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Great
Falls Municipal Band
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Capital Campaign For the Upkeep of the Band For the Purchase of Percussion Equipment For the Purchase of Music Stands |
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| Established 1894 | ||||
| Contact Number (406) 899-9982 |
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| 525 Central Avenue Suite L9 | Great Falls, Montana | 59401 | ||||
Organization and ByLaws
Documents
2026 Great Falls Operations Handbook (Un-numbered) PDF
2026b Great Falls Operations Handbook (Numbered) PDF
2026c Great Falls Operations Handbook - For Playing Members
Draft Playing Members Handbook | Draft Great Falls Operations Handbook
1.
The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are
charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c) (3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as presently constituted and as the
same may be amended from time to time.
2.
The purposes may be more particularly stated as follows:
a.
To foster the development in the community of an appreciation
of the musical arts, by promoting and producing, or causing to be
produced, musical productions and entertainments, and by taking part
in activities having that end in view.
b. By operating concert bands and/or similar ensembles of varying size, to reaffirm the community position in instrumental music, to provide an opportunity for individual musical expression and growth among the membership, and to provide an opportunity for contact and association between and among musicians.
ARTICLE II. Membership
A. Qualifications for Membership.
1.
Corporation members are participants in one or more of the
corporation’s ensembles.
The Great Falls Municipal Band Inc. and its performing ensembles
shall operate without regard to sex, race, national origin, marital
status, age, political views or affiliation, religious views or
affiliation, sexual orientation, disability, or other factor
unrelated to the support of the purposes of the corporation.
Applicants for membership in The Great Falls Municipal Band Inc.
shall be required to demonstrate satisfactory musical competence as
determined by the music director, and agree to fulfill all the
responsibilities of membership set forth in these Bylaws.
2.
Any person wishing to become a member of one of the
Corporation’s performing ensembles must have the approval of the
director of that ensemble. If accepted, such person shall
automatically be approved as a member of the Corporation. The person
shall remain a member of the corporation so long as they are a
member of one or more of its ensembles.
B.
Duties of Membership
1.
General
Members shall conduct themselves with
collegial and respectful demeanor towards the Band, its members,
conductors and guests, and abide by the requirements and regulations
stated in these Bylaws.
2.
Attendance.
Attendance may be taken at rehearsals and
concerts at the discretion of the director. Any member who misses a
dress rehearsal will not be allowed to perform at the concert
without the approval of the director. Members are expected to play
all scheduled concerts and to attend a pre-concert warm-up
rehearsal, or give adequate notice if they cannot attend.
3
Concert Dress
Concert dress shall be determined by the
director of each band or ensemble, and shall be adhered to by the
membership.
4
Seating
Seating shall be determined by the director
who may choose to consult with section leaders where appropriate.
5. Music Responsibility
Members shall be responsible for returning
their music. Fees may be charged if music is not returned in a
timely manner.
C. Termination of
Membership: Membership in the Corporation may be terminated for the
following reasons:
Failure to maintain musical competence in
the judgment of the ensemble director.
Conduct, that in the judgment of the Board does not align with the mission of the Corporation.
ARTICLE III. Board
of Directors
A. Executive Authority
The executive authority of the Corporation
and its performing ensembles is vested in a Board of
Directors, whose duties shall include, but shall not be
limited to:
1.
Management of the general affairs of the Corporation, taking
all action, which is compatible with the best interests of the
Corporation.
2.
Management of the financial affairs of the Corporation,
including the right to select authorized depositories for the funds
of the Corporation, the
establishment of annual budgets, authorization for audits, and any
other matters incidental
thereto.
3.
The appointment and dismissal of directors and, if desired,
one or more assistant conductors.
4.
The replacement of members of the Board of Directors or of
officers who are unable to complete their term of office.
5.
The Board may appoint, by resolution, at any time from the
Membership of the Corporation, such other officer or officers as may
be deemed expedient and any such officer shall perform the duties
assigned by the Board, and hold office at the pleasure of the Board.
