By-Laws

 

By-laws of District 1
Of the
National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Inc.

Revised: January, 2008

Article 1.0 The District

1.1 Name
The name of the organization shall be District 1 of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Inc. (NATA).

1.2 Geographic Boundaries
For the purposes of representation of members and the election of District Officers, District 1 of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Inc. (District 1) shall include the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont as well as the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec.

Article 2.0 Purposes

The purposes for which District 1 is organized are as follows:
(a) To enhance the quality of health care for the physically active.
(b) To advance the profession of athletic training through education and research in the prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation of injuries.
(c) To safeguard and advance the interests of its members by presenting the profession’s
--viewpoints, concerns and other important information to the media and to appropriate legislative, administrative, regulatory and private sector bodies, and by -- developing a working relationship with appropriate governmental and private sector not for profit and for profit agencies.
(d) To advance member’s body of knowledge through the collection, interpretation and dissemination of information on subjects appropriate to the profession.

Article 3.0 Membership

3.1 Membership Qualifications
A person shall be eligible for membership in District 1 upon receipt of official notification of membership from the National Athletic Trainer’s Association, Inc. national office.
3.2 Membership Classification
Membership classification shall be made according to the definitions, requirements and specifications established by the NATA. Membership in the NATA is a prerequisite for membership in District 1.

 

3.3 Member Rights and Privileges
(a) All members may take part in discussion or debate and have the privilege of the floor during the annual business meeting or any other officially convened District 1 business meeting. However, only certified and Certified Retired members shall be entitled to make motions or vote on District 1 business.
(b) Only Certified and Certified Retired members shall be entitled to hold elected office in District 1.
3.4 Membership Standards
All members must comply with the NATA Code of Ethics and NATA’s Standards, Eligibility Requirements, and Membership Sanctions and Procedures.
3.5 Termination of Membership
Any member may terminate his or her membership at any time by notifying NATA’s membership department of his or her intent to terminate. Such termination, however, shall not relieve the terminating individual from the payment of dues for the expired portion of the member’s current billing year or give any right to rebate of dues paid.

Article 4.0 Membership Meetings

4.1 Time, Location, Notification
Member meetings may be held twice annually. One meeting shall be held at the annual EATA meeting or at a designated yearly District 1 meeting and the other shall be held at the annual NATA Meeting and Clinical Symposium. The location and time of the Member meetings shall be published in advance of the meeting in appropriate District 1 State and/or NATA publications. Other meetings may be called as required.
4.2 Purposes
The member meetings shall be held for the purposes of announcing the District financial status, for the delivery of the District Director’s report, for the delivery of the District committee reports and for the conduction of the business of the District.
4.3 Parliamentary Authority
(a) All meetings and proceedings will be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.
(b) Minutes of each meeting shall be kept.

Article 5.0 District Executive Council

5.1 Members
The Executive Council of District 1 will be comprised of the District Director, District Secretary, District Treasurer and the Presidents of the State organizations compromising the District. The various seats on the Executive Council shall be assigned to the representative states’ elected President.

 

 

District 1 Director, District 1 Secretary and District 1 Treasurer will gain seats upon being elected by the District’s Certified and Certified Retired membership. No State President can hold a seat on the Executive Council without being a Certified or Certified Retired member of the NATA. If a person is elected who is not a Certified or Certified Retired member of the NATA, that State’s executive body must appoint a representative that is a Certified or Certified Retired member of the NATA to serve in place of the State President.
5.2 Purpose
The purpose of the Executive Council is to review District matters, to offer recommendations and advice to the District Director, and to fill any District officer vacancies according to section 6.6 of these By-laws.

5.3 Meetings
(a) There shall be at least bi-annual meetings of the District 1 Executive Council. The District Director shall call all meetings.
(b) Members of the District 1 Executive Council may participate in a meeting by conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and in turn speak. Such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence at the meeting.
(c) Each seat of the Executive Council shall have one vote. There shall be one vote for each of the following: District Director; District Secretary; District Treasurer; President of Connecticut; President of Maine; President of Massachusetts; President of New Hampshire; President of Rhode Island and President of Vermont for a total of nine votes. A simple majority shall constitute a quorum.
(d) Each State President may select any state member as a proxy, provided that such a member is a voting member in good standing of the NATA.
(e) Minutes of each Executive Council meeting shall be kept.

Article 6.0 Election, Removal and Replacement of District Officers

(a) Unless otherwise provided in these By-laws, the rule of majority, in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order shall be in effect for all elections. In the event of more than 2 candidates running for an office, the winner will be decided by Plurality, in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.
(b) A list of nominees shall be published by the Nominations and Election Committee and distributed to the voting membership at least one month prior to the deadline for mailing ballots.
(c) Elections shall be by first class mail ballot or electronic medium. The candidate receiving the majority/plurality of the returned ballots shall be the winner. In the event no candidate receives a majority, preferential ballots at described in Robert’s Rules of Order will be utilized.
(d) Any officer who ceases to meet the qualifications for being a Certified or Certified Retired member of the NATA shall automatically cease to be an officer. An interim replacement shall be chosen, according to section 6.6 of these By-laws.
(e) A candidate may run unopposed for District 1 offices. Said candidate shall be considered elected unanimously if no other candidates are nominated by the close of nominations. A voice vote of affirmation shall be taken at the District business meeting.

