendum. All votes by referendum shall be taken by secret ballot in the manner prescribed by the By-Laws executed by the Board of Governors. The Board may, at any time in its discretion, order a referendum vote on any question or measure whatsoever.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶5̶ Section 6: Board Members. Members of the Board shall be elected from the Active Membership of the Guild. In case of death, resignation or removal of a member of the Board other than the President, a successor shall be appointed by the remaining members of the Board to hold office until the next regular biennial election of Board members, at which time said office shall be filled through regular election procedure.
In the event an election for members to the Board of Governors and/or delegates to a convention results in a tie between two or more candidates, t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶G̶o̶v̶e̶r̶n̶o̶r̶s̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶d̶e̶t̶e̶r̶m̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶d̶i̶d̶a̶t̶e̶s̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶A̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶C̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶t̶i̶c̶u̶l̶a̶r̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶d̶e̶t̶e̶r̶m̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶l̶e̶g̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶v̶e̶n̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ which will be verified by a recount, the Election Commission shall determine the winner by lot.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶6̶ Section 7: Nominations and Elections for the Board of Governors. Elections for the Board of Governors shall occur every two (2) years. Not later than January 1st of each election year, the Board shall make a division of the United States and Canada into a number of geographic areas best designed for administrative purposes and for purposes of election of Board members. The Board shall further determine the number of Board members that each of such geographic areas, each professional category d̶e̶s̶i̶g̶n̶a̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶,̶ and each such professional category within each of such geographic areas shall be entitled to by: first, calculating to at least four decimal places the percentage of the total number of active members in good standing nationally that are in each such geographic area, in each professional category, and in each professional category within each geographic area: second, multiplying the resulting percentages by 75 to determine to four decimal places the number of whole and fractional Board seats to which each geographic area, professional category, and professional category within each geographic area is entitled: and third, rounding all resulting fractional seats up or down to whole seats according to the accepted method of rounding off decimal fractions to whole numbers.
In the event that the resulting total of whole seats for all professional categories is less than 75, then any unallocated seat(s) shall be added to the total already allocated to the professional categories with the highest remaining fraction of a seat that is less than one-half (1⁄2) as calculated in the second step set forth above. In the event that the resulting number of whole seats for all professional categories is more than 75, then any seat(s) in excess of 75 shall be deducted from the total already allocated to the professional categories with the lowest remaining fraction of a seat that is more than one-half (1⁄2) as calculated in the second step set forth above. In the event that the resulting national total of whole seats for all geographic areas within a given professional category is less than the number of whole seats that is most closely proportional to that professional category’s national percentage of total active members in good standing, then any unallocated seat(s) for that professional category shall be allocated to the area(s) with the highest remaining fraction of a seat that is less than one-half (1⁄2) as calculated in the second step set forth above. In the event that the resulting national total of whole seats for all geographic areas within a given professional category is more than the number of whole seats that is most closely proportional to that professional category's national percentage of total active members in good standing, then any excess seat(s) for that professional category shall be removed from the area(s) with the lowest remaining fraction of a seat that is more than one-half (1⁄2) as calculated in the second step set forth above. In the event that the resulting national total of whole seats within a given professional category is less than three (3), these seats shall be reclassified as at-large seats, with no geographic area requirements for nomination or election.
