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BYLAWS OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MAGICIANS A 501-c-6 NON-PROFIT CORPORATION
ARTICLE I PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE 1.00 Purpose. The purpose of The Texas Association of Magicians is to encourage the practice and appreciation of magic as an art. 1.01 Objective. The objective of The Texas Association of magicians is to fulfill its stated purpose through education, enlightenment and entertainment. Members are encouraged to learn the elements of the art of magic, to practice magic and to entertain society with magical performances. ARTICLE II
ACHIEVEMENT OF PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE
2.00 The purpose and objective of this Corporation are to be achieved as follows: (A) To provide an Association for individuals interested in advancing the art of magic. To direct a member club to host an Annual Convention in the State of Texas for its
members that fosters the creation of an educational, enlightening and entertaining environment for the purpose of furthering the practice and appreciation of the art of magic. (C) To promote harmony among those interested in magic. (D) To advance the ethics of the magical profession. (E) To encourage all the associated magical arts. (F) To discourage and prevent the exposure of the art of magic, except in books of magic, literature and magazines devoted to the exclusive use by magicians and devotees of the magical arts. ARTICLE III
OFFICES
3.00 Principal Office. The principal and registered office of the Corporation in the State of Texas is to be located in the city of residence of the Corporation Secretary, who is also the Registered Agent as required by the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act. The Corporation may have such additional offices as the Board of Directors may determine. ARTICLE IV ORGANIZATION
4.00 Organization. The Corporation is composed of I. B. M. Rings, S. A. M. Assemblies, magic clubs of any National or International Magic Society and individual members. 4.01 Application of Magic Clubs for Membership in Corporation. I.B.M. Rings, S.A.M. Assemblies, or magic clubs of any National or International Magic Society may apply for membership in the Corporation by making written application to the Corporation Secretary and stating that their club is currently chartered with the I.B.M, or S.A.M., or a National or International Magic Society located within the State of Texas. Such application must be signed by the magic club's President and Secretary. 4.02 Admission to Corporation. Qualified applications will be considered and must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors present at their Annual Convention, mid-year, or special meeting. Approved magic clubs will automatically be included in and added to the list of member clubs as of the date of approval. There are no dues or fees assessed to a magic club approved for Corporation membership. 4.03 Member Clubs. These clubs are listed in APPENDIX A to these Bylaws. The Secretary is authorized to automatically add newly approved magic clubs and remove inactive magic clubs as appropriate on that list after the approval by the Board of Directors 4.04 Membership Status of Member Clubs. Upon proper notice and hearing a member club may be suspended from membership in the Corporation at any Annual Convention mid-year or special meeting of the Board of Directors. A member club may be suspended due to inactivity, dissolution or any other good and sufficient reason. A two- thirds majority vote of the Directors present at the meeting is necessary to suspend an approved club. ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
5.00 Officers. The Officers of the Corporation are: The President, who is from the club or clubs that will hold the next Annual Convention. The Vice President, who is from the host club or clubs that will hold the following Annual Convention. The Secretary, who is elected by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer, who is elected by the Board of Directors. The same person may hold the office of the Secretary and Treasurer at the will of the Board. The Legal Advisor, who is elected by the Board of Directors (with no vote on the Board of Directors). The Historian, who is elected by the Board of Directors (with no vote on the Board of Directors). Such other Officers as are deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. 5.01 Election and Term of Office. The Officers of the Corporation are elected annually by the Board of Directors at the
Annual Convention Meeting of the Board. If the election of Officers is not held at such meeting, the election will be held as soon thereafter as possible. New offices may be created and filled at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Each Officer will hold office for one year, except that the Board of Directors may set
the term of office for the Historian at from one to five years. Each Officer will hold office until his/her successor has been elected and installed. 5.02 Vacancies. A vacancy in any office will be filled by majority vote of the Board of Directors for the remaining portion of the term, 5.03 Removal. Any Officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal will be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Officer so removed. 5.04 President. The President will be the Corporate Executive Officer of the Corporation and supervise all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He/she will preside at all meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors. He/she may sign, with the Secretary or any other proper Officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the Board of Directors authorizes to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof is expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by the Bylaws or by statute to some other Officer or agent of the Corporation. 5.05 Vice President. In the absence of the President or in the event of his/her inability or refusal to act, the Vice President will perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, will have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. In addition, he/she will act as Chairperson and supervisor of the Judges' panel for contests at the President’s Annual Convention. He/she will be a member of the Trophy and Awards committee. 5.06 Treasurer. The Treasurer will be bonded for the faithful discharge of his/her duties in such sum and with such surety, or sureties, as the Board of Directors determines. He/she will have
charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation; receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever; and deposit all such moneys in the name of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as directed in Article X of these Bylaws; and in general perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer. The Treasurer will maintain an accurate account of all receipts and disbursements and
will render an itemized statement of them at the mid-year and Annual Convention meetings and at such other times as the Board of Directors may require. An audit of the Treasurer's books and accounts will be conducted every two years, or whenever a new Treasurer is elected. The method of audit will be determined by the Board of Directors. (C) The Treasurer will be reimbursed for travel and lodging expenses. 5.07 Secretary (Corporate Secretary). The duties of the Secretary are
To keep the minutes of the meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors in separate books provided for that purpose. To give all notices in accordance with the provision of these Bylaws and as required by law. To mail notices of all meetings of the Board of Directors to all members of the Board. To mail on or before August 10th of each year an updated list of the Officers and Club Representatives and their Alternates to all members of the Board. To notify appropriate clubs before June 1st when their Club Representative and Alternate is about to expire. To issue membership cards. To be custodian of the corporate records. To be custodian of the seal of the Corporation and affix the seal of the Corporation to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws. To provide suitable trophies and awards with the approval of the Board of Directors using15% of the annual interest from the A. Renerick Clark Memorial Trust Fund bequest for such purchase. To assist in providing names from each member club of competent members willing to act as judges. To provide winners of contests properly engraved names and titles for their awards. The Secretary will keep a register of the postal mailing address of each member as obtained from the host of the Annual Convention, and other sources; and will, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary.
(C) The Secretary will file all reports, records and notices required by the Internal Revenue Service and the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act applicable to any TAOM activities. (D) The Secretary will be reimbursed for travel and lodging expenses. 5.08 Other Officers. If the Board of Directors should create any new officer positions, persons elected to fill those positions will perform such duties as are assigned them by the Board of Directors. 5.09 Successive Terms. No Officer except the Secretary, Treasurer, (Secretary-Treasurer), Historian or Legal Advisor may succeed him/herself. 5.10 Rules of Order. The Secretary will insure that all meetings are conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order. ARTICLE VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
6.00 General Powers. The affairs of the Corporation will be managed by its Board of Directors who must be members of the Corporation. 6.01 Members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors consists of the following: (1) Current T.A.O.M. Officers. (2) Representatives elected by each active member club. (3) All T.A.O.M. Past Presidents. 6.02 Voting by Mail. Elections may be conducted by mail in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine.
6.03 Voting Rights. The President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer have one vote each. When the Secretary-Treasurer is the same person, he/she has only one vote. Each Club Representative elected to the Board of Directors by an active member club has one vote. Past Presidents have one full vote when in attendance at the TAOM Board of Directors Meetings. If they are the elected representative from their host club, they have only one vote. 6.04 Tenure. A Club Representative and an Alternate representing an active member club will be elected by that club for a term of three years. Member clubs will elect Representatives and Alternates on a staggered basis so that approximately one-third of the Representatives are elected each July. Member clubs will notify the Secretary of the names of the representatives and Alternates by August 1st. Alternates serve in the absence of the elected Club Representative. 6.05 Annual Convention Meetings. An Annual Convention meeting of the Board of Directors will be held without other notice than these Bylaws, at the same place as the Annual General Meeting of members, 6.06 Mid-Year Meetings. The President may call a mid-year Board of Directors meeting if business so requires. 