Revised January, 2020
BY-LAWS of the TENNESSEE ATHLETIC
TRAINERS’ SOCIETY
Approved by the membership January 18, 2020
ARTICLE I – Membership Classes
Section 1. LICENSED - ACTIVE
Qualifications for Membership: Licensed membership shall be open to individuals who are Licensed Athletic Trainers in the State of Tennessee and are residents of or whose place of primary practice of athletic training is in the state of Tennessee. Licensed members must be licensed and in good standing as an Athletic Trainer in the State of Tennessee. A member in this class must meet all requirements, laws, rules and regulations of and remain in good standing with the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society (TATS) and the State of Tennessee by the Board of Athletic Trainers.
Licensed - Active members are entitled to vote on Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society (TATS) affairs and to hold TATS office.
Section 2. LICENSED – INACTIVE/MILTARY
Qualifications for Membership: A Member called up for active duty may request Military Inactive membership status for a maximum of two (2) years. A copy of proof of active military service must accompany the request. A member in Military Inactive status remains a member in good standing, with all the rights and privileges of a regular member but pays no dues. Upon discharge from the military or on the 2-year anniversary of the request, the member will return to their pre-military membership status by notifying TATS and/or National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and by paying the appropriate dues amount.
If the member does not contact TATS and/or NATA by the 2-year anniversary of their request, they will be changed to nonmember status. If the member does not contact NATA and/or TATS by the 2-year anniversary of his/her request, he/she will be changed to nonmember status.
Section 3. CERTIFIED/LICENSED - RETIRED
Qualifications for Membership: A member who is eligible for retired status and who wishes to continue membership in TATS in the retired class must request change to this class through TATS and/or NATA and inform the TATS Secretary. A Certified/Licensed-Retired member shall also submit verification that they have retired their license to practice in State of Tennessee. A member in this category shall have the privilege of continuing membership without further payment of dues.
These members are entitled to vote on TATS affairs. They may not hold a TATS Executive Board office but may serve on committees as members or as chair/co-chairpersons.
Section 4. LICENSED - STUDENT
Qualifications for Membership: Licensed-Student membership shall be open to individuals possessing a current license to practice athletic training in the state of Tennessee and are enrolled as full-time graduate students working toward an advanced degree at an accredited college or university. An individual may not be classified as a Licensed-Student member for a combined total of more than three years. A member in this class must meet all requirements, laws, rules and regulations of and remain in good standing with the State of Tennessee. If a person ceases to be a full-time student, the individual is not eligible for Licensed - Student membership and should notify the TATS Secretary within thirty (30) days.
Licensed - Student members may vote on TATS affairs; however, they may not hold any TATS office. They may serve on a committee but may not serve as a chair/co-chairperson except on a student-oriented committee approved by the Executive Board.
Section 5. ASSOCIATE
Qualifications for Membership: Associate membership shall be open to individuals who are working professionally in athletics, education, research, medicine, or an allied health profession related to athletic training. An individual who is not licensed as an Athletic Trainer in the state of Tennessee shall be eligible for membership in this category.
Associate members are not entitled to vote on TATS affairs or to hold any TATS office. They may serve on a committee but shall not have any voting privileges or serve as a chair/cochairperson.
Section 6. NON-LICENSED - STUDENT
Qualifications for Membership: Non-Licensed-Student membership shall be open to individuals meeting the following criteria:
1. Non-Licensed individuals enrolled as full-time students in an accredited college or university pursuing a degree in athletic training; and
2. Individuals making progress toward the fulfillment of the requirements for BOC certification but have not completed such requirements.
3. An individual may be classified as a Non-Licensed-Student member for a combined total of no more than eight years (undergraduate five, graduate three). After eight years, the individual must transfer to the Associate member category.
If a person ceases to be a full-time student, he/she is not eligible for Non-Licensed Student membership. Non-Licensed Student members are not entitled to vote on TATS affairs or to hold any TATS office. They may serve on a committee but shall not have any voting privileges or serve as a chair/co-chairperson except on a student-oriented committee approved by the Executive Board.
Section 7. ADVISORY
Qualifications for Membership: Physicians or allied healthcare professionals not meeting other membership classifications and who are directly associated with a sports program providing medical care are eligible for membership in this class. A Licensed - Active or Certified/ Licensed - Retired member must nominate a prospective candidate for this membership. The nomination must be presented to the Secretary for approval by the Executive Board. Advisory members are not entitled to vote on TATS affairs, to hold any TATS office or act as chair/co-chairperson. They may serve on a committee but shall not have any voting privileges.