An active member in good standing shall be counted in the membership totals for the geographic area in which h̶e̶ they resides̶ or, if h̶e̶ they so requests̶, where h̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ they have their principal place of business under AGMA jurisdiction, and the count of active members in good standing shall be conducted as of a date set by the Board, but not later than January 1st of the same year in which the election shall take place. In the event there are areas which have too few active members in good standing to qualify for a Board seat in any professional category, then the Board shall be authorized to combine such areas for the purpose of having such areas represented on the Board by Board members at large in a manner that is designed to protect the interest of members in such areas or to secure Board representation for those areas so limited in membership. Alternatively, the Board may create an additional seat up to a maximum of two (2) such additional seats, to be awarded to any geographic area(s) and/or any professional category that is otherwise not entitled to at least one (l) seat. The determination shall be submitted by the Board to the Chair of the AGMA Area Committee in each geographic area on or before January 15th of each election year and shall contain a statement of the number of places on the Board to be elected from each such geographic area and each professional category within each such geographic area. The terms of all previously existing seats shall be deemed to expire at Midnight, E.T., on May 31, 2̶0̶1̶1̶ 2021, and all new seats shall be filled by election in the regular national elections prior to that date. T̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶d̶e̶c̶i̶d̶e̶ ̶u̶p̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶f̶a̶i̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶e̶q̶u̶i̶t̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶t̶h̶o̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶s̶s̶i̶g̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶i̶n̶i̶t̶i̶a̶l̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶w̶o̶ ̶(̶2̶)̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶f̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶(̶4̶)̶ ̶y̶e̶a̶r̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶n̶e̶w̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶t̶ ̶s̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶s̶u̶b̶s̶e̶q̶u̶e̶n̶t̶l̶y̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶-̶h̶a̶l̶f̶ ̶(̶1̶⁄̶2̶)̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶t̶a̶l̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶t̶s̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶i̶r̶e̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶y̶e̶a̶r̶.̶
I̶n̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶g̶e̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶i̶c̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶s̶i̶s̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶s̶e̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶(̶7̶)̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶c̶h̶o̶s̶e̶n̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶l̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶h̶i̶p̶ ̶m̶e̶e̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶c̶e̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶M̶a̶r̶c̶h̶ ̶1̶s̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶y̶e̶a̶r̶.̶ ̶B̶y̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶l̶a̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶M̶a̶r̶c̶h̶ ̶1̶s̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶y̶e̶a̶r̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶m̶e̶e̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶s̶u̶b̶m̶i̶t̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶N̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶O̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶.̶ ̶O̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶Nominations for members of the Board may be made in writing signed by ten (10) members in good standing and delivered to the National Office not later than March 1st of each election year. The National Office, in making up the ballot, shall place all nominations in alphabetical order,̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶r̶a̶c̶t̶e̶r̶i̶z̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶u̶r̶c̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶.
Before May 31st of each election year, an election by secret w̶r̶i̶t̶t̶e̶n̶ ballot shall be conducted by the National Office of the active members in good standing, to elect members to the Board from the candidates so nominated. Each geographic area shall elect the number of Board members designated as such area’s representation by the Board of Governors. Candidates receiving the highest number of votes in their areas shall be considered elected for a term of f̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶(̶4̶)̶ two (2) years,̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶r̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶e̶r̶m̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶v̶i̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶A̶r̶t̶i̶c̶l̶e̶ ̶V̶,̶ ̶S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶2̶,̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶A̶r̶t̶i̶c̶l̶e̶ ̶X̶,̶ ̶S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶6̶.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶7̶ Section 8: Nominations and Elections of Officers. Before May 31st of every f̶o̶u̶r̶t̶h̶ ̶odd-numbered year an election by secret w̶r̶i̶t̶t̶e̶n̶ ballot shall be conducted by the National Office of the active members in good standing to elect officers. Candidates for all offices except for the office of Small Geographic Area Vice-President may be s̶u̶b̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶g̶e̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶i̶c̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶,̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶v̶i̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶g̶e̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶i̶c̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶c̶e̶ placed in nomination a̶n̶y̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶,̶ ̶o̶r̶ by submission of a petition containing t̶e̶n̶ ̶(̶1̶0̶)̶ twenty-five (25) signatures of active members from any geographic area. Candidates for the office of Small Geographic Area Vice-President may be placed in nomination by submission of a petition containing twenty-five (25) signatures of active members from geographic areas containing less than 1000 members. All s̶u̶c̶h̶ nominations shall be placed upon the ballot in alphabetical order w̶i̶t̶h̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶d̶e̶s̶i̶g̶n̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶u̶r̶c̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶i̶r̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶. No candidate shall be permitted to run for multiple Officer Positions nor for an Officer and Board position. The n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ nominating procedure except as otherwise expressly provided in this S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶7̶ section shall be precisely as set forth in Section 6̶ 7.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶8̶ Section 9: Area Committee. Before May 31st of each odd-numbered year an election by secret ballot shall be conducted by the National Office among the active members in good standing in each geographic area i̶n̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶A̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶C̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶b̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶e̶s̶t̶a̶b̶l̶i̶s̶h̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶. Nominations shall be made pursuant to r̶u̶l̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶r̶e̶g̶u̶l̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶a̶d̶o̶p̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ the same rules and regulations established for election of the Board of Governors which shall afford a reasonable opportunity for the nomination of candidates and shall provide reasonable qualifications uniformly imposed for election to office.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶9̶ Section 10: Convention Delegates. The election for delegates to the convention shall be conducted by the National Office, by secret ballot, following the filing of all petitions with the National Office. All nominations, w̶h̶e̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶p̶e̶t̶i̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶ ̶g̶e̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶i̶c̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶,̶ shall be filed with the National Office at least sixty (60) days before the convention. The Board shall establish rules and regulations governing the signing and filing of petitions, as well as the holding of elections. The Board shall establish rules and regulations governing the decisions of protests against the seating of delegates. Delegates shall be nominated b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶g̶e̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶i̶c̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶/̶o̶r̶ by petitions containing a minimum of ten (10) signatures of active members in good standing, providing both nominees and signatories to the petition shall be resident in the same geographic area. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶9̶ section, the nominating and election procedures set forth in Section 6̶ 7 shall apply to nomination and election of delegates to the convention.
