CODE OF ETHICS of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc. New Code of Ethics approved by the NATS Board of Directors in June, 2006, and accepted by the membership in December, 2006. This Code of Ethics is established by NATS in order that its members may understand more clearly their ethical duties and obligations to their students, other teachers, and the general public, as well as to promote cooperation and good fellowship among the members. I. Personal Ethical Standards Members will strive to teach with competence through study of voice pedagogy, musicianship, and performance skills. Members will present themselves honestly, in a dignified manner, and with documented qualifications: academic degrees, professional experience, or a combination of both. Members will faithfully support the Association and are encouraged to participate in its activities. II. Ethical Standards Relating to Students Members will respect the personal integrity and privacy of students unless the legal or academic system requires disclosure. Members will treat each student in a dignified and impartial manner. Members will clearly communicate all expectations of their studios including financial arrangements. Members will respect the student's right to obtain instruction from the teacher of his/her choice. Members will offer their best voice and music instruction and career advice to all students under their instruction. They will complete the full number of lessons and amount of time paid for by each student in accordance with studio policies. Members will not make false or misleading statements regarding a student's hopes for a career or guarantees of performances or favorable contracts. III. Ethical Standards Relating to Colleagues Members will refrain from making false claims regarding themselves or their students and from making false or malicious statements about colleagues or their students. Members will not, either by inducements, innuendos, or other acts, proselytize students of other teachers. Members will render honest and impartial adjudication at NATS auditions and/or NATS competitions and students will not be requested to disclose names of present or former teachers until after the event. Members will disclose at NATS events the name of a student's previous voice teacher if the student has studied with the current teacher for less than eight months. When a member's expertise warrants collaboration, members will work collegiately with other professionals (i.e., voice therapists, speech pathologists, and medical practitioners). Rules and regulations of any accredited academic institution take precedence over the NATS Code of Ethics, should there be a conflict.
Article I. NAME As chartered by the Board of Directors of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc., on 6/15/75, and subject to its By-laws, the name if this organization is the National Association of Teachers of Singing, San Diego Chapter (“NATS San Diego”) Article II. PURPOSE NATS San Diego adopts fully the stated purposes of the National Association, which are: (1) to encourage the highest standards of the vocal art and of ethical principles in the teaching of singing; (2) to promote vocal education and research at all levels, both for the enrichment of the general public and for the professional advancement of the talented. NATS San Diego, as an organization, subscribes without reservations to the “Code of Ethics,” adherence to which is one of the conditions of individual membership in the National Association. Article III. MEMBERSHIP All teachers of singing who have been accepted by the National Association into full membership or emeritus membership and who reside in the geographic area of NATS San Diego are immediately eligible for membership in the Chapter. No such member will be refused membership in NATS San Diego; however, such chapter membership will be terminated when a member resigns from or is dropped from, membership in the National Association. NATS San Diego shall be open to all persons regardless of national origin or citizenship. There will be four membership classifications: A. Full Member: includes persons whose professional training and/or experience qualifies them to be teachers of singing or vocal coaches. They must have at least two years of teaching experience and must be members of the National Association before applying to the chapter. Full members have full voting privileges and may hold office at any level. B. Associate Member: includes those whose training and/or teaching experience do not yet qualify them for Full Membership, but who may eventually become Full Members, such as graduate students, upper-level undergraduates voice majors, and private voice teachers who are still completing their qualifications. Associate members have full voting privileges and may hold office at any level. C. Affiliate Member: includes any person or group who has a close relationship to or interest in vocal pursuits, but not actually engaged in the teaching of voice. This category may include accompanists, coaches, music stores, publishers, interested otolaryngologists and speech therapists, etc. Affiliate members may not vote or hold office at any level. D. Emeritus Member: includes active NATS members who have attained their 68th year and have been members in good standing for at least 20 years. Requests for this membership status must be approved by the Board of Directors. Though emeritus members may not hold elective office at the national, regional, or state level, they may hold chapter office and may vote. E. Honorary Member: includes people who have held a national office in NATS or any person upon whom this chapter (by means of nomination and vote) may desire to grant this title. Honorary members may not hold office or vote. Article IV. OFFICERS OF THE BOARD AND THEIR DUTIES A. The Executive Board of the chapter will consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chair, two Young Artist Competition Co-Chairs, Publicity Chair, Social Chair, Member-at-Large, Webmaster, Past President, and Advisor. The Webmaster, Past President, and Advisor will not be considered elected positions. B. The President will preside at all regular and special meetings as well as at the Executive Board sessions. The President shall appoint the chairperson of all standing committees subject to approval of the board. The President shall attend all committee meetings of the board. The President shall attend all committee meetings ex-officio with the exception of the Nominating Committee. The President shall sign all legal documents. Bank checks may be signed by either the President or Treasurer. The President shall supervise the publishing of a newsletter approximately 9-10 times per year, working with the Publicity Chair and whatever assistance is available. C. The Vice President will be responsible for coordinating