Student Occupational Therapy Association By-Laws
Article 1. Name of the Organization
- Section 1. The name of the organization shall be "The University of the Sciences (USP) Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA)".
- Section 1. The purpose of the USP Student Occupational Therapy Association is to increase awareness and knowledge of the profession of occupational therapy and the maintenance of health. The members of SOTA will engage in educational, social, and fundraising activities that will contribute to the members, university, and community.
- Section 1. The USP SOTA will donate 10% of their fundraising profits each year to the Danielle Gailey Memorial Fund of which this Organization will sponsor.
- Section 2. The USP SOTA will provide a minimum of 75% of the reasonable expenses for the Assembly of Student Delegates Representatives to attend the AOTA national conference. The total cost for the conference will include transportation (either by car, bus, or air), hotel accommodations, conference fees, and meals (meals do not include post conference activities). These expenses must be approved by the advisor.
- Section 1. Membership in the USP SOTA will be open to all students at USP. Members of this Association will be required to pay annual dues. These dues are to be determined by the executive board.
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Section 1. The officers/Executive Board members of the USP SOTA will consist of:
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Student Government Representative
Representative to the AOTA Assembly of Student Delegates
Historian
1st-5th year Class Representatives - Section 2. Only students in their third, fourth, and fifth years will be able to assume the positions of President or Vice-President. All other positions may be filled by any member of the association.
- Section 3. Students are only permitted to hold one elected position during the course of the year.
- Section 4. Election of officers shall be held at a general meting of the SOTA before the end of each spring semester. Election of a freshman class representative will be held at the beginning of the fall semester (September). All terms will begin in the summer. Nominations for elections will be taken from the floor or through self-nominations. Elections will be conducted by graduation fifth year students who are members of the SOTA, and overseen by the Association’s faculty advisory.
- Section 5. Executive Board members have no term limits.
- Section 6. All Executive Board members must meet the criteria of eligibility outlined in the “USP Student Handbook”.
- Section 1. The duties of the President of the USP SOTA will be to schedule meetings, to call them to order, and to run those meetings. Other responsibilities of the President include: appointing and overseeing committees and being the official spokesperson for the organization.
- Section 2. The Vice-President shall assume the presidential duties in the event that the President is absent. The Vice-President shall oversee the upkeep of the Association’s website.
- Section 3. In the event that the President and the Vice-President are absent, an acting President shall be appointed by the members of the Executive Board.
- Section 4. The Secretary will be responsible for keeping minutes during general and executive board meetings of the Association. She/he will also be responsible for typing up these minutes and sending them via email or posting them on Blackboard for members to see.
- Section 5. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all financial records and documents of the USP SOTA. She/he will also be responsible for presenting the updated balance statement at each general meeting.
- Section 6. The Student Government Association (SGA) Representative will be responsible for relaying information about the Association to the SGA during their monthly meetings. Also, the SGA Representative will be responsible for keeping group members apprised of current SGA events, activities, and issues.
- Section 7. The AOTA Assembly of Student Delegates Representative is responsible for attending annual state and national conferences. She/he is also responsible for reporting back important information gained from these conferences at a general meeting.
- Section 8. The Historian shall be responsible for taking pictures during events the USP SOTA is involved in. The Historian will also make a scrap book highlighting the Association’s activities during the calendar year as well as posting any pictures on any website the Association may develop.
- Section 9. The representatives of the 1st- 5th year classes will be responsible for informing their classmates about events and action of the SOTA.
- Section 10. Members of the Executive Board of the SOTA may have no more than one unexcused meeting, otherwise they will be relieved of their position and a new member will be elected. An example of an excused absence may be an appointment with a doctor or teacher.
- Section 1. Meetings shall be called to order by the President and held on a regularly scheduled basis established by the President.
- Section 2. One week’s notice must be given before a meeting.
- Section 1. A quorum of fifty percent plus one of the members of the SOTA, including Executive Board, must be met in order to conduct a meeting. Members on a clinical rotation shall not be counted for determination of the quorum.
- Section 1. Committees shall be created as needed by the President and Executive Board. Members of the Executive Board may serve on a volunteer basis and the Chair of formed committees shall be appointed by the President.
- Section 1. Any amendments to the By-Laws must be presented in writing and read at a general meeting at least two weeks prior to their consideration. Any amendment must be presented and voted on at a general meeting on two separate occasions. A vote of seventy-five percent must be obtained in favor of the amendment upon each vote at a general meeting in order for it to pass.
- Section 2. Additions or rewording to the amendment may be made by any member of the SOTA while the amendment is being presented on the floor during the general meeting. These additions and edits must be done before a final vote is cast.
- Section 1. In the absence of any provisions in these By-Laws to the contrary, all general membership and committee meetings of the USP SOTA shall be governed by the parliamentary rule and usage contained in the current edition of the Robert’s Rules of Orders Revised.
