I. Name

The name of the organization shall be the Massachusetts Judges Association.  The abbreviation MJA and in any other documents will be understood to take the place of the full name of the organization.  A year in MJA runs from January 1 to December 31.

II. Mission Statement

The Mission of MJA shall be to promote the ongoing education and development of qualified adjudicators for pageantry arts as well as the development and betterment of competing marching and musical units, their instructors and their members. 

III. Goals

As a service association, MJA will communicate with organizations that govern the drum corps, band and winter color guard and percussion activities in order to educate MJA judges in the proper philosophies and techniques used in those various activities.  MJA makes a continual commitment to education through clinics and the discussion of appropriate information to all of its members. MJA also encourages its membership to assume leadership roles in the training and education of all pageantry arts activities.

IV. Membership Specifications

A.    The minimum age for membership is eighteen (18).  In order to be  a certified working judge, however, a member must be at least
       twenty-one years of age, and may not be a marching member of a competitive unit.

B.    Current members renew their membership status by paying their dues by the end of January.  New members must pay their dues at the
       point of application and those dues will cover membership through the end of the current year.

C.    Membership is subject to approval of the Executive Board.  Membership will be denied at any time of the year for significant cause by a
       2/3  majority of the Executive Board.

D.    To attain certification and a position on the MJA judge lists for any season or caption, a member must:

       - pay their dues.
       - complete all formal training as outlined in the Education And Training guidelines.
       - pass a minimum of two (2) acceptable field trials.
       - participate in any required symposiums.
       - attempt to attend other clinics and meetings.

E.    To retain certification and position on the MJA Judge lists for any season or caption a member must have: Paid his /her dues. Judged at
       least one show in any carded caption within two years.  Done one Field Trial in any Carded Caption if affiliations or other circumstances
       prevent his/her judging that caption.   Submit oral and written explanations to the President and Executive Board if any of the above cannot
       be accomplished due to extenuating circumstances.

F.    The responsibility for quality judging rests with the individual member with assistance from the association.  MJA does not usually hire
       judges for contests: therefore, there is an understanding that is it primarily the units and coordinators who must be satisfied as to the
       quality of judging.  MJA will always encourage a fair distribution of work, however, hiring judges for contests is not part of its responsibility.

G.    MJA welcomes judges and non-judges who are members of other associations.

H.    If a former MJA member returns after the passage of two or more years, the Executive Board will discuss which certifications for
       judging are  still appropriate. 

I.     Members of MJA need not become certified judges.  All members, however are asked to contribute to the betterment of MJA by at least
       attending the annual reorganization meeting, usually held in January.

V. Government 

A.    Roberts Rules of Order shall be the governing rules for MJA when a question of order arises.  Any member may ask for the formal use of
       Roberts’ Rules at any time. 

B.    Final authority rests with the General Membership.  After the reorganization meeting, the Executive Board acts on behalf of the
       General Membership.  (In order to request a full meeting of the general membership, a letter signed by ten (10) members in good
       standing must be presented to the Executive Board.  The Executive Board will then call a special meeting of the Association within
       sixty (60) days. 

C.    The officers of MJA will be President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer and three (3) at large Executive Board Members. 

D.    The President, Vice-President Secretary-treasurer and two (2) members of the Executive Board will be elected in the odd numbered
       years and one (1) member of the Executive Board shall be elected in the even numbered years.  Vacancies may create the need for
       special elections, which may be held by mail.  Elected positions end on December 31 of any calendar year and newly elected positions
       begin on January 1 of any calendar year.

E.    The President will appoint an Education Coordinator who serve on the Executive board.

F.    By-Laws are to be reviewed and open for recommendations in the odd-numbered years.  A call for review and recommendation will be
       sent to all current members 60 days prior to the annual meeting. All recommendations should be forwarded to the Executive Board no later
       than 30 days prior to the annual meeting.

VI. Responsibilities of the Governing Officers

A.     The President shall :

     1.     preside over all meetings
     2.     appoint caption chairpersons (liaisons)
     3.     appoint any subcommittees
     4.     receive and keep records as necessary
     5.     call Executive Board Meetings at least every two months
     6.     generally enforce the governing rules of the association
     7.     keep officers and members current
     8.     call for nominees for the annual elections
     9.     run any elections or special elections
     10.   maintain a current roster of members
     11.   deliver current rosters to the local associations
     12.   present receipts for any disbursement of funds 