S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶1̶0̶ Section 11: Notice. In any elections required by this A̶r̶t̶i̶c̶l̶e̶ ̶X̶ article, not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the election, notice thereof shall be m̶a̶i̶l̶e̶d̶ sent to each member a̶t̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶l̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶n̶ ̶a̶d̶d̶r̶e̶s̶s̶.
Rationale: This proposal establishes the eligibility criteria for candidates seeking to represent specific membership classifications and establishes at-large board seats to eliminate geographic area restrictions for professional member categories allocated less than three seats on the Board.
Yes, I am in favor of the referendum.
No, I am opposed to the referendum.
Referendum #5: Amendment of AGMA Constitution, Article VIII and Article XV, Section 1:
Should Article VIII and Article XV, Section 1 of the AGMA Constitution be amended as follows (additions shown in italics, deletions shown in strikeout, omitted Sections indicated by ellipses):
ARTICLE VIII: Convention
Section 1: It shall be mandatory upon the Board to call a Convention within ninety (90) days after r̶e̶c̶e̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶w̶r̶i̶t̶t̶e̶n̶ ̶r̶e̶q̶u̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶t̶e̶n̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶c̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶(̶1̶0̶%̶)̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶n̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶g̶e̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶i̶c̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶d̶e̶t̶e̶r̶m̶i̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶A̶r̶t̶i̶c̶l̶e̶ ̶V̶,̶ ̶S̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶2̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶s̶t̶i̶t̶u̶t̶i̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶r̶e̶c̶e̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶r̶i̶t̶t̶e̶n̶ ̶r̶e̶q̶u̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶w̶e̶n̶t̶y̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶c̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶(̶2̶0̶%̶)̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶t̶a̶l̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶n̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶G̶u̶i̶l̶d̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶.̶ any one of the following: a) Receiving the written request of no less than 500 of the total of the active members in good standing of the Guild at that time; b) Receiving the written request of no less than fifty (50) active members from each geographic area with more than 1000 members; twenty-five (25) active members from each geographic area with 500 up to 1000 members; and ten (10) active members from each geographic area with less than 500 members; or c) Receiving the written request of no less than sixty (60) active members from each professional category with more than 1000 members; twenty (20) active members from each professional category with 100 up to 1000 members; and ten (10) active members from each professional category with less than 100 members. The Board shall have power by a two thirds (2⁄3) vote on its own to call a Convention at any time that in its opinion such a Convention is necessary. The time and place of any such Convention shall be determined by the Board of Governors.
Section 2: The Executive Director of AGMA shall notify the Chair of the Area Committee of the geographic areas referred to above of the date and place of such Convention at least sixty (60) days prior to the commencement of the Convention.
