SESCA Constitution and By-Laws

Revised  August  9, 2007

ARTICLE I.   NAME AND PURPOSE

               Section 1.  The name shall be the Southeastern Shrine Clown Association and shall be known as SESCA for convenience.

               Section 2.  The purpose of this organization shall be to foster friendship among the various clown organizations of the Southeastern Shrine Association and to further the ideas of Shrinedom.

ARTICLE II.   MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION

               Section 1.  An annual meeting shall be held in the city where the Southeastern Shrine Association holds it’s convention.  This meeting shall be called by the President of SESCA prior to the competition.  A second meeting of the Executive Committee shall be held during the Mid-Winter convention in a city chosen by the President of the Association and prior to the competition.

               A.  The president shall have the authority to suspend the meeting at any time and reconvene on the same date at such time and place as he deems necessary.

               Section 2.  Admission to the annual meeting shall be by current dues card only, unless properly vouched for by the President and/or Secretary of his respective unit, or by proper identification of the Noble through SESCA records as holding a current SESCA dues card.

               Section 3.  Admission to the Mid-Winter meeting of the Executive Committee shall be by invitation only.   Members may request an audience with the Executive Committee to discuss specific topics, but must be granted such audience by the President prior to admission.

               Section 4.  Visiting Nobles holding current dues cards from organized Shrine Clown Associations, as vouched for by the SESCA President, will be admitted to SESCA functions, and such other individuals as vouched for by the President of SESCA.

ARTICLE III.  OFFICERS OF SESCA

               Section 1.  The officers of SESCA shall consist of a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice- President, Thriird Vice-President, Executive Secretary/ Treasurer, Chaplain, and Sergeant-at-arms.

               Section 2.  Officers, except the Chaplain and Sergeant-at-arms, shall be appointed elected by secret ballot. The Chaplain and Sergeant-at-arms shall be appointed by the incoming President

               Section 3.  A permanent vacancy in the office of the President shall be filled by the automatic advancement of of the First Vice-President.  A permanent vacancy in the office of First Vice-President shall be filled by automatic advancement of the Second Vice-President. A permanent vacancy in the office of the Second Vice-President shall be filled by automatic advancement of the Third Vice-President.  A permanent vacancy in the office of Third Vice-President shall remain vacant until filled by the election at the next annual meeting.  A permanent vacancy in the office of Executive Secretary/ Treasurer shall be filled by appointment by the President fro for the period ending with the next annual meeting of the association, when a successor shall be elected for a full three- year term.

               Section 4.  All elected officers shall serve fro for one year, with the exception of the Executive Secretary/Treasurer, who shall be elected for a term of three years and shall be paid $1,200.00 annually for expense reimbursement.

ARTICLE IV:  NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

               Section 1.  Nominations and elections shall be held at the annual SESCA meeting each year.  No one shall be eligible to be nominated for election, unless he is currently holding or has held the highest office in his unit, regardless of what the office is called.

               Section 2.  If a man is interested in running for an office in SESCA, he is to notify the Executive Secretary/Treasurer of SESCA, no later than 90 days prior to the annual meeting, of his intention to run.  This intention to run, along with a short biography, will be published in the next issue of the SESCA-teer.  No other types of printed or promotional material will be permitted to be sent to Units or individuals or be permitted to be distributed at the convention.  This is in accordance with Imperial Shrine By-Laws. Additional nominations from the floor will be permitted.

               Section 3.  A majority of votes shall govern such election.  In the event of more than two nominees, should any nominee fail to receive a majority on the first ballot, a second ballot shall be taken considering only the two nominees having received the greatest number of votes on the first ballot.

               Section 4.  Each Temple shall have only three votes, regardless of the number of Clowns units in the Temple.  All Units within each Temple will caucus to decide for whom their Temple’s votes will be cast.  Each Temple is to appoint a representative to cast the ballot for his Temple.  All ballots will be preprinted for the office and will be numbered consecutively.

