Overview of Membership
Membership in The College Music Society is defined in Section VII of the Bylaws of the organization:
Members, Membership Dues, and Meetings of the Society — Membership in and meetings of the Society are regulated by the following provisions:
1.Membership. The members of the Society shall have exclusive voting power at meetings of the Society. Membership shall be individual, not institutional, and shall be open to persons interested in furthering the purposes of the Society. Membership in the Society shall be without regard to race, creed, sex, or national origin. Application shall be made to the Executive Director of the Society. Membership dues are based on a twelve-month period.
2.Annual Dues. Annual dues in an amount to be established by the Board of Directors shall be paid by each member. The Executive Director shall each year send notice of dues payable. Any member not properly paying her/his dues may be suspended from membership in the Society.
3.Meetings. There shall be an annual meeting of the membership of the Society at a time and place fixed by the Executive Committee. Special meetings may also be held at places and on dates fixed by the Executive Committee. The Executive Director shall, not less than sixty days before the date set for each annual meeting nor less than thirty days before a special meeting, mail written notice of the meeting to each member at her/his address as it appears upon the books of the Society. A quorum of the Society at any meeting whether annual or special shall be twenty-five voting members.
4.Adjournment. Any meeting of the members may be adjourned to any other place by the members present or represented at the meeting, although fewer than a quorum, or by any officer entitled to preside or to act as Secretary of such meetings, if no member is present. It shall not be necessary to notify any member of any adjournment. Any business which could have been transacted at any meeting of the members as originally called may be transacted at any adjournment thereof.
5.Votes. At all meetings of the members, those entitled to vote shall have one vote each.
Membership Categories
The College Music Society offers membership in the following categories: Regular Membership, Retired Membership, and Student Membership. Life Membership was open during 1975-1985.
Membership Benefits
The current membership benefits include the opportunity to participate in the following areas:
• Professional Activities – Through its professional activities, The College Music Society gathers, considers, and disseminates ideas on the philosophy and practice of music. Activities include (1) conferences (international, national, and regional) and and (2) professional development opportunities (workshops, institutes, and symposia).
• Books & Monographs – The College Music Society publishes books and monographs in three series: Cultural Expressions in Music, Monographs and Bibliographies in American Music, and Sourcebooks in American Music.
• College Music Symposium – To share with the public the fruits of composition, performance, research, and dialogue, The College Music Society makes available College Music Symposium, its online, refereed journal.
• Career Development – Through its Career Development Initiative, The College Music Society considers the professional lives and interests of the members of the music and higher education community. Several committees are devoted to such professional concerns as Academic Citizenship, Professional Life, Mentoring, Administration, and Careers in Music. CMS has created these working groups to address the specific needs and concerns of CMS members at all career stages and in all educational settings.
• Information Services – The College Music Society makes available a wealth of information concerning the field of music, as well as the music and higher education community. CMS meets the need for information services by providing databases and directories devoted to (1) employment opportunities via the Music Vacancy List; (2) individuals, institutions, faculties, and CMS Regional Chapter memberships; (3) international music organizations; (4) events, festivals, awards, and competitions in music; (5) the music business and industry; (6) a music conferences calendar; and (7) permanent email forwarding.
• Engagement and Outreach – The College Music Society speaks for all members of the music profession concerning the role of music in higher education, and articulates common ground among members of the various disciplines of music. The College Music Society conducts engagement initiatives and enhances relationships with the public as well as broader educational and cultural communities.