Section 3: Delegates to the Convention shall consist of: 1) Members of the Board of Governors, including the Officers, and 2) E̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶g̶e̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶i̶c̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶e̶n̶t̶i̶t̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ One (1) delegate for every t̶w̶e̶n̶t̶y̶-̶ ̶f̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶(̶2̶5̶)̶ thirty (30) active members in good standing or major portion thereof from each geographic area, provided that every such geographic area shall be entitled to at least one (1) delegate. Delegates shall be nominated b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶g̶e̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶i̶c̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶/̶o̶r̶ by petitions containing a minimum of ten (10) signatures of active members in good standing, in the same manner as provided herein for nomination of candidates for election to the Board except as expressly otherwise provided in this Section 3, providing both nominees and signatories to the petition shall be resident in the same geographic area. Nominees and delegates may be from any category of the AGMA membership provided that such delegates and nominees must have been active members in good standing prior to their nomination, and also provided that all professional categories are represented proportionate to the members in good standing in those professional categories in each geographic area. i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶n̶u̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶d̶e̶l̶e̶g̶a̶t̶e̶s̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶v̶e̶n̶t̶i̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶l̶e̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶t̶w̶o̶ ̶d̶e̶l̶e̶g̶a̶t̶e̶s̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶f̶e̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶c̶a̶t̶e̶g̶o̶r̶y̶.̶ ̶I̶f̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶m̶i̶n̶i̶m̶u̶m̶ ̶n̶u̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶w̶o̶ ̶d̶e̶l̶e̶g̶a̶t̶e̶s̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶v̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶t̶e̶g̶o̶r̶i̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶r̶s̶t̶ ̶b̶a̶l̶l̶o̶t̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶e̶e̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶b̶a̶s̶i̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶c̶a̶t̶e̶g̶o̶r̶y̶,̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶x̶t̶ ̶h̶i̶g̶h̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶v̶o̶t̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶a̶d̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶t̶a̶l̶ ̶n̶u̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶d̶e̶l̶e̶g̶a̶t̶e̶s̶.̶
Section 4: A majority of delegates to whom credential certificates are issued (̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶i̶r̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶x̶i̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶l̶e̶g̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶s̶e̶n̶t̶)̶ shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5: On or before twenty (20) days preceding the Convention, the Executive Director shall issue to each delegate a credential certificate which must be filed at the Convention before any delegate may cast his vote. D̶e̶l̶e̶g̶a̶t̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶v̶e̶n̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶v̶o̶t̶e̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶x̶y̶,̶ ̶e̶x̶c̶e̶p̶t̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶m̶a̶t̶t̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶e̶l̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶c̶r̶e̶a̶s̶e̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶d̶u̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶i̶n̶i̶t̶i̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶f̶e̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶s̶s̶e̶s̶s̶m̶e̶n̶t̶s̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶v̶i̶s̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶p̶p̶l̶i̶c̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶d̶e̶r̶a̶l̶ ̶l̶a̶w̶ ̶r̶e̶q̶u̶i̶r̶e̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶v̶o̶t̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶s̶o̶n̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶x̶y̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶s̶u̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶a̶ ̶d̶e̶l̶e̶g̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶g̶e̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶i̶c̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶a̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶l̶e̶g̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶p̶r̶e̶s̶e̶n̶t̶s̶.̶ Proxy voting shall not be permitted.
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ARTICLE XV: Amendments
Section 1: This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds (2⁄3) of the delegates present e̶i̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶s̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶x̶y̶ at an annual or special convention called for that purpose or by majority vote of the members voting thereon by referendum vote taken in such manner as the Board may prescribe. No proposition to amend the Constitution shall be acted upon unless it shall have been authorized by resolution of the Board of Governors or shall have been presented in writing to the Executive Director, signed by at least fifty (50) voting members in good standing. A notice embodying the wording of any duly proposed amendment shall be mailed to each delegate with the call for the convention at which said amendment is to be considered. If the Board of Governors, in its discretion, decides to submit the question to a referendum vote rather than to the convention, any such proposed amendment shall be mailed, together with a ballot, to each voting member in good standing of the Guild with a deadline for return of all ballots of not later than sixty (60) days nor earlier than thirty (30) days after the date of mailing from the National Office. Not later than ninety (90) days after the date of mailing from the National Office, the Board must meet, count the duly marked ballots and announce the adoption or rejection of the amendment.
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Rationale: This proposal establishes the method by which meetings of the membership may be called as well as expanding the possible sources of the call.
