The official, legal name of this organization shall be the Upper Schuylkill Band, and may be referred to throughout this document as "Upper Schuylkill," "Upper Schuylkill Marching Band," "Upper Schuylkill Marching and Concert Band," and "the band."

The Upper Schuylkill Band is a volunteer-based community band dedicated to the following goals and interests:

• Providing opportunities for musicians of varying skill levels to rehearse and perform in a multitude of community environments, such as concerts, parades, and processions.
• Maintaining musical aptitude all while keeping the joy of music-making, the many deeply-rooted band traditions, and a strong sense of fellowship and camaraderie at the center of all activities.
• To entertain audiences and enhance the events in which we participate, thereby making them more memorable through an enjoyable band atmosphere and the music we perform.

All individuals interested in the goals and purpose of the band as defined in Article I, Section II may be considered an eligible candidate for membership.

• Candidates may be referred to any band officer by a past or present member, or they may submit the online registration form with intent to join the band.
• Candidates will then talk with the band director about various topics such as their musical background, playing experience, availability over the summer, etc. Once any questions and concerns have been addressed, the director may extend an invitation to participate in rehearsals if they feel the individual will have an enjoyable experience and is committed to putting forth their best effort.
• To ensure performance integrity, all candidates must be approved by the band director to attend gigs by displaying musical aptitude at rehearsals. All candidates are welcomed and encouraged to attend as many practices as possible without the need for invitation.

An eligible candidate will become a member of the band when they:

• Display reliability by attending rehearsals as often as possible throughout their first season, and communicating with the band director in the event they will be absent or tardy.
• Display dependability by attending gigs in which the director has permitted them to perform.
• Display commitment by building musical competence and familiarity with the band’s repertoire over the course of the season.
• Agree to the conditions and expectations of membership listed in Article II of these bylaws.

The following metrics will be applied to determine whether individuals automatically maintain and renew their membership in each subsequent season. Any individual that does not satisfy the requirements listed below may be asked to sit out of performances on an as-needed basis in order to maintain the integrity of the band roster, its finances, and/or its musicality.

• Affirm dedication and interest by continually displaying the qualities and characteristics that are outlined in Article II, Section II.
• Pay yearly dues, if applicable.
• Satisfy the attendance requirement listed below. If necessary, individuals failing to satisfy this requirement due to unforeseen and extenuating circumstances may be evaluated for a waiver by the board of directors on a case-by-case basis.
  • The individual participates in 75% of all scheduled performances in the previous season, or
  • The individual misses no more than two rehearsals in the previous season.

Candidates and members alike are asked and expected to follow a general etiquette while practicing and performing with the band.

• Arrive at rehearsals at least 10 minutes before they begin, and arrive at gigs by the designated call time.
• Sign in at all rehearsals. Rehearsal dates and times will be announced at the start of each season by the officers.
• The band owns all of the music, instruments, accessories, shirts, and jackets it provides to its members, and as such, we ask everyone to treat this property with respect. We kindly ask that everything is returned in the same condition in which it was distributed following each rehearsal and performance. Repeated or deliberate failures to return or maintain property belonging to the band may result in fees for repairs or reimbursement.
• As outlined by the attendance requirement in Article II, Section III, we ask members to plan ahead and clear their schedules so they are available for as many rehearsals and performances as possible. In short, attendance is extremely important, and monetary bonuses will be awarded at the end of the season for those that meet the following criteria. A member of the board must communicate the specific rehearsal at which bonuses will be distributed with at least one week advance notice.
  • Miss 2 or fewer rehearsals, maximum $25.00 bonus
  • Attend all scheduled performances, maximum $50.00 bonus

The leadership of this organization is entrusted to the Board of Directors of the Upper Schuylkill Marching Band and is composed of the following offices: president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, music director, and business manager.

All six officers must not only exemplify the characteristics of commitment, dependability, and initiative, but also communicate effectively and display a strong work ethic that places the success and well-being of the band above all else.

As a whole, the board of directors will work together to manage the general affairs and operations of the band. Any issues brought to vote will be resolved in a majority-rules decision in which the director will abstain from voting. If an issue is still highly debated or cannot be resolved internally, it will be tabled before a Members-at-Large committee as outlined in Article X, Section Y.

