Rulesandregulationsforgovernanceof Theearly Professional Specialinterestgroupofthe FPTA

RulesandRegulationsforGovernanceof theEarly Professional SpecialInterestGroupofthe FPTA

ARTICLE I.NAME

TheEarly Professional Special InterestGroup, hereinafter referred to as the EPSIG,shall be a special interest group ofthe FloridaPhysical Therapy Association, hereinafter referred to as the FPTA oftheAmerican PhysicalTherapyAssociationhereinafter referred to as the APTA

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

Thepurpose oftheEPSIGshallbeto provideameansby whichEarly Professional Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistants havingacommoninterest,maymeet,confer, andpromotethe interestsoftheEPSIG,theFPTA andthe APTA.

ARTICLE III.OBJECTIVES

Theobjectives oftheEPSIGshallbeto:

A.Promotemembership,activeparticipationandleadershipofearly professionals withinAPTAandFPTA.

B. Exchangeinformation,identifyandrespond toissues concerningphysical therapistandphysical therapistassistantearly professionals.

C. Foster mentorship and networkingbetweenphysical therapistandphysical therapist assistant early professionals and experienced professionals.

D.Assist theFPTAand the APTAinfurtheringthe profession ofPhysical Therapywithin the State ofFlorida.

E.Providesuchservices aswill further theEPSIG’s purpose.

F. Coordinate activities with the student special interest group (SSIG) to allow for a smooth transition from student to early professional within FPTA and APTA.

ARTICLEIV.MEMBERSHIP

Section 1:Classes and Qualifications ofMembers

Membership shallbelimitedtophysical therapist andphysical therapist assistantearly professionalmembers oftheFPTA. Early professional is defined as a professional within their first five years of practice. Physical Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant student members of the FPTA who are in their final semester of education are eligible for membership to the EPSIG.

Section 2:RightsandPrivilegesof Members

Therights and privileges oftheEPSIG’s members shallbeidentical to thoseestablishedbytheFPTABylaws

Section 3:Application for andAdmission to Membership

Allphysical therapist and physical therapistassistantearly professional members oftheFPTAare eligible to bemembersoftheEPSIG.Physical Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant student members of the FPTA who are in their final semester of education are eligible for membership to the EPSIG.

Section 4: Good Standing

Anindividualmember is in goodstandingwithinthemeaning ofthese bylaws ifthe member is in goodstandingin theFPTA.

Section 5:DisciplinaryAction

Changeinmembership eligibilityfollowingdisciplinaryactionwill besubjecttoFPTA Bylaw

ARTICLE VOBLIGATIONS

TheEPSIGshall:

A)Operateunderrules of order thatshall notbeinconsistentwithChapter or

Association bylaws and thatshallbeapproved bytheChapter BoardofDirectors; B)Notlevyspecial assessmentsthatcarrypunitive action or lossofgoodstanding C)Maintaincompleteandaccuratefinancial records whichshallbeauditedannually;

D)Submit to theChapterannual reports ofits activities andsuchotherreports as mayberequestedbytheChapterBoardofDirectors;

E)Holdmeetings inconformity withChapterpolicy;

F) Not profess or implythatit speaksfor or representstheFPTA or itsMembers, exceptthosecurrentlyholdingmembership withintheEPSIG unless authorized todosoinwritingbythe Board of DirectorsoftheFPTA.

H)Plan,organize andexecuteactivities at FPTA conferences to achieve the

objective of the EPSIG.

ARTICLE VIMEETINGS

Section 1:Biannual Fall/Spring Meeting

TheEPSIGshallholdmeetings ofthemembershiptwice per calendaryearforthe conduction of business with attendancelimited toEPSIGmembers andinvitedguests approvedbytheEPSIG officers, provided atleastthirty(30)days’ noticeis given to all members.Themeetingsshallbeheldin conjunction with Chapter conferences. The executive committee may elect to hold a meeting via electronic means when deemed necessary due to the Chapter conference schedule. . A quorum shallconsistof atleast twenty five percentofthe boardofrepresentatives,includinga minimum ofthree officersoftheexecutivecommittee.

Section 2: SpecialMeetings

The ExecutiveCommittee or anyten(10)EPSIGmembers maycall specialmeetings providedthatthirty(30)days’ noticeis given toallmembers. Attendanceis limitedtoEPSIGmembersandinvitedguestsapproved byEPSIG officers.

