Constitution Of The South Dakota Athletic Trainers’ Association
SDATA Officers Committees Member Listing: News & Happenings Constitution Name Objectives Membership Membership application and approval Dues Suspension of membership Voting power Organization Powers and duties of officers Committees Government Amendments to the constitution Amendments to the law State Meetings State Meeting Minutes Iron Will Award	ARTICLE I Name The name of this organization shall be the South Dakota Athletic Trainers' Association (SDATA).  ARTICLE II Objectives The objectives of this association shall be:  1. To advance, encourage, and improve the athletic training profession by developing standards for education and practice in South Dakota.  2. To promote better working relationships among those persons interested and involved with the problems inherent in caring for the health and well-being of the athlete.  3. To enhance the professional capabilities of each of its members by the dissemination and exchange of information.  4. To serve the common interest of the membership by encouraging and providing the opportunity for the free exchange of ideas among members of the athletic training profession.  5. To promote state legislation to protect the needs and interests of the public and the rights of qualified persons involved with athletic training.
	ARTICLE III Membership Section 1: There shall be nine (9) classes of membership in accordance with the guidelines described in the Bylaws, Article XII. The classes are:  1. Certified                                  6. Advisory  2. Associate                               7. Allied  3. Retired, Certified                      8. Honorary  4. Student                                   9. Retired, Associate  5. Affiliate  No individual shall be eligible for more than one (1) class of membership at any one time.  Section 2: Qualifications for each class of membership and the rights, privileges, and obligations of each member are provided for in the Bylaws.  ARTICLE IV Membership Application and Approval Section 1: Membership application: Any person applying for membership in the South Dakota Trainers' Association shall first sign an application stating the desire to become a member, to advance the best interests of the SDATA, and to abide by the SDATA Constitution and Bylaws.  Section 2: Membership approval: Upon completion of the membership application and requirements as outlined in the Bylaws; membership approval is based on the decision of the SDATA Membership Committee.  ARTICLE V Dues The dues for all membership classes are described in the Bylaws.  ARTICLE VI Suspension of Membership Section 1: Membership cancellations may be recommended by any member of the Association for a cause and in compliance with the methods described in the Bylaws.  Section 2: Membership cancellations shall be automatic for non-payment of dues as set forth in the Bylaws.  Section 3: Any member whose membership has been revoked shall have the right to appeal, as set forth in the Bylaws, and may be reinstated.
	ARTICLE VII Voting-Power All Certified, Associate and Retired Certified members shall be entitled to vote upon questions submitted to the Association for decision on state matters only.  ARTICLE VIII Organization Section 1: The governing body of this organization shall be the Executive Committee.  Section 2: The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary-Treasurer, the Director and the immediate Past President. The Association President shall chair the Executive Committee.  Section 3: All officers serving this Association must be Certified or Associate members of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. The officers, election of officers, and terms of office shall be as follows:  A. President: The President shall have previously served as Vice President of the South Dakota Athletic Trainers' Association for a period of not less than six (6) months and not more than three (3) years. The incoming President shall assume the new duties during the SDATA Annual Meeting. The term of office for the President shall be Three (3) years. If the newly installed President is unable to serve as President for at least six (6) months, the immediate Past President may be asked to reassume the duties of the President until such time as the Vice President is ready to assume those duties.  B. Vice President: The Vice President shall have previously served as Secretary-Treasurer for a period of not more than three (3) years. The incoming Vice President shall assume the new duties during the SDATA Annual Meeting. The term of office for the Vice President shall be three (3) years.  C. Secretary-Treasurer: The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected by a majority vote during the SDATA Annual Meeting and shall assume those duties at that time. The term of office for the Secretary-Treasurer shall be three (3) years.  Section 4: Removal of officers: All 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 Bylaws. Before impeachment proceedings can be instituted, a brief containing the charges, shall be drawn up and presented by a board member to the Executive Committee sitting in executive session. The aforementioned brief must then be adopted by a majority vote prior to the formal presentation of the charges. Impeachment of any officer can only take place during a business meeting of the SDATA and shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the voting membership present.
	ARTICLE IX Powers and Duties of Officers Section 1: The officers are the President, Vice President, and the Secretary-Treasurer.  Section 2: All the powers and duties of the officers are specified in the Bylaws and Article VII, Section 3 of the Constitution.  ARTICLE X Committees All committees, standing and special, shall be created or dissolved at the discretion of the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee.  ARTICLE XI Government Section 1: The administration of the South Dakota Athletic Trainers' Association shall be entrusted to the Executive Committee.  Section 2: The Executive Committee shall meet in executive session two (2) times per year, in conjunction with the Annual Business meeting and at another time mutually agreeable to the members of the committee. A quorum for an Executive Committee meeting shall be three (3).  A. The President may submit appropriate items of Association business to the Executive Committee for a vote by mail. For such a voting procedure the President shall first secure a "second" to the proposal and then send the proposal to each member of the Committee by mail with a request to mail a "yes" or "no" vote on the proposal by a definite date, no sooner than ten (10) days after the mailing of the proposal. Committee approval of items so submitted shall require a "yes" vote by at least three (3) members of the Executive Committee.  B. The President may submit emergency items of Association business that are appropriate for Executive action to the Executive Committee for a vote by telephone. For such a voting procedure, the President shall first secure a "second" to the proposal and then call each member of the Committee for his vote on the proposal. Committee approval of items so submitted shall require a "yes" vote by at least three (3) members of the Executive Committee. Each member of the Committee shall verify their vote by a letter of confirmation to the President.  Section 3: The Executive Committee may submit items of SDATA business to the voting membership for a vote by mail. Approval of items so submitted shall require a "yes" majority of a respondents of at least one-fifth (1/5) of the voting membership of the Association.  Section 4: There shall be no voting by proxy.  Section 5: The South Dakota Athletic Trainers' Association shall be self-governing in all areas not covered by the Constitution and Bylaws of the NATA and MAATA (District 5).
	ARTICLE XII Amendments to the Constitution Section 1: All proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be submitted in writing to the President at least six (6) weeks prior to the SDATA Annual Meeting. The President shall distribute copies of the proposal to all voting members at least three (3) weeks prior to the Annual Meeting.  Section 2: A proposed amendment to the Constitution that has been properly submitted shall be read at the Annual Meeting and a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the voting membership present shall be necessary for the adoption of the said amendment.  Section 3: The SDATA Constitution shall not be in conflict with the Constitution of the NATA or MAATA (District 5). Should those Constitutions be amended such that the SDATA Constitution is in direct conflict, the NATA and MAATA (District 5) Constitution shall prevail. The SDATA Constitution shall then be amended to resolve the conflict.  ARTICLE XIII Amendments to the Laws The Bylaws may be amended at any official meeting of the Executive Committee by a majority vote. Bylaws may not be added, deleted, or amended by a vote by mail or telephone.