Section 8. HONORARY
Qualifications for Membership: An individual or group, such as a corporate sponsor, may be awarded Honorary membership status through TATS only. A person who, by virtue of his/her actions and speech, shows profound interest in the athletic training profession shall be eligible for membership in this class. Nominations may be made only by a Licensed - Active or Licensed - Retired member and shall be directed to the Vice-President and chairperson of the Honors and Awards Committee. The Committee will make recommendations to the Executive Board for approval.
Honorary members are not entitled to vote on TATS affairs or to hold any TATS office. They may not serve on any committees.
Section 9. CHANGE OF MEMBERSHIP CLASS
If a member changes their class of membership with TATS and/or NATA or if there is a change in the status of their licensure as an athletic trainer in the State of Tennessee, the member is obligated to notify the Secretary of the Society TATS of such change within thirty (30) days.
If a member is found by TATS to be in the wrong membership classification, they will be referred by the Secretary to the Treasurer and/or NATA Membership Services. This will be done without the member making a request for change. Should this occur, the Secretary shall notify the member within ten (10) days with an explanation for such change. A member may appeal this action in writing to the Secretary. The Executive Board will consider an appeal with a decision announced within thirty (30) days of receipt of the appeal.
ARTICLE II – Membership
Any person, regardless of class of membership, will meet the qualifications of their respective class as set forth in the By-Laws of TATS.
ARTICLE III – Dues
Section 1. Dues shall be collected on a yearly basis through the NATA. For non-NATA members, dues will be collected at or before the TATS Annual Clinical Symposia & Members Meeting.
Section 2. TATS dues shall be set in accordance with dues as established by the NATA.
ARTICLE IV – Governing Body: Election to and Removal from Office; Eligibility to Run for Office
Section 1. The governing body of TATS shall be the Executive Board. It shall be comprised of those holding the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and three (3) Regional Representatives (East, Middle and West) of which each will be nominated by and voted for in election format by the voting membership of TATS. Chair/co-chairpersons of all standing committees will act as non-voting liaison members of the Executive Board. All Executive Board members shall be licensed athletic trainers as set forth in Article I, Section 1 in these By-Laws and certified members of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. The Parliamentarian shall serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Executive Board.
Section 2. The Licensed - Active Athletic Trainer and Certified/ Licensed - Retired members of TATS will propose nominations for TATS officers. The Secretary will announce upcoming regular elections and the call for nominations to the membership by e-mail and/or through other appropriate means of electronic communication by April 1st prior to the end of the respective term of office. Nominations are to be made in writing to the TATS Parliamentarian, Secretary, or to a designated member of the Executive Board appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Board. Nominations shall close by April 15 and ballots distributed to the membership by electronic communications by May 1. Voting shall be conducted in an orderly, efficient, equitable and secure manner. A ballot shall be sent to each Certified Member and shall be completed by May 15. Election results shall be announced as soon as votes are verified and tabulated. Election of officers shall be by a majority vote (greater than fifty percent of votes cast).
Section 3. In the event there is only one candidate nominated for any elected position and remains the only qualified candidate at the close of nominations, that candidate must still be duly elected. Regarding the election of Regional Representatives, each voter may vote for one (1) candidate from each of the regions.
Section 4. In the event no candidate receives a majority vote, a run-off election will be contested between the two (2) candidates receiving the most votes. This election will commence within 2 weeks of verification and tabulation of votes from the regular election. The same procedures will be followed as the regular election.
Section 5. In order to run for and hold an elected office of TATS a candidate must be a licensed - active athletic trainer member of TATS as outlined in Article 1, Section 1 in these By-Laws. In addition:
a) Candidates for President must have served on the TATS Executive Board for two (2) years in the seven (7) year period immediately preceding the beginning of the election for the office they are seeking; or a candidate must have served as a committee chair or cochair of a standing TATS committee for two (2) years in the seven (7) year period immediately preceding the beginning of the election for the office they are seeking.
b) Candidates for Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer & Regional Representatives must have been members in good standing of the Society for two (2) years immediately preceding the beginning of the election for the office they are seeking.
c) Regional Representatives shall be current legal residents of their respective regions as defined in Article X of these By-Laws at the time of their nomination for the office and throughout their time serving in that capacity.
d) Years of service will be determined from the actual date that the candidate took the office of the respective requirement to the date of the election for the office they are seeking.
