Overview

The Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) hosts annual elections to elect officers to the MMEA Executive Board. 

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Members of MMEA are encouraged to nominate a colleague or self-nominate for a board position. The nominating committee will review all nominations and engage potential candidates in conversations about responsibilities, expectations, and vision.

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We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive community in which participants and members of all backgrounds can access events, programs, services, and be treated fairly. Harassment, discrimination, prejudice, or bias in admission, employment, volunteering, or administration of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, ancestry, or military service will not be tolerated.

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Open Positions

In accordance with MMEA Bylaws: The following officers are elected in:

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odd-numbered years: President-Elect; Treasurer; and component association president-elects representing MCEA and MODA.

 

even-numbered years: Recording Secretary; Member-at-Large; and component association president-elects representing MBDA, MGMTA, and MSMTE. 

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Position Descriptions

 

• MMEA President/President-Elect (six-year commitment): The MMEA President facilitates Executive Board discussions that help shape the events and communicates the overall vision of the board. The President, with the Executive Council, sets the agenda for Board meetings and presides over the meetings. The President shares the leadership role with the President-Elect and meets regularly with the Executive Director. The President attends meetings/events on behalf of MMEA to include component meetings, MMEA meetings and events, Eastern Division, AEMS, NAfME National Assembly and reports information back to the board.

 

• MMEA President-Elect: The MMEA President-Elect assists the President with event tasks, works collaboratively on planning and implementing association initiatives and the Strategic Plan, and attends meetings/events on behalf of MMEA, with or in place of the President. The President-Elect shares the leadership role with the President and meets regularly with the Executive Director. The President-Elect is a full voting member of the Executive Board. ​

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Additional responsibilities of the President-Elect: 

 

• Updates Board Book and Policies & Procedures Manual annually. 

• Chairs the Nominating Committee. 

• Coordinates Annual Conference Happy Hour. 

• Attends and assists with major events, including Fall In-Service, All State Auditions, All State Concerts, Solo & Ensemble festivals, Large Ensemble festivals.

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Requirements for MMEA President-Elect: A candidate for the office of MMEA President-Elect must have previously served as an elected or appointed officer of MMEA. No individual may serve as MMEA President for two consecutive terms, except as stated in Bylaw III, Section 7.

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• Recording Secretary (two-year commitment): The Recording Secretary will support the strategic needs of the organization through financial oversight. The Recording Secretary is a full voting member of the Executive Board.

 

The Recording Secretary will:

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• Record the minutes of Executive Board meetings.

• Edit minutes for accuracy, and present them to the President and Executive Director. 

• Assist the Executive Director and other board members with tasks which may include but are not limited to conference session reviews, grant writing, correspondence with volunteers and donors, and more

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• Treasurer (two-year commitment) - Addition to board in 2027 Election: The MMEA treasurer will support the strategic needs of the organization through financial oversight. The Treasurer is a full voting member of the Executive Board.

 

In partnership with the Executive Director, the treasurer will: 

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• Maintain a working knowledge of MMEA finance.

• Assist with budget review and feasibility.

• Seek out funding opportunities, including new grants opportunities and fundraisers.

• Communicate with the MMEA Executive Director to coordinate grant applications and donor connections. 

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• Member-At-Large (two-year commitment): The Member-At-Large serves the board’s strategic needs as determined by the president at any given time. The Member-At-Large is a full voting member of the Executive Board. The duties of the Member-At-Large will be specifically defined during their term on the board. 

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These duties may include, but are not limited to:

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• Finding creative ways to poll and survey the needs of the members.

• Planning and executing the MMEA Awards Ceremony.

• Acting as Board Liaison to association members.

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• Component President/President-Elect (six-year commitment): Heads the Component Board and coordinates the policies and procedures for state activities, conference sessions, and event conductors. The President coordinates the material for the All State handbook. The President, along with the President-Elect determine All State ensemble placement. The President also determines representatives on the component Board to include managers and committee heads. Additional tasks that are specific to the individual component will also be facilitated by the President and President-Elect. The Component President is a full voting member of the Executive Board.

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Component President-Elect: Supports the component president. 

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Policies and Procedures

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• MMEA Membership:

  • Nominators must be members of MMEA/NAfME.

  • Nominees must be members of MMEA/NAfME.

    • Upon accepting candidacy, the nominee agrees to maintain membership through the election and if selected, maintain membership through the commitment to the office. 

• Committee:

  • The Nominating Committee will be comprised of the following individuals:

    • MMEA President

    • MMEA President-Elect

    • Either the President or President-Elect for the Components electing a President-Elect

    • MMEA Recording Secretary and Member-At-Large during the years which these positions are being elected 

    • At-Large representatives as appointed by the chair. 

  • Committee members must recuse themself if they plan to self-nominate. 

  • If a committee member is nominated by a colleague and are interested in the position, they must recuse themself from the committee. 

  • The committee must have an odd number of members and not to exceed eleven. 

  • In all voting matters of the committee, a simple majority shall prevail.

• Recommended Slate of Candidates:

  • The Nominating Committee is charged with forming a recommended slate of candidates to be presented to the MMEA Executive Board for approval. 

  • The committee will review all nominations before selecting 3-4 nominees to interview per position. 

  • Interviews will be scheduled with select nominees to learn more about the individual, as well as facilitate an opportunity for the nominee to inquire about the position and responsibilities. 

  • No candidate will be run unopposed. 

  • No candidate may run for multiple positions simultaneously. 

  • Only two candidates will be recommended for each open position. 

  • In the event the Executive Board rejects the recommended slate, the Nominating Committee will reconsider all nominees. 

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2025-2026 Nomination

MMEA is currently seeking candidates interested in the following positions: 

 

• MMEA Recording Secretary

• MMEA Member-At-Large

• MBDA President-Elect

• MGMTA President-Elect

• MSMTE President-Elect

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The commitment for the component president positions lasts six years serving as President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President (2 years each).
 
MMEA is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive community in which participants and members of all backgrounds can access events, programs, services, and be treated fairly. MMEA does not tolerate harassment, discrimination, prejudice, or bias in admission, employment, volunteering, or administration of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, ancestry, or military service.

Thank you for nominating yourself or a colleague for consideration to be a MMEA leader. Once submissions have closed, the nominating committee will review all nominations and reach out to select candidates with next steps. Questions regarding the Nominating Committee process may be directed to Chan’nel Howard, MMEA President-Elect, at cwilliams07@bcps.k12.md.us. 

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2025-2026 Timeline

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• October 1-22 - Nomination Window

• November & December - Committee review, interviews, board approval of slate

• December 17 - Candidate slate announced to the public

• January 30 - Feb 6 - Meet the Candidate Videos & Posts  

• February 9 - March 11 - Membership Voting Window

• Week of March 16 - Election Results Announced

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Nomination Form

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2025-2026 Nominating Committee

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• Chan’nel Howard, MMEA President-Elect & Committee Chair (Baltimore City)

• Amy T. Hairston, MMEA President (Montgomery County)

• Carrie Barrett Traube, MMEA Recording Secretary (Baltimore County)

• Otis L. Eldridge Jr., EdD, MMEA Member-At-Large (Baltimore City)

• Dr. Susan Eckerle, MBDA President-Elect (Montgomery County)

• Jess Windsor, MGMTA President-Elect (Wicomico County)

• Dr. Robin Giebelhausen, MSMTE President-Elect (University of Maryland, College Park)