Read the Full Constitution Below, or download a pdf version here.
Florida Players Constitution
Article I — Name of Organization
The name of this organization shall be Florida Players. This organization may utilize the initials FP in publicity material and correspondence.
Article II — Purpose Statement
Section 1 — Mission Statement
Explore. Create. Engage.
Section 2 — Purpose Statement
Florida Players is an explorative student-run theatre company that provides diverse
opportunities for artistic and professional growth through hands-on work in live theatre.
Florida Players will produce engaging works that challenge both its members and
audiences. Florida Players members will collaborate on all aspects of live theatre,
including but not limited to: direction, design, performance, playwriting, stage
management, and leadership. Florida Players also acts as an umbrella organization for
the dance company, Floridance. Florida Players is sponsored by the UF Student
Government and is open to all University of Florida students, regardless of major, as
well as the greater Gainesville community.
Article III — Compliance Statement
Upon approval by the Department of Student Activities and Involvement, Florida Players
shall be a registered student organization at the University of Florida. Florida Players
shall comply with all local, state, and federal laws, as well as all University of Florida
regulations, policies, and procedures. Such compliance includes, but is not limited to,
the university’s regulations related to non-discrimination, sexual harassment (including
sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking), hazing,
commercial activity, and student leader eligibility.
Article IV — University Regulations
Section 1 — Non-Discrimination
Florida Players agrees that it will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color,
religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital
status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran
status as protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.
Section 2 — Sexual Harassment
Florida Players agrees that it will not engage in any activity that is unwelcome conduct
of sexual nature that creates a hostile environment. Behaviors that could create a
hostile environment include sexual harassment (which could include inappropriate
sexual comments), sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.
Section 3 — Hazing
Florida Players agrees that it will not initiate, support, or encourage any events or
situations that recklessly, by design, or intentionally endanger the mental or physical
health or safety of a student for any purpose including but not limited to initiation or
admission into or affiliation with any student group or organization.
Section 4 — Responsibility to Report
If this organization becomes aware of any such conduct described in this article, Florida
Players will report it immediately to Student Activities and Involvement, the Director of
Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, or the University’s Title IX Coordinator.
Article V — Membership
Membership in this organization is open to all enrolled students at the University of
Florida. Non-enrolled students, spouses, faculty, and staff may be associate members,
however, they may not vote or hold office. All members and associate members are free
to leave and disassociate without fear of retribution, retaliation, or harassment.
Article VI — Officers
The officers of Florida Players are the members of the Executive Board, which consists
of: the President/Artistic Director, Vice President/Associate Artistic Director,
Treasurer/Director of Finance, Secretary, Production Manager, Technical Director,
Assistant Production Manager(s), Assistant Technical Director(s), Director of Publicity,
Outreach Coordinator, Director of Special Events, Webmaster, and Historian. Term of
office for each position may last no longer than one (1) year with possibility of
reelection. These officers may be announced and honored at the University of Florida
School of Theatre and Dance convocation and will be announced at the Florida Players
End-of-the-Year Banquet. They will officially take office at the close of the mandatory
Transition Meeting (see Florida Players By-Laws).
Section 1 — President / Artistic Director
The office of Artistic Director shall be equivalent to the office of President as per Student
Government regulations. The office shall be referred to only as Artistic Director. The
Artistic Director shall be elected by the general body. The Artistic Director will have one
(1) vote as an Executive Board member. The responsibilities of the Artistic Director shall
be the following:
- To preside over all Florida Players meetings and conduct or delegate all Florida
Players business. - To lead the Artistic Vision of the season.
- To serve as ex-officio of all Florida Players committees.
- To serve as chair of the Executive Board.
- To re-register Florida Players as a student organization on GatorConnect at the
beginning of each fall semester. - To contact the School of Theatre and Dance at the beginning of each fall
semester to speak on behalf of Florida Players at the University of Florida School
of Theatre and Dance convocation. - To secure the Florida Players Student Organization Advisor as selected by the
Executive Board. - To call special meetings of the Florida Players general body or the Executive
Board when they deem such action necessary. - In the event a vote needs to be conducted by the Artistic Director, ⅔ of the
eligible voting body must be present. Of those present, a ⅔ majority will be
required to pass the proposal with the exception of Executive Board elections
(see Article XII, Section 2, Point 3). - To have co-sign authority with the Director of Finance on all Student Acquisition
Requests (SARs). - As per Student Government regulations, to preside over Florida Players
SG-labelled special equipment (lighting equipment, etc.). - To give a toast at the opening night of all Florida Players productions.