6.1 Election of the District Director
The District Director shall be elected by a majority/plurality vote of the voting Certified and Certified Retired membership of District 1. The term of office shall be three years, commencing with the electoral period of the year 1994. The term of office shall begin with the first Board Of Directors’ meeting following the annual NATA Members Meeting, held during the course of the Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposium of the NATA. The District Director may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
6.2 Election of the District Secretary
The District Secretary shall be elected by a majority/plurality vote of the Certified and Certified
Retired membership of District 1. The term of office shall be three years, commencing
with the electoral period of the year 1994. The term of office shall begin at the conclusion
of the District meeting at the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association, Inc. (EATA) annual
meeting or at the first yearly District 1 meeting of the election year. The District
Secretary may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
6.3 Election of the District Treasurer
The District Treasurer shall be elected by a majority/plurality vote of the Certified and Certified
Retired membership of District 1. The term of office shall be three years, commencing
with the electoral period of the year 2004. The term of office shall begin at the District 1 meeting at the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association, Inc. (EATA) annual meeting or at the first yearly District 1 meeting of the election year. The District Treasurer may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
6.4 Removal of District Officers
District 1 members may remove their officers at any time. The voting members, by majority vote of the members present at a District meeting, may call for a mail ballot of its voting members on the question of whether to impeach an officer. The mail ballot shall specify which officer is to be removed and for what reasons. If a majority of the votes cast in the mail ballot vote in favor of impeachment, the officer will be removed. An interim replacement shall be chosen according to section 6.6 of these By-laws.
6.5 Resignation of Officers
Any officer may resign at any time by notifying the Executive Council in writing of his or her resignation. If the District Director resigns, he or she must also notify the President of the NATA. Such resignations shall take effect at the time therein specified.
6.6 Vacancies
The Executive Council, at either a meeting or conference call, shall select and appoint someone to fill the remaining terms of any vacated District office.

7.0 Duties of the Officers

7.1 District Director
(a) To serve as the official spokesperson for the District and to act as the representative of the organization to allied associations and other organized bodies, or to appoint a representative to carry out this function.
(b) To serve on the NATA Board of Directors.
(c) To develop the agenda for and preside over all business meetings of the membership of the District.
(d) To preside over all Executive Council Meetings.
(e) To implement the mandates and policies of the District.
(f) To appoint all standing committees and other special or ad hoc committees that may be formed.
(g) To transact all business for and on behalf of the District, subject to the By-laws.
(h) To commit the District to no obligation in excess of its available resources.
(i) To serve on the EATA Executive Council.

7.2 District Secretary
(a) To attend District meetings, record and distribute to members the minutes of District meetings.
(b) To maintain a file of the records and official correspondence of the District.
(c) To conduct, in conjunction with the District Director such matters as meetings, notices, election results, and committee appointments and all notices as required by these By-laws.
(d) To maintain, in cooperation with the national office, a current and accurate mailing list and an official record of the District membership.
(e) To maintain a record of the District committee members and chairpersons.
(f) To provide the District Director with a detailed order of business including reports and announcements prior to each business meeting.
(g) To serve on the District Secretary-Treasurer Committee of the NATA.
(h) To bring to each meeting a copies of the NATA By-laws; District 1 By-laws; standing rules; voting membership rolls; a list of standing and special committees; and Robert’s Rules of Order.
(i) To serve on the District 1 Executive Council.
(j) To serve on the EATA Executive Council.

7.3 District Treasurer
(a) To receive dues monies from the national office.
(b) To keep and maintain a permanent and accurate record of all receipts and disbursements of the District, and report it to the District Executive Council and membership at stated meetings.
(c) To handle the receipts and disbursements of all monies from the District.
(d) To submit the official books for the annual audit by the Audit Committee or at any time requested by the Executive Council.
(e) To provide an annual financial to the Director and interim reports as requested by the Executive Council.
(f) To serve on the District Secretary-Treasurer Committee of the NATA.
(g) To serve on the District 1 Executive Council.
(h) To serve on the EATA Executive Council.