Section 6. The newly elected officers will take office and begin their terms at the TATS Annual Clinical Symposia & Members Meeting. Officers elected as a result of special elections shall assume office as set forth in Article V, Section 3 in these By-Laws.
Section 7. Elections for the offices of President, Secretary & West Tennessee Representative will be held in the calendar year 2021 and every third year thereafter. Elections for the offices of Treasurer and Middle Tennessee Representative will be held in the calendar year 2022 and every third year thereafter. Elections for the offices of Vice President and East Tennessee Representative will be held the calendar year 2023 and every third year thereafter. There will be a special election in 2021 for the offices of Treasurer and Middle Tennessee Representative with one (1) year terms and for the offices of Vice President and East Tennessee Representative with two (2) year terms.
ARTICLE V – Special Elections
Section 1. Should the office of President become vacant during a term, the Vice President shall assume the office of President for the remainder of the term.
Section 2. Should any of the offices of Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and/or Regional Representative become vacant during a term, or with the simultaneous vacating of both the President and Vice President offices, a special election shall be held and a new officer chosen within sixty (60) days of said office being vacated. Such special election will be called for by the Executive Board. Nominations will be asked of the membership by e-mail and/or through other appropriate means of electronic communication. The nomination period will be open for fifteen (15) days after which elections will take place as soon as feasible by online voting. The person elected shall serve in the respective office for the remainder of the term until the next regularly scheduled election. In any event that an office is vacant, the newly elected official will take office immediately.
Section 2a. If there are more than two (2) candidates for an elected office and no one candidate receives a majority of votes (greater than 50 percent of votes cast), a run-off election will be contested between the two (2) candidates receiving the most votes. This election will commence within 2 weeks of verification and tabulation of votes from the special election. The same procedures will be followed as the special election.
Section 3. In the case where it is known in advance that an elected official will be leaving office for any reason, a special election may take place immediately instead of waiting for the respective office to be vacated. Nominations will be asked of the membership in the same manner as other elections. The nomination period will be open for fifteen (15) days and the elections will begin as soon as feasible thereafter. Any person elected in this manner shall take office at the time the vacating officer officially leaves office.
Section 4. An officer elected by special election or assuming office as outlined in Article V, Section 1 of these By-Laws shall serve for the remainder of the term of office that they are filling. If an individual becomes an executive board member (other than Secretary or Treasurer) in this manner, they will be eligible for re-election twice if the office was vacated during the previous executive board member’s second or third year in office. They will be eligible for reelection once if the office was vacated during the previous executive board member’s first year in office.
Section 5. Except for the office of President, should a vacancy occur in an office after a regular election has been held, but prior to assumption of that office, then the vacant office shall immediately be filled by the respective officer elect.
Section 6. In the event of a declaration by the President of the United States or the Governor of Tennessee of a state of emergency due to a natural disaster or other event, the Executive Board shall have the power to enact emergency suspension or delay and rescheduling of elections. The Executive Board shall reschedule election proceedings to be completed within ninety (90) days of lifting of such declaration in order to ensure maximum electorate participation; to provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote; to minimize to whatever degree possible a person's exposure to danger during declared states of emergency; and to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
ARTICLE VI – President of the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society
Section 1. Term of Office: Three years. May be re-elected once.
Section 2. Functions and Responsibilities:
1. Serves as the official spokesperson for the Executive Board and the TATS concerning public relations and speaking engagements for the membership.
2. Calls all meetings of the Executive Board as deemed necessary and advisable.
3. Presides over all meetings and activities of the Executive Board.
4. Presides over all TATS Annual Clinical Symposia & Members Meetings.
5. Represents a tie-breaking vote on the Executive Board and votes only in the event of impasse.
6. Keeps the Executive Board informed about TATS affairs between Board meetings.
7. Serves as ex-officio member on all committees of TATS.
8. Appoints all committee chair/co-chairpersons with agreement and approval of Executive Board.
9. Appoints with agreement and approval of the Executive Board all representatives of TATS to allied organizations (TMA, TSSAA, etc.)
ARTICLE VII – Vice President of the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society
Section 1. Term of Office: Three years. May be re-elected once.
Section 2. Functions and Responsibilities: The Vice President has the following responsibilities:
1. Assumes the office of President as prescribed in the Constitution of TATS.
2. Oversees the arrangement of the Annual Clinical Symposia & Members Meeting each year.
3. Represents the President in matters consistent with their functions when the President is not available.
4. Carries out any additional duties as assigned by the President.
ARTICLE VIII – Secretary of the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society
Section 1. Term of Office: Three years. May be re-elected without term limits.