- To coordinate, in conjunction with the Associate Artistic Director, all master
classes sponsored by the organization. - To act as liaison to the University of Florida’s School of Theatre and Dance as a
whole on behalf of Florida Players. - To report on the state of Florida Players to the Director and Production Manager
of the University of Florida School of Theatre and Dance. - To arrange, with the Associate Artistic Director, private meetings with each officer
on the Executive Board to discuss performance and any personal disputes at the
end of the fall semester. - To arrange regularly scheduled Executive Board meetings twice a month and to
attend every arranged Executive Board meeting. - To sit in at auditions, callbacks, and casting meetings and to oversee these
events, in conjunction with the Production Manager. At these meetings, the
Artistic Director may give input. At casting meetings, the Artistic Director may
give advice and retains final determination in resolving casting disputes. - To have the ability to give notes to the director(s) of all Florida Players
productions. The final say on production questions is left to the show’s
director(s). In the event the Artistic Director is the show’s director, this
responsibility falls to the Asst. Artistic Director. In the event of concerns by the
Artistic Director about some non-design entities, the Asst. Artistic Director will
step in and treat the situation as a conflict, with the potential of suspending the
director’s final say. - To lead design meetings in the event that both the Production Manager and
Assistant Production Manager(s) cannot attend. - The Artistic Director holds the right to sit in on any Florida Players meeting or
rehearsal as long as they has given the appropriate person 24-hour notice. - For as long as Florida Players is a federal and state non-profit, the Artistic
Director and Director of Finance must complete all tax documents and other
non-profit documents in accordance with their respective Operational Handbook. - The Artistic Director and Director of Finance shall have access to the Florida
Player’s bank account. They will each hold one Debit card that gives them
authorization to make purchases for Florida Players. - To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office.
Section 2 — Vice President / Assistant Artistic Director
The office of Associate Artistic Director shall be equivalent to the office of Vice
President as per Student Government regulations. The office shall be referred to only as
Associate Artistic Director. The Associate Artistic Director shall be elected by the
general body. The Associate Artistic Director will have one (1) vote as an Executive
Board member. The responsibilities of the Associate Artistic Director shall be the
following:
- To assume the duties of any officer in the event of their absence or inability at the
discretion of the Executive Board and to serve in said position until a special
election is held. - To serve as parliamentarian of all of Florida Players.
- To oversee the planning, scheduling, and execution of regularly scheduled
workshops as defined in the Florida Players By-Laws, Article III, Section 1. - To oversee the Mentor/Mentee program as defined in the Florida Players
By-Laws, Article III, Section 1. - To register Florida Players for the Organization Fair in a timely manner at the
beginning of each semester. - To create and manage, in conjunction with the Director of Special Events, any
new programs the Executive Board shall decide to implement in its experimental
phase. - To arrange, in conjunction with the Artistic Director, private meetings with each
officer on the Executive Board to discuss performances and any professional
disputes at the end of the fall semester. - To reserve spaces for all general body meetings and workshops.
- To act as a moderator for conflict resolution for all of Florida Players.
- To serve as collaborator with any Executive Board members concerned with
general body relations (namely, the Secretary, Director of Outreach, Director of
Special Events, Director of Publicity, Historian and Webmaster) in maintaining a
cohesive, positive Florida Players identity. This may include proofreading,
assisting upkeep (such as the FP board and website) and inquiry response (such
as through the Facebook page). - To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office.
Section 3 – Treasurer / Director of Finance
The office of Director of Finance shall be equivalent to the office of Treasurer as per
Student Government regulations. The office shall be referred to only as Director of
Finance. The Director of Finance shall be elected by the general body. The Director of
Finance will have one (1) vote as an Executive Board member. The responsibilities of
the Director of Finance shall be the following:
- To keep accurate records of all Florida Players revenues and expenditures.
- To establish a Finance Committee, if so desired, and to serve as chair of the
Finance Committee. - To keep an accurate current balance of all Florida Players finances and to keep
said balance available for review at all meetings. - To maintain a close working relationship with Student Government Finance and
the Student Government Senate. - To submit Student Acquisition Requests (SARs) for any and all Florida Players
expenditures prior to purchase. - To submit Student Acquisition Requests (SARs) for any and all Florida Players
subgroup expenditures as predetermined in the year’s budget. - To have co-sign authority with the Artistic Director of Florida Players on all
Student Acquisition Requests (SARs). - To serve as primary liaison between Florida Players and the Florida Players
budget outreach advisor. - To prepare the next academic year’s budget request proposal for Student
Government Finance, and attend Student Government budget hearings in the
spring semester. - To oversee the proposition of any and all special allocation requests and to
attend the special allocation committee meetings. - To ensure the delegation of funds from the overall Florida Players budget to their
appropriate subgroups as predetermined in the year’s budget. - To propagate budget changes proportionally through Florida Players and its
subgroups. - To serve as primary finance liaison between Florida Players and its subgroups.
- To maintain a working relationship with the treasurer of all Florida Players’
subgroups in order to oversee the financial health of these subgroups. - For as long as Florida Players is a federal and state non-profit, the Artistic
Director and Director of Finance must complete all tax documents and other
non-profit documents in accordance with their respective Operational Handbook. - The Artistic Director and Director of Finance shall have access to the Florida
Player’s bank account. They will each hold one Debit card that gives them
authorization to make purchases for Florida Players. - To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office.
Section 4 – Secretary
The Secretary shall be elected by the general body. The Secretary will have one (1)
vote as an Executive Board member. The responsibilities of the Secretary shall be the
following:
- To keep minutes of all Florida Players Executive Board and general body
meetings. In the event of the secretary’s absence, this responsibility will fall to the
Associate Artistic Director. - To report all discussions on constitutional and policy changes to the general body
at least one week prior to voting by the general body. - To keep a record of attendance at all Florida Players events.