               Section 5.  The current SESCA President shall appoint an Election Committee composed of three Past Presidents of the association.  This committee will conduct the election in accordance with the SESCA By-Laws.

               Section 6.  Officers elected shall be installed during the time of the annual convention.

               Section 7.  No two members shall hold the office of Immediate Past President, President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, or Third Vice-President that are from the same Temple.

ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

               Section 1.  The President shall preside at all meetings of the association and shall administer the affairs of the association.  He shall appoint all committees and shall call such special meetings as may be necessary.

               Section 2.  The Vice-President’s shall assist the President and in the absence of the President, the senior Vice-President that is present shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the President.

               Section 3.  Assigned Areas of Responsibility:

                        A)  First Vice-President — Budget, Banquet, and Awards

                        B)  Second Vice-President — Competition

                        C)  Third Vice-President — Membership.  Also, will assist the 2nd Vice-President before and during competition to ensure all clowns comply with all SESCA Competition Rules.

               Section 4.  The Executive Secretary/Treasurer shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the association, conduct correspondence, and collect and pay out all monies of the association.  No disbursement of funds shall be made by the Executive Secretary/Treasurer, except when supported by a voucher approved by the association, or on other authorization given by the membership.

               Section 5.  The elected officers shall serve as an Executive Committee, which shall have the duty and authority to act on all business of the association which  that does not require action by the association.

               Section 6.  All funds of the association shall be maintained in a national bank account and shall require the signature of the President and Secretary/Treasurer.  These officers shall be bonded in such amounts as to cover all funds of the association in their keeping.

               Section 7 .  The Chaplain shall conduct appropriate prayers at all meetings and shall have charge of memorial services at the annual meeting.

               Section 8.  The Sergeant-at-Arms shall tile all meetings and be responsible for order at all functions of SESCA.

               Section 9.  Au An audit committee (consisting of three members, none of whom hold or have held office is in SESCA) will conduct an examination of the books and records of SESCA annually and report their findings at the annual meeting. The President shall select individuals who have knowledge of books and records fro for this position.

ARTICLE VI:  MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

               Section 1.  Any unit seeking membership in SESCA shall obtain approval of the Potentate of it’s Temple in writing.  After receiving approval of their Potentate, the unit may submit application fro for membership to SESCA.  Application shall be accompanied by a roster of the unit and one year’s dues for the unit and each of the members.  Acceptance of a unit into membership shall be by majority vote of SESCA member units. Between annual meetings of the association, applications may be submitted to member units by the Executive Secretary/Treasurer with a ballot to be completed in forty -five (45) days from the date the ballot is mailed to the member unit.  Failure of a member unit to return the ballot shall be counted as an affirmative vote.

               Section 2.  The annual dues for each unit shall be $35.00, plus $15.00, for each member of such unit.  A new member of SESCA shall be charged an initiation fee of $20.00, which includes one year’s dues ($15.00), a SESCA patch, a SESCA decal, and a membership certificate.  Dues are due on January 1st of each year and members will be delinquent on March 1st if dues have not been paid.  All units in delinquent status shall be assessed a fine in the amount of $3.00 per member on roll as of January 1st of that year.  Units desiring reinstatement in SESCA after nonparticipation for one calendar year will be assessed back unit dues, current unit dues, and member dues for the current year before acceptance in SESCA will be granted.

               Section 3. All past Presidents of SESCA, upon completion of their term of office, shall automatically be elected life members of SESCA and shall be exempt from all dues. Upon election, the President shall be presented by SESCA with a jeweled fez appropriate to his office; and upon completion of his term of office, he will be presented by SESCA with a gold engraved Life Membership Card.

ARTICLE VII:  MISCONDUCT

               Section 1.  Policing of the clowns shall be controlled by the officers, assisted by all Past Presidents, at all SESCA functions only.

               Section 2.  In the event of misconduct of a member, he shall be suspended immediately by an officer of SESCA until such time as he may be brought to trial at a closed meeting of the Executive Board of SESCA.