B.     The Vice-President shall:

     1.     Perform the duties of the President in his/her absence
     2.     Assist the President in any duties listed above 
     3.     Replace the President, if that office becomes vacant and hold a new election at the next general body meeting for the President 
             and Vice-President if necessary.
     4.     Present receipts for any disbursement of funds 

C.     The Secretary-Treasurer shall:

     1.     Maintain receipts for any disbursements
     2.     Maintain the checking account of MJA
     3.     Maintain any minutes of General Body Meetings
     4.     Maintain Minutes of Executive Board Meetings
     5.     Have co-responsibility of signing MJA checks
     6.     Submit financial reports at meetings

D.     Responsibilities of the Executive Board:

     1.     The Executive Board Shall :

             a.     Approve all Appointments
             b.     Meet at least every two months during the MJA year
             c.     Approve disbursement of funds
             d.     Have authority to withhold membership
             e.     Approve all lists of Judges of MJA
             f.      Oversee application of the Governing Rules
             g.     Submit proposals for approval
             h.     Hear any member, in person, for any reason
             i.      Review Recaps during appropriate seasons
             J.     Review judge lists in all captions.
             k.     Address problems within a caption as needed.

     2.    The Education Coordinator shall:

             a.     Develop the education plan each year to be approved by the Executive Board.
             b.     Execute the education plan as approved.            

VII: Nominations and Elections

A.   One Order of Business at the Annual General Body Meeting will be the nominations for any office indicated above in Part V.
       Government.

B.    Only members in good standing are eligible for nomination.  Nominations can either be submitted prior to the annual meeting or from the 
       floor of the annual meeting.  Nominees not present at the Annual Meeting may stand for election only if a letter of intent and agreement
       has been submitted by the nominee to the Executive Board prior to the meeting.  Nominations from the floor of a member not present are
       not allowed otherwise.

C.    Elections are to be held by secret ballot or by other processes of Roberts Rules.  The positions of President, Vice President, and Secretary
       Treasurer, will be filled in separate elections.  One election will fill all open at-large positions for the Executive Board.  Elections will be decided
       by majority vote of members present at the Annual Meeting.  In uncontested elections, a motion must be made from the floor and then
       seconded to elect the nominee.  Members will then cast a yes or no vote by hand to elect the nominee.

D.    No person shall hold more than one elected office.

E.    The President shall appoint a committee to tally the ballots.

F.    The election of the President shall be conducted by a member of the Executive Board whose position does not expire at the meeting.

VIII.  Order of Business for the Annual Meeting

A.     Call to Order

B.     Secretary – Treasurer Report

C.     Business of the Previous Year

D.     Election of Officers

E.     By-Law Changes (only in a by-law change year)

F.     New Business

G.     General Discussion for the good of MJA

H.     Adjournment

IX. Meetings

A.    There is one scheduled Annual Meeting per year to be determined by the Executive Board.

B.    Other General Meetings may be called as needed

C.    The Executive Board shall meet at least every two months during the MJA year

D.    To conduct official elections and business at the Annual General Body Meeting,  there must be a quorum, defined as at least one-third of
       the previous year’s membership.

E.    To conduct official Executive Board meetings there must be a quorum, defined to be at least two officers and two other elected
       members of the Executive Board.

F.    Clinics, educational seminars, dance, theater and other such presentations may be scheduled during the year.  There must be at  least two 
       weeks prior notification to allow for attendance. Such meetings are not considered mandatory, unless dates are discussed at the General  
       Body Meeting and the membership is informed of the content of the mandatory nature of the meeting. 

G.    Absence from the above mandatory meetings carries the responsibility to the member to obtain and use pertinent information received and 
       distributed. 

X. Protests

A.    Protests are to be handled by the Executive Board, who will work with and be assisted by the President or his/her designee.  A full  report  
       of any protest must be delivered in either written or oral form at the next scheduled Executive Board Meeting.

B.    Any protest must be resolved within two weeks of its receipt by the Executive Board. A protest must be accompanied, when submitted, by
       documentation and the cassette tape of the judge under protest. The Executive Board or the President must request such documentation. 
       At the end of the two week period, either the Executive Board or the President will inform all parties of his/her resolution.  This response 
       must be in writing.

C.    A Protest without documentation will not be considered official in MJA.  Requests for information or discussions with any Executive Board
        member which are informal do not require a response, though it  may be delivered in either oral or written form if the liaison chooses.

XI. Fees

A.    The dues of MJA are $50.00 annually, thought this figure may be adjusted upon recommendation of the President to the Executive
       Board at the Annual General Body Meeting.

B.    The dues of the officers and the Executive Board and the Education Coordinator will be waived for the current year(s) of service.