District 2 Bylaws

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Approved by the District II Executive Council on December 18, 1994
Approved by the Membership on January 9, 1995, Philadelphia, PA
Technical changes by District II Executive Council on June 13, 2005
Last Amended on January 9, 2006.

Article 1.0 The District
1.1 Name
The name of the organization shall be District II of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc. (NATA)

1.2 Geographic Boundaries
For purposes of representation of members and the election of District officers and subject to Section 1.3 of these Bylaws, District II of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc. (District II) shall include the states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

1.3 Division of the District into Two Districts
If (for at least twelve consecutive months) the voting membership of District II constitutes twenty percent or more of the total voting mem¬bership of the NATA, District II may, by majority vote of the voting Mem¬bers present at a District meeting, call for a mail ballot of its voting Members on the question of whether to split itself into two Districts. The mail ballot shall specify the geographic boundaries that each of the Dis¬tricts would have. If two thirds of the votes cast in the mail ballot vote in favor of splitting the District, District II may submit a request to split into two Districts to the NATA Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, at a Meeting of the Board, votes by a majority of the votes cast to accept the request, the District shall become two Districts on the first day of January following the vote of the NATA Board of Directors. The District II Director shall serve as a representative of both new Districts until the new Districts shall hold District meetings and elect new District Officers.

Article 2.0 Purposes
The purposes for which District II 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 interest of its Members by presenting the profession's
(i) viewpoints, concerns, and other important information to the media and to appropriate legislative, administrative,
regulatory, and private sector bodies; and by,
(ii) developing a working relationship with appropriate governmental and private sector not for profit and for profit entities.
(d) To advance Members' body of knowledge through the collection, inter¬pretation, 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 II upon receipt of official notification of membership from the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc. national office.

3.2 Membership Classification
Membership classification shall be made according to the defini¬tions, requirements, and specifications established by NATA. Membership in the NATA is a prerequisite for membership in District II.

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 II business meeting. Each Certified Member shall be entitled to make motions or vote on District II business.
(b) Only Certified Regular and Certified Student Members shall be enti¬tled to hold elected office in District II.

3.4 Membership Standards
All Members must comply with the NATA Code of Ethics and NATA's Membership 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 cycle year or give any right to rebate of dues paid.

Article 4.0 Member 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 II 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 II, 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 delivery of the District Director's report, for delivery of District committee reports, and for conduction the Business of the District.

4.3 Parliamentary Authority
(a) All meetings and proceedings will be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.
(b) Minutes of each meeting shall be kept.

Article 5.0 District Executive Council
5.1 Members
(a) The Executive Council of District II will be composed of the District Director, District Secretary, District Treasurer, and the Presidents of the State organizations comprising the District.
(b) The various seats on the Executive Council shall be assigned to the repre¬sentative states' elected President. District II Director, District II Secretary, and District II Treasurer will gain seats upon being elected by the District's voting membership. No State Presi¬dent can hold a seat on the Executive Council without being a Certified or Certified Student Member of the NATA. If a person is elected who is not a Certified Regular or Certified Student Member of NATA, that State's executive body must appoint a representative that is a Certified Regular or Certified Student Member of NATA to serve in the place of the State President.

5.2 Purpose
The purpose of the Executive Council is to review District matters, to offer recommendations and advise the District Director, and to fill any District officer vacancies according to Section 6.6 of these Bylaws.

5.3 Meetings
(a) There shall be at least bi annual meetings of the District II Execu¬tive Council. All meetings shall be called by the District Director.
(b) Members of the District II 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 Secre¬tary, and District Treasurer, President of Delaware, President of New Jersey, President of New York, President of Pennsylvania for a total of seven votes. A simple majority shall constitute a quorum.
(d) Each State President may select any state member as a proxy, provided that such member is a voting member in good standing with 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 Bylaws, the rule of majority, in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order, shall be in effect for all elec¬tions.
(b) A list of nominees shall be published by the Nominations and Elections Committee and distributed to the voting membership at least one month prior to the deadline for distribution of ballots. Ballots may be distributed either by mail or electronic means.
(c) Elections shall be conducted either by mail ballot or electronic means. The candidate receiving the major¬ity of the returned ballots shall be the winner. In the event no candidate receives a majority, preferential ballots as described by Robert's Rules of Order will be utilized.
(d) An officer who ceases to meet the qualifications for being a Certified Regular or Certified Student Member of NATA shall automatically cease to be an officer. An Officer who ceases to be a voting Member of District II shall automatically cease to be an officer except as provided in Section 1.3. An interim replacement shall be chosen according to Section 6.6 of these Bylaws.
(e) A candidate may run unopposed for District II offices. Said candidate shall be considered elected unanimously if no other candidates are nominat¬ed by the close of nominations.

6.1 Election of District Director
The District Director shall be elected by a majority vote of All Certified Members of District II. The term of office shall be three years commencing with the electoral period of the year 1993. The term of office shall begin with the first Board of Direc¬tors' meeting following the Annual NATA Members Meeting, held during the course of the National Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposium of the NATA. The District Director may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

6.2 Election of District Secretary
The District Secretary shall be elected by a majority vote of All Certified Members of District II. The term of office shall be three years commencing with the electoral period of the year 1995. The term of office shall begin at the conclusion of the dis¬trict meeting at the Annual NATA Members Meeting. The District Secretary may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

6.3 Election of District Treasurer
The District Treasurer shall be elected by a majority vote of All Certified Members of District II. 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 Annual NATA Members Meeting. The District Treasurer may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

6.4 Removal of District Officers
District II Members may remove their officers from office at any time. The voting Members, by majority vote of the Members present at a District meeting, may call for a mail and or electronic ballot of its voting Members on the question of whether to impeach an officer. The ballot shall specify which officer is to be removed and for what reason. If a majority of the votes cast in the mail and or electronic ballot vote are in favor of impeachment, the officer will be removed. An interim replacement shall be chosen according to Section 6.6 of these Bylaws.