               Section 3.  The suspension shall be affirmed or denied, and if affirmed, he shall not be allowed to participate in any function of SESCA for a period of one year, and a recommendation shall be made to the Potentate of his Temple and his unit that he be similarly suspended by his unit.

ARTICLE VIII:  BUDGET

               Section 1.  The funds of SESCA shall be used in accordance with a budget, which shall be presented by the incoming President at each annual meeting, and approved by a majority vote of the membership.

ARTICLE IX:  COMPETITION

               Section 1.  Conduct and Discipline

               A.  The promotion and advancement of Shrine Clowning is the uppermost reason for participation in the fellowship and competition at these events.  For this reason , conduct of all individuals and units must be consistent with specified Shrine conduct.

               B.  While each individual must govern himself, it becomes necessity that each unit head assist by governing the conduct of his members.  Any conduct that would bring unfavorable criticism upon the Shrine, a Shrine Clown Unit or Clowning in general could result in an entire unit being disqualified from competition.

               Section 2.  Eligibility

               A.  All clowns and units in good standing in the association are eligible to participate in competition at the annual or mid-winter conventions, except members of the host Clown unit directly involved in the competition, and the elected officers of SESCA.

               B.  All members participating in competition must have a current SESCA dues card available for examination at registration and competition.

               C.  All members participating in competition must have a SESCA patch attached to his costume anywhere on the front, above the waist, and in plain view.

               Section 3.  Drawing for Positions:

               A.  All unit heads or their delegates will meet with the SESCA officers, competition chairman, and competition judges prior to the competition, at a place designated by SESCA to review the competition rules, draw for competition order in unit skits and paradeability and be assigned an assembly area.

               B.  Unit heads or their delegates not present for the drawing will be positioned at the discretion of the competition director.

               Section 4.  Presentation of Awards:

               A.  Trophies and awards will be presented at the awards banquet following competition.  Winners will not be announced until that time.

               B.  All ties will be re-judged during regular time of competition, before the contestants leave the competition arena.

               Section 5.  Judging:

               A.  The SESCA Second Vice-President and the chairman of the clowning competition shall have the final say in the selection of judges.  The SESCA Second Vice-President and the chairman will also have the responsibility for final interpretation of the judging rules.

               B.  Judges cannot be members of SESCA nor related to a member of SESCA.

               C.  A minimum of six (6) judges will be utilized.  Preferably , all six will have had extensive clowning experience and/or background of makeup experience.

               D.  Each judge will complete score sheets as appropriate and directed by SESCA Second Vice- President and the chairman .  Score sheets will be turned in to the SESCA Second Vice-President or his designate for final tallying at the end of competition.

               E.  No one may speak to judges during the competition, unless answering a direct question.

Exception:  SESCA Second Vice-President and Chairman or their personal delegates.

               F.  Judges will be required to walk around each clown in all categories during inspection of costume and makeup.

               G.  The decision of the judges will be final.

               Section 6.  Categories For Competition

               A.  Individual Clown (makeup & Costume): (1) Whiteface — Top Ten; (2) Auguste —Top Ten; (3) Tramp — Top Ten; (4) Character —Top Ten; (5) Senior — Top Ten; (6) Handicapped — Top Ten; and (7) Rookie — Top Ten.  Additional Category of (8) Happy Hobo — Top Ten may be included at the annual convention at the discretion of the President.