A quorum shallconsistofatleastfive percentoftheEPSIG membership,including aminimum ofthree officersoftheExecutiveCommittee.

The EPSIG officers may hold special meetings to include conference calls or electronic means to facilitate the work of the officers.

Section 3:Minutes

Minutes shallbetakenat all businessmeetings oftheEPSIG.The original ofsuch minutes shallbe stored ontheFPTA websiteandcopiesshallbesenttotheEarly Professional FPTA Board Liaisonwithin 30days.

Section 4Committees

Suchcommittees,standingor special, maybe appointedbytheChairperson, with the approval oftheExecutive Board asdeemed necessarytocarryonthework ofthe EPSIG.

ARTICLE VII.ExecutiveCommittee

Section 1:Composition

The Executive Committeeshallconsist of allelected officers ofEPSIG.TheExecutive Committeeshallannuallyelectfrom theEPSIG membership aChairperson,ViceChairperson,Secretary,Director at Large anda PTA Director whoshallserve as theEPSIG officersfor the ensuingyear.

Section 2: Qualifications

Onlysuchmembers ofEPSIG,whohaveconsentedtoserve,shall beeligibleforelection toofficeiftheyhavebeenaEPSIGmemberfor atleastthreemonthsimmediately preceding theelectionandhave attendedatleastoneEPSIGmeetingprior to the electionfor office.

Section 3: Officers

A.Chairperson-TheChairpersonshall beresponsiblefor preparingagendasfor and presidingatallEPSIG andBoardmeetings;shallreportbiannuallytotheEPSIG membership;andreport totheFPTAinaccordancewith thepoliciesandbylaws ofthe FPTA.

B.ViceChairperson-The ViceChairpersonshall assumetheduties oftheChairperson attherequestofthe Chairperson or intheabsenceor incapacitationoftheChairperson; andoverseeEPSIGcommitteesasavotingcommitteemember. The ViceChairperson shallsubmitanannualreport ofEPSIG activities,andmembership informationtotheFPTA annuallyeachJuneto bemadeavailablefor theFallFPTA Annual Conference.

C. Secretary- TheSecretaryshallconductthe electionofEPSIG officers; beresponsible for keepingtheminutes ofallEPSIGand Boardmeetings;notifyEPSIG members ofthe date,time,andplaceofEPSIGmeetings;maintaintheEPSIG’sarchives and correspondence;andmakeEPSIG’s minutesandrules andregulationsavailableto the membership.

D. Director at Large- The Director at Large shall recruit EPSIG members to serve on chapter taskforce and committees where needed. They shall participate in all EPSIG board meetings and contribute to the annual report of the SIG.

E.PTA Director- The PTA Director shall assist with EPSIG programing meetings and activities/events and ensure the specific needs of PTA early professionals are addressed by the EPSIG

Section 4:TermsandVacancies

A.Thetermofofficefor officers shallbeoneyear.Anofficeror board representativemayonlybere-electedforonesuccessive termtothesameoffice.

B.Officers shallassumeoffice attheclose ofthemembershipmeetingatwhichthey were elected.

C. Vacancies:

1.The ViceChairpersonshallassumetheduties oftheChairpersonin theabsence or incapacitation ofthe Chairman.Intheeventofavacancyin theofficeofChairperson, theViceChairpersonshallsucceedtothe positionofChairmanfor the unexpired portion ofthetermandthe officeofViceChairpersonshallbedeclaredvacant.

2.Vacanciesof anyotherofficer shall befilled byBoardappointmentfortheunexpired portion oftheterm.

Section 5:Dutiesof theExecutive Committee

TheExecutive Committeeshall,inadditiontothedutiesotherwiseimposedbytheserules and regulationsandEPSIGpolicies:

A.Attendscheduledandspecialmeetings oftheExecutive Committee.

B.Carryoutthemandatesandpolicies oftheEPSIGas determinedbythemembership.

C. Direct allbusiness andfinancialaffairsforandonbehalfoftheEPSIG.

D. Foster thegrowthanddevelopmentoftheEPSIG.

E.Direct anddetermine the priorityofallactivities and expenditures infulfillment ofthe

EPSIGPurposeandObjectives.

F. Createandappointtaskforcesor committees neededtocarryoutthefunctionsofthe

EPSIG.

G.ReviewandreviseEPSIGpolicies asneeded.