6.07 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or by any two Directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board may fix any place, within the state of Texas, as the place for holding the special meetings of the Board called by them. 6.08 Notice. Notice of mid-year or special meeting of the Board of Directors will be given at least ten days previous thereto by written notice delivered personally, by mail or acknowledged e-mail to each Director at his/her address as shown by the records of the Corporation. If mailed, such notice will be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States Mail with postage thereon prepaid. E-mail notice must be acknowledged by the recipient and a record kept of the acknowledgment A notice of the special meeting must contain the purpose or subject of that special meeting. 6.09 Failure to Receive Notice of Meeting. Failure by any Director to receive a properly posted notice of a meeting does not invalidate that meeting or its actions if a majority of the Directors did receive notice of the meeting. 6.10 Quorum. A majority of the voting Officers and Club Representatives constitutes a quorum. If less than a quorum is present at said meeting a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting until further notice. 6.11 Proxy Voting. An Officer or Club Representative may vote by written proxy granting such authority to another Director. Such proxy expires at the end of the meeting for which it is tendered. 6.12 Special Meeting. If all the Officers and Club Representatives meet at any time and place within the state and consent to the holding of a meeting, such meeting will be valid without call or notice, and any corporate action may be taken at such meeting. 6.13 Manner of Acting. The act of a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be the act of the Board of Directors, unless these Bylaws require a greater number for such act.. 6.14 Vacancies. When a vacancy occurs among Club Representatives, the member club represented will elect a new Representative to fill the remaining term and will notify the Secretary promptly of the change. Vacancies due to the demise of Past Presidents will not be filled. 6.15 Compensation. Directors will not receive any salaries for their services. They will however receive specified cost per mile for travel from their home area to the location of a mid-year or special meetings. The Treasurer will determine the cost per mile rate annually. 6.16 Informal Action by Directors. Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the Board may be taken without a formal meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by all the voting Officers and Club Representatives. 6.17 Duties. Each Club Representative will provide, during the month of June, the names of prospective contest judges to the Vice President as outlined by official notice from the Secretary. ARTICLE VII MEMBERS
7.00 Classes of Members. The Corporation has three classes of members. The designations, qualifications and rights of such classes are as follows: ACTIVE - Any person who resides in Texas and is "in good standing" is an active member. Active members have the right to vote and hold office.
ASSOCIATE - Any person who resides outside of Texas and is "in good standing" is an associate member. Associate members have the right to vote but not to hold office.
(C) HONORARY LIFE - Any person who has contributed materially to the Corporation, or who has achieved a position of high regard and respect in the magic world, upon unanimous approval by secret ballot by all the Directors present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, is an Honorary Life Member. A person so honored is exempt from the payment of dues and the registration fee at the Annual Convention. At least ten days prior to a Board of Directors meeting, notice must be given to all Directors and Alternates of any intention to present a person for Honorary Life membership. Honorary Members retain their status as Active or Associate.
(D) The Secretary will assign each member a permanent number which will be shown on a membership card. Numbers will not be reassigned. The acceptance of a membership card of the Corporation will be a member's pledge to support the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and all amendments thereto.
7.01 Voting Rights. Each member is entitled to one vote on each matter brought before the general membership. A member may submit a written Proxy Vote of a member in absentia in addition to his own vote. 7.02 Fees and Dues. The annual dues are established by the Board of Directors for an Active or Associate member and, when paid, the member is considered to be "in good standing". No dues or fees will be collected from Honorary Life Members.
Dues are payable at the Corporation's Annual Convention or not later than October 1st of each year.
A member whose dues are three months in arrears will not be "in good standing" and is automatically suspended, but may be reinstated "in good standing" upon the payment of the annual dues and compliance with Section 7.06 of this Article. Suspended members are without all rights of membership during the period of suspension.
Membership dues are to be collected with the registration fees of those members
attending the Annual Convention, and such dues will be remitted to the Corporation's Treasurer within thirty days after the close of the convention.
Those members who did not attend the Annual Convention, will be invoiced by the Secretary, in the amount of annual dues for the year beginning October 1st of the current year.
7.03 Code of Ethics (A) Members will refrain from the exposure of tricks, illusions and magical principles and will conform to the purpose and objective of this Corporation. (B) Members will not furnish information concerning modus operandi of magical effects to the lay public through the medium of magazines, newspapers, radio, telephone, television, motion pictures, or through the use of any other means.