Section 2. Functions and Responsibilities:
1. Record and maintain accurate minutes of every Executive Board and Annual Clinical Symposia & Members Meeting
2. Verify eligibility and maintain all membership information, records and directories.
3. Handle all correspondence other than items of a financial nature of TATS.
4. Carry out any additional duties as assigned by the President.
ARTICLE IX – Treasurer of the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society
Section 1. Term of Office: Three years. May be re-elected without term limits.
Section 2. Functions and Responsibilities:
1. Provides accounting of all financial transactions of TATS including deposits, withdrawals, investments and other related matters.
2. Collect dues, pay bills and maintain accurate bookkeeping records.
3. Submits financial report for information of the general TATS membership at Annual Clinical Symposia & Members Meeting.
4. Handle all financial correspondence of TATS.
5. File all applicable Federal, State and local tax and revenue statements and forms.
6. Carry out any additional duties as assigned by the President.
ARTICLE X – Regional Representative(s) of the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society
Section 1. Term of Office: Three years. May be re-elected once. One representative shall be elected from each region as defined in Article X, Section 3 of these By-Laws.
Section 2. Functions and Responsibilities:
1. Act as Liaison for TATS general membership for the assigned region
2. Functions as a voting member of the Executive Board
3. Keep assigned region members informed of changes or updates occurring in TATS
4. Carry out any additional duties assigned by the President.
Section 3. Definition of Regions: Regions will be divided based on the Grand Divisions as defined in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 2, Grand Divisions and State Capital.
Eastern Grand Division shall include the following counties: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Grainger, Greene, Hamilton, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Marion, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union and Washington.
Middle Grand Division shall include the following counties: Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Clay, Coffee, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Fentress, Franklin, Giles, Grundy, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Sequatchie, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, White, Williamson, and Wilson.
Western Grand Division shall include the following counties: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, McNairy, Madison, Obion, Perry, Shelby, Tipton and Weakley.
ARTICLE XI - Parliamentarian
Section 1. Selection: Appointed by the President with agreement and approval of Executive Board. Must be a licensed member good standing of TATS with a thorough working knowledge of parliamentary procedure, Robert’s Rules of Order and a working knowledge of TATS operations.
Section 2. Term of Office: Subject to yearly review by Executive Board.
Section 3. Functions and Responsibilities:
1. Charged with keeping the Executive Board operating under parliamentary procedure as prescribed by the Robert's Rules of Order.
2. Provides oversight of elections, gathering of nominations for office, and the receipt, tabulation and verification of votes cast for the election of officers.
ARTICLE XII - Committees
Section 1. Selection of Chair/Co-Chairperson: Appointed by the President from the appropriate membership categories of TATS with agreement and approval of the Executive Board. All Chair/Co-Chairpersons shall be licensed athletic trainers in the state of Tennessee and certified members of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association,
Section 2. Term of Office for chair/co-chairperson: Two years and may be reappointed with approval of the Executive Board. The President may at any time, with the approval of the Executive Board, remove or make changes to any committee leadership or its membership.
Section 3. Committee Members: The number of committee members will be determined by the chair in consultation with the Committee’s Executive Board liaison to form a workable group.
Section 4. Selection of Committee Members: Recommended by the Chair/Co-chairperson and appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board from the appropriate membership categories of the Society. Every effort should be made to have at least one member from each of the three (3) regions.
Section 5. Term of Office for committee member: One year and may be reappointed upon recommendation of Committee Chair/Co-Chairpersons and with approval of the Executive Board.
Section 6. General Functions and Responsibilities of Committee Chairs:
1. Accepts roles and responsibilities as set forth by the President and approved by the Executive Board.
2. Will function as a non-voting member of the Executive Board.
3. Reports to the President and the Executive Board on a timely basis regarding the committee's membership, progress, needs and recommendations for the welfare, growth and protection of TATS.
4. Operates within the standards of professional conduct as set forth for individuals by the BOC and the applicable laws, rules and regulations of the State of Tennessee.
5. Will be prepared to present to the general membership in a format dictated by the Executive Board a report of activities at the Annual Members Meeting.
6. Will function under the complete direction of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE XIII – Compensation of Executive Board Members
All persons serving as officers, regional representatives or committee chairs and/or members of the Executive Board shall serve without salary or compensation except for reimbursed expenses approved by the Executive Board in accordance with the TATS Policies & Procedures Manual.