H. Theofficers,as theExecutiveCommittee,mayactonbehalfoftheEPSIG membershipbetween meetings.

Section 6:Conduct of Business

A.TheExecutive Committee shallhold atleasttworegularly scheduled meetings duringeachcalendar year concurrentwithEPSIGmembershipmeetings.

B.A quorumshallconsist ofatleasttwentyfive percent ofthe board,includingthree officers

C. TheChairperson maycallaspecialmeeting ofthe Executive Committeeandshallcallaspecial meetingon thewrittenrequestoftwoExecutive Committeemembers.

D. Special Meetings oftheExecutive Committeemaybeconducted byconferencecallor video conference.

E.Aminimumofthirty(30) days written noticeshallbegiven prior to eachmeeting.

F.Whenadecisionisneededbetweenmeetings oftheExecutive Committee, votingmaybeconducted byemail, mail,fax, or conferencecall.

ARTICLE VIII.Elections

Section 1Nominations

A.TheExecutiveCommitteeshall announcenominations for Secretary and PTA Director inearlyDecember,elections willoccur in conjunctionwith theFPTASpringConference if held or during the month of March.TheExecutiveCommitteeshall announcenominations for chairperson, vice-chairperson and treasurer in early July, elections will occur in conjunction with the FPTA Fall Conference.

B.Nominationsfromthefloor shall be acceptedfor qualifiedcandidates

Section 2Conduct of Election

A.Elections shallbecoordinatedbythe Secretaryandshall beconducted byatleast twomembers oftheBoard who arenotcandidatesfor election.

B.Elections shallbe byballot unlessthereisbutonenominee,whenavoicevotemay becalled.

Section 3Voting

A.Electionshallbeby plurality vote.

B.Inthe event ofatie,electionshallbedetermined byreballotingconsidering only thosecandidates whohave tiedvotes.

Section 4Results

A.Resultsoftheelections shallbeannounced andposteduponcompletion oftallying votes.

B.Electionresults shallbe disseminatedwithin 30days oftheelectionvia email

.

ARTICLE IX FINANCE

Section 1:FiscalYear

Thefiscal year oftheEPSIGshall bethesameas thatoftheFPTA.

Section 2:Limitationof Expenditures

Noofficer,representative, or committeeshallexpendanymoneynotprovidedfor inthe budgetas adoptedor spend anymoneyin excess ofthebudget allotment exceptby order oftheEPSIG's ExecutiveCommittee.The ExecutiveCommitteeshallnotcommit theEPSIGtoanyfinancial obligationin excessofitscurrentfiscalResources.

ARTICLEX.DISSOLUTION

A.TheEPSIGmaybe dissolved upon:

1.Arecommendation to dissolvesupportedbynoless thanthree-fourthsofthe members oftheBoardandadopted bytwo-thirds oftheEPSIG’smembers; or

2.Two thirds voteoftheFPTABoardofDirectors shouldtheEPSIGfailtomeetthe obligations identifiedbytheFPTA orafter aconsecutive period oftwelvemonths in which noofficialactivityhas beendemonstrated.

B.ShouldtheEPSIGbedissolved or its existenceotherwiseterminated,allpropertyand records ofwhatever nature inthepossession oftheEPSIGshall,afterpaymentofits bonafidedebts,beconveyed to theFPTA.

ARTICLE XI.PARLIAMENTARYAUTHORITY

Therules containedinthecurrentedition ofRobert’s RulesofOrderNewlyRevised

shall govern theEPSIGin allcases towhichtheyare applicableandinwhichtheyare not inconsistentwith theserules andregulations,andspecial rules of order adoptedbythe EPSIG.

ARTICLE XII.AMENDMENTS

Theserules andregulations maybeamendedbyanaffirmativevote oftwo-thirds ofthe members presentandvotingat anymeetingoftheEPSIG,providedthatatleastthirty (30) days prior tothatmeetingacopyoftheproposedamendmentshasbeenmailedto theEPSIGmembers. Iftheintentof anamendmentis editorial or tobringtheEPSIG’s Rules andRegulations intoagreementwith thoseoftheFPTA,theamendmentshallbe made asrequired bythe Secretaryandapproved bytheEPSIGBoardof Representatives.TheSecretaryshall notifytheEPSIG’smembership ofsuch amendment.

ARTICLE XIII.HIGHERAUTHORITY

Inadditiontotheserules andregulations,theEPSIGis governedbytheAPTAandFPTA Bylaws,StandingRules, and Policies.