7.04 Suspensions, Expulsions, and Disciplinary Action. Upon complaint of two active members
"in good standing", the Board of Directors, by majority vote of all its members, after reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard has been afforded the member, may cause a member to be suspended, expelled, or subject to other disciplinary action for any of the following: Unbecoming conduct. Violation of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and amendments thereto. Use of blue material on convention shows. Violation of the Code of Ethics. 7.05 Resignations. A member may resign by filing a written resignation with the Secretary, but such resignation will not relieve the member so resigning of the obligation to pay any dues, assessments, or other charges theretofore accrued or unpaid. 7.06 Reinstatement. Upon a written request signed by a former member and filed with the Secretary, the Board of Directors may, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the Board present, reinstate such former member to membership on such terms as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate. 7.07 Transfer of Membership. Membership in this Corporation is not transferable or assignable. ARTICLE VIIIANNUAL CONVENTION 8.00 The Annual Convention. The Annual Convention will be held on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend. 8.01 Responsibility of Host Magic Club or Clubs. The host magic club or clubs of the Annual Convention will be responsible for all matters pertaining to all the affairs of the convention. The host club will select a general chairperson, registration chairperson, convention treasurer, all committees and their members.
The host club will have full charge of all arrangements and plans for the convention.
(C) The host club will be responsible for all receipts, registration fees, shows, programs, advertising and other Convention items and will make all disbursements incidental to the Convention. (D) The host club will be responsible for any losses that might occur, and the Corporation will in no way be responsible for any loss or unpaid bills of the convention. (E) The host club will fix the amount of the registration fees and, when established, there will be no deviation or additional charges made at the convention. (F) The host club will collect the amount of the T.A.O.M. dues by adding the amount to the registration fees and will remit dues to the T.A.O.M. Treasurer within thirty days after the Convention. (G) The host club will remit within ninety days after the Annual Convention to the T.A.O.M. Treasurer one-fourth of any profit made from the Annual Convention in excess of $2,000.00. (H) The host club will send to the Secretary a detailed statement of all Convention receipts and disbursements no later than ninety days after the Convention. 8.02 Pre-convention expenses. Within ninety days after a Convention, the Treasurer will remit to the host club/s for the next year's Annual Convention such moneys as appropriated by the Board of Directors and outlined in Appendix B. These amounts are not repayable to the Corporation. 8.03 Annual General Meeting. An Annual General Meeting for the entire membership will be held during the Annual Convention. ARTICLE IX
COMMITTEES
9.00 Management and Other Committees. The Board of Directors may, by majority vote, designate and appoint one or more committees. Each committee will consist of two or more Directors. These committees, to the extent provided in said resolutions, will have and can exercise the authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the Corporation. No such committee will have the authority of the Board of Directors to: Amend, alter, or repeal the Bylaws. Elect, appoint or remove any member of any committee or any Director. Amend the Articles of Incorporation. Adopt a plan of merger or adopt a plan of consolidation with another corporation. Authorize the sale, lease, exchange, or mortgage of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation. Authorize the voluntary dissolution of the Corporation or revoke proceedings thereof. Adopt a plan for the distribution of the assets of the Corporation. Amend, alter, or repeal any resolution of the Board of Directors which by its terms provides that it will not be amended, altered, or repealed by such committee. The designation and appointment of any such committee and the delegation thereto of authority will not operate to relieve the Board of Directors, or any individual Director, of any responsibility imposed on it or him/her by law. 9.01 Other Committees. Other committees not having and exercising the authority of the Board of Directors and the management of the Corporation may be designated by resolutions adopted by a majority of the Directors present at a meeting. Members of each such committees must be members of the Corporation, and the President of the Corporation will appoint the members thereof. Any members may be removed by the person authorized to appoint such members, whenever in the judgment of the appointing person the best interests of the Corporation are served by such removal. 9.02 Term of Office. Each member of a committee, other than the Trophy and Awards Committee, will continue as a member of such committee until the next Annual Convention meeting of the Board of Directors, or until his/her successor is appointed and has taken office, unless the committee has been terminated, or such member has been removed from such committee, or such member ceases to qualify as a member thereof. 9.03 Chairperson of Committees. One member of each committee other than the Trophy and Awards Committee, will be appointed Chairperson by the person or persons authorized to appoint the members of that committee. 9.04 Trophy and Awards Committee. There will be a permanent Trophy and Awards Committee consisting of four members,
and the current Corporate Vice President. The members will serve for a period of four years, except that the Vice President will serve for one year only. At each annual meeting, the Board of Directors will elect one member to replace the retiring member. Members will be elected on a rotating basis to provide representation by all areas of the State. If a vacancy occurs before a term has ended, a new member will be selected by the Board. If a member on the committee is from a club that loses its approved status, the Board will select a replacement.
