International Viola Society – Guidelines for forming an IVS Section

The International Viola Society is a non-profit organisation and has a number of Viola Societies as sections. It is one of the largest organisations of its kind worldwide with over 1500 violists belonging to one or more of our IVS sections.
This document is designed to assist individuals or organisations to form a viola society in their country. It also outlines how a viola society can apply to join the IVS.

Forming a Viola Society:

1.) Membership – the IVS requires that a viola society has at least seven members. Membership numbers may include the Officers (below).
2.) Officers – It is recommended that a viola society have at least three officers. The usual titles are: President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer. Societies with larger membership numbers may wish to have a separate secretary and treasurer and additional officers.
3.) Constitution – The viola society needs to have a constitution similar to those of our present IVS sections.
A viola society constitution must support the aims of the IVS as stated in the IVS Constitution By-Laws. These can be found here: IVS Bylaws 
4.) Dues/Subscriptions – Annual dues/subs must be set and collected from all viola society members. Each viola society sets its own membership fees (the standard at present is between €5 to €50 per member per year). Once a viola society has been accepted as an IVS section, their contribution will be determined by the IVS bylaws.
5.) Activities/Publications – Each viola society decides what activities and/or publications it offers its membership for their dues/subs. Some viola societies publish a Newsletter or Journal (and/or e-mail news) for their members. Some offer discounts for viola events and other activities.
6.) Viola Society Name – The IVS prefers that IVS sections take the name of their country, countries or area. However, this is only our preference. If a society already exists with a name, it may wish to maintain this. In such a case, the IVS would like to see the name of the country in parentheses included.
7.) Branches/Chapters – Each viola society is welcome to form branches/chapters within its viola society.

Joining the IVS

1.) Application – Once a viola society has been formed, it may apply for IVS membership. This can be done by letter, in person or by e-mail, and needs to include:

a.) The viola society name,
b.) The organiser,
c.) the officers (or when they will be known, the officers may be part of the seven or more members),
d.) the constitution (or when it will be submitted to the IVS) and
e.) the dues/subs that will be charged per member annually and when the first dues/subs to the IVS will be received.

2.) Approval for ‘Provisional’ IVS Membership – Once a viola society has been formed with a minimum of seven members, the IVS Officers discuss and vote on provisionally accepting the society as an IVS section. If accepted, a second approval vote is needed from the IVS Delegates (country sections).

3.) Approval for ‘Full’ IVS Membership – Once the viola society has been provisionally approved by both the IVS and the IVS Delegates and the new viola society has appointed or elected its officers, submitted a Constitution for approval to the IVS and paid its first annual dues, full IVS membership is confirmed.

As a new IVS section

1.) The member, as an official IVS section can place a bid to host an International Viola Congress. 2.) The member society can participate along with all the other IVS sections regarding IVS matters.

If you require additional information, please feel free to contact: Jutta Puchhammer-Sédillot, International Viola Society President, president@internationalviolasociety.org

Prepared by Dr Michael Vidulich, 2006. Updated by Kenneth Martinson, 2011, Dr Vidulich, 2018, and by Liezl Smith and Jutta Puchhammer, 2021