BYLAWS
Article 1: Name
The name of the organization shall be the World
Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy (WFATT).
Article 2: Office
The office of the WFATT shall be located in the
municipality where the President resides.
Article 3: Mission
The WFATT is a coalition of athletic trainers,
athletic therapists, and other allied health care professionals in the fields
of sport, exercise, injury/illness prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
The WFATT seeks to promote the highest quality of health care and functional
activity through the collaborative efforts of its members.
Article 4: Objectives
The objectives of the WFATT are:
(i) To create a global forum for exchanging non-binding
information about health care for active populations, including academic
preparation and professional practice through meetings and communication
vehicles.
(ii) To provide opportunity for collaborative research
efforts among members to improve the quality of health care to active
populations.
(iii) To provide information on and to professionals
and organizations delivering health care to active populations.
(iv) To promote the development of international and
domestic relationships with health care, sports, and governing bodies.
Article 5: Membership
5.1 Membership in the WFATT is open to
incorporated associations and organizations of professionals whose scope
of practice includes the prevention, care, and rehabilitation of athletic and
sports related injuries, illnesses, and conditions.
5.2 To be eligible for membership,
associations/organizations must have sent a delegate to at least one WFATT
World Congress and/or the WFATT business meeting.
5.3 There is no limit to the number of
associations/organizations from one country that can be approved for membership
in the WFATT.
5.4 The membership shall be divided into
three categories: National Association
Member, Educational Institution Member, and Affiliated Association Member.
5.5 National Association Members
This membership category shall include national
associations of professionals with a scope of practice that includes the
prevention, care, and rehabilitation of athletic and sports related injuries,
illnesses, and conditions and that have applied for membership, been accepted
as a member by the executive committee, and maintained membership.
Member associations in this category shall be entitled
to one vote at meetings of members.
Associations that have applied for membership within one year of the WFATT organizational meeting (2000) shall be awarded the title of charter member if the association’s application is accepted.
5.6 Educational Institution Members
This category shall include educational institutions that have programs to educate athletic trainers, athletic therapists, and other allied sports health care professionals that have applied for membership, been accepted as a member, and maintained membership.
To be eligible for membership in this category an
educational institution shall be a not-for-profit accredited post-secondary
school that delivers a program of study accredited or otherwise formally
approved by the body that regulates the practice of athletic
training/therapy/allied sports health care practice in that country.
Educational Institution Members shall not be entitled
to vote.
5.7 Affiliated Association Members
This membership category shall include regional, state, and provincial associations of professionals with a scope of practice that includes the prevention, care, and rehabilitation of athletic and sports related injuries, illnesses, and conditions and that have applied for membership, been accepted as a member, and maintained membership. Affiliated Association Members shall not be entitled to vote.
Article 6: Meetings of Members
6.1 Meetings of members of the WFATT shall
normally be held in conjunction with World Congresses.
6.2 From time to time, the President may call
other meetings of members. Notice of such meetings shall be circulated to the
membership at least 60 days prior to a scheduled meeting.
6.3 The President may also, in extraordinary
situations, convene a meeting by correspondence, facsimile or e-mail for the
purpose of voting on a specific issue. During a meeting held under this
provision, all voting members will be deemed to be present. For these meetings,
reasonable notice shall be provided.
6.4 At meetings of members, all votes shall
be decided by a majority of the votes cast unless otherwise specified by this
document.
Article 7: Executive Committee
7.1 The business of the WFATT shall be managed
and directed by an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is comprised of
a minimum of three members, two appointed by the National Athletic Trainers’
Association (NATA) and one appointed by the Canadian Athletic
Therapists Association (CATA).
7.2 The Executive Committee is empowered to
act on behalf of WFATT, as long as its actions are legal and within the scope
of WFATT’s stated purpose, and do not require the approval of voting members as
stipulated in these bylaws.
7.3 The Executive Committee shall be comprised
initially of a President and two Vice-Presidents. From time to time, the
Executive Committee may appoint additional members to serve on the Executive
Committee and may also appoint individuals to serve as committee chairs and
directors.
7.4 The Executive Committee shall be
empowered to transact the business and administer the affairs of the WFATT.
Such business may be conducted by correspondence, fax or email as appropriate.
7.5 The Executive Committee shall have the
authority to manage the funds and property of the WFATT.
7.6 Executive Committee members shall serve
without remuneration. No Executive Committee member may directly or indirectly
receive any profit from his or her position.
7.7 Under extreme and extraordinary
conditions only, the Executive Committee may temporarily suspend the provisions
of the constitution when it is deemed by the Executive Committee to be in the
best interests of the WFATT.
7.8 Each Executive Committee member shall be
entitled to one vote at meetings of the Executive Committee unless the member
is appointed as a non-voting member or is in a position of conflict of interest
regarding a particular matter of business. Motions shall be decided by a
majority of the votes cast. A quorum must be present for voting to be
conducted.
7.9 Each WFATT member association shall be
eligible to send one observer to meetings of the Executive Committee. WFATT
shall not be responsible for these travel costs.
7.10 On a regular basis, the Executive
Committee shall report to the membership on the business and affairs of the
WFATT. All members must provide an email address for association mailings.
7.11 The Executive Committee shall
establish the amount of the dues for each membership category.
Article 8: Indemnification
Executive Committee members and other designated
representatives of WFATT member organizations working on behalf of WFATT, who
are acting lawfully and in good faith shall be indemnified and held harmless.
Indemnification coverage shall be provided by WFATT, which shall pay the cost
for such coverage.
Article 9: Constitutional Amendments
9.1 All proposed amendments shall be
submitted in writing to the Executive Committee at least two months prior to a
meeting of members. Proposed amendments will be distributed to the voting
members at least one month prior to the meeting of members.
9.2 Proposed amendments shall be read at the
meeting of members. A two-thirds majority of the voting members present shall
be necessary for the adoption of the amendment. A quorum must be present for
voting to be conducted.
9.3 The amendment shall be implemented no
sooner than at the end of the meeting of members at which it was adopted.