SAINT SEBASTIAN PLAYERS (SSP) CHARTER
ARTICLE ONE. NAME AND PURPOSE
Sec. 1. This organization shall be known as the Saint Sebastian Players of St. Bonaventure Parish. (amended 3/91)
Sec. 2. SSP is a nonprofit theatre company operating under the sponsorship of St. Bonaventure Parish and as part of St. Bonaventure’s Parish Life Committee. Its mission is to enhance the image and spiritual life of the parish by presenting theatrical productions of a professional quality.
(amended 1/96, 1/06)
Sec. 1. The Saint Sebastian Players consists of members and associate members. (added 1/07)
Sec. 2. Any interested person may become an SSP associate member at any time, as ratified by the officers, by paying the annual dues. Said associate member shall understand that associate membership implies a willingness to take part in SSP activities and productions. (added 1/07)
Sec. 3. After serving as an associate member for at least six months, an associate member may become a member if sponsored by a current member and approved for membership by a majority vote at any regular Board meeting. Once approved, said member will be offered an invitation of membership. Said member shall understand that membership implies a willingness to take part in SSP activities and productions. Only those persons whose dues are paid fully shall be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. (amended 3/91, 1/96, 6/96, 6/97, 8/97, 4/99, 1/07).
Sec. 4. A person’s membership may be considered for suspension for failure to fulfill the responsibilities of SSP membership or for activities deemed detrimental to the organization. This action may be initiated by any member presenting a petition for the suspension, signed by at least five other members, to any one of the Officers (see Article Four). Upon such presentation, the Officers shall provide due notice to the full membership, and the question shall be put to the Board at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting, after allowing fully for any member who wishes to speak. The suspension must be supported by a two-thirds majority of those voting to become effective. (added 1/96, amended 6/97, 8/97, 11/98, 1/07)
ARTICLE THREE. STEERING COMMITTEE
Sec. 1. A Steering Committee of the Board consisting of all General Officers shall meet as needed. Its purpose is to oversee administrative functions between Board meetings and to propose matters for Board consideration. (amended 6/97, 8/97, 11/98)
ARTICLE FOUR. GENERAL OFFICERS AND BOARD DIRECTORS
Sec. 1. The General Officers of the SSP shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. All Officers shall be ex-officio Directors of the Board and shall be elected along with the other Directors on the Board at the Annual Meeting as provided in Article Five. The size of the Board and the specific duties of those Directors who are not Officers shall be decided each year in a manner provided for in the Bylaws. (amended 5/95, 6/97, 8/97, 11/98)
Sec. 2. All Board Directors shall hold office for a term of 12 months or until their successors shall have been elected. Any Board Director may be removed only for failure to uphold this Charter or to carry out his/her duties, as set forth in this Charter and the Bylaws of the SSP, at any time by a two-thirds vote of a Board meeting, after due notice and hearing. If a Board Director is unable to complete his/her term, the Board may appoint a replacement from the membership to serve the remainder of the term. (amended 3/91, 6/97, 8/97, 11/98. 1/06)
Sec. 3. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the SSP, shall preside at all meetings of the Steering Committee and at all Board meetings and shall otherwise perform the usual duties of a President and such duties as may be required from time to time by the Steering Committee. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees appointed, provided that service on such committees shall be at the President’s discretion. In the absence or incapacity of the President, the duties of the office shall be performed by the Vice President, in whose absence or incapacity the duties fall to the Secretary, in whose absence or incapacity the duties fall to the Treasurer. (amended 5/95, 6/97, 8/97, 11/98)
Sec. 4. The duties of the Vice President shall be to serve as President in the absence or incapacity of the President. The duties of the Secretary shall be to oversee the organization’s records, minutes and files. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to review and approve the operating budgets for each production; report to each Board meeting and the Annual Meeting on the state of the organization’s finances; and have the care and custody of the SSP’s funds. (amended 5/95, 6/97, 8/97, 11/98, 2/99, 1/06)
ARTICLE FIVE. BOARD MEETINGS AND THE ANNUAL MEETING
Sec. 1. All property (including funds) generated by activities of SSP is the property of St. Bonaventure Parish, but as long as SSP remains an active organization, such property and funds shall be accounted for and managed by the Board of SSP. The Board’s decisions may be executed by the Steering Committee. The pastor of St. Bonaventure Parish shall be an ex-officio member of the Board and shall receive copies of minutes of Board meetings and SSP financial reports. (amended 6/97, 8/97, 11/98, 1/06)
Sec. 2. Regular board meetings shall be held at such frequency as the Board may from time to time determine, but in no case less often than quarterly. Special board meetings may be called at any time by the Steering Committee or a petition of five Board Directors, presented to the Secretary. The Secretary shall provide timely notice of all Board meetings. All meetings of the SSP, including those of the Steering Committee, are open to all persons at all times, except that the Board and the Steering Committee may vote to meet in executive session, with no one else present, to discuss (but not vote on) personnel matters. (amended 5/95, 6/97, 8/97, 11/98, 1/06)
Sec. 3. The Board shall provide for an Annual Meeting every 12 months for the election of Officers and the Board of Directors. At such meeting, the General Officers and the other Board Directors shall be elected for a term of 12 months by a plurality of the voting members. Only a member of the SSP may be a candidate for General Office and the Board. General Officers and Board Directors may succeed themselves unless the by-laws specify otherwise regarding certain positions. (amended 3/91, 6/97, 8/97, 11/98, 1/06)
Sec. 4. Schedules of theatrical productions and activities may be approved only at a Board meeting. Suggestions will come from the membership in the manner designated in the Bylaws. Once approved, the Steering Committee shall appoint a Production Committee to coordinate the event. (amended 3/91, 6/97, 8/97, 11/98, 1/06)
Sec. 5. Any member may appeal to a Board meeting any decision made by the Steering Committee or the Board. A two-thirds majority of those voting is required to overturn any decision under appeal. (amended 6/97, 8/97, 11/98, 1/06)
ARTICLE SIX. PRODUCTION COMMITTEES
Sec. 1. A separate Production Committee shall be appointed by the Steering Committee to coordinate each approved event. Such a committee shall be chaired by a producer, who shall report to the Board at each of its meetings on the progress of the event. (amended 6/97, 8/97, 11/98, 1/06)
Sec. 2. The producer shall have final authority over the details of the event, prepare a budget to be approved by the Treasurer and the Board, and collect, sign and forward all production-related receipts to the Treasurer. The producer can be removed from his/her position only by the Steering Committee and for due cause. (amended 5/95, 1/06)
ARTICLE SEVEN. AMENDMENT OF THE CHARTER AND BYLAWS
Sec. 1. Amendment of this Charter shall be by a two-thirds vote of those individuals who have been members of SSP for at least two consecutive years at the Annual Meeting, except that during the first year of implementation of this Charter amendments may be considered at any Board meeting, and all two-year members shall be allowed to vote. The Secretary will provide for at least a 21-day notice of proposed amendments before the meeting. In preparation for the 2000 Annual Meeting, the Board shall provide for a Charter Review Committee to consider and propose any amendments to this Charter that the first year of experience has shown necessary. (amended 3/94, 6/97, 8/97, 9/97, 11/98)
Sec. 2. Bylaws which are not inconsistent with this Charter may be made, amended or repealed by a majority vote at any Board meeting. (amended 6/97, 8/97, 11/98)