The Trophy and Awards Committee will select one of its members to act as Chairperson each year.
(D) The duties of the Trophy and Awards Committee are: To set up and enforce rules and regulations for the contests at the Annual Convention with the approval of the Board of Directors. To promote and encourage participation in contests by both senior and junior members. 9.05 Committee Vacancies. Vacancies in the membership of any committee may be filled by appointment made in the same manner as provided in the case of the original appointments. 9.06 Committee Quorum. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors designating a committee, a majority of the whole committee constitutes a quorum. The act of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be the act of the committee. 9.07 Committee Rules. Each committee may adopt rules for its own government not to be inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, or with the rules adopted by the Board of Directors ARTICLE X ADMINISTRATION
CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS, AND SUMS.
10.00 Contracts. The Board of Directors may authorize any Officer, or Officers, agent, or agents of the Corporation to enter into any contract, or to execute and deliver, any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. 10.01 Checks and Drafts. All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation will be signed by such Officer or Officers, agent or agents, of the Corporation, and in such manner as will be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. In the absence of such determination by the Board of Directors, such instrument will be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President or the Vice President of the Corporation. 10.02 Deposits. All sums of the Corporation will be deposited promptly to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select. 10.03 Gifts. The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the Corporation any contribution, gift, bequest, or device for the general purposes, or any special purposes of the Corporation.
BOOKS AND RECORDS
10.04 The Corporation will keep correct and complete books and records of accounts, minutes of the meetings of its members and the Board of Directors. The Corporation will keep a record of the names and addresses of the members entitled to vote. All books and records of the Corporation may be inspected by any member, or his/her agent or attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable time.
FISCALYEAR
10.05. The fiscal year of the Corporation will begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December of each year.
SEAL
10.06 The Board of Directors will provide a corporate seal, which will be in the form of a circle and will have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words "Corporate Seal of the Texas Association of Magicians, Inc." ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
11.00 These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted by
a majority of the Directors present at any Annual Convention, mid-year, or special meeting if at least ten days written notice is given of intention. The notice given will include the proposed changes to be made and will be mailed to all Directors. 11.01 The Board of Directors will appoint a committee to review and update these Bylaws every five years. ARTICLE XII
TABLE OF CONTENTS
12.00 Headings. The table of contents headings used in these Bylaws have been inserted for convenience only and do not constitute matters to be construed in interpretation. The undersigned, being the members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation present at the Annual Meeting in (city), Texas, and a quorum of such members being present, hereby certify that the foregoing Bylaws are adopted by the Board of Directors on the (date), to witness which we have hereunto affixed our signatures. (*) INDICATES NOT IN ATTENDANCE. (signature lines for officers and directors) APPENDIX A BYLAWS OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MAGICIANS The following magic clubs have made application for membership and have been approved.Austin I.B.M Ring 60 - 1978 Dallas I.B.M Ring 174 - 1978 Dallas S.A.M. Assembly 13 - 1978 Fort Worth I.B.M Ring 15 - 1978 Houston I.B.M. Ring 39 - 1978 Houston S.A.M. Assembly 19 - 1978 San Antonio I.B.M Ring 18 - 1978 Corpus Christi, I.B.M. Ring 157 – 1978 Abilene, S.A.M. Assembly 192 – 1981 Austin, S.A.M. Assembly 206 – 1984 Lubbock, I.B.M. Ring 217 – 1984 Tyler, I.B.M. Ring 266 – 1989 Longview, I.B.M. Ring 286 – 1990 San Antonio, S.A.M. Assembly 52 – 1993 Texas Chapter of the Invisible Lodge International – 2002 Fort Worth S.A.M. Assembly 138 - 2003 Article IV, Section 4.03 authorizes the Secretary to automatically add or remove a magic club so approved by the Board of Directors. APPENDIX B BYLAWS OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MAGICIANS PRE-CONVENTION EXPENSE APPROPRIATIONS The Board of Directors has approved the following pre-convention expenses appropriations to be given to the host club as outlined in 8.02 of the Bylaws: A. $1,000.00 from the general treasury. B. 100% of the annual interest on an invested $20,100.00. C. 85% of the annual interest on an invested $35,000.00 bequest from A. Renerick Clark, with the following stipulations: 1. That the amount be presented to the incoming President at the inauguration ceremony accompanied by an announcement of the amount and that it is being presented by the A. Renerick Clark Memorial Trust Fund. 2. That the souvenir program include a message that the convention is partially funded by the A. Renerick Clark Memorial Trust Fund. D. 85% of the annual interest on an invested $20,000.00 bequest from Past President Donald F. Stiefel, with the following stipulations: -
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That the following statement will be read at the time the check is presented to the incoming convention President “This check in the amount of $________, represents the annual interest from a dedicated fund donated to TAOM by Past President Donald F. Stiefel.
