ghats constitution & by-laws
ARTICLE 1
NAME
1.1 Name
The name of the organization shall be: Greater Houston Athletic Trainers' Society (GHATS).
ARTICLE 2
PURPOSE
2.1 Purpose and Mission Statement
The Greater Houston Athletic Trainers' Society is a social, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the communication, continuing education, and organization of the greater Houston Athletic Training community, and to the furtherance, promotion, improvement and enhancement of the Athletic Training profession.
2.2 Objectives, Goals, and Events
(a) Student athletic trainer workshop and other educational events.
(b) Newsletter and member communications.
(c) Communicate employment opportunities and information.
(d) Various social events.
(e) Student scholarships.
(f) Plaques and trophies, and other methods of recognition, honors and awards.
(g) Public service, cooperation with charities, and support of greater Houston's athletic community.
2.3 Other Attributes
(a) Notwithstanding the purposes set forth above, or any other provisions of these bylaws, GHATS shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(6) of the Code. By way of illustration and not limitation:
(1) No part of the net earnings of GHATS shall inure to the benefit of any private member or individual;
(2) GHATS shall not permit any practices which discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or other basis prohibited of organizations described in Code section 501(c)(6).
ARTICLE 3
MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Classes of Membership
(a) Member.
(b) Honorary.
(c) Life member (retired).
3.2 Membership Qualifications
(a) Member.
(1) Any Licensed or NATA-BOC Certified Athletic Trainer.
(2) A Member remains a Member as long as Membership standards are maintained [see below 3.4], or until the Member resigns or is suspended from Membership.
(b) Honorary. [determined by Honors and Awards Committee]
(c) Life member. [determined by Honors and Awards Committee]
3.3 Application for Membership
(a) Any Texas Licensed or National Athletic Trainers' Association-Board of Certification (NATA-BOC) Certified Athletic Trainer may apply for Membership by submitting the requisite application form and paying dues.
(b) A qualified applicant shall become a Member upon receipt of payment of the annual dues as applicable and determined by the Executives.
3.4 Membership Standards
(a) All Members must maintain active Texas Athletic Trainer Licensure or NATA-BOC Certification.
(b) All Members must remit dues annually, as determined by the Executives.
3.5 Membership Rights and Privileges
(a) Each Member shall have the right to one (1) vote on any matter coming before the Membership and the right to attend all Business and Executive Meetings, except those meetings deemed Executive Session by Presidential Directive.
(b) Members shall be eligible to serve as Officers, on the Advisory Council, and on Committees, insofar as they meet the requirements to serve in those capacities.
(c) Members shall have the right to exercise other privileges as may be prescribed by the Officers and set forth in this Constitution and Bylaws.
(d) Honorary Members shall have no voting rights, and shall not be eligible to serve as Officers, on the Advisory Council, or Committees.
3.6 Membership Dues
(a) Dues will be paid upon application for Membership, and annually thereafter upon renewal of Membership.
(b) Dues will be determined by the Executives.
3.7 Termination of Membership
(a) Any Member may terminate Membership at any time by written notice to an Officer. There will be no rebate of dues paid.
(b) Any Member whose dues have not been paid by three (3) months after the due date will be suspended from Membership and all rights thereof.
(c) Membership may be suspended or terminated for violation of this Constitution and Bylaws, or failure to uphold professional conduct as stated by the NATA Code of Ethics.
ARTICLE 4
EXECUTIVES
4.1 Officers and the Advisory Council
(a) "Officers" shall be defined as the President and Secretary/Treasurer.
(b) "Executives" shall be defined as the Officers and the Advisory Council.
(c) President. Any Member may be nominated as a candidate for President by any other Member in good standing. A candidate must have been a Member in good standing for two (2) years preceding the nomination. The term of office shall be two (2) years. The President is eligible for reelection to two (2) consecutive terms, and may seek reelection after sitting out one two (2) year term.
(d) Secretary/Treasurer. Any Member may be nominated as a candidate for Secretary/Treasurer by any other Member in good standing. A candidate must have been a Member in good standing for two (2) years preceding the nomination. The term of office shall be two (2) years. The Secretary/Treasurer is eligible for reelection to two (2) consecutive terms, and may seek reelection after sitting out one two (2) year term.