the special events and meetings of the chapter. Those responsibilities will include: generating ideas for special events; receiving and vetting suggestions for special events from NATS San Diego members; coordinating with site representatives for the special events; generating, sending out, and receiving applications for participation in special events; coordinating the committee to judge applications; and any other duties necessary for the successful execution of a NATS San Diego special event. The Vice-President will also discharge the duties of President when necessary. D. The Secretary will be responsible for keeping and publishing meeting minutes of all sessions of the Executive Board, shall write all correspondence and keep chapter records, including programs, newsletters, etc. The minutes will be sent to State and Regional Governors. E. The Treasurer will be responsible for the funds of the chapter, shall collect all dues, giving receipts when requested, and shall keep a record of all paid and unpaid dues. He or she will give a monthly report to the board and file the same with the Secretary, will sign checks, and will pay all expenses incurred by an officer or committee chairperson in the interest of the organization, with the sanction of the Executive Board. F. The Membership Chair will respond to all membership inquiries, process all membership applications to this chapter and shall compile data for the annual directory and arrange for its printing and distribution. G. The Competition Co-Chairs will be responsible for the Young Artist Competition and any other adjudicated events and shall supervise a committee/s of his/her choosing which shall take care of all planning and arrangements for said contest/s and the ensuing recital/s. H. The Publicity Chair will contact news media, write suitable articles, send reminder post cards for upcoming events, and make arrangements for photographs. The Publicity Chair will work with the President in publishing a newsletter, 9-10 times per year, using whatever assistance is available. I. The Social Chair will be responsible for arranging events of a purely social nature. The Social Chair will also be responsible for coordinating food and beverage service at the special meetings and events of the general membership. The Social Chair will have voting privileges. J. The Member-at-Large will attend board meetings and have duties determined at those meetings on an ad hoc basis, The Member-at-Large will have voting privileges. K. The Webmaster will maintain the chapter’s website and coordinate responses to any inquiries received by the website. The Webmaster will be appointed by the Board and have voting privileges. L. The Advisor will serve on the Executive Board and shall serve as a sounding board and counsel for that board. The Advisor will be appointed by the Board and will have voting privileges. M. The Past President will act in an advisory capacity to the Executive Board and will have voting privileges. Article V. MEETINGS A. The regular meetings of the board shall be held approximately once a month between September and May on specific days determined by the board. C. Special events and meetings of the general membership will be scheduled by the board as closely as possible to the following schedule: a Fall meeting/event to be held in October, and a Winter meeting/event to be held in February. Event/meeting times and locations will be announced in the newsletter or by special announcement at least 14 days in advance. D. A quorum for any Board meeting will be six elected officers. Article VI. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS A. Elections may be held during the month of April by means of a mail ballot. A nominating committee appointed by the President will select a slate of candidates to be presented to the general membership for election. B. Officers are elected for a term of two years, except for the Member-at-Large, who will serve a one-year term. The offices of President, Vice President, Publicity Chair, Membership Chair, Social Chair, and Competition Chair 1, shall be elected in odd numbered years. The offices of Secretary, Treasurer, and Competition Chair 2, shall be elected in even numbered years. Any vacancy occurring during a term of office shall be filled by presidential appointment with the approval of the Board. The term of office will begin on June 1 and end on May 31. C. No member will hold more than one elected office at a time. Elected officers, with the exception of the Treasurer, will not be eligible for more than two consecutive terms in the same office. D. Any member in good standing at the Full, Associate, or Emeritus level will be entitled to vote. Article VII. COMMITTEES Standing committees may be authorized by the President with the approval of the Board. Article VIII. DUES AND ASSESSMENTS A. The annual NATS San Diego membership dues are $30.00 for Full members, $25.00 for Associate and Affiliate members. Emeritus and Honorary members are not required to pay dues. Dues are payable by January 1 of each year. Dues not paid by February 1 will be considered delinquent and the member will be dropped from the roster and the member’s name will not appear in the directory. B. Annual dues are payable to the National Association upon notice from that office. C. Special programs may involve additional charges at the discretion of the Board. Article IX. DIRECTORY The membership chair will be in charge of publishing a directory each year which lists contact information for each member, helpful references, and the code of ethics. The directory will be edited each year after February 1 and will be assembled and distributed by mid March. Article X. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS The conduct of business at a regular meeting will be as follows: A. Call to order B. Ratification of minutes of previous meeting C. Treasurer’s report D. Old Business E. New Business F. Announcements G. Programs H. Adjournment Article Xl. AMENDMENTS A. This constitution may be amended by a two third vote of chapter membership, provided the proposed amendment has been presented to the membership in writing at least fourteen days in advance of voting. Article XII. ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER In all instances not specified in the By-Laws, The Robert’s Rules of Order Revised will be the governing authority. The revisions to the By-Laws were submitted in July of 1980, May of 2004, June of 2007, and May of 2009. 2009-2010 Board President: Enrique Toral Vice President: Juliette Singler Secretary: Jo Clemmons Treasurer: Valerie Watts Publicity Chair: Martha Jane Howe Competition Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Kimery and Renee Calvo Membership Chair: Martha Jane Lownie Social Chair: Laurinda Nikkel Member-at-Large: Stephanie Sabin Past President: Ron Shaheen Advisor: Mary MacKenzie |