               B.  Individual Paradeability — 1,2,3 Trophy - Top Ten Award.

               C.  Individual Skit — 1,2,3 Trophy — Top Ten Award.

               D.  Two-Man Skit — 1,2,3 Trophy — Top Ten Award.

               E.  Single Balloon — 1,2,3 Trophy — Top Ten Award.

               F.  Multiple Balloon — 1,2,3 Trophy — Top Ten Award.

               G.  Unit Skit — 1,2,3 Trophy — Top Ten Award.

               H.  Unit Paradeability — 1,2,3 Trophy — Top Ten Award.

               I.  President’s Trophy — 1,2,3 Trophy — Top Ten Award.

               J.  Children's Choice — 1 Only

               Section 7.  Definitions of Individual Clowns

               A.  Whiteface:  is the classic Pierrot, Harleiquin Clown Face.  All White with features (eyebrows, nose, mouth) painted on, and other decorations in various colors.  The Whiteface is not unpleasant to look at.  He has decent manners and his performance is generally artistic in nature.  He usually appears to be in command of any situation in which he finds himself.

               B.  Auguste:  is the Character Clown.  His is the most comic clown face.  Base color pink or reddish (flesh) instead of white.  Features (red&black) are usually enormous in size.  Mouth, usually thickly outlined with white, which is often used also around the eyes.  The Auguste is the most slapstick of all the clowns; his actions wider, broader than the other types.  The Auguste get away with more and bigger pranks. He may be impeccably garbed in clothes that do not fit or his costuming may be elaborate.  There are many varieities of the Auguste Clown.

               C.  Tramp or Hobo Clown:  is the down-on-his-luck clown.  Makeup is flesh tone base, accented with red, white, black, and sometimes gray.  A dirty effect is sometimes created with makeup.  He is a shabby character fro for whom nothing seems to ever go right.  A Tramp or Hobo might be happy, sad or soulful.

               D.  Character:  is a composite of Whiteface, Auguste, and Tramp .  A Character should portray the character or characterization in good taste.

               E.  Senior:  is a Special category. If you are 62 and older by the date of competition, you may participate in this category. You may be Whiteface, Auguste, Tramp, or a Character Clown.

               F. Handicapped:  is a special category.  If you are handicapped, you may compete with everyone else that has a handicap.  This category is for the physically impaired.  You may be a Whiteface, Auguste, Tramp, Hobo, or a Character Clown.

               G.  Rookie:  is a special category. If this is your first year of competition as a Shrine Clown, you compete with everyone else who is a rookie.  This category is for the novice clown.  You may be a Whiteface, Auguste, Tramp, Hobo, or Character Clown.

               Section 8.  Special Rules for Individual Categories

               A. Whiteface:  (1) All exposed skin must be covered.  This shall mean the face, including the neck, ears, hands, and lagslegs, or any other part of the body. (2) Costumes must be clean, in good taste and colorful.  (3) At least 2/3 (two thirds) of exposed skin covered with makeup of a color other than white.  (4) No one will have or use any gimmick during this competition.  This will cause immediate disqualification.

               B. Auguste:  (1) All exposed skin must be covered.  This will mean the face, including neck, ears, hands, and lagslegs, or any other part of the body.  (2) Costumes must be clean, in good taste and colorful.  (3) At least 2/3 (two thirds) of exposed skin covered with makeup of a color other than white.  (4) No one will have or use any gimmick during this competition.,  This will cause immediate disqualification.

               C.  Tramp or Hobo:  (l) One-half of all exposed skin on the face must have makeup.  (2) Clothes may be old and torn, but must be clean.  (3) Gloves are optional.  (4) No one shall have or use any gimmick during this competition.  This will cause immediate disqualification.

               D.  Character:  (1) Same as Tramp or Hobo Must abide by the rules of the category he is portraying.  Example: If you are a Whiteface, you must use Whiteface rules, etc.

               E. Senior:  (1) Must abide by the rules of the category he is portraying.  Example: If you are a Whiteface, you must use Whiteface rules, etc.

               F. Handicapped:  (1)  Must abide by the rules of the category he is portraying.  Example: If you are a Whiteface, you must use Whiteface rules, etc.

               G. Rookie:  (1) Must abide by the rules of the category he is portraying.  Example: If you are a Whiteface, you must use Whiteface rules, etc.

               H. Individual Paradeability:  (1) Each clown will walk through in a forward direction as though in a parade.  (2) Contestant will have a maximum of one (1) minutes to complete his routine.