(e) Advisory Council. Any Member may be nominated as a candidate for Advisory Council by any other Member whose administration office is in the same geographical region [see 4.1(e)(2)], or may be self-nominated. A candidate must have been a Member in good standing for two (2) years preceding the nomination. The term of office shall be three (3) years. Advisory Council representatives are eligible for reelection to two (2) consecutive terms, and may seek reelection after sitting out one three (3) year term.
(1) Advisory Council representatives are elected according to geographical region of GHATS. An eligible candidate’s employer’s administrative office is in the region for which the candidate is being nominated (Secondary School) or clinic in which they are employed (clinical or corporate).
(2) Boundaries of the Advisory Council geographic regions:
North: Boundary is Interstate I-10. There are 2 representatives for this region.
South: Boundary is Interstate I-10. There are 2 representatives for this region.
(f) President-Elect: Defined as the nominee that is elected President during the period before assuming office. This person shall resign all elected position or committee chairs, effective immediately upon election or appointment of a replacement. The President-Elect shall be responsible for attending all Executive and General Meetings.
(g) Executives shall live within a reasonable distance from downtown Houston in order to allow regular attendance at meetings and performance of the duties of their elected position.
4.2 Election of Executives
(a) President and Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected in alternate years.
(b) Advisory Council representatives shall be elected according to the following schedule: North and South representatives will alternate years of election.
(c) All elections are conducted by mail, fax, or email ballot to those Members who have voting rights.
(d) All Members who have voting rights may vote for the offices of President and Secretary/Treasurer.
(e) Members may vote only for Advisory Council candidates from the same geographical region as that of their own employer's administrative office.
(f) Special elections may be held as necessary. [see 4.4(b)(5), 4.6(a), 4.6(b), 4.6(c)]
4.3 Duties and Roles of Officers and Advisory Council
(a) President: The President is responsible for the administration of GHATS and enforcement of the policies according to this Constitution and Bylaws. The President serves as the public representative of GHATS and the official liaison with the Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association (SWATA). The President shall preside at all Meetings of GHATS.
(b) Secretary/Treasurer: The Secretary/Treasurer is responsible for maintaining GHATS treasury, Membership information and lists, financial records, and assisting the President as necessary in the overall operations of GHATS.
(c) Advisory Council: The Advisory Council serves as a conduit to enhance communications between Members and Officers of GHATS. The Advisory Council assists and advises the Officers in the operations of GHATS. Through Presidential directive, the Advisory Council may be granted Executive voting privileges in specific matters.
4.4 Resignations; Voluntary and Automatic
(a) Voluntary: Any Officer or Advisory Council Member may resign at any time by written notice to the other Officer(s) and Advisory Council Members.
(b) Automatic: Any Officer or Advisory Council representative shall be deemed to have resigned and their position vacated when:
(1) inactivation of such Member's Texas Athletic Training License and NATA-BOC Certification status;
(i) such Member's Texas Athletic Training License is inactivated, if the Member has only a Texas Athletic Training License;
(ii) such Member's NATA-BOC Certification is inactivated, if the Member has only NATA-BOC Certification;
(2) ceases to be a Member in good standing of GHATS [see 3.7 above];
(3) dies;
(4) they are elected as an Officer; this resignation is effective immediately upon election or appointment of a replacement for the vacated position;
(5) an Advisory Council representative changes employment such that their new employer's administrative office is in a different geographical region.
(i) in such case, a special election will be occur as soon as possible to replace that representative unless the remainder of the term is less than one year;
(ii) if the remainder of the term is less than one year, the President may appoint a representative to complete the term.
4.5 Removal of Officers, Advisory Council Members
(a) The General Membership may bring a motion to remove an Executive by submitting a petition outlining the violation(s) and containing the signatures of thirty (30) Members in support of the petition. The petition is submitted to an Executive. The matter is investigated by the Executives as a group in Executive Session. If the violation(s) are found to be valid, the Executives will present a motion to the General Membership. Fifty-one percent (51%) of the General Membership must then elect to remove the Executive, which is effective immediately. An election will be held to fill the vacated position.