- To keep a record of attendance of the Executive Board and to notify the Artistic
Director and Associate Artistic Director of any Executive Board member’s
excessive absences (3 or more per semester) from events the Executive Board
member is required to attend (see Florida Players By-Laws, Article I, Section 3). - To distribute email notifications of all Florida Players news and events to the
general body. - To keep track of all members’ points and membership status.
- To assign points toward membership as seen fit at the discretion of the
Secretary. - To keep and maintain the designated Florida Players bulletin board in the School
of Theatre and Dance hallway. - To maintain the integrity of and proofread all records and official Florida Players’
publicity and paperwork in conjunction with the Director of Publicity. - To assist the Webmaster in the management of the Florida Players library.
- To distribute production invitations to all School of Theatre and Dance faculty.
- To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office.
Section 5 – Production Manager
The Production Manager shall be an appointed position. This appointment shall be
made upon recommendation by the current Production Manager and shall be approved
by majority vote of the Executive Board, no later than one (1) month prior to Executive
Board Elections. The Production Manager may only serve for one (1) year in said
position. The Production Manager will have one (1) vote as an Executive Board
member. Their vote shall reflect the opinions of the Production Management team. The
responsibilities of the Production Manager shall be the following:
- To serve as chair of the Production Selection Committee.
- To act as liaison between Florida Players and the representatives in charge of
space scheduling. - To reserve all rehearsal spaces and performance venues, and to submit event
permits for all Florida Players productions. - To enforce all rules and regulations of rehearsal spaces and performance
venues. - To act as liaison between Florida Players and any technical representatives of
the University of Florida School of Theatre and Dance, The Curtis M. Phillips
Center for the Performing Arts, Reitz Union Event Services, and other venues. - To serve as the primary point of contact for all those involved in Florida Players
productions. - To coordinate and successfully mount the production season as outlined in the
Production Manager’s Operational Handbook. - To oversee, in conjunction with the Director of Finance, the submission of
Student Acquisition Requests (SARs) related to the mounting of the production
season. - To collect and oversee, in conjunction with the Director of Finance, the
submission of all production receipts to Student Government Finance. - To schedule and manage the casting meeting held after callbacks every
production season, in conjunction with the Artistic Director. - To regulate the posting of cast lists for each production.
- To handle, maintain, and keep on record the various production contracts.
- To ensure the eligibility of potential directors and designers in regards to the
University of Florida School of Theatre and Dance program requirements. - To secure designers and advisors (as needed) for each production in conjunction
with the Technical Director. - To update all proposal guidelines in conjunction with the Artistic Director, and
make them available to members at least two (2) weeks before the proposal
deadline. - To appoint the Assistant Production Manager(s), one of whom shall inherit the
office of the Production Manager in the following year upon receiving approval of
the Executive Board. - In the event that the Assistant Production Manager(s) are not approved by the
Executive Board or do not accept appointment, open applications may be
accepted. - To schedule and facilitate all production and design meetings.
- To update the Design Process Guide in conjunction with the Technical Director.
- To enforce all design deadlines as established in conjunction with the Technical
Director. - To relay and confirm any special needs such as projections, haze, etc. to the
performance venue. - To facilitate prop weapon safety as outlined in the Prop Weapon Safety
Guidelines in conjunction with the Technical Director. - To schedule and facilitate a post-mortem for every Florida Players production.
- To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office.
Section 6 – Technical Director
The Technical Director shall be an appointed position. This appointment shall be made
upon recommendation by the current Technical Director and shall be approved by
majority vote of the Executive Board, no later than one (1) month prior to Executive
Board Elections. The Technical Director may only serve for one (1) year in said position.
The Technical Director will have one (1) vote as an Executive Board member. Their
vote shall reflect the opinions of the Technical Direction team. The responsibilities of the
Technical Director shall be the following:
- To plan, coordinate, and run the build, load-in, and strike for each production,
which may include the creation of a build schedule, build drafts, and a technical
ground plan. - To create a tech week schedule for each production in conjunction with the
Production Management Team. - To update the Design Process Guide in conjunction with the Production
Manager. - To confirm any special needs such as projections, haze, etc. with the designers
and to relay this information to the Production Manager. - To create estimation packages for the designs of each production and aid in
conforming to the budget established by the Production Manager. - To plan and produce, in conjunction with the Associate Artistic Director, at least
one technical theatre workshop. - To assist the Production Manager in securing designers for each production.
- To attend all design and production meetings, unless otherwise excused by the
Artistic Director or Production Manager. - To lead design meetings in the event that the Production Manager, Assistant
Production Managers, and Artistic Director cannot attend. - To maintain an inventory of the Florida Players storage unit.
- To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office.
Section 7 – Assistant Production Manager(s)
The Assistant Production Manager(s) shall be an appointed position. The Assistant
Production Manager(s) does not have an independent vote, but is represented by the
vote of the Production Manager (see Article VI, Section 5). The responsibilities of the
Assistant Production Manager(s) shall be the following:
- To assist the Production Manager with any of the aforementioned responsibilities
outlined in Article VI, Section 5. - To coordinate and successfully serve as “Show-Specific Production Manager” for
one show as specified by the Production Manager. - An Assistant Production Manager shall inherit the office of Production Manager.