Article 8.0 Finance

8.1 Membership Dues
(a) District 1 membership dues will be remitted to the NATA, with the annual dues assessed by that office. NATA shall forward District 1 dues to the District Treasurer.
(b) Annual dues for membership in District 1 shall be established by the Executive Council for the Certified, Certified Retired and Associate members. Student membership dues shall be one-half the amount assessed the certified members.
(c) Delinquent members shall be ineligible to vote or hold office within the District until such delinquent dues and processing fees are paid.
8.2 Other
District 1 may accept financial support from outside agencies or entities to help fund professional projects within the District consistent with limitations imposed by law and by the NATA.
8.3 Checks, Drafts, etc.
All checks, drafts or other orders for payment of monies, issued in the name of NATA District 1 shall be signed by such Officer or Officers of the District in such a manner as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the District 1 Executive Council.
8.4 Deposits
The funds of NATA District 1 shall be deposited in such depositories as the District 1 Executive Council selects.
8.5 Gifts
The members of the Executive Council may accept, on behalf of District 1 without further authorization, any contribution, gift, bequest or device, except such gifts made without limitations or conditions imposed by the donor. Express authority of the Executive Council of District 1 may only accept these gifts.
8.6 Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall be determined by resolution of the Executive Council.
8.7 Auditing of Books
One month after the close of the fiscal year, the Treasurer shall submit the Treasurer’s books to the Audit Committee for auditing. A written report summarizing District 1 financial status shall be made to the membership at each member meeting.
8.8 Accountability
The District 1 Director and District 1 Treasurer shall be accountable for proper dispensation of all receipts and expenses for the District.

Article 9.0 Committees

There shall be two types of committees: (1) Special and (2) Standing Committees.

9.1 Special Committees
(a) The District Director as needed shall form special committees.
(b) Special committees shall be composed of a chairperson appointed by the District Director. The Director and Chairperson shall recruit members to serve on the committee. The Chairperson will report directly to the District Director.
(c) The District Director shall charge each special committee with specific tasks and the committee shall dissolve when its tasks have been completed.
9.2 Standing Committees
(a) The following Standing Committees shall be formed:
1. Nominations & Elections
2. Honors & Awards
3. Audit
4. Financial
(b) The District Director with the approval of the Executive Council will appoint the Chairperson of each committee. The term of office will be for one year commencing with the end of the Annual NATA members meeting and he/she may be reappointed with the approval of the Executive Council.
(c) In the event of a vacancy, the District Director, with the approval of the Executive Council, will appoint a member to fulfill the remainder of the expired term.
9.21 Nominations and Elections Committee- Functions & Responsibilities
(a) To seek, screen and maintain a list of qualified candidates for the elected offices of District Director, District Secretary and District Treasurer.
(b) To conduct the election for the District offices, as necessary by mail ballot, using first class mail.
(c) To present nominees for elected offices to the voting membership on the mail ballot.
(d) To obtain the results of the mail ballots appropriately and tabulate the ballots to determine the winner of the election.
(e) To announce the election results to the nominees and the membership in a timely manner.
(f) To publicize upcoming elections for six months prior to the election date.
(g) To advise the Executive Council.
9.22 Honors & Awards Committee- Functions & Responsibilities
(a) To screen and nominate members from District 1 for the NATA Hall of Fame and other NATA awards.
(b) To seek, screen and maintain a list of qualified candidates for District awards.
(c) To recommend qualified District 1 members to the EATA Honors & Awards Committee.
(d) To consider special Honors & Awards, which could be presented to individuals, who are, or have been, members of the District.
(e) To advise the Executive Council.
9.23 Audit Committee- Functions & Responsibilities
(a) To perform audits of the financial records and report the results of the audit to the Executive Council.
9.24 Finance Committee- Functions & Responsibilities
(a) To develop a projected operating budget and investments for the upcoming fiscal year and present it to the Executive Council for approval, at least sixty days before the start of the fiscal year.

Article 10 Amendments

These By-laws may be altered, amended, supplemented or repealed:
(a) After changes submitted and approved by the Executive Council, are submitted to the members and approved by a two-thirds of the voting membership that are in attendance, at a District business meeting (provided that the proposed changes have appeared as a printed agenda item), or by a two-thirds of the returned ballots in a mail/electronic vote.
(b) Technical corrections to these By-laws may be made by unanimous vote of the Executive Council. If these By-laws are altered, amended, supplemented or repealed in this manner, the changes will not become effective until sixty days after the membership has been advised of the changes.

Article 11 Governing Authority

These By-laws shall not conflict with the By-laws of the NATA. In the event of a conflict, the NATA By-laws will take precedence and the District 1 By-laws will be amended accordingly.

Article 12 Duration

The duration of District 1 on the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Inc. shall be perpetual.

Article 13 Indemnification

To the extent, if any, that the Executive Council may determine, and to the extent allowed by law, District 1 may indemnify any Director or Officer or former Director or Officer, or any person who may serve at its request as a Director or Officer against the reasonable expenses (including attorney’s fees) actually and necessarily incurred by him or her in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding in which he or she is made a party by reason of being or having been such Director or Officer.

Ratified and Approved: 1/13/08