The Bylaws of
The MIT Gilbert & Sullivan Players

Last updated 2 May 2006

Resolution 1. Job Descriptions

1.1 A committee shall be formed by the Secretary and volunteers to create manuals for the positions of Producer, Stage Director, Music Director, and Technical Director. The manuals shall be maintained by the Secretary between shows, but every person who fills one of the positions mentioned shall be responsible for making additions and corrections as necessary during a production.

1.2 The committee shall be responsible for initial production of the manuals and shall report to the Secretary. The Secretary shall ensure that a working draft of each manual will be ready before June, 1999.

[Adopted April 27, 1993, amended April 29, 1998]

Resolution 2. Student Roles and Production Staff

2.1 Any MIT student capable of performing a role shall be given preference over other candidates.

2.2 This policy shall be presented to the production staff, consisting of the Producer, Stage Director, and Music Director, by the Executive Committee at a special meeting, which shall be held before auditions and hiring of the technical staff occurs. This preference has been stated in the past during interviews for production staff, but has not been enough to ensure enforcement of this policy. The special meeting shall also serve to familiarize the production staff with the workings of the Executive Committee and this organization. The fact that the Executive Committee has the power and responsibility to review the performance of any member of the production at any time as necessary for a smoothly run show shall be presented. The special meeting shall also serve to familiarize the Executive Committee with the production staff and the particular demands of the production at hand, particularly budget, set, orchestra and staging requirements.

[Adopted April 27, 1993, amended April 29, 2006]

Resolution 3. Execomm Expenditures

The Executive Committee may approve non-show related expenditures of up to $500 without the prior consent of the General Committee. Larger expenditures must be approved by the General Committee.

This is a policy motion, so that the dollar amount can be amended from time to time by Gencomm without requiring a constitutional amendment.

[Adopted November 30, 1994]

Resolution 4. Computer Administrator

The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining all computer machinery, accounts, and files used by the organization. The Secretary may delegate this responsibility.

[Adopted November 30, 1994]

Resolution 5. Set Shop Manager

The Executive Committee shall appoint a Set Shop Manager, reporting to the President. The manager shall handle all issues dealing with the set shop, including training anyone who requires access to the tools. The manager shall furthermore maintain a manual of the specific duties required for this job.

Upon a vacancy in the position of Set Shop Manager, the Executive Committee shall appoint a replacement within one month. The Executive Committee may remove the manager if more than two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee vote in favor of doing so.

[Adopted November 30, 1994]

Resolution 6. Producer Duties

The Producer shall be encouraged to attend all Executive Committee meetings for the duration of the Producer's term.

In addition, the Producer must present a final report at the first General Committee meeting following the close of any production that person produced.

[Adopted November 30, 1994]

Resolution 7. God Save the Queen

Any musical performance of a show written by Sir William S. Gilbert or Sir Arthur S. Sullivan may be preceded by the singing of God Save the Queen, if so agreed upon by a majority decision of the the Music Director, Stage Director, and Producer.

[Adopted November 30, 1994]

Resolution 8. Production Staff

The Stage Director, Producer, and Music Director (if required) for any performance by this organization shall be selected by the Executive Committee after suitable interviews have been conducted.

[Adopted November 30, 1994]

Resolution 9. Harassment Policy

A proper working environment being crucial to the success of the organization, the group grants to the executive committee (EC) certain powers to ensure that such an environment is not unduly disturbed. It is expected that all participants in MITG&S activities will first make their best effort to resolve and not foster conflict. This bylaw is intended to handle extreme cases.

Incidents of psychological or physical abuse committed by participants in the organization should be brought to the attention of a member of the executive committee as soon as possible. If the party bringing this information to the EC wishes that the EC take action, then this will be considered a formal complaint. Upon learning of the formal complaint, the EC will meet as soon as possible for the purposes of:

In determining the facts, the EC may request information from individuals or parties.

In order to decide if an action should be taken, the EC may consider, but is not limited to considering the following: what kind of disruptions constitute harassment; the intentions of parties involved; objectivity of witnesses; objectivity of individual members of the EC; timeliness of the complaint; prior history of participants. All complaints will be examined on a case by case basis.

Actions available to the EC may include, but are not necessarily limited to: request for an apology, request for financial reimbursment due to property damage, expulsion from a show or from future participation in the group, notification of other authorities.

To authorize a specific action on harassment, the EC cannot have more than one dissension.

The EC shall make its best effort to take steps which help prevent harassment from occurring.

[Adopted November 30, 1994]

Resolution 10. Show Policy

The group shall perform one Gilbert & Sullivan show each fall and spring term. The fall and spring shows for a given academic year will be decided by a GenComm vote at the spring GenComm meeting of the previous academic year.

The group may also perform shows during IAP and during the summer, which do not necessarily have to be Gilbert & Sullivan shows. For a summer or IAP show to be produced, the potential producer must submit a proposal (including budget) to GenComm at a meeting at least one month before the start of IAP/summer session. If no GenComm meeting is scheduled, the person proposing the show may request ExecComm to schedule a meeting which will meet the deadline. If GenComm approves the proposal, the show will be produced according to the usual procedure for fall and spring shows.

[Adopted November 30, 1994]

Additionally, the potential producer of an IAP or summer show must request a meeting with the ExecComm at least 2 weeks prior to GenComm. The ExecComm must grant all requests for such a meeting. The purpose of this meeting will be to give the ExecComm the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed budget, help determine available performance dates and space, discuss performance rights, and give both the producer and the ExecComm a forum to address logistical issues before bringing the proposal to GenComm. After such a meeting is requested, the proposal will be put on the agenda at the potential producer's request.

[Amended April 27, 2003]

Resolution 11. Scheduling of Performances

The Executive Committee shall make every effort to schedule Fall and Spring productions such that the performance dates do not conflict with major religious holidays. Shows should only be scheduled on those dates AS A LAST RESORT if it becomes apparent that MIT CAC will not allow the group to perform otherwise.

[Adopted May 2, 1995]

Resolution 12. First Night Student Auditions

The first 24 hours of the audition period for each MITG&SP production shall be reserved for people with top priority under the casting policy: that is, for currently registered MIT and Wellesley graduate and undergraduate students. No fewer than two hours of auditions shall be held during this period.

At no time during auditions shall MIT/Wellesley students be excluded from auditioning.

This policy may be suspended only by an unanimous vote of the directors, producer, and ExecComm.

[Adopted April 29, 1998]

Resolution 13. Video Taping Performances

It can be assumed that all MITG&SP productions will be recorded in one form or another and distributed to the general public. In accordance, the Executive Committee will take steps to try and ensure that all persons directly connected to the production are informed of this fact. In the event that MITG&SP decides to produce an original work, the Executive Committee shall make the author aware of this policy prior to the production so that any terms of the videotaping can be agreed upon in writing before the show is produced.

Any recording or transfer of a recording of a MITG&SP performance may be sold to any interested party, provided that the recording contains a notice that this group retains the copyright. Video recording must have a copyright notice on the actual recording, in addition to any printed notice.

[Adopted April 30, 2000]