The office of Assistant Production Manager shall be appointed by application to
the Production Manager with majority approval from the Executive Board. - In the event that the Assistant Production Manager(s) are not approved by the
Executive Board or do not accept appointment, open applications may be
accepted. - To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office. - In the event that the Production Manager is unable to make an executive board
meeting, one of the Assistant Production Manager(s) will gain the right to vote for
that meeting.
Section 8 – Assistant Technical Director(s)
The Assistant Technical Director(s) shall be an appointed position. The Assistant
Technical Director(s) does not have an independent vote, but is represented by the vote
of the Technical Director (Article VI Section 6). The responsibilities of the Assistant
Technical Director(s) shall be the following:
- To assist the Technical Director with any of the aforementioned responsibilities
outlined in Article VI, Section 6. - To coordinate and successfully serve as “Show-Specific Technical Director” for
one show as specified by the Technical Director. - An Assistant Technical Director shall inherit the office of Technical Director. The
office of Assistant Technical Director shall be appointed by application to the
Technical Director with majority approval from the Executive Board. - In the event that the Assistant Technical Director(s) are not approved by the
Executive Board or do not accept appointment, open applications may be
accepted. - To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office. - In the event that the Technical Director is unable to make an executive board
meeting, one of the Assistant Technical Director will gain the right to vote for that
meeting.
Section 9 – Director of Publicity
The Director of Publicity shall be elected by the general body. The Director of Publicity
will have one (1) vote as an Executive Board member. The responsibilities of the
Director of Publicity shall be the following:
- To serve as chair of the Publicity Committee.
- To develop, or delegate the development of, all Florida Players production
programs (in accordance with production licensing agreement), which shall meet
the approval of the Executive Board and each production’s director and producer. - To develop, or delegate the development of, all Florida Players production
posters (in accordance with production licensing agreement), which shall meet
the approval of the performance venue, Florida Players Executive Board, and
each production’s director and producer. - To send out all press releases, public service announcements, etc. regarding all
Florida Players productions, events, and fundraisers. - To keep track of all media published about Florida Players.
- To ensure, in conjunction with the Director of Special Events, that all Florida
Players meetings and events are adequately publicized at least one (1) week in
advance. - To plan and orchestrate flyering or other appropriate advertising (promo videos,
tarp, etc.) for each production. - If desired, to oversee the creation of Florida Players merchandise (t-shirts, etc.).
- To maintain and update the Press Contact List.
- To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office.
Section 10 – Director of Outreach
The Director of Outreach shall be elected by the general body. The Director of Outreach
will have one (1) vote as an Executive Board member. The responsibilities of the
Director of Outreach shall be the following:
- To establish an Outreach Management Team, if so desired, and serve as chair of
the Outreach Management Team. - To handle outreach to other organizations on campus such as, but not limited to,
the Filipino Student Association, The LGBTQ+ Association, the Pakistani Student
Association, etc. - To coordinate the acquisition of a dramaturg as necessary in conjunction with
Production Management. - To oversee audience development in conjunction with the Webmaster and
Director of Publicity to analyze audience demographics. - To oversee general body development in conjunction with the Secretary to
analyze general body demographics. - To help Associate Artistic Director program diverse workshops (self branding, d-9
training, etc). - To address the diversity concerns of the general body and have the ability to take
these concerns to the Executive Board. - To maintain community involvement within the Greater Gainesville area.
- To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office.
Section 11 – Director of Special Events
The Director of Special Events shall be elected by the general body. The Director of
Special Events will have one (1) vote as an Executive Board member The responsibilities
of the Director of Special Events shall be the following:
- To serve as chair of the Special Events Committee.
- To communicate with the Artistic Director and Director of Finance in regards to
raising donations, as well as the expenditure for and financing of events. - To organize and oversee all fundraising for the organization.
- To coordinate the publicity for all events at least two (2) weeks in advance in
conjunction with the Director of Publicity and the Secretary. - To organize and oversee all events excluding those assigned to the Production
Management Team as outlined in Article VI, Sections 5 and 7. - To organize and oversee Fall Ball, a Holiday event, and End-of-the-Year Banquet
at the discretion of the Executive Board. - To create and manage, in conjunction with the Associate Artistic Director, any
new programs the Executive Board shall decide to implement in its experimental
phase. - To coordinate the opening night toast for each Florida Players Production.
- To coordinate and manage additional recreational and social events for the
organization. - If desired, to coordinate and manage Florida Players intramural sports teams.
- To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office.
Section 12 – Webmaster
The Webmaster shall be elected by the general body. The Webmaster will have one (1)
vote as an Executive Board member. The responsibilities of the Webmaster shall be the
following:
- To ensure that the Florida Players website and ticketing services are constantly
maintained and updated. - To establish a Web Management Team, if so desired, and serve as chair of the
Web Management Team. - To work with the Director of Finance and Director of Special Events to ensure
that the Florida Players website does not lapse. - To coordinate the house management for all Florida Players productions.
- To oversee the management and upkeep of the Florida Players library.
- To maintain communication platforms for all Executive Board communication.