Specific duties of each office are as follows, in no particular order:

• President:An elected office responsible for presiding at all board of directors of meetings; will work directly with the manager to acquire sponsors and donors for each season; assist the manager wherever necessary;
• Vice President: An elected office that will aid the president in acquiring sponsors and donors; will speak and act on behalf of the president when necessary; assist the manager wherever necessary;
• Treasurer: An elected office responsible for collecting membership dues, where applicable; distribute payment to each performer following the completion of a gig; keep and maintain detailed financial records;
• Secretary: An elected office responsible for logging minutes of board of directors meetings, general membership and committee meetings, and officer elections; tracking attendance at each rehearsal; managing, tracking, distributing, and retrieving band shirts wherever necessary following performances; managing social media presence;
• Director: An appointed office responsible for running and conducting all rehearsals and performances; evaluate and consider all potential candidates for participation in gigs; coordinate with the manager to relay necessary changes to each gig roster;
• Manager: An appointed office responsible for the integrity and fluidity of each gig in the band’s season (e.g., scheduling, booking transportation, signing and maintaining contracts, building and editing gig rosters in conjunction with the director, being the liaison between the event coordinators and the band membership, etc);

Board of Directors meetings are to be held following the third rehearsal of each month in the form of "officer reports" to the general membership in a round-table setting. If changes to this schedule are necessary, the president, manager, or director should communicate this to the membership at least one rehearsal week in advance.

Special meetings shall be scheduled when necessary at the discretion of the board of directors.

Each elected office carries a two-year term, and the election process shall be held biennially. The sitting director, president, or manager will announce the practice at which officer nominations will open with at least one week advance notice. Nominations will close at the end of that practice, and unless otherwise announced, ballot voting for open offices (if any) shall take place at the first rehearsal following the close of nominations.

During nominations, the incumbent receives the opportunity to seek another term. In this event, the incumbent will enter into a vote of confidence ("Yes" or "No") in which they must pass a simple majority of votes cast (50% + 1) to automatically retain their office for another term. Successfully securing the vote of confidence will automatically reinstate the incumbent for another term, and nominations for that office will not be opened.

If the incumbent declines to seek another term or fails to achieve the required vote of confidence, nominations for that office will open to the floor. In the event of a failed vote of confidence, the incumbent may not be nominated to appear on the ballot for their existing office, but may still be nominated to appear on the ballot for a different office.

An individual may not be nominated for more than one office at a time, and may not hold more than one office simultaneously. Each nominee must affirm their acceptance of the nomination (whether in person or in writing) prior to being placed on the official ballot. To avoid conflicts of interest, individuals already serving on the board or in advisory roles of one or more community bands cannot be nominated for office, but may still serve in the Members-at-Large committee as detailed in Article III, Section V. Self nominations shall not be permitted.

An individual will be declared the winner of an official ballot in the event they receive a simple majority of the votes cast (50% + 1). Should no candidate receive this majority, the top candidate by plurality will be declared the winner while ties enter a runoff election determined by plurality. First-year band candidates are welcome to participate in voting as long as their practice attendance is to the satisfaction of sitting band leadership.

Members-at-Large are members in good standing who are appointed by the Board of Directors to serve in an advisory capacity based on relevant experience, skills, or subject matter expertise. Unlike elected officers, members-at-large may simultaneously serve in officer or advisory roles of other community band organizations.

These individuals will be welcomed and encouraged to attend board of directors meetings to advise and offer input on all matters, but are not permitted to cast an official vote on tabled business since they are not elected officers nor do they hold formal leadership titles.

When necessary, Members-at-Large may act as representatives of the organization on behalf of the Board of Directors within their designated area of expertise, subject to board approval and oversight.

A scholarship fund originally established in the early 2000's at Shenandoah Valley School District will be restructured as of 2027. It will be known as the Upper Schuylkill Band Scholarship in Memory of Thomas William Ward, Jr.

Students from all high schools participating with the Upper Schuylkill Band will become valid candidates for the scholarship when all of the following criteria are met:

• The student is accepted into any college, university, or trade school to further their education in any field.
• The student dedicates a minimum of 2 years to the Upper Schuylkill Band in which the conditions for membership defined in Article II, Sections II and III are satisfied.

The name(s), academic achievement(s), and Upper Schuylkill Band attendance record(s) of the candidate(s) will be tabled for review by the board of directors in a private, special meeting as it’s defined in Article III, Section III. The number of recipients and the amount to be awarded will be determined by the board of directors, and will therefore vary slightly from year to year. The total payout in any given year should not exceed 5% of the principle unless otherwise voted upon on a case-by-case basis.

In the event that the Upper Schuylkill Band becomes defunct or is formally dissolved, all assets, to include any instruments, equipment, property, and memorabilia, shall be sold or otherwise disposed of via public auction, online auction, private sale, or donation, as determined by the board of directors.

Once all assets are liquidated or otherwise disposed of, the remaining balance of the band's checking account and the scholarship fund shall be divided and donated as follows:

• One half shall be donated to the American Cancer Society in honor and memory of Michael A. Malocu, late director.
• One quarter shall be donated to the Shenandoah Public Library.
• One quarter shall be donated to the Mahanoy City Public Library.

Major fundraisers which would involve extensive member participation shall be approved by a majority vote of the membership.

These bylaws may be amended only by a two-thirds majority vote of the entire board of directors.