United States Imperial Society Of Teachers of Dancing

Overview

The United States Imperial Society Of Teachers of Dancing - This Constitution complies with the certificate of incorporation filed in the state of New Jersey on the 5th day of October 1967 on behalf of the United States Branch of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing Inc., which succeeded to an unincorporated association originally established in San Francisco, California, in 1961.

Name

The name of this organization shall be the United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, hereinafter referred to as the USISTD.

Objects and Aims

First: To coordinate and develop the interests of teachers of the International Ballroom, International Latin American, American style, and American Rhythm styles of Ballroom Dancing, and the Theatrical Style of dancing on the North American continent, within the standards established by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing of London, England, hereinafter referred to as the ISTD.

Second: To cooperate with other recognized teaching organizations, and in particular the National Dance Council of America Inc., in order to work for harmonious relations in the profession and in connection with competitions and championships, and, where pertinent, to cooperate and coordinate with the ISTD.

Third: To work for the protection, elevation and advancement of the dignity, prestige and interests of the art of ballroom dancing and dancesport, and in particular of the profession of teachers of dancing. To establish in connection therewith, standards of professional ethics and conduct, and procedures for discipline of its members in case of a breach of said standards of professional ethics and conduct.

Membership

1. Membership in the USISTD will be open to residents of the USA, or such other countries as may be approved by the National Committee and Board of Trustees, who have successfully completed examinations conducted by the USISTD within the established standards of ISTD Ballroom, ISTD Latin American, American Ballroom, American Rhythm, and Theatrical Style. Such examination may be waived for residents who have successfully passed examinations with the ISTD and who have made application to the USISTD for such waiver. The conditions under which any such waiver may be granted shall be determined by the USISTD.

2. Examinations to membership shall be at three progressively advanced levels, Associate, Licentiate, and Fellow according to established standards of the ISTD.

3 Examinations conducted by the USISTD will be given by duly appointed resident Examiners, or Examiners of the ISTD officially engaged by the USISTD to examine for the USISTD in the USA.

Officers

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees shall be comprised of five (5) members who shall be Licentiates or Fellows in the ISTD Ballroom and ISTD Latin American curricula and must be in good standing with respect to their dues. Two (2) of these members shall be appointed by the National Committee and may be former elected officials of the Society. The three (3) remaining positions shall be elected by the membership. Trustees shall not be current members of the National Committee. The term of office for all Trustees shall be three (3) years. At the first meeting following their election/appointment the Board of Trustees shall elect a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, and a Secretary.

National Committee and Officers

The National Committee shall be comprised of seven (7) members who shall be Licentiates or Fellows in a minimum of two of the following curricula: ISTD Ballroom and ISTD Latin American, American Ballroom, and American Rhythm, at least one of which must be ISTD Ballroom or ISTD Latin-American, and who must be in good standing with respect to their dues. Members of the National Committee shall not be current members of the Board of Trustees or the Examining Committee. At the first meeting of the year, which shall take place on January 1 where possible, but no later than January 5, and shall be presided over by the outgoing President, or, if the outgoing President steps down or is not re-elected, by the outgoing Executive Secretary, the National Committee shall elect a President, Executive Secretary, and Treasurer. The term of office for these executive officers shall be from the date of election until December 31 of the year of their election. Once elected, the President shall not hold this office for a period exceeding two (2) consecutive terms, or two (2) years. Any National Committee member, having served the allowable two (2) consecutive terms as President, must complete an interim period of two (2) years before being eligible for re-election to this office.