- To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office.
Section 13 – Historian
The Historian shall be elected by the general body. The Historian will have one (1) vote
as an Executive Board member. The responsibilities of the Historian shall be the
following:
- To keep a digital and paper archive of all savable content including but not
limited to: posters, programs, etc. This includes keeping a running list of Florida
Players productions for use by the Selection Committee. - To keep a document listing all the Constitution changes proposed in executive
board meetings, which includes why the changes were or were not voted in. - To ensure that a photocall takes place for each Florida Players production.
- To coordinate any other photo calls desired by additional Florida Players
members. - To acquire photos as a resource for all members.
- To attend all Florida Players events and ensure that photos are taken at/of each
event. - To record and document Florida Players rehearsals, technical rehearsals, and
performances if desired by each production’s director as outlined in their
production contracts. - To serve as resource of content for Director of Special Events.
- To maintain an alumni registry.
- To keep and maintain the Florida Players camera, and to ensure that it is
returned safely to the Florida Players office on the off-season. - To maintain a professional relationship with the Smathers Library Archivist and to
archive documents and records throughout the year. - To maintain an officer’s operational handbook to be passed down to the
subsequent holder of this office.
Section 14 – Leave of Absence
- In the event that an officer takes a leave of absence for medical or curricular
reasons, so long as the leave does not directly interfere with their performance in
the carrying out of duties as outlined in this constitution, and their respective
Executive Board contract, a special provision may be granted by the Executive
Board for said officer to continue to hold this office during said leave. - Should the Executive Board find that the officer in question has not maintained a
standard of expectations outlined prior to their leave, the officer in question must
forfeit their right to impeachment and is to step down at the request of the
Executive Board. The Executive Board is to appoint an interim replacement until
a special election with the general body can be held. Replacement of an
Executive Board member at this special election will require a two-thirds (2/3)
majority vote of the general body, as is the policy with general elections (see
Article VII). - In the event that no eligible replacement can be appointed, the Associate Artistic
Director and/or the Artistic Director may step in and fulfill a position’s executive
duties until a replacement is selected or elected.
Section 15 – Impeachment of Executive Board Members
- If a general body member moves to impeach an executive board officer at a
general body meeting, the general body will then have the right to discuss the
pros and cons of impeachment. Following this discussion, the executive board
will vote on said officer’s removal from office. The officer in question will also be
given the opportunity to approach the general body and defend their position.
a. If an executive board member moves to impeach an executive board
officer, the general body will have seven (7) to ten (10) days to give input
before the executive board votes on removal from office. The officer in
question will also be given the opportunity to approach the general body
and defend their position. - All Executive Board members are required to sign their respective Rights and
Responsibilities Contracts prior to taking office. Being found in breach of contract
may be grounds for impeachment at the discretion of the Executive Board. - Their office shall be filled by a special election immediately after impeachment.
This special election shall be presided over by the current Artistic Director, or if
the Artistic Director has been removed, the meeting shall be presided over by the
current Associate Artistic Director unless this creates a conflict of interest.
Article VII — Elections
Section 1 — Election of the Executive Board
- Nominations of all elected Executive Board positions shall be made and closed at
the second to last regular meeting of the spring semester in April. - The election of all elected Executive Board positions shall be held and finalized
using secret ballots at the last meeting of the spring semester in April. A plurality
of quorum is needed for election. - Nominees for each Executive Board position will be given the opportunity to
speak before elections are held. - In the case of an officer vacancy, a meeting will be called to elect a replacement,
with election necessitating a plurality of total voting membership present. - In the case of appointed positions, if no person applies for the position, then a
special election will be called during which an election for that position will be
held. - In the case of a tie between two or more nominees, a run—off election will be
held between the tied nominees. A plurality of the total voting membership is
needed for election.
Section 2 — Election Policies
- The current Artistic Director shall preside over all elections unless this creates a
conflict of interest, in which case the Associate Artistic Director or the Student
Organization Advisor shall preside. - Secret ballots shall be used at all elections.
- A simple majority by the general body is needed to elect an Executive Board
Officer. - Absentee balloting is not permitted in any election.
- Special elections may be called by the Artistic Director as necessary.
- Election results shall be posted no later than forty-eight (48) hours after the
election. - Two Executive Board members will count the ballots. The Student Organization
Advisor shall be present at this counting. No Executive Board members running
in said election may be permitted to count ballots. - Nominees must be present in person at the election to run for or to accept an
elected position. In the case of extenuating circumstances, exceptions may be
made at the discretion of the Artistic Director. - Florida Players will not be allowed to preside over the elections of its subgroups.
Officers may provide assistance at the request of the subgroup but all elections
for a subgroup will be upheld to the letter of that subgroup’s constitution. The
officers may provide assistance in any way requested with the exception of
influencing elections.
