NAME

The name of this organization shall be the New York State Therapeutic Recreation Association, Inc.

GOALS

The goals of this organization are as follows:

• To support and unite people engaged in all phases of Therapeutic Recreation
• To maintain, support and promote the highest standards of professional performance in the field of Therapeutic Recreation.
• To support and promote the development of Therapeutic Recreation Services within all human services delivery systems.
• To promote, implement and/or facilitate professional, educational opportunities in the field of Therapeutic Recreation.
• To monitor the standards of accrediting agencies to assure the inclusion of Therapeutic Recreation as well as to continually educate and update these agencies regarding the TR profession and the services it provides.
• To promote and facilitate TR personnel in meeting the Professional Standards of Practice of our profession.
• To monitor and where necessary, take appropriate action upon New York State and/or Federal legislative issues which impact upon the field of Therapeutic Recreation as well as other relevant health care issues.
• To promote and advocate for the field of Therapeutic Recreation within the profession and to the public at large.
• To act as a Resource Center in terms of education, career opportunities, program ideas/projects, professional practice, etc.

MEMBERSHIP

SECTION I: 

Any person in the field of Therapeutic Recreation or supportive of the field of Therapeutic Recreation may apply for membership in this organization.

SECTION II:

Membership Classifications: The Association shall have five (5) membership classifications, which are as follows:

A. Professional Member - A person currently certified by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).

B. Associate Member - A person primarily engaged in promoting the Therapeutic Recreation Profession.

C. Student Member - A person enrolled in a full time Therapeutic Recreation, Recreation Education or a Leisure Services curriculum.

D. Organizational Member - Open to any organization or agency interested in supporting the Therapeutic Recreation Profession. (Does not include individual memberships.)

E. Retiree Member-Any person retired from employment in Therapeutic Recreation.

Section III:

Rights and Privileges of Members:

All members shall receive regular membership services i.e. correspondence, newsletters, access to website, etc. Only Professional members in good standing may vote, participate in the NYSTRA election process, or serve on the Association's Executive Board. The Officers of President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer of the Association shall be reserved for Professional members in good standing who hold a current CTRS certification.

Section IV

Annual dues will be payable in advance for one (1) year by the first of the month following admission.

OFFICERS

Section I

The Executive Officers of this organization shall be a President, President-Elect, Secretary and a Treasurer. They shall be elected by a plurality vote of the Professional membership.

Section II

The President with the approval of the Executive Board, shall appoint for his/her term of office, chairpersons for the following standing committees:

• Membership
• Professional Development
• Annual Conference (2)
• Workshops (2)
• Legislation/Advocacy/Public Relations
• Fundraising
• Newsletter
• Nominations & Elections
• Constitution/Bylaws/Policies/Procedures (Secretary)
• Financial (Treasurer)
• Student Liaison

Section III

The chairperson of the Nominations/Elections/Awards committee and Const./Bylaws/Policies & Procedures committee shall be a member of the the Executive Board. Exceptions to this must have the approval of the Executive Board.

Section IV

The duties of the standing committees shall be described in the official Manual of Procedures.

Section V

Ad Hoc Committees, as deemed necessary, may be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board.

AMENDMENTS

Section I

This Constitution may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of all members eligible to vote and voting at a meeting called for that purpose or voting by mail (or email) or a 2/3 majority of the Executive Board voting at a meeting or special meeting called for that purpose or voting by mail (or email). There must be at least fourteen (14) days written notice in advance of submission of any amendment.

BY-LAWS

MANAGEMENT

Section I

The management of this organization shall be vested in the Executive Board composed of the four (4) Officers and eight (8) Members-at-Large. Officers shall be elected by plurality vote. The President-Elect shall serve a term of two (2) years, and then automatically assume the office of President, also for a term of two (2) years. Elections for the position of President-Elect will be held in even-numbered years. Elections for the positions of Secretary and Treasurer will be held during odd-numbered years and both shall serve terms of two (2) years. The duties of the officers shall be described in the Manual of Procedures. Four (4) members-at-large shall be elected during even-numbered years and four (4) members-at-large shall be elected during odd-numbered years. All members-at-large shall serve terms of two (2) years. The nominees with the highest number of votes will be declared elected.

Section II

The immediate Past President shall be an invited member of the Executive Board. This is an advisory, non-voting role, except in the case of a tie vote when the Past President shall be called upon to cast the deciding vote. The Past President may be appointed by the President to serve on such committees as appropriate.

Section III

In the event that the President is unable to fulfill his/her term of office, the President-Elect shall fill the remainder of the President's term and the Board shall elect a new President-Elect from the remaining Board members. In the event of any other vacancy, the President may appoint a Professional Member in good standing until the next election.

Section IV

All action taken by the Executive Committee for the Board between Official meetings shall require a three fourths (3/4) majority vote of the Executive Committee members.

NOMINATIONS/ELECTIONS

Section I

Elections shall be conducted by the Nomination Committee. In the event that the Chairperson and/or any committee member is running for office, the ballots shall be counted by the remaining members of the committee and the President and/or Board appointed designee(s).

Section II

Requests for nominees shall be sent to all professional members in good standing at least eight (8) weeks prior to the election (by January 1st).

A slate of nominees shall be sent out to professional members in good standing prior to March 1st. The election will take place between March 1st and March 15th. The Election Committee shall count the ballots and report the results. Elected Officers and/or Members-at-Large will assume office at the beginning of the fiscal year (June 1st). Their installation will be at the Annual Conference in the spring of each year.

Section III

In the event of a tie vote for the last Member-at-Large position on the Board, the Board shall vote to break the tie.

MEETINGS

Section I

At least thirty (30) days notice shall be given to all members. The Annual Membership Meeting of this organization shall take place at the Annual Conference, or at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Board. At least thirty (30) days notice shall be given to all members.

Section II

Regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be held at least six (6) times per year (June, September, November, January, March, and at the Annual Conference)

Section III

Special meetings of the Executive Board or the entire membership may be called by the President with the concurrence of a majority of the Executive Board. At least fifteen (15) days notice shall be given.

Section IV

A quorum of Annual and Special Membership meetings shall be at least ten percent (10%) of the members. A quorum for the Executive Board meetings shall be one (1) more than half (1/2) of its constituted membership.

Section V

All meetings shall follow Robert's Rules of Order, provided they are in keeping with:

• Roll Call
• Reading of the Minutes
• Officers' Reports
• Committee Reports
• Unfinished Business
• New Business
• Adjournment

Section VI

Every Executive Board Member is expected to attend all Executive Board Meetings. If an Executive Board Member is absent from two meetings within the fiscal year, their position on the Executive Board will be reviewed by the Executive Committee (Officers) of the Board and a decision as to their status on the Board will be made.​

VOTING

Section I

Only Professional members in good standing have voting privileges.

AMENDMENTS

Section I

These by-laws may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of all members eligible to vote and voting at a meeting or special meeting called for that purpose or voting by mail or a 2/3 majority of the Executive Board voting at a meeting or special meeting called for that purpose or voting by mail. There must be at least fourteen (14) days written notice in advance of submission of any amendment.