2. That the following statement will be printed in each convention’s printed program: “Partial funding for this convention was made possible by a donation from TAOM Past President Don Stiefel.” And that 15% of the interest be reinvested. APPENDIX C BYLAWS OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MAGICIANS TROPHY AND AWARDS COMPETITI0NS OUTLINE OF COMPETITIONS: A. GENERAL Each host club of a Texas Association of Magicians Convention shall sponsor magical competitions to encourage magicians to improve their skills and to contribute to the advancement of magic as an art. To this objective, the Texas Association of Magicians will provide trophies to be awarded to the winners proclaiming their accomplishments. Any person registered for the Annual Convention will be eligible to compete provided he/she: 1. Has timely submitted a visual recording of the act (if required by the host club and if competing in any of the stage contests) along with a completed application with the host club to compete at the Annual Convention. 2. Has received notification of acceptance from the host club. 3. Receives no compensation of any kind for his/her appearance at the Annual Convention. Immediately after the contest winners have been announced and the awards presented, all contestants are relieved of this restriction. Trophies may be awarded in the following categories: 1. Senior Close-Up 2, Senior Stage 3. Senior Club 4. Senior Comedy 5. Junior Close-Up 6. Junior Stage 7. Junior Club 8. Junior Comedy 9. Best of Convention B. DEFINITIONS Senior: A contestant eighteen years of age or older. Junior: A contestant seventeen years of age or younger. Close-Up: Magic performed for a small intimate audience. Stage: Magic effects suitable a theater stage, including but not limited to illusions and effects involving more than one person or using animals. Club: Magic effects most suited for a club or cabaret audience. Comedy: Magic intentionally of a comic nature. Best of Convention: An additional trophy may be awarded to a contestant if, in the opinion of the judges, one act was of such outstanding, superior quality as to merit such distinction. This trophy shall be known as the “Herman Yerger Trophy” and the nameplate shall bear such designation, together with the winner’s name, category, year and place of the Annual Convention, in addition to the words. “Best Act of the Convention”. The base of this trophy may be larger than those awarded to the category winners. C. JUDGES The judges may change the category of an act if it is inappropriate or if they deem it to be an advantage to the contestant. The identity of the judges shall be kept confidential until after the contest(s) have been concluded. D. AWARDS The names of winners will be kept confidential until the public announcement is made. In case of ties, duplicate trophies will be awarded. No trophy will be awarded in categories with fewer than three contestants unless an act is judged as particularly outstanding. Regardless of the number of contestants in a category, no trophy will be awarded if, in the opinion of the judges, no act conforms to the high standards commensurate with the prestige of the T.A.O.M. trophy. An announcement will be made prior to the presentation of the trophies that partial funding for these trophies was made possible by a donation from the A. Renerick Clark Memorial Trust Fund. The announcement of the winners and the presentation of awards will be made during the Annual Convention by the Chairman of the Trophy and Awards Committee or a deputy. The names of all contestants in each category will be read before the winner is announced. No mention will be made of rankings. If awarded, the Best of Convention trophy will be the final award announced. The trophies and awards are permanent and become the property of the winners. E. GENERAL CONTEST RULES 1. Applications to compete must be received by the host club at least fifteen days prior to the start of the Annual Convention. If an act is withdrawn within the fifteen days prior to the Annual Convention, this rule may be waived and the Contest Chairman may grant eligibility to a replacement act. 2. The host club will notify each applicant of acceptance or rejection of the application at least seven days before the start of the Annual Convention. 3. The host club has the discretion to limit the number of acts to fit their time schedule. 4. Each act will be no more than ten minutes. An act exceeding the time limit will be penalized one point for each ten seconds over time. An act exceeding twelve minutes is disqualified. 