As passed by the TVCB Board of Directors, January 10, 2003
1 Background
The Tualatin Valley Community
Band (TVCB) is an Oregon non-profit corporation recognized by the Internal
Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charity. The TVCB has a three-fold
mission: (1) to provide high quality live public music performances for
civic and educational functions, (2) to provide an opportunity for musicians
of all ages and ethnic backgrounds to perform music, and (3) to foster
music education by providing individual scholarships and donations to music
education programs. TVCB performs approximately 10 free concerts
per year in a variety of venues in northwestern Oregon.
1.1 Purpose and Goals
The Tualatin Valley Community
Band (TVCB) (hereafter know as the Band) is an all-volunteer group from
the Tualatin Valley area who have come together to have fun playing music
together. Briefly stated, the goals of the Band are:
a. Share our love of music
with one another and our communities
b. Have fun; allow all members
of the Band to have an activity that gives them pleasure and enjoyment.
c. Encourage one another to
perform music to the best of their ability, in tune, with a balanced sound.
d. Provide a forum for individuals
to practice their musical skills and to grow musically.
e. Enhance the music education
of middle and high school students.
f. Provide an avenue for adults
who have been away from music for many years to start again.
g. Welcome all (amateurs and
professionals) who share our goals and purposes to contribute their talents
to the community.
h. Support the community with
concerts for special events and celebrations.
2 Organization
The Tualatin Valley Community
Band is a State of Oregon non-profit corporation (ID 93-1168909).
It achieved Federal Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) status on November
21, 2001. The corporation has a self-perpetuating Board of Directors
and is incorporated as a non-membership corporation. Individuals
who participate in the Band are referred to as “Members.”
3 Membership Policies
3.1 General
a. There are no membership
fees or dues. Members are expected to purchase a Band polo shirt
for designated concerts (about $15), and are encouraged to purchase an
embossed black music folder for $5. They are also given the opportunity
to contribute to special projects (like a holiday gift for the Music Director).
b. New members will be provided
a membership welcome kit consisting of:
1) TVCB Policies and Procedures,
2) Member information sheet
which will be returned to the Band Secretary for processing,
3) TVCB pamphlet, and
4) TVCB homepage information.
c. There are no auditions.
d. Musicians do not compete
for chairs; all members have the opportunity to play all parts if they
wish.
3.2 Band Membership Requirements
3.2.1 Musicianship
The TVCB is not an appropriate
place to start as a raw beginner. There are members who are beginners
on their instrument, but they have generally mastered some other instrument
in the past.
Members are expected to have:
a. Access to an instrument
(own, borrow, rent)
b. Basic musicianship skill.
c. The ability to play in
tune.
d. The ability to read music
and play “musically”, including understanding and performing dynamic and
tempo markings.
The section leader and/or the conductor will verify these abilities.
The Music Director has final authority in maintaining of minimum performance level to ensure consistent high quality TVCB public performances.
3.2.2 Attendance
a. Regular attendance at rehearsals
is expected and appreciated.
b. It is the member’s responsibility
to ensure that their music is brought to the rehearsal whether they attend
or not.
c. Failure to regularly attend
rehearsals may result in exclusion from a performance. The Music
Director and section leaders shall have final authority in this area.
3.2.2.1 Excused Absence
A rehearsal absence shall
be considered excused if the member has previously notified the section
leader, another member, or the Music Director (in order of preference)
and has arranged for the music to be at the rehearsal.
3.2.2.2 Unexcused Absence
All other absences will be
counted as unexcused.
3.2.3 Removal From Membership
Any of the following constitute
grounds for removal from membership:
a. Failure of any of the musicianship
requirements.
b. Two or more unexcused absences
in any one-month.
c. Two or more weeks of failure
to provide music to rehearsal.
d. Behavior that is disruptive
to the group, either during rehearsals or performances.
e. Intimidating or threatening
behavior towards any member of the group.
f. Repeated violation of TVCB
supported e-mail privileges after written notification of violation by
the Board.
Any member has the right to request a special hearing before the Board regarding their membership status.
4 Section Size
The Music Director will determine
the appropriate section size.
5 Music Distribution, Checkout
and Folios
a. The section leaders manage
distribution of music.
b. The music library is open
only to the section leaders.
c. Members are encouraged
to pay for a TVCB folio on a “permanent lease” basis. We ask that
the folio be returned when the member leaves the band.