Section 3 — Eligibility
Executive Board Requirements:
- All potential elected board members must have held voting membership in
Florida Players for one (1) semester before the date of election. This may include
the semester in which the election is held. If no interested parties meet these
requirements, exceptions for membership may be made at the discretion of the
Executive Board. - If desired, all potential appointed board members must submit a cover letter and
a resume to the board member who currently holds the position. It is suggested
that appointed board members should have held voting membership in Florida
Players for at least one (1) semester before appointment; however, if no
interested parties meet this requirement, exceptions for membership may be
made at the discretion of the Executive Board. - All potential board members must meet all requirements of the Student
Organization Officers put forward by the Office of Student Activities. - All potential board members must have the awareness of and willingness to
accept the responsibilities of the office as outlined in this constitution and are
required to sign their respective Rights and Responsibilities Contracts prior to
taking their positions. - It is required that those who run for a board position have held voting
membership in Florida Players for least one (1) semester. This may include the
semester in which the election is held.
Article VIII — Student Organization Advisor
Section 1 — Responsibility
The responsibilities of the Student Organization Advisor shall be the following:
- To be present at all scheduled Florida Players voting meetings including but not limited to: elections and impeachments. The Student Organization Advisor is not a voting member of Florida Players and does not have a vote.
- To serve as an ex-officio member on all Florida Players standing committees.
- To serve as a liaison between Florida Players and the University of Florida’s School of Theatre and Dance.
Section 2 — Appointment of the Student Organization Advisor
- The Student Organization Advisor shall be appointed by the Executive Board and approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the general body.
- The Student Organization Advisor must be a faculty or staff member employed at UF.
- The term of office for Student Organization Advisor may last no longer than one (1) year with possibility of re-appointment.
Section 3 — Process of Replacement
- In the event that the Student Organization Advisor steps down from their position
for whatever reason, the Florida Players Executive Board will hold a meeting with
the University of Florida’s School of Theatre and Dance Director. - The Executive Board will vote on a Student Organization Advisor that shall be
approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the general body.
Article IX — Finance
Section 1 — Source of Funding
The Florida Players Director of Finance shall prepare and submit a budget request each
year in order to request funding from Student Government. Other finances are derived
from donations made by individuals, corporations, or departments. No dues are charged
to any member of this organization.
Section 2 — Management
The finances of Florida Players are to be managed by the Director of Finance according
to the policies outlined by Student Government. The management of Florida Players
finances comes with the approval of the Treasurer of Student Government of the
University of Florida.
Section 3 — Budgets
Budgets are to be submitted to the Student Government of the University of Florida at
such times and in such a manner as may be prescribed by the by-laws of that body. The
budgets are to be prepared by the Director of Finance. Before the budget is submitted, it
must be approved by a simple majority of the Executive Board.
Section 4 — Special Allocations
Special Allocations are to be submitted to the Student Government of the University of
Florida at the discretion of the Production Manager and Director of Finance. Before the
Special Allocation is submitted it must be approved by a simple majority of the
Executive Board.
Article X — Dissolution of Organization
In the event this organization is dissolved, all money left in the outside revenue account,
after outstanding debts and claims have been paid and after all other assets have been
liquidated, shall be donated to Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS.
Article XI — Voting Membership
In order to become a voting member of the general body, a Florida Players member
must actively earn points each semester and maintain a total of at least eight (8) points
per semester. Points are determined by the Florida Players Secretary (see Article VI,
Section 4).
Article XII — Standing Committees
All Florida Players members can run/apply for standing committees according to the
specific committee’s eligibility requirements (see below). Florida Players shall have the
following standing committees:
- Executive Board
- Finance Committee (if desired)
- Production Selection Committee
- Special Events Committee (if desired)
- Publicity Committee (if desired)
- Web Management Team (if desired)
Section 1 — The Executive Board
The Executive Board shall consist of the President/Artistic Director, Vice
President/Associate Artistic Director, Treasurer/Director of Finance, Secretary,
Production Manager, Technical Director, Assistant Production Manager(s), Assistant
Technical Director(s), Director of Publicity, Director of Special Events, Webmaster, and
Historian. The Student Organization Advisor shall serve as ex-officio member of this
committee. The duties of the Executive Board shall be the following:
- To enforce and interpret this constitution according to the three-fold artistic
mission of this organization. - To execute Florida Players policy.
- To act as liaison to all outside organizations as well as all Florida Players
subgroups. - To review the Florida Players constitution annually no later than at the start of the
spring semester and make changes as seen fit.
Section 2 — Finance Committee
This committee may be established at the discretion of the Director of Finance. This
committee shall consist of the Director of Finance, who shall serve as the chair, and any
interested Florida Players members approved by the Director of Finance. Sub-groups
named in Article II of this constitution are encouraged to select a member to serve as a
representative on the Finance Committee. The Student Organization Advisor shall serve
as an ex-officio member on this committee. The duties of the Finance Committee shall
be the following:
- To assist in the creation of the overall budget for Florida Players.
- To oversee all revenues and expenditures of Florida Players.
- To approve the budgets of all sub-groups named in Article II of this constitution
under the umbrella organization Florida Players. - To allocate Student Government funds to produce quality and free theatre for the
university and its students.