(b) Removal may only be deemed necessary if one of the following has occurred:
(1) Conflict of interest by entering a relationship that is in significant conflict with the goals of GHATS and Athletic Training or the rights and obligations of the respective Executive position.
(2) Commits a breech of ethical conduct as outlined in the NATA Code of Ethics.
(3) The Officer or Advisory Council representative is no longer able to fulfill the obligations of the Executive position competently.
4.6 How to Fill a Created Vacancy
(a) If the Office of President becomes vacant, the Secretary/Treasurer shall assume the duties of President until such time that a special election is held to replace the Officer to complete the term. If the time remaining in the President's term is less than six (6) months, the Secretary/Treasurer shall remain as Interim President until the usual election is held.
(b) If the Office of Secretary/Treasurer becomes vacant, an Advisory Council representative shall be appointed by the President to serve as Interim Secretary/Treasurer until a special election is held to replace the Officer to complete the term. If the time remaining in the Secretary/Treasurer's term is less than six (6) months, the Advisory Council representative shall remain as Interim Secretary/Treasurer until the usual election is held.
(c) If an Advisory Council position becomes vacant, a special election shall be held to replace the position and complete the term [see 4.2 above and 6 below].
(d) Partial terms for Executives shall only count as a term for the person elected to complete a term if greater than half of the term is served.
ARTICLE 5
COMMITTEES & APPOINTMENTS
5.1 Committees
(a) The Executive (standing) Committees shall be as follows: Honors and Awards; Membership; Social; and Student Trainer Workshop Planning Committee. Other Executive Committees and Subcommittees shall be formed as deemed necessary by the President.
(b) The President shall appoint a Chair or Co-chairs to each Committee, except the Student Athletic Trainer Workshop Planning Committee which will have a Program Chair who is an Athletic Trainer of the facility hosting the Workshop.
(c) Committee size shall be determined by the Committee Chair/Co-Chair, and Committees shall be made only of GHATS Members in good standing chosen by the Chair and approved by the President. The President is an ex officio member of every Committee.
(d) Committees and subcommittee will meet as necessary, as determined by the respective Chair. These meetings may be attended by any Member of GHATS.
(e) Committee Chairs shall be subject to review every two (2) years [coinciding with election of the President], and may resign at any time.
5.2 Appointments
(a) Executive Appointments shall be made by the President to fill certain positions in GHATS that are essential to maintain its functions. Other Appointments may be made as deemed necessary by the President. Appointed positions are reviewed every two (2) years [coinciding with election of the President] and may be changed at any time.
(b) Newsletter Editor, who is responsible for collection of information, assembly of a quarterly Newsletter, and delivery of such Newsletter to the Membership and other parties.
(c) Administrative Assistant, who is responsible for Business and Executive Meeting minutes and various other administrative duties as needed to assist the Executives in their obligations.
(d) Committee Chair(s) [see 5.1(b)].
ARTICLE 6
ELECTIONS
6.1 Elections
(a) Regular elections shall be held to elect Officers and Advisory Council representatives [see above 4.2].
(b) Special elections and voting shall be held as necessary for issues on which the Executives deem a Membership vote necessary.
(c) All general elections, voting, ballots, tallying, and results will be managed by the Secretary/Treasurer and the Administrative Assistant, except that of electing the Secretary/Treasurer which will be tallied by the President and Administrative Assistant.
(d) All ballots will be distributed by mail, fax, or email to each Member in good standing with voting rights. All ballots will be returned by mail, fax, or email to the Secretary/Treasurer, except the ballots in the election of the Secretary/Treasurer which will be returned to the President.
(e) Announcement of election results will appear in the Newsletter following the election.
(f) Officers and Advisory Council representatives will assume the obligations of their respective positions at the SWATA Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposium of the same year.
(g) A quorum for elections and other voted matters shall be the number of Member's ballots returned by the deadline. [excepted 4.5(a)]
(h) In the event that no nominations for an Officer or Advisory Council election are made by the General Membership by the set deadline, the Executives will secure suitable nominees within an appropriate time frame. Nominations from the General Membership will continue to be accepted during this time.