6.
Judgments concerning standards of conduct and attendance may
be reviewed annually.
7.
The Board of Directors and all Officers of the Corporation
shall at all times conduct the affairs of the Corporation in such
fashion as to comply with those provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1954, as presently constituted, or as the same may be
amended from time to time, which are requisite to the continual
qualification of the Corporation for exemption from tax under
Section 501 of said Code, or any successor provision thereto, and to
the deductibility for federal income tax purposes of contributions
to the Corporation as charitable contributions under Section 170 of
said Code, or any successor provision thereto.
B. Composition
The Board of Directors shall consist of at
least five but no more than nine.
The following shall be members ex officio:
Officers:
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Voting members of the Board are selected by
current board and voted upon by the membership at the annual
meeting.
Non-voting ex officio members include:
Principal Music Director
Music directors of each ensemble
Terms and Recommendations.
Board members are elected for a three-year
term. As Board members complete their term, they have an
option to recommit for another three-year term.
Ideally the terms should be staggered so that a third of the
Board is up for reconsideration annually.
If/when someone leaves the Board before
completing their term, the appointed replacement
will complete the remaining
portion of that term, allowing to maintain the three-year term
cycle.
C.
Election
Members of the Board shall be elected at the
annual meeting of the Corporation commonly on the date of the second
rehearsal in June.
Vacancies that occur from time to time will be filled by the Board
in consultation with the Principal Music Director.
D.
Meetings
1.
Meetings of the Board of Directors may either be called at
the discretion the President or on the request of any three members
of the Board.
2.
A simple majority of the voting members of the Board shall
constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.
3.
Annually, the Board may consider the appointment of the
Principal Music Director.
4.
Each member of the Board shall have one vote.
5.
A simple majority of Board members in attendance and voting
will carry any motion.
6.
In emergency situations outside of meetings votes may be
taken by electronic or other media.
E.
Vacancies
Vacancies in the Board, or Officers, may be
filled by the Board. Members or Officers so selected shall serve
until next annual meeting of the Corporation.
F.
Removal of Officers
Attendance at regularly scheduled meetings
is expected by all members.
Any member missing 3 consecutive, or 4 meetings in a calendar
year, shall be grounds for dismissal.
ARTICLE IV.
Officers
A.
The officers of the Corporation shall be Principal Music
Director, President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such
other officer or officers as may be appointed by the Board of
Directors pursuant to the authority given to it in Subparagraph 5 of
Paragraph A of Article III of these By-Laws.
B.
Duties of Officers
1.
President:
The President presides over meetings of the Board.
a.
Call meetings of the Corporation and the Board of Directors
as provided by these By-Laws.
b.
Perform all acts and duties usually performed by a chief
executive.
c.
Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board
of Directors.
2.
Vice President. In the case of the absence or disability of
the President, the Vice -President shall perform the duties of the
President required to be performed during such absence or
disability. He or she shall perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by the Board of Directors.
3.
The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of the
transactions of all business meetings of the Corporation and Board
of Directors, and shall perform such duties as may be prescribed.
The Secretary is responsible for posting notices and notifying the
membership of all meetings and affairs requiring membership action.
All records of the Secretary shall be turned over to his or her
successor within one month of the election and qualification of such
successor.
4.
The Treasurer shall receive and safely keep all money and
other property of the Corporation entrusted to his or her care and
shall disburse the same under the direction and to the satisfaction
of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall keep a complete
account of the finances of the Corporation on books which shall
remain the property of the Corporation and which shall be inspected
annually in October and/or at other times at the discretion the
Officers, or Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall render a
current statement at each regular meeting of the Board of Directors
and of the Corporation. The Treasurer’s annual statement for the
fiscal year may be audited and certified by persons designated by
the Board of Directors. The Treasurer may be bonded at the expense
of the Corporation. The retiring Treasurer shall, within one month
of the election and qualification of his or her successor, deliver
to said successor all money, vouchers, books, and papers of the
Corporation in his or her custody.
