Bay Area Accordion Club, Houston TX
                                                  Bylaws
                                  As of November 5, 2005


Bay Area Accordion Club, Houston TX  is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is:

1.    To get accordion players in the South-East Houston/Galveston area together in a relaxed but structurally well defined club environment that promotes learning and enjoying this instrument.

2.    To provide the opportunity to play the accordion and to listen to other accordionists in a supportive atmosphere.

3.    To facilitate the exchange of music and performance techniques between members.

4.    To establish a presence of the accordion in this area and be recognized by other accordion groups.

5.    To promote accordion playing at local public venues such as service clubs, retirement centers, schools, hospitals, fairs, festivals and other public gatherings.

Club Organization:

The club is managed by an elected group who oversee and assure smooth operation. It will be the club’s policy to encourage transparency and member participation. The group consists of:

President...................................................Joe Brikha, term ends March 2009
VP & Master of Ceremonies....................Tom Zerecheck
VP & Program Director............................Becky Simmons
Membership Director................................OPEN
Interclub relations Director.....................OPEN
PR Director................................................OPEN
Secretary...................................................OPEN

To enquire or volunteer for the open positions above, contact Joe Brikha or Tom Zerecheck.

All officers are to be elected by members in good standing. Only members in good standing are eligible to run for club positions. For members who are in the same household, only one member can run for a certain position, however, other members in the same household are allowed to vote for that candidate. Candidates cannot vote for themselves.

The Monthly Meeting:

There will be a minimum of one monthly meeting at a designated place and time, during which a 15 minute business meeting will take place. Other meetings for business or for pleasure during other parts of the month may be necessary and will take place as needed.

Play time will be allocated in minutes rather than in number of songs.  Program directors will alert players if excessive time is inadvertently used or abused.

A Master of Ceremonies will run the meeting, introduce players and keep the atmosphere smooth and jovial.

Members will register upon arrival. A Program Director will prepare a list of players that shows sequence. The list should be on a board mounted high so as to be visible by everyone. To avoid program delays, players should be ready when introduced. Those not ready will be skipped. Late arrivals may be excluded from performing. During performance, the audience will refrain from loud conversation, especially those seated closest to the performer and especially when he/she is a guest artist.

Since BAAC is dedicated to the advancement of the Accordion, other musical instruments - whether being played solo or for accompaniment - must be approved by the program directors in advance.


Membership:

Membership is free and not limited to accordion players. Spouses and friends are welcome. Candidates for any position are excluded from voting for the position for which they are running (i.e. they can vote - neither for themselves nor for their opponent).

Members are expected to patronize the establishment at which we meet and all activities will be transparent with no hidden agendas, and a minimum 2 hours presence is expected to qualify as attendance.

Rules to be expanded or modified as the need arises by a majority vote.