(i) In the event that a nominee for Officer or Advisory Council election is unopposed, it is the discretion of the Executives, by unanimous vote, to dispense with elections and declare the unopposed nominee successfully elected.
ARTICLE 7
MEETINGS
7.1 General Business Meetings
General Business Meetings of GHATS Executives and Members shall be held regularly at the Student Athletic Trainer Workshop. Another meeting to be held as decided by the President and Executives. Other General Business Meetings will be held as determined by the President.
7.2 Executive Business Meetings
(a) Executive Business Meetings, consisting of Officers, Advisory Council, and Administrative Assistant, as well as Committee Chairs, Appointed Members, and any Member who wishes to attend, shall be held quarterly. Additional meetings may be called by the President.
(b) Executive Sessions may be called at Executive Business Meetings. These Sessions are ordered by Presidential Directive and are only attended by Executives and those deemed necessary as determined by the President.
7.3 Rules
All Meetings will be conducted according to the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
7.4 Notice of Meetings
Members will be notified of Meetings by Newsletter notice, fax, or email. Members may be notified by personal phone call if their presence is integral to the business to be discussed.
ARTICLE 8
FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS
8.1 Execution of Contracts
The Officers may authorize any Member in the name of GHATS to enter into contracts, and any such authority may be general or specific and limited.
8.2 Checks, Drafts, Deposits, etc.
(a) All checks, drafts, or other orders for money issued in the name of GHATS shall be signed by the Secretary/Treasurer.
(b) Deposits shall be made in such depositories as the Executives select.
(c) The principal office of GHATS shall be the mailing address of the Secretary-Treasurer.
8.3 Gifts
(a) Officers may accept gifts on behalf of GHATS except those gifts made with limitations or conditions imposed by the donor, which must then be presented in Executive Meeting for review.
(b) Any gifts or donation of items that have inherent monetary value (as opposed to honorary or sentimental value) must be disclosed on the annual financial report of the Secretary/Treasurer.
8.4 Fiscal year
(a) The fiscal year of GHATS shall run from January 1 to December 31 of the same year.
(b) Auditing of books shall occur annually and is the responsibility of the Secretary/Treasurer, who may determine the need for auditing service of an outside firm, subject to review and approval of the Executives.
(d) The Secretary/Treasurer shall make an annual financial report available to the Membership.
ARTICLE 9
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
9.1 Approval of Constitution and Bylaws
This Constitution and Bylaws become valid and binding upon the approval of the GHATS Officers, Advisory Council, and the majority of voting Members on July 23, 1998.
9.2 Substantive Changes to the Constitution and Bylaws
(a) This Constitution and Bylaws may be altered, amended, supplemented, or repealed after any such changes are submitted to the President with a list of 10 Members in support of the changes.
(b) Upon acceptance by the President, the proposed change(s) will be published in the next available Newsletter.
(c) Opportunity for discussion of the change(s) will be given to the General Membership at the next Business Meeting.
(d) Upon approval of a majority (51%) of the voting Members returning ballots, the change(s) become part of the GHATS Constitution and Bylaws.
9.3 Technical Changes to the Constitution and Bylaws
(a) Technical corrections to the Constitution and Bylaws may be made by unanimous vote of the Executives.
(b) If the Constitution and Bylaws are altered in this manner, the change(s) shall not become effective until 60 days after the Membership has been notified of the change(s) in the next Newsletter.
ARTICLE 10
DISSOLUTION
10.1 Upon dissolution of GHATS, its assets shall be distributed exclusively to one or more organizations which:
(a) are described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Code"), or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, which organizations:
(b) shall have favorable determinations from the Internal Revenue Service in effect that they are described in Code section 501(c)(3), and
(c) shall be listed in Internal Revenue Service Publication 78 or any successor publication as organizations which are described in Code section 501(c)(3) to which contributions may be deductible under Code section 170;
(d) no part of the net earnings thereof are permitted to inure to the benefit of any private member or individual;
(e) shall not permit any practices which discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or other basis prohibited of such organizations
(f) Any such asset not so disposed of shall be disposed of according to the terms of an order of the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of GHATS is then located, which order shall specify that the assets shall be disposed of exclusively to organizations described in the preceding sentence, or for purposes permitted of organizations described in the preceding sentence.