Section 3 — Production Selection Committee
This committee shall consist of the Artistic Director and eight (8) students to be elected
by the Florida Players voting membership. It is highly recommended that these eight (8)
shall be: a graduate performance student, a graduate production student, an
undergraduate performance student, an undergraduate production student, an
undergraduate stage manager, a dance student, a music student, and a non-theatre
major. The Artistic Director and each of these eight (8) students shall get one (1) vote
as committee members. The Production Manager shall serve as chair of the Production
Selection Committee, and the Assistant Production Manager(s) may sit in and give
input. The Director of Publicity or, in the event of their absence, a member of the
Publicity Committee shall sit in on Selection Committee Meetings for the Fall and the
Spring Seasons. The Director of Outreach shall sit in on the Selection Committee
Meeting for the New Works Festival. The Technical Director shall sit it on all Selection
Committee meetings. These Selection Committee members shall be approved by the
Artistic Director and Production Manager and by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
This is to ensure that those choosing the season are those who the Executive Board
believes will carry out the artistic vision of the organization while making their selections.
Members of the Selection Committee may not propose a production. The Student
Organization Advisor shall serve as ex-officio member of this committee. The main duty
of the Production Selection Committee shall be to select the Florida Players production
season as outlined in Article XIII of this constitution. The duties of Production Selection
Committee shall be as follows:
- To read and discuss all proposals and plays.
- To attend the selection meeting, during which they shall listen to presentations
given by the prospective directors of each proposed production. - To uphold the constitution when making selections.
- To be free of bias when voting for proposals.
Part 1 — Replacement and Removal of Production Selection Committee Members
- Production Selection Committee members who are not fulfilling their duties as
outlined in Article XII, Section 3 of this constitution shall be removed from their
seat by a majority vote of the Executive Board. - The Executive Board shall immediately appoint a Florida Players voting member
to fill the vacancy. This appointment shall be approved by the voting membership
at the next regularly held general body meeting. - In the event of a Selection Committee member’s unexpected absence on the day
of the selection meeting, an Assistant Production Manager(s) may fill this
vacancy with the approval of the Selection Committee.
Section 4 — Special Events Committee
This committee may be established at the discretion of the Director of Special Events. This committee shall consist of the Director of Special Events, who shall serve as the chair, and any interested Florida Players members as approved by the Director of Special Events. The duties of this committee shall be the following:
- To plan and organize special events which both serve the three-fold artistic mission of the organization and provide a social outlet for the members of Florida Players.
- To plan and organize Florida Players annual events including:
- Florida Players Fall Ball
- Florida Players Holiday Party
- Florida Players End-of-the-Year Banquet
Section 5 — Publicity Committee
This committee shall consist of the Director of Publicity, who shall serve as the chair,
and any interested Florida Players members as approved by the Director of Publicity.
Publicity includes, but is not limited to, the creation of the following: programs,
brochures, posters, flyers, signs, press releases, tarps, and any other forms of
advertising. The duties of the Publicity Committee shall be the following:
- To coordinate with the Director of Finance on the proper allocation of the publicity
budget. - To provide publicity for all meetings, events, and productions.
- To organize the design, acquisition, and distribution of all seasonal t-shirts.
- To create and maintain methods of publicizing Florida Players.
- To plan and orchestrate the creation and hanging of a tarp or some alternative
media for each production.
Section 6 — Web Management Team
This committee shall consist of the Webmaster, who shall serve as the chair, and any
interested Florida Players members as approved by the Webmaster. The duties of this
committee shall be the following:
- To keep the Florida Players Website consistently maintained and updated.
- To create and upload any web-based publicity as needed.
- To create and release ticketing systems for each production.
- To safeguard and maintain online technical accounts in the Florida Players
KeePass. - To maintain the Florida Players Library.
Section 7 — Appeals
In the event that a decision made by any committees is contradictory to this constitution,
any Florida Players member may move to appeal that decision at any Florida Players
meeting. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the total voting membership present shall be
necessary to effect such a reversal.
Article XIII — Productions
In order to provide students with a better laboratory experience for training and experimentation, Florida Players shall establish a laboratory theatre program.
Section 1 — Selection and Funding
Florida Players shall fund productions in the fall and spring semesters that are student
produced and predominantly student run. Faculty may be invited to supervise by the
student proposing the show. The following rules shall be abided by the Production
Selection Committee and those submitting proposals:
- The plays to be produced shall be established by the Production Selection
Committee. - It is highly recommended that those submitting proposals are voting members
who have maintained membership for at least two semesters. - Proposals shall be submitted in writing to the Production Manager, who shall
distribute them to the Production Selection Committee, and shall include the
information outlined in the Production Proposal Guidelines. - A director may not propose a show if they have a conflict with a University of
Florida School of Theatre and Dance production as mandated by their
department unless permission is given by their department head. - The committee shall select the most promising of these proposals after each
producer and/or director is interviewed by the committee regarding their
intentions and overall concept for the piece. - The third slot of the fall semester shall be the New Works Festival unless no new
works are proposed. - The third slot of the spring semester shall be a musical unless no musicals are
proposed. - Florida Players will fully mount all productions selected as a part of the
production season fairly, evenly, and without prejudice, while doing its best to
meet all technical, financial, and personal needs according to the Florida Players
budget and to each show’s specific budget.
Section 2 — Production Requirements
The following requirements must be met for each show in a season:
- Directors, producers, and stage managers must all meet with the Production
Manager to discuss expectations, rights, and responsibilities as well as to sign
production contracts prior to accepting their roles on a production. - It is highly suggested that the directors have some directing or assistant directing
experience. - Open auditions must be held.