5.
Principal Musical Director duties are as provided in article
V.
6.
Other Officers. Other officers shall perform such duties as
may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
7.
All remaining officers shall on expiration of their terms or
resigning their office will surrender all property in their
possession belonging to their respective offices to the newly
elected President.
ARTICLE V.
Principal Music Director
and other Ensemble Directors
A.
General Responsibilities
The Principal Music Director shall be
responsible for overseeing the artistic standards of the Corporation
and its performing ensembles.
B.
Specific Areas of Responsibility
The Principal Music Director and other
Ensemble Directors shall be responsible specifically for the
following areas:
1.
Programming
The directors of each ensemble shall
determine program selections and their order for concerts.
2.
Rehearsal
The Directors of each ensemble shall be
responsible for preparing selections for a performance and shall
determine the need for additional rehearsal time, sectionals, dress
rehearsals, and the selections to be rehearsed.
3.
Auditions
The Directors of each ensemble shall
determine the need for membership and/or seating auditions.
4.
Seating
Directors of each ensemble may designate
each section leader and with his or her consultation shall make any
changes deemed necessary within a section.
ARTICLE VI.
Elections
A.
Elections of the Board of Directors shall be held at the
corporation’s annual meeting.
B.
Individuals seeking a position on the Board shall submit a
written request to the President, or Principal Music Director at
least 7 days prior to the annual meeting.
C.
Election shall be by acclamation if no contest exists.
Otherwise election shall be by secret ballot of those members
present and voting at the annual meeting of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VII.
Meetings of the Corporation
The annual meeting date of the Corporation shall be set by the Board, and commonly will be at the second rehearsal in June. In the event of vacancies, election of Board members takes place at the annual meeting.
B.
Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Corporation may be
called by the President, by a vote of the Board of Directors, or at
the written request of any fifteen members of the Corporation.
C.
Quorum and Voting
Fifteen members of the Corporation shall
constitute a quorum for the conduct of business. Each member shall
have one vote. Unless otherwise provided in these By-Laws, a simple
majority of members present and voting will carry any motion.
ARTICLE VIII.
Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
the calendar year.
ARTICLE IX.
Amendment
A.
Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Board at least
thirty days prior to the meeting at which they are to be voted upon.
B.
A two-thirds vote of the Board will be necessary for adoption
of any amendment.
C.
No amendment to the By-Laws or to the Articles of
Incorporation shall cause the Corporation to fail to comply with
those provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as presently
constituted, or as the same be amended from time to time, which are
requisite to the continual qualification of the Corporation for
exemption from tax under Section 501 of said code, or any successor
provision thereto, and to the deductibility for federal income tax
purposes of contributions to the Corporation as charitable
contributions under Section 170 of said code, or any successor
provision thereto.
D.
No such non-compliant amendment shall affect the validity of
the remaining by-laws.
ARTICLE X.
Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the
Corporation, no member shall be entitled to any distribution or
division of its remaining property or its proceeds, and the balance
of all money and other property received by the Corporation from any
source, after the payment of all debts and obligations of the
Corporation, shall be used or distributed exclusively for purposes
within the intendment of Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
as the same now exists or as it may be amended from time to time.
The Great Falls Municipal Band, originally known as the Black Eagle Band, embarks on its 132nd consecutive season in 2025. Although sponsored in its infancy by the Boston and Montana Smelter Company, the band reorganized in 1905 and acquired its current name.
Over the years, the Municipal Band has been in demand to play for assorted dignataries, special events, and dedication ceremonies. In the late 1930;s the band played at the dedication of Fort Peck Dam which was attended by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Dedication ceremonies in Great Falls have included the dams on the Missouri River, the Warden Bridge, and both the old and new airports. The band also performed for the visits of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.