Constitution of the
NEW YORK STATE ATHLETIC TRAINERS' ASSOCIATION, Inc.
May 1998
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Article I : Name
The name of this organization shall be the NEW YORK STATE ATHLETIC TRAINERS'ASSOCIATION. (NYSATA)
Article II : Objectives
The objectives of this association shall be:
1.The advancement, encouragement and improvement of the Athletic Training profession in all its phases, specifically within the State of New York.
2.To further develop the ability of each of its members.
3.To better serve the common interest of its members by providing a means for free exchange of ideas within the profession.
4.To enable members to become better acquainted professionally through casual good fellowship.
Article III : Membership
Section 1. There shall be seven (7) classes of membership and no individual may be a member of more than one class of membership at the same time. The address of the member's place of employment or home will be used as the official address for society business. Members employed and residing in states other than New York may not hold officeor vote
1.CERTIFIED MEMBER
a.Shall be a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and shall be entitled to vote and hold office.
b.The provisions for maintaining certification in the organization shall be the same as the National Athletic Trainers' Association.
2.ASSOCIATE MEMBER
•Shall hold a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university.
b.Must be making progress toward the fulfillment of the requirements for the National Athletic Trainer's Association certification.
3.RETIRED MEMBER
a.A certified member who retires may apply for this class of member. This classification is not required to pay dues. These members may vote and serve on committees, but shall not be eligible to hold office
4.STUDENT MEMBER
•This category of membership shall only be open to full-time graduate or undergraduate #9; college students who are preparing to become athletic trainers and who are working with a #9; Certified Member of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association. This class of #9; membership shall have no vote.
5.ADVISORY MEMBER
a.This class of membership shall be available to those physicians and other professionals #9; who practice in the field of sports medicine and who are directly associated with a sports #9; program which is providing health care and advice to mem bers of a team in association with an athletic trainer.
b.The recommendation for membership shall be made only by a Certified Member. Such candidate
does not need to be a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc.
c.Although not entitled to vote, such members may serve on committees of this Association.
6.HONORARY MEMBER
a.This class of membership shall be available to those who demonstrate profound interest in the #9; athletic training profession and in enhancing its services to those in athletics.
b.Nominations for this class shall be made only by Certified Members to the Chairperson of the #9; Honors and Awards committee, who shall then submit the candidate's name to the Executive Council with his/her recommendation. This member is entitled neither to vote nor hold office, but may serve on committees
7.AFFILIATE MEMBER
a.This class is available to individuals who are interested in the relationship of athletic training to education, biological sciences, psychology, athletics, sports medicine or physical therapy. A person applying for membership in this class need not be actively engaged in or directly related to athletic training. This individual must be recommended for membership by a certified Member of the Association
b.A candidate for this class of membership shall have a bachelorÍs degree from an accredited college or university, and be professionally working in education, athletics, research or medicine.
c.A physician who is a team physician should be an Associate member in the Advisory class.
d.Membership in this case does not count as time preparatory to certification or as a matter of record for time engaged in the Athletic Training profession.
e.Affiliated members are not entitled to vote on Association affairs or to serve on Association committees.
Section 2. Qualifications for membership and the rights and obligations of members shall be indicated in the By-laws.
Article IV : Election of Members
Section 1. Each application for any class of membership shall sign an application stating the desire and intention to become a member of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association, to advance its best interest in every reasonable manner, a nd to accept as binding its Constitution and By-laws.
Section 2. The By-laws shall further prescribe procedure by which eligibility for and election to membership shall be accomplished.
Article V : Dues
Section 1. The amount and method of payment of dues for classes of membership shall be prescribed by Article V of the By-laws.
Article VI : Suspension of Membership
Section 1. Membership cancellation may be recommended by any member in the Association for a cause and in compliance with the methods prescribed in the By-Laws governing Article VI of the Constitution.
Section 2. Membership cancellation will be automatic for non-payment of dues beyond the deadline set forth in the By-laws.
Section 3. Any member whose membership has been revoked will have the right of appeal, as set forth in the By-laws, and may be reinstated.
Article Vll : Voting Power
Section 1. Certified and Certified Retired member shall be entitled to one vote on all questions submitted to the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association for decision.
Article VIII : Organization
Section 1. The governing body of this organization shall be the Executive Council, which shall be comprised of the elected officers and state regional representatives.
Section 2. The president shall serve as chairman of the Executive Council and be responsible for the conduct of any and all meetings.
Section 3. Regional Representatives
a.For the purpose of facilitating the work of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association, the State of New York shall be divided into seven (7) geographic areas. The geographic areas of each region shall be designated and identified in the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association By-laws.
b.The President shall appoint a regional representative for each region who shall serve as a member of the Executive Council and act with full authority for the region carrying out the functions and responsibilities of the Executive Council.
c.The term of office of the Regional Representatives shall begin at the time of the Spring business meeting of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association.
d.The term of office of the Regional Representatives shall be two (2) years and may not serve more than two (2) concurrent terms.
e.In the event an office of Regional Representative becomes vacant the President may appoint an interim Regional Representative to serve the remainder to the term of office for the previous Regional Representative.