- Directors, producers, and stage managers are not permitted to act in their own
show. - Designers and performers must sign production contracts before accepting their
positions and roles on a production. - Designers may not design a Florida Players production if they have a conflict with
a University of Florida School of Theatre and Dance production as mandated by
their department unless permission is given by their department head. - A director must consult with the other directors in that season at a casting
meeting presided over by the Production Manager and the Artistic Director. All
directors must come to a mutual agreement before finalizing any casting decision
or informing anyone of their status as a cast member. - The cast lists for each production are to be regulated and posted by the
Production Manager.
Section 3 — The New Works Festival
Florida Players shall produce a New Works Festival in the third slot of the fall semester.
- It is recommended that proposed new works have been written by a student at
the University of Florida at the time of proposal. All proposed works must never
have been previously produced and/or financially supported by another
institution. - The play(s) produced shall be chosen by the Production Selection Committee.
- Proposals for these new works shall be submitted to the Production Selection
Committee and shall include the information outlined in the proposal guidelines. - After each playwright is interviewed by the Production Selection Committee
regarding their intentions and overall concept for their piece, the committee shall
select the most promising of these proposals. - The quantity of works selected for the festival is at the discretion of the
Production Selection Committee. It is recommended that no more than three (3)
new works are featured in any one festival, based upon length of work and
difficulty of execution. - Directors, producers, playwrights, and stage managers are prohibited from acting
in their own shows. - In the event that a new work is selected, minor edits to the script will be permitted
within reason at the discretion of the Production Management Team up to three
(3) weeks prior to opening night. - The New Works Festival shall be mounted as a singularly produced event
sharing a unified design team and budget.
Section 4 — Production Contracts
Any person involved in a Florida Players production must sign and adhere to the contract designated for their specific role in the show. Failure to do so will nullify their involvement in the production. It is the responsibility of the Production Manager to distribute these contracts at the outset of each production.
Section 5 — Feedback
The directors, designers, and actors of each show will be allowed the option to participate in a talkback organized by the show’s producer, director, and stage manager, time permitting. The Artistic Director of Florida Players, or his or her designee, will moderate the feedback session. If a space is not available or scheduling conflicts are too burdensome, a director may elect to include feedback inserts in their programs. The questions for these feedback inserts will be created through collaboration between the Artistic Director, Production Manager, and director of the production.
Section 6 — Behavioral Documentation Process
- In the case that any cast or crew member has committed an act that may be
deemed inappropriate during an official rehearsal or performance of a show, or if
any member of a show is in major breach of contract, a behavioral
documentation form must be filed with the Associate Artistic Director in order to
report the incident. - After one (1) behavioral documentation form has been filed against an individual,
the Associate Artistic Director will step in to mediate the issue between the
respondent and the complainant. - After two (2) behavioral documentation forms have been filed against the same
individual, their position in the show will be re-evaluated by the director, stage
manager, Production Manager, Artistic Director, Associate Artistic Director, and
the Student Organization Advisor. - In the case that a form is filed against an individual who denies that the incident
occurred or insists that the incident has been misrepresented, the Associate
Artistic Director will step in to mediate the issue between the respondent and the
complainant. - In the case that the Associate Artistic Director is the complainant or the
respondent, the Artistic Director or Production Manager will take their place in the
mediation and re-evaluation process. - Behavioral forms will be filed in quintuplicate (5) with one copy being kept by the
Associate Artistic Director, one copy being filed with the Florida Players Student
Organization Advisor, one copy being filed with the head of the respondent’s
department (if applicable), one being filed with the complainant, and one being
filed with the respondent. - When the incident in question involves sexual harassment or physical assault,
the complainant must file a University of Florida Complaint/Intake Form with the
Office of Human Resource Services and follow the procedure put forth by the
University of Florida in regards to sexual harassment or physical assault. - Florida Players reserves the right to deny or revoke membership to any member
by majority vote of the Executive Board and to ask any person to leave any event
sponsored or co-sponsored by Florida Players in response to a behavioral issue
or in response to a history of behavioral issues. - Florida Players retains the right to archive behavioral forms and breached
contracts. Florida Players also retains the right to have archived behavioral forms
and breached contracts brought into discussion during elections and during
Production Selection Committee meetings.
Article XIV — Adoption and Authority
Section 1 — Adoption of the Constitution
This Constitution, upon the adoption by the voting membership and approval by the University of Florida Center for Student Involvement, shall go into effect immediately. It shall supersede and void all previous Constitutions of Florida Players.
Section 2 — Authorities over the Constitution
This Constitution falls under all rules and regulations of The Student Body Constitution of the University of Florida and all rules and regulations governing the University of Florida and its students.
Article XV — Amendments to the Constitution
Section 1 — Proposal of Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any voting member at any meeting. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the total voting membership at the next regular meeting shall be necessary to pass such an amendment. The vote may be taken at the same meeting if the two-thirds (2/3) are present.
Section 2 — Approval of Amendments
All amendments to the Constitution must immediately be submitted directly to the Department for Student Activities and Involvement in writing for review and approval.