Yes, I am in favor of the referendum.
No, I am opposed to the referendum.
Referendum #6: Amendment of AGMA Constitution, Article V, Section 3:
Should Article V, Section 3 of the AGMA Constitution be amended as follows (additions shown in italics, deletions shown in strikeout, omitted Sections indicated by ellipses):
ARTICLE V: Government
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Section 3: Board Rules. A quorum of the meeting of the Board of Governors shall be as hereinafter defined in the By-Laws, but in no event less than thirty-five (35) members of the Board and Officers in total. The Board shall provide reasonable opportunity for Board Members from all geographic areas to participate by means of conference call in meetings of the Board and its committees. Any Board Member connected by conference call to a Board or committee meeting shall be considered to be physically present at the meeting, shall be counted in the quorum, and shall be entitled to vote and otherwise participate on the same basis as those physically present in the room where the Board or committee is meeting.
A majority of the Board present at any Board meeting may at any time order that any question brought before the meeting be referred to a majority vote by referendum ballot of all the members of the Board. M̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶x̶y̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶p̶u̶r̶p̶o̶s̶e̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶v̶o̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶r̶e̶f̶e̶r̶e̶n̶d̶u̶m̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶x̶y̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶t̶,̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶w̶i̶s̶e̶,̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶,̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶v̶i̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶u̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶q̶u̶o̶r̶u̶m̶,̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶p̶h̶y̶s̶i̶c̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶s̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶n̶t̶e̶d̶.̶ Proxy voting shall not be permitted. The Board shall act only as a Board and individual members thereof shall have no power as such.
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Rationale: This proposal increases the accountability of the AGMA Board by establishing that Board Members cannot delegate their votes to another Board Member by proxy. Proxy voting allows votes to be cast on behalf of Board Members that have not heard the deliberations on the matter. Consistent with the Guild’s parliamentary authority, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, in many democratically run organizations, proxy voting is not permitted among board members because it is incompatible with the essential characteristics of a deliberative assembly in which membership (and the rights and duties attached thereto) are individual, personal and non-transferable.
Yes, I am in favor of the referendum.
No, I am opposed to the referendum.
Referendum #7: Amendment of AGMA Constitution, Article XII:
Should Article XII of the AGMA Constitution be amended as follows (additions shown in italics, deletions shown in strikeout):
ARTICLE XII: Affiliation
The Guild may affiliate with, or become a part of, merge into or make agreements with any other organization or associations having objects harmonious with the objects of this Guild, upon such terms, conditions and reciprocal obligations as shall appear by resolution of the Board to be advantageous to the Guild; and may enter into contracts or agreements for cooperation with other groups of artists or employees, with artists engaged in other fields of professional activities, and with such other persons, firms or corporations as the Board may so approve. Any agreement or resolution or merger must be ratified by s̶e̶v̶e̶n̶t̶y̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶c̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶(̶7̶0̶%̶)̶ sixty percent (60%) of the affected delegates casting their vote at any annual or special convention, or by a s̶e̶v̶e̶n̶t̶y̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶c̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶(̶7̶0̶%̶)̶ sixty percent (60%) vote of the affected active members voting thereon by a referendum t̶a̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶m̶a̶i̶l̶.
Rationale: This proposal establishes the support level required from affected members for external affiliations consistent with the level of support required by similar labor organizations. It also allows referenda on these questions to be taken by methods other than postal mail.
Yes, I am in favor of the referendum.
No, I am opposed to the referendum.
Referendum #8: Amendment of AGMA Constitution, Addition of New Article V:
Should the AGMA Constitution be amended by adding a new Article V as follows, and renumbering the existing Articles thereafter (additions shown in italics):
ARTICLE V: Membership Dues
Section 1: Payments. Initiation fees, dues, assessments, or other money payments required of a member, and the time of payment thereof, shall be determined by the Board except as otherwise directed in this Constitution. All applications for membership must be accompanied by the first installment of dues and initiation fees, except as the Board otherwise orders, and shall be passed upon by the Board.
Every person elected to membership and qualifying as such shall receive a card of membership which shall be shown whenever requested by lawful authority.