5. The use of “inappropriate” material or “blue” material is discouraged. If such material is presented during the act, in the opinion of the judges, the act is disqualified. 6. Acts will be judged on the following point system: STAGE SETTING – 0 to 10 points. General appearance, eye appeal, attractiveness and appropriateness of dress, props, tables and equipment. STAGE PRESENCE – 0 to 15 points. Poise and confidence, intelligible speech, direct and understandable theme. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE – 0 to 30 points. Indicated by audience reaction, appreciation and overall enjoyment. PRESENTATION AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE – 0 to 30 points Personality, projection, routining and continuity, professional presentation and technical ability. ORIGINALITY – 0 to 15 points. Original material, inventive presentation or routining to include new presentations of standard effects – “something different” 7. Scoring: Discard high and low scores of each act. Average the remaining three scores to ascertain the contestant’s score. F. REVIEW OF RESPONSIBILITIES 1. The Secretary of the T.A.O.M. a. Notify the Representative from each club to supply, before August 1, to the Vice President, the name, address and telephone number of three prospective judges. b. Provide the host club copies of this Appendix C for applicants. c. Meet with the Vice President, Trophy and Awards Committee Chairman and the judges and provide each judge a copy of this Appendix C, a list of the contestants and the category they entered, and contest score sheets. d. Meet with the Vice President, Trophy and Awards Committee Chairman and the judges with materials to compute scores. e. Provide T.A.O.M. trophies to the Trophy and Awards Committee Chairman at the Annual Convention. f. Mail to each contestant the statistical results of the contest entered, the judges comments and a Certificate of Appreciation signed by the T.A.O.M. President. g. Design, purchase and mail the trophy frontplates to contest winners. h. Provide the Contest Judging Forms and adequate tools for the judges (i.e. clipboards or folders, pens or pencils, judging sheets, a list of the performers, and flashlights for the stage judges). 2. The T.A.O.M. Vice-President. a. Appoint five judges for every contest. Judges should represent as many different clubs as possible. b. Meet with the Trophy and Awards Committee Chairman, the judges and the Secretary to compute scores. c. Keep or have kept a record of the exact time of each contestant’s act. 3. The Host Club. a. Make available to all applicants the contest forms. The application to compete may be part of the T.A.O.M. mailings or bulletins describing the manner in which the applicant may apply to compete. Such description shall be specific as to deadlines, visual recording requirements (i.e. non-returnable, etc.) and any limitations (i..e. number of contestants per category) so imposed by the Contest Chairman. b. Notify all applicants at least seven days before the start of the Annual Convention whether or not their applications have been accepted. c. Provide a copy of this Appendix C to each contestant accepted at least seven days before the start of the Annual Convention. d. Provide the Secretary a list of competitor’s names, contact information and contest entered as soon as practical after the entry deadline. e. Before the contest, provide a meeting of the contestants and the Trophy and Awards Committee Chairman. 4. The Trophy and Awards Committee Chairman. a. Before the contest, meet with the Vice-President and the contestants to answer questions, note any changes in the schedule and then inform the Secretary of such changes. b. After the contest, meet with the Vice-President, judges and Secretary to compute scores. c. Announce the winners and present their awards at that Annual Convention. GUIDELINES FOR JUDGES
It is recommended that Judges should: Have a credible, working knowledge of the area they are judging.Have a base of comparison gleaned from personal experience and attendance at previous magic conventions.If possible, have experience as a judge in other magic competitions Be able to communicate well with others. Be able to make objective decisions, about subjective matters. Willing to stand by their opinions and convictions. Meet with contestants for purposes of critiquing their act and express opinions in an instructional, helpful and objective way. May have other expertise instead of or outside of magic (i.e. drama, dance, theater, or other allied arts)
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Bylaws