5.1 New Music Literature
a. Much of our new music literature
is purchased with a 4-week approval period. Such literature will
be distributed and collected at the same rehearsal during the approved
evaluation period.
b. The new literature is not
to be marked in any way during the evaluation period, and will not be taken
home.
c. The Band will be polled
to determine the fate of each “approval” piece – purchase or return.
The Music Director’s decision is final.
d. If selected for the library,
the music will be turned in for inventory and numbering by the Music Librarian.
5.2 TVCB Music Library Literature
a. TVCB literature will be
distributed and collected at the Music Director’s discretion.
b. Players may request or
suggest performing specific music from the library at any time. The
music director welcomes these programming suggestions.
c. Members may take existing
music with them, as long as it has an inventory number.
d. The Band does not condone
the copying of music in violation of copyright law.
e. New members are not eligible
to take music with them until they have attended three consecutive rehearsals
or at the discretion of the section leader.
f. It is the responsibility
of each member to protect any library music in their possession.
In cases of loss or destruction, the member has the personal responsibility
to replace the piece or to reimburse the Band for its replacement (even
if the replacement requires acquisition of a complete score).
g. In the case of members
who are under the age of 18, a statement accepting financial responsibility
may be required at the discretion of the section leader or music librarian.
h. Failure to return TVCB
music within one month of a member leaving the Band will result in an invoice
for the cost of replacing all music and the folio.
6 Rehearsals
a. TVCB meets Tuesday evenings
from 7pm to 9pm at the Twality Middle School in Tigard, Oregon when school
is in session. Summer rehearsals are held in Cook Park located in
south Tigard.
b. A short break is taken
around 8pm unless the Band votes to waive break.
c. Alternate sites will be
identified as conditions warrant based on weather and site availability.
d. The TVCB homepage, e-mail
exploder and call tree will provide rehearsal location information.
6.1 Rehearsal Etiquette
a. Come early enough to get
warmed-up and in tune.
b. Cell phones should be turned
off or silenced during rehearsal (subject to a token fine).
c. No talking while the Band
is playing or when the conductor is rehearsing a section.
d. No playing when the conductor
is rehearsing a section.
e. Try to achieve proper posture
for playing your instrument.
f. Read music as accurately
as possible.
g. Individual practice should
happen at home, not during rehearsal.
h. Help set up the room before
rehearsal and restore stands and chairs to their original position after
rehearsal. We are invited guests at Twality, and need to behave as
such.
7 Performances
TVCB performs approximately
10 free concerts per year in a variety of venues in northwestern Oregon.
TVCB has a reputation for providing high quality and professional performances.
7.1 Performance Requirements
a. Members will wear designated
attire for all performances. Generally, attire for outdoor concerts
is TVCB polo shirt and light-colored pants or skirt. Indoor concert
attire is generally white top and black pants or skirt. This is subject
to modification by the Music Director as conditions warrant (e.g. weather,
performance theme, etc.).
b. All travel to performances
is at the member’s expense unless otherwise indicated by the Board.
To date, there has never been an exception to this.
c. Members are expected to
be warmed-up and ready to tune 30 minutes before a performance unless instructed
otherwise.
d. Cell phones will be turned
off during performances, and for the sake of a uniform appearance should
not be visible to the audience.
8 Communications
8.1 TVCB Home Page
The TVCB home page is www.tvcb.org.
The home page’s primary purpose is to provide members and the community
with information about performances and rehearsals.
8.2 TVCB E-mail List Server
TVCB maintains an e-mail list
server for members to communication with other band members. The
e-mail list server’s primary purpose is to provide members with an efficient
and rapid method of contacting band members. Junk mail, “spam”, chain
letters, MLM, pyramid style, and other commercial messages are prohibited
on this list. The TVCB Secretary has final authority for managing
the list members and contents.
8.3 Member Database
a. The TVCB home page includes
a database of all members. The member database is available to all
Band members from the TVCB home page. The information is password
protected to ensure privacy.
b. Members are encouraged
to view this information for accuracy. Information provided from
the database includes address, phone numbers (day/night), e-mail address,
and current instrument. The TVCB Secretary is responsible for making
changes to the database and will make them promptly when notified.
c. If you do not want your
personal information included in the database, please notify the Secretary.
8.4 TVCB Call Tree
a. TVCB maintains a member
call tree to contact all band members on short notice and for those without
e-mail.
b. The member call tree is
available to all Band members from the TVCB home page. The information
is password protected to ensure privacy.
c. The call tree contains
member name, phone numbers (day/night) and instrument. The call tree
will be generated from the member database and posted to the TVCB home
page by the TVCB Secretary when changes are required.