The Country Music Association of Rhode Island (CMA of RI) is chartered by the State of Rhode Island. Its purpose is to perpetuate, foster, encourage, and promote the art of country music; to provide opportunities for fan participation; to produce, organize, and present jamborees, festivals, and concerts; to award performers and performing groups at award concerts and shows; to donate to charitable organizations; and to provide a helping hand to our members in need.

The CMA of RI membership is open to musicians and members of the general public who are desirous of promoting and preserving country music.

The CMA of RI is governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of four general officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and eight members-at-large. The Board of Directors meet once a month and general membership meetings are held quarterly, For details see, the Officers and Calendar sections.

Shows scheduled throughout the year include a Sweetheart Jamboree to showcase our female entertainers, a Gentlemen's (Gunslingers) Jamboree to showcase our male entertainers, and a Christmas Party in December. Other events are scheduled through the year. An Awards show is held each year to recognize the accomplishments of our performers. For details see the Calendar section.
 
 

Comments? Questions? E-mail me at: mailto:cmaofri@worldnet.att.net

Approved at the General Membership Meeting October 22, 2002 Ed Lorello, President

Section 1
The name of this organization shall be the Country Music Association of Rhode Island and is hereby chartered under the laws of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in the Year of Our Lord Nineteen Hundred, Ninety-two (1992) as duly voted on by those members active at that time.

Section 1
The purpose of the Country Music Association of Rhode Island is to perpetuate, foster encourage and promote the art of country music; to provide opportunities for fan participation; to produce, organize, and present jamborees, festivals, concerts; to award performers and performing groups at award concerts and shows; to donate to charitable organizations; and to provide a helping hand to our members in need.

Section 1
Association membership is available to musicians and the general public who are desirous of promoting and preserving country music. 

Section 2
The applicant for membership must complete an application form and pay an annual membership fee. A membership card will be issued upon the approval of the governing body in office at that time. 

Section 3
Special assessments may be imposed for special events upon approval by the Board of
Directors. Adjustments in payment of dues and assessments may be permitted upon approval of the Executive Board.

Section 1
The governing body of the organization shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of
thirteen (13) Country Music Association of Rhode Island members in good standing to include four (4) general officers, i.e. President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer; eight (8)
members-at-large, four (4) of which shall be elected annually from the regular membership and four (4) appointed by the incoming President, as Directors of the Board, and in an advisory
capacity the immediate past President.

Section 2
The Board of Directors shall have general supervision of the operation of the association and will be responsible for all equipment. They shall also have powers to make emergency
repairs to and/or purchase new equipment and material used in the association’s daily operations.
They may at any time suspend the membership of any member for conduct detrimental to the best interests of the Country Music Association of Rhode Island until the next general
meeting where said violation shall be considered before the full general membership. 

Section 3
If an Officer or member of the Board of Directors in office fails to attend three (3)
consecutive meetings or six (6) meetings throughout the year for any reason whatsoever, and/or displays a general lack of willingness to participate in the governing of the organization, he or
she may be replaced at the discretion of the President with a majority vote of the Board of
Directors. Exceptions to this removal shall be allowed for reasons of illness, accident or other personal tragedy, upon prior written notification to the President and/or the Secretary. 

Section 4
The Board of Directors shall meet once a month; and the general membership shall have quarterly meetings. All meetings shall be scheduled by the President. 

Section 5
Each April an awards show shall be held as a regular occurrence to honor the outstanding member musicians and artists of that year by the vote of the members in good standing of the organization.. Ballots will be sent to the general membership for their vote. The votes will be counted by a non-biased organization or person designated by the President. 

Section 6
All Committees shall be appointed by the President.  Each member shall have one (1) vote. A majority vote of those members present shall be sufficient to carry out the business of that meeting. Each committee shall have a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary. The Committee’s Secretary shall report the results of all meetings to the President immediately forthwith. The President shall sit ex officio on all Committees, but not as a voting member. All Committees’ decisions and recommendations shall promptly be reported, in writing, to the President. 

All Committees’ decisions and/or recommendations are advisory only to the President at any time, the Board of Directors may review the Presidents actions on a particular Committee’s decision/recommendation. If there is a conflict or disagreement regarding the Committee’s recommendation, then the matter shall be referred to the general membership for finalization.

OFFICERS Section 1
The President shall preside over all meetings and may pick standing committees at his/her discretion. The President, by virtue of his/her office, shall have the authority to call special meetings of the regular membership and the Board of Directors. The President, by virtue of his/her office, is an ex officio member of all committees and has the power to fill vacancies that may occur from time to time on all committees. 

Section 2
The Vice-President shall assist the President and will conduct all meetings in the absence of the President. The Vice-President may also be named by the President to serve on any committees as his/her designee when the President is unable to attend. Upon the disability or unavailability for service of the President, the Vice-President shall assume the role of Acting President until such disability and/or unavailability is removed. An initial determination of disability and/or unavailability shall be made by the President. In the event that the President shall fail to act in a timely fashion to declare his/her disability and/or unavailability, the Board of Directors, upon a vote of five (5) members, may call for a special Board meeting to consider the disability and/or unavailability of the President. A three-quarters (3/4) vote shall be necessary to determine a Presidents disability and/or unavailability to serve. 

The decision to remove said disability and/or unavailability of the President shall be made by the President if he/she has previously declared such disability and/or unavailability. If the Board of Directors has declared such disability and/or unavailability, a majority vote of the Board members shall be required to remove said disability and/or unavailability. 

Section 3
The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all proceedings during a meeting and report the same at the next meeting; shall record and sign all reports and bulletins; shall read all applications and communications; shall write all correspondence in the name of the organization; shall notify all members of meetings; shall provide a newsletter to inform the membership of association activities; and conduct the actual voting when done by secret ballot at regular meetings. 

Section 4
The Treasurer shall receive and collect dues, receipts from all tickets sales, raffles and other activities; shall present an accounting at each meeting; shall sign checks of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or less; shall sign checks in amounts of more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) with the required signature of one (1) other designated Officer; shall also submit a written quarterly report to the membership-at-large as to the financial condition of the organization, i.e. debits and credits. The Treasurer shall also file the organization’s Annual Report with the Secretary of State.