All matters relating to withdrawal cards where a member retires from the profession or transfers to another calling, shall be determined by the Board in its discretion.
WAIVER: The payment of initiation fees, dues, assessments or other payments by an individual may not be waived by the Board more than three (3) times except under such circumstances which shall, in the Board’s discretion, make it necessary for the welfare of the Guild to grant additional waivers.
Section 2: Delinquencies. Failure of any member to pay the Guild any dues owing to it on the due date shall make the person so failing a delinquent member and should said delinquency continue for a period of thirty (30) days (i.e. by February 1, or the first business day thereafter), the Board shall declare that member suspended. In case of such suspension, notice need not be given. However, prior to suspension for the above reason, the Board shall cause notice of its intended action to be given to the member at least ten (10) days before such action is taken. In such case, if the delinquent member shall remit the dues which have been unpaid, the Board may take such action regarding the suspension of said member as it may consider just and proper. Except as herein stated, no further notice need be given any delinquent member.
Suspension under this Article shall not relieve a member of any obligation to the Guild.
Section 3: Dues and Initiation Fee. The dues and initiation fee for all AGMA members shall be assessed as follows:
INITIATION FEE:
(a) The initiation fee shall be $750 through December 31, 2022; $850 effective January 1, 2023; and $950 effective January 1, 2024.
(b) Partial Initiation Fee - In the event the initial contractual fee is less than $7,600.00, the new member may pay the Initiation Fee in installments (partial payments equal to twelve and one-half percent (121⁄2%) of AGMA contractual gross compensation) over a period not to exceed 36 months.
Should the new member’s compensation under AGMA contract(s) exceed $7,600.00 prior to the end of the thirty-six (36) month period, the balance of the initiation fee shall be due by the end of the contractual period in which $7,600.00 is exceeded.
Should a new member fail to complete payment of the initiation fee within the thirty-six (36) month period, the Board shall declare such person to be expelled and all monies paid toward the initiation fee shall be forfeit. However, prior to expulsion for the above reason, the Board shall cause notice of its intended action to be given not less than thirty (30) days before such action is taken. Should such a person reapply for membership, the initiation fee shall be due in full at the time of application, in addition to whatever monies (initiation fee and dues, both Basic and Working) were owed to AGMA at the time of expulsion.
DUES:
(a) The annual basic dues shall be $100.00 to be billed annually and payable by January 1st.
(b) Working Dues (“The Check–Off System”) In addition to the basic dues as set forth above, each member shall pay to the Guild 2% of the first $100,000.00 of annual gross AGMA income until December 31, 2021; 2% of the first $200,000 effective January 1, 2022; 2% of the first $300,000 effective January 1, 2023; 2% of the first $500,000 effective January 1, 2024; 2% of annual gross AGMA income effective January 1, 2025, payable as earned. All members working under AGMA Collective Bargaining Agreements, which provide for a dues deduction (“Check–Off”) will have such dues deducted from their compensation and remitted by the Employer to AGMA on a regular basis.
Except that with respect to the concert field only, soloist singers, and dancers, may, in the computation of their working dues payable with respect to their concert activities, exclude from their income the amounts paid for the solo artist’s transportation, the accompanist’s transportation and the accompanist’s fees and, in the case of pianists only, the cost of transportation of piano or pianos with respect to the concert appearance in question. The gross concert income less the above deductions plus gross income from all other activities under the jurisdiction of AGMA, shall then become the gross income upon which working dues shall be computed.
For purposes of computing working dues there shall be included in the member’s annual gross AGMA income all compensation paid to such member’s personal service or “loan-out” corporation.
Section 4: Changes. Subject to applicable law, the Board may, from time to time, suspend, alter and/or change the initiation fee, dues and other membership fees and charges for all or any of the classes of membership of the Guild whenever in its discretion the interest of the Guild so requires.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Constitution and By-Laws thereto, no increase in membership dues, initiation fee or assessments and no general or special assessment shall be levied upon the members except by majority vote of the delegates voting at a regular convention, or at a special convention held upon not less than thirty days’ written notice; or by majority vote of the members in good standing voting in a referendum conducted by secret ballot.