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 also must notify the President of the NATA. Such resig¬nations shall take effect at the time therein specified.

6.6 Vacancies
The Executive Council, at either a meeting or Telephone meeting, shall select and appoint someone to fill the remaining terms of any vacated District office.

Article 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 func¬tion.
(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 polices of the District.
(f) To appoint all standing committees and other special or ad hoc commit¬tees 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, committee appointments, and all notic¬es as required by these Bylaws.
(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 chairper¬sons.
(f) To provide the District Director with a detailed order of business including reports and announcements prior to each business meetings.
(g) To serve on the District Secretaries/Treasurers Committee of the NATA.
(h) To bring to each meeting copies of the NATA Bylaws, District II Bylaws, standing rules, voting membership rolls, a list of standing and special committees, and Roberts Rules of Order.
(i) To serve on the District Executive Council.
(j) To serve on 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.
(c) To handle the receipt and disbursement of all monies to and from the district.
(d) To submit the official books for the annual audit by the Audit Commit¬tee or at any time requested by the Executive Council.
(e) To provide an annual financial report to the Director and interim reports as requested by the Executive Council.
(f) To serve on the District Executive Council.
(g) To serve on the District Secretaries/Treasurers Committee of the NATA.
(h) To serve on EATA Executive Council.

Article 8.0 Finance
8.1 Membership Dues
(a) District II membership dues will be remitted to the NATA with the annual dues assessed by that office. NATA shall forward District II dues to the District Treasurer.
(b) Annual dues for membership in District II shall be established by the Executive Council for Certified, Student Certified, 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 to hold office within the District until such delinquent dues and processing fees are paid.

8.2 Other
District II may accept financial support from outside agencies or entities to help fund projects within the District consistant with limita¬tions imposed by law and by NATA.

8.3 Checks, Drafts, etc.
All checks, drafts or other orders for payment of monies, issued in the name of NATA District II 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 II Executive Council.

8.4 Deposits
The funds of NATA District II shall be deposited in such deposi¬tories as the District II Executive Council selects.

8.5 Gifts
The Members of the Executive Council may accept, on behalf of District II, without further authorization, any contribution, gift, bequest or device, except any such gifts made with limitations or conditions im¬posed by the donor. These gifts may only be accepted by express authority of the Executive Council of District II.

8.6 Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall be determined by resolution of the Execu¬tive 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 District Accountant for auditing. A writ¬ten report summarizing District II financial status shall be made to the membership at each member meeting.

8.8 Accountability
The District II Director and District II 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: Special and Standing Com¬mittees.
9.1 Special Committees
(a) Special committees shall be formed by the District Director as needed.
(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 Dis¬trict Director.
(c) The District Director shall charge each special committee with specif¬ic tasks and the committee shall dissolve when its tasks have been complet¬ed.

9.2 Standing Committees
(a) The following Standing Committees shall be formed:
A. Nominations and Elections
B. Honor Awards
C. Web Site Committee
D. Newsletter Committee
(b) The Chairperson of each committee will be appointed by the District Director with the approval of the Executive Council. The term of office will be for one year commencing with 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 unexpired term.

9.21 Nominations and Elections Committee
Functions and 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 three elected district offices, as necessary by mail and or electronic ballot.
(c) To present nominees for elected offices to the voting membership on the mail and electronic ballots.
(d) To obtain the results of the mail and electronic ballots appropriately and tabulate the ballots to determine the winner of the election.
(e) To announce the election results to the nominees and the memberships 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 Honor Awards Committee
Functions and Responsibilities:
(a) To screen and nominate Members from District II 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 Members to the EATA Honors Awards Committee.
(d) To consider special Honor Awards which could be presented to individu¬als who are, or have been, Members of the District.
(e) To advise the Executive Council.

9.23 Web Site Committee
Functions and Responsibilities:
(a) To develop and maintain the District II web site.
(b) To develop the electronic ballots for all electronic voting.
(c) To post an electronic version of the District II Newsletter on the district web site.

9.24 Newsletter Committee
Functions and Responsibilities:
(a) To design and develop the District II Newsletter.
(b) To collect information, along with the District Secretary, for the Newsletter
(c) To send an electronic version of the Newsletter to the District Webmaster.
(d) To send a paper version of the Newsletter to those members who request a copy.

Article 10.0 Bylaw Changes
10.1 Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended by a two thirds vote of the voting Members present at a business meeting provided that the proposed amendments appear as printed agenda items, or by a two thirds vote cast in a mail and/or electronic vote.

10.2 Technical Changes
Technical corrections to the Bylaws may be made by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board, including the vote of the Director. If the Bylaws are altered, amended or supplemented in this manner, the changes shall not become effective until 30 days after the membership has been advised of the changes.

Article 11.0 Governing Authority
These Bylaws shall not conflict with the Bylaws of the NATA. In the event of a conflict the NATA Bylaws will take precedence and the District II Bylaws will be amended accordingly.

Article 12.0 Duration
The duration of District II of the National Athletic Trainers Association, Inc. shall be perpetual, except as provided in Section 1.3 of these Bylaws. In the event of such dissolution the assets held shall be distributed in a legally acceptable manner decided by the Executive Council.

Article 13.0 Indemnification
To the extent, if any, that the Executive Council may determine, and to the extent allowed by law, District II may indemnify any Director or Officer or former Director or Officer, or any person who may have served at its re¬quest as a Director or Officer against the reasonable expenses (including attorney's fees) actually and necessarily incurred by him or her in connec¬tion 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.