Approved 12/20/24
The purpose of the League of Cincinnati Theatres (LCT) is to support and connect theatre makers, lovers, and advocates in order to create an accessible and flourishing theatre community in our region.
The League of Cincinnati Theatres will support community-building, collaboration, and camaraderie among Cincinnati theatre stakeholders.
The League of Cincinnati Theatres will seek to organize community resources that provide greater visibility, professional development, and networking opportunities for its members.
The League of Cincinnati Theatres is dedicated to providing theatre reviews and ongoing communications support to local productions and projects.
The League of Cincinnati Theatres is a cooperative service organization bringing together theatre organizations and individual theatre makers and stakeholders. To be considered for organizational membership, a company must pursue ongoing, professional work. “Ongoing” in this context refers to producing theatrical work annually and consistently within an organizational structure. “Professional” in this context means production personnel (designers, technicians, actors, etc.) are working via paid contracts, regardless of the pay scale. Individual membership is open to working theatre artists, theatre students, patrons, and advocates.
Membership will be granted on a rolling basis to organizations and individuals. Organization applications will be reviewed quarterly by Board Members and must include limited organizational information to show they meet eligibility qualifications. Individuals may apply at any time, and membership will be granted upon payment of one-time dues. Organizational membership dues will be charged on an annual basis and must be paid to remain a member in good standing.
Membership Levels
Organizational dues will be as follows, based on annual revenue for the most recently completed fiscal year:
Individual dues will be as follows:
A stakeholder is defined as someone who is financially, physically, mentally, and/or emotionally invested in the professional theatre community in Cincinnati.
LCT shall consist of General Members, who are either individuals or theatre organizations, and a Board of Directors. Each organization will be granted one voting seat to represent its membership. The organization may change its membership representative at any time, provided the change is communicated to the President(s).
The Board shall be made up of Committee Chairpersons, Treasurer, Secretary, three Vice Presidents (Organizational, Individual, and At Large), and the President.
Board Members shall be elected from the General Membership. Each will be elected to a two-year term, which may be renewed. All General Members in good standing may vote in Board elections. Board Members in good standing may vote on organizational business and decision-making for LCT. Voting may take place in person or via internet/email.
A meeting may be held virtually in lieu of an in-person meeting when deemed necessary by the President(s) or by a majority of attendees for that specific meeting. Committee meetings may also be held virtually when deemed necessary by the Committee Chair or a majority of committee members.
A General Membership Meeting shall be held annually for all organizational and individual members. Elections for any vacant Board seats will take place at this meeting.
Board Meetings shall be held quarterly or more often if needed, at the mutual convenience of most Board Members.
Committee Meetings shall be held quarterly or more often as needed to meet the needs of committee business.
Special Meetings may be called by motion and vote of the Board Members, or at the request of General Members by signed petition of 50% of membership or agreement by Board Members. Written notice of such a meeting shall be emailed or announced via social media to Board Members and General Membership.
The members present at any meeting of the members shall constitute a quorum for that meeting. Similarly, the members who vote on an issue via online voting shall constitute a quorum.
Resignation. Any member in good standing may resign from LCT upon written notice to the organization. No refund of dues shall be given in the case of resignation.
Lapsing. Membership will be considered lapsed and automatically terminated if a member’s dues remain unpaid ninety (90) days after the due date. In no case may a member be entitled to vote at any meeting whose dues are unpaid as of the date of the meeting.
The Board of Directors for the League of Cincinnati Theatres shall be comprised of a maximum of 13 voting members, each position requiring a voting member to take ownership of specific organizational responsibilities as listed below. See Section 2.3 for details on the Board term of office. All Board Officers are volunteer positions and do not receive compensation for their work on behalf of LCT.
President
The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership and of the Board and shall perform such other duties as are incident to the office or as may be required by the General Membership.
Vice Presidents
The Vice Presidents shall exercise the authority of the President in their absence and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors. Should the President position be vacated for any reason prior to the annual election of officers, a Vice President shall become the President, and that Vice President position shall be filled by a majority vote of the Members at the next annual meeting or sooner if needed via special election and online voting.
Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for recording the minutes of membership and Board of Directors meetings and maintaining such other records as may be required by the President(s). The Secretary shall have charge of correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify new members of their acceptance to membership, keep a roll of members with their addresses, and carry out such other duties as the Co-Presidents may request.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies. They shall deposit the same in a bank or safe depository account set up by LCT. Withdrawals and payments shall be made only as designated by the Board of Directors and approved by the President. Accounts shall at all times be open to inspection by the General Membership, and the Treasurer shall report to the Members at every meeting the condition of the League’s finances. If the Treasurer is not in attendance at a given meeting, financial reports may be made by email to Board Members and/or General Membership.
Past President(s)
Past President(s) may work in an oversight and mentorship capacity on the advisory board, helping new officers onboard to their positions and safeguarding institutional knowledge for the continued success of the organization. After serving two years off the Executive Committee, the Past President is welcome to run for President again.
Committee Chairpersons
Committee Chairpersons shall direct committee business and convene committee meetings as needed to complete the goals and functions of their committee.
Election of Officers and Committee Chairs shall be by a majority vote of all members in good standing at the Annual Membership Meeting. Members not in physical attendance may vote by email. Prior to such meeting, the current Board of Directors shall solicit potential officers from the General Membership and present a slate of candidates to fill the vacancies of expiring Board Officers and Committee Chairs. Nominations may also be made by the General Membership by email to the Presidents for inclusion in the slate of candidates.
The Board may hire an Executive Director to take on either full- or part-time work on behalf of LCT. The Executive Director shall implement programming and membership benefits in alignment with the LCT mission. The Executive Director shall report to the Board Members and may be dismissed with a majority vote of the Board.
Standing committees of the League of Cincinnati Theatres shall be as follows: Membership, Finance, Community Connections, Resources, and Communications/Stage Insights. The Chair of each committee will earn a seat on the Board, with the exception of Membership (chaired by the Presidents) and Finance (chaired by the Treasurer). Board Members may also establish ad hoc committees as needed, for the future growth and success of the organization.
Membership Committee
Shall focus on cultivating both individual and organizational members to enrich the diversity and community of LCT. The committee will handle new member onboarding, administer a welcome program, and offer personal points of contact for members seeking to learn more about the organization.
Finance Committee
Shall oversee all monies collected and distributed by LCT. It shall have oversight of bank accounts, purchases, tax and business filings, and shall provide expert advice and overview data of finances to Board Members at each quarterly Board meeting or upon request.
Community Connections Committee
Shall focus on events and services that bring theatre makers together. The committee will facilitate networking opportunities, host biannual showcases, create and maintain The Cincy Theatre Directory (a lookbook of resumes for theatre professionals in the city), and create opportunities to build deeper connections among Cincinnati’s theatre workers.
Resources Committee
Shall focus on providing access to resources that allow theatre makers to create their own art. LCT recognizes a need in the Cincinnati theatre community for professional development, shared services for artists (such as prop and space sharing programs), and organized spaces—whether digital or in person—where artists can easily find and freely access available resources (such as ticket discount programs, grant information, etc.).
Communications/Stage Insights Committee
Shall promote LCT and communicate information to members and stakeholders. This includes overseeing the Stage Insights review program, managing the LCT Facebook page and Cincy Theatre Connections community group, and establishing a monthly newsletter and mailing list.
The fiscal year of the League shall be from the first day of July until the last day of June.
Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed by a resolution of the Board Members recommending the amendment for a vote of the General Membership. Notice of the proposed amendment shall be sent to the General Membership prior to the annual meeting. The amendment shall be adopted upon receiving a majority of votes from the General Membership. Voting may take place in person or via the internet.
The League of Cincinnati Theatres may be dissolved at any time by recommendation of the Board Members and approval by a majority vote of the General Membership in good standing present at the specified special meeting. In the event of dissolution of the League, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, none of the assets of the League shall be distributed to any member. After payment of all lawful debts of the League, its property and assets shall be given to a not-for-profit arts organization selected by a majority vote of the members. Multiple not-for-profit organizations may also be selected for distribution if approved by a majority vote of the members.