               I. Individual Skit:  (1) Each clown will be given three (3) minutes to perform an individual skit.  (2) He will perform in an area no larger than 40’ x 40’. 

               J. Two-Man Skit:  (1) Two (2) clowns will be given three (3) minutes to perform a skit.  (2)  They will perform in an area no larger than 40' x 40'.  (3)  The two clowns may be from different Shrine Centers, clubs or units.

               K. Single Balloon:  (1) The contestant will make something using one (1) balloon.  He may make more than one, but will present only one (1) balloon item to the judges.  (2) He will have five (5) minutes to

complete his sculpture.  (3) A note card identifying the item (not the contestant) may be used.  (4) If you compete in this category, you may not compete in Multiple Balloons category.

               L. Multiple Balloons:  (1) The contestant will make something using more than one balloon in his sculpture. Only one sculpture of balloons Multiple Balloons may be presented to the judges.  (2) He will have ten (10) minutes to complete his sculpture.  (3) A note card identifying the item (not the contestant) may be used.  (4) If you compete in this category, you may not compete in Single Balloon category.

                        Section 9. Definitions of Unit Skits & Paradeability

               A.  Unit Paradeability :  (1) Each unit will proceed in a forward direction as in a parade.  Members may stop to entertain spectators and perform individual stunts or gimmicks.  (2) Units will have a maximum of three (3) minutes to complete routine.

               B.  Unit Skit: (1) Time limit of five (5) minutes are measured from the time the forst first man crosses the start line until the last man crosses the finish line.  (2) Skit area will be 40’ x 40’.  (3) SESCA Second Vice-President or chairman will notify if there are special problems to be considered.  Example: No explosives, area size, etc.

               Section 10.  President’s Trophy

               A.  Scrapbook size is not to exceed 20” x 25”.  No other props are permitted.

               B. Judging Standards (maximum of 100 points): (1) Service and contribution to crippled children and other under privileged children or persons —50 points.  (2) Service, social, and leadership contribution to local Shrine Temple and to local community —20 points.  (3) Service, leadership and contributions to SESCA and other Shrine Clown Associations -20 points.  (4) Art and Organization of Book — 10 points.

               C. Material contained in the scrapbook should only cover from the beginning of last year’s annual SESCA convention to the beginning of this year’s annual SESCA convention.

               Section 11.  Competition & Score Sheets:  The score sheets for the Top Ten Clowns in each category shall be given (or mailed per request with self- addressed, stamped envelope) to each individual clown, not more than thirty (30) days after competition from the SESCA Second Vice-President.

               Section 12.  Costume:  There will be no female impersonations, no wearing of female apparel, no black face, no masks, no animal masks, or anything in bad taste, worn in competition, parades, or on the street.  (2) The above is in accordance with the Imperial Council Rules.

               Section 13.  The competition rules will be reviewed and recommended changes made once every three years, starting in 1994.

               Section 14.  A registration fee fro for competition at all SESCA meetings, in the amount of $10.00, will be charged by SESCA to help defray expenses.

               ARTICLE X.  MISCELLANEOUS RULES.

               Section 1.  The Constitution and By-Laws of SESCA may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those present and voting at an annual meeting of the association., but only after having been read at two (2) meetings.  If each member unit has been notified in writing, with a verbatim copy of the proposed amendment, not less than sixty (60) days prior to the annual meeting, the amendments may be voted on after only one (1) reading at the meeting.

               Section 2.  The unit head of the Host Temple shall be responsible for all planning of the SESCA convention.  He shall submit to the executive board a detailed plan and budget prior to the mid-winter convention.  He shall also submit, within sixty (60) days after the convention, a complete report of the

convention detailing their plans, proposed budget, actual financial report, and attendance at each function, for all functions of SESCA.

ARTICLE XI.  RULES OF ORDER:

               Section 1.  Roberts Rules of Order, not in conflict with this Constitution and By-Laws, shall govern.