Section 5: Assessments. In addition to dues and initiation fees, the Board of Governors, subject to applicable law and with the concurrence of a majority of the members of the Guild voting thereon, may levy assessments on any and all members of the Guild.
Section 6: Manner of Levy. Such assessments, and such dues and initiation fee, need not be uniform but may be levied on ability to pay earnings, on a particular type or kind of work in a particular field, or in such other manner or according to such other formula as the Board of Governors, with the concurrence of a majority of the active members voting thereon, shall see fit.
Section 7: Special Dues Category. In the case of any member of AGMA who joined AGMA prior to January 1940 or, who having joined subsequently, has been a member of AGMA for fifteen (15) or more years, and within that period, has paid dues for at least ten (10) or more years, which need not be consecutive, and has earned $250.00 or less from activities under AGMA’s jurisdiction in the preceding calendar year, such member’s basic dues shall be $39.00 annually for as long as they earn $250.00 or less a year from activities under AGMA’s jurisdiction; provided, however, that the foregoing basic dues shall not apply to any AGMA member who has earned $1,000.00 or shall not apply to any AGMA member who has earned $1,000.00 or more in the aggregate, from all other activities under the jurisdiction of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (4A’s) in the preceding calendar year, and in no event shall such dues be less than $39.00 a year.
Rationale: This proposed new article reduces the initiation fee to lessen the initial financial burden on new members and gradually raises the earnings cap on working dues in line with other similar performing arts labor unions. Placing this new article in the AGMA Constitution as opposed to its current placement in the By-Laws ensures that the right of the membership to have a voice on fees and dues is preserved.
Yes, I am in favor of the referendum.
No, I am opposed to the referendum.
Referendum #9: Amendment of AGMA Constitution, Article IV:
Should Article IV of the AGMA Constitution be amended as follows (additions shown in italics, deletions shown in strikeout):
ARTICLE IV: Application for Membership
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Section 2: Qualifications for Membership. Effective January 1, 2021, a person shall be eligible for new membership in AGMA if they either (a) have worked, are working or are about to work in a position covered by an AGMA collective bargaining agreement; or (b) are determined by the Board of Governors to be engaged in work with an affiliated union. This Section shall not apply to existing members whose membership application was approved prior to January 1, 2021.
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Rationale: This proposal clarifies the minimum qualifications for AGMA membership by establishing the two consistent standards to be applied to membership applications.
Yes, I am in favor of the referendum.
No, I am opposed to the referendum.
Referendum #10: Amendment of AGMA Constitution, Article VII, Section 1:
Should Article VII, Section 1 of the AGMA Constitution be amended as follows (additions shown in italics, deletions shown in strikeout, omitted Sections indicated by ellipses):
ARTICLE VII: Supplementary Powers
Section 1. S̶u̶p̶p̶l̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶a̶r̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶s̶t̶i̶t̶u̶t̶i̶o̶n̶.̶ ̶M̶a̶t̶t̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶c̶o̶v̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶s̶t̶i̶t̶u̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶s̶u̶p̶p̶l̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶a̶r̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶t̶o̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶t̶a̶i̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶y̶-̶L̶a̶w̶s̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶e̶q̶u̶a̶l̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶c̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶e̶f̶f̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶s̶t̶i̶t̶u̶t̶i̶o̶n̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶o̶w̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶r̶e̶p̶e̶a̶l̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶m̶e̶n̶d̶ ̶e̶x̶i̶s̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶B̶y̶-̶L̶a̶w̶s̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶c̶r̶e̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶w̶ ̶B̶y̶-̶L̶a̶w̶s̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶r̶u̶l̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶o̶r̶d̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶r̶e̶g̶u̶l̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶s̶u̶p̶p̶l̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶C̶o̶n̶s̶t̶i̶t̶u̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶B̶y̶-̶L̶a̶w̶s̶,̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶m̶a̶t̶t̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶c̶o̶v̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶m̶.̶ Supremacy of Constitution. This Constitution shall be the highest governing document within AGMA. No action shall be in order that is not in conformance with this document.
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Rationale: This proposal clarifies the supremacy of the AGMA constitution among the governing documents. It reduces the danger that actions at other levels will not comply with this membership- approved document.
Yes, I am in favor of the referendum.
No, I am opposed to the referendum.