Section 4. The officers, election of officers, and term of office shall be as follows:
A.President
1.The President shall be elevated to position from office of President Elect.
2.The term of office of the President shall be two (2) years, and may not serve more that one (1) concurrent term.
3.The term of office of the President shall begin at the time of the Spring business meeting of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association.
4.In the event that the office of President becomes vacant before the end of the term for which the President was elected. The President Elect shall serve as President for the remainder of the term of office for which the previous President was elected. The President Elect will then serve his or her normal elected term of office.
B.President-Elect
1.The President Elect shall be selected according to Article Vl of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association By-laws.
2.The term of office for the President Elect Shall be for Two (2) years, and may not serve more that one (1) concurrent term.
3.The term of office for the President Elect shall begin at the time of the Spring business meeting of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association.
4.In the event that the office of President Elect becomes vacant the President may call a special election of the membership to fill the office. The newly elected President Elect shall only serve as President Elect for the remainder of the term of off ice for which the previous President Elect was elected.
C.Past-President
1.The Past President automatically assumes the office at the end of the term as President.
2.The term of office of the Past President shall be for two (2) years and may not serve more that one (1) concurrent term.
3.The Past President may not be elected to office in the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association for two (2) years after the end of his or her term as Past President.
4.The term of office for the Past President shall begin at the time of the Spring business meeting of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association.
D.Secretary
1.The Secretary shall be selected according to Article Vl of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association By-Laws.
2.The term of office of the Secretary shall be for two (2) years.
3.The term of office of the Secretary shall begin at the time of the Spring business meeting of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association.
4.In the event the office of Secretary becomes vacant the President may call a special election of the membership to fill the office. The newly elected Secretary shall only serve as Secretary for the remainder of the term of office for which the previous Secretary was elected.
E.Treasurer
1.The Treasurer shall be selected according to Article VI of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association By-laws.
2.The term of office of the Treasurer shall be for two (2) years.
3.The term of office of the Treasurer shall begin at the time of the Spring business meeting of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association.
4.In the event the office of Treasurer becomes vacant the President may call a special election of the membership to fill the office. The newly elected Treasurer shall only serve as Treasurer for the remainder of the term of office for which the previ ous Treasurer was elected.
Section 5. Removal of Officers
All New York State Athletic Trainers' Association Officers may be impeached and convicted on the following grounds: embezzlement, malfeasance in office and actions contrary to or in violation of this Constitution and its By-laws. Before impeachment proceeding can be instituted, a brief containing the charges shall be drawn up and presented by an Executive Council member to the Executive Council sitting in executive session. The aforementioned brief must then be adopted by a majority vote prior to t he formal presentation of charges. Impeachment of any officer shall require a two-thirds vote of the voting membership of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association present at the annual meeting.
Article IX : Powers and Duties of Officers
Section 1. The immediate management of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association shall be entrusted to the executive Council.
Section 2. The government and general supervision of the affairs of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association shall be entrusted to the membership and Executive Council at the Spring business meeting, at a time and place set by the Executive Council.
Section 3. A mail vote may be authorized and utilized by the Executive Council when a decision is required between rescheduled meetings of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association.
Section 4. A quorum is the number of voting members necessary to hold a valid election. A quorum of the business meeting shall consist of a simple majority of the voting membership registered for the annual convention. A quorum for mail vote shall be considered to be one fifth (1/5) of the voting membership.
Section 5. There shall not be voting by proxy.
Section 6. The New York State Athletic Trainers' Association shall be self-governing.
Section 7. The powers and duties of elected officers are as prescribed in the By-laws and Article VIII, Section 3 and 4 of the Constitution.
Article X : Committees
Section 1. All committees shall be appointed or dissolved by the President with the approval of the Executive Council.
Section 2. The Executive Council shall function as a Committee on committees. The Past President of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association shall act as the chairperson of the committee of committees. The President of the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association shall instruct the Chairperson of the Committee on Committees as to their specific functions and duties.
Article Xl : Amendments to the -Constitution
Section 1. All proposed-amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the New-York State Athletic Trainers' Association. The Secretary will distribute copies of the proposals to all voting members.
Section 2. A-two-thirds majority of the membership by mail vote shall be necessary for the adoption of said amendment
Article XII : Amendments to the By-laws
Section 1. The By-laws may be amended at any official meeting of the Executive Council by a majority vote or by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Executive Council by mail vote.
Article XIII : Parliamentary Authority In the absence of any provision in the Constitution of By-laws, the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association and the Executive Council shall be governed by the rules and usage of the edition of RobertÍs Rules of Order revised. The President Elect will be the designed Parliamentarian. In the President Elect's absence, the Past President will serve as the designed Parliamentarian.
Article XIV : Saving Clause
Section 1. In addition to the specific powers set forth in detail in the Constitution, the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association shall have all further powers and authority to be reasonably implied from the provision and the Constitution, without necessity for specific amendment of the Constitution.
Section 2. Failure of literal or complete compliance with provision of the Constitution in respect to dates and time of notice, or sending or receipt of the same, or errors in phraseology or notice or proposal, which in the judgment of the members at t he meeting held, do not cause substantial injury to the rights of members, shall not invalidate the actions or proceedings of the members at any meeting.
