Constitution of the KRA

CONSTITUTION
of
THE KANSAS REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION

An Affiliate of the
NATIONAL REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION
Amended 11/7/1992

Article I

Article II

Article III

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this Chapter shall be the Kansas Rehabilitation Association, an affiliate of the National Rehabilitation Association and the Great Plains Region.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The purpose of the Chapter shall be to advance rehabilitation of all persons with disabilities by - --

1. 1. Exercising leadership in identifying the needs of persons with disabilities, interpreting these needs to society, planning and promoting programs designed to meet these needs, and translating such programs into services at the community level.

2. 2. Identifying the essential elements in the practice of rehabilitation and fostering the development and application of standards which will help to assure effective services to persons with disabilities.

3. 3. Exercising leadership in developing concepts and practices which will foster interagency and interprofessional activity directed toward helping persons with disabilities increase their ability to function

4. 4. Encouraging the entry of competent and humanitarian individuals to the rehabilitation professions and fostering training opportunities required to make them effective practitioners.

5. 5. Encouraging the search for improved methods and techniques in the organization, administration, and practice of rehabilitation and fostering the dissemination and evaluation of such findings.

6. 6. Exercising leadership in removing environmental and legal barriers and overcoming discrimination which keeps person with disabilities from living normal lives and enjoying the rights and benefits that should be the heritage of every American citizen.

ARTICLE III -- DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this Constitution –-

1. 1. Association shall mean the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA).

2. 2. Chapter or State Chapter shall mean the Kansas Rehabilitation Association (KRA) of the National Rehabilitation Association.

3. 3. State shall mean the State of Kansas.

4. 4. Board shall mean the Executive Board of the Kansas Rehabilitation Association.

5. 5. Geographical boundaries of this Chapter shall be the same as those of the State of Kansas.

6. 6. Local Chapter shall mean one of the sub-units of the Kansas Chapter; (see Article XI).

7. 7. GPR/NRA shall mean the Great Plains Regional of the National Rehabilitation Association which includes the geographical boundaries of the following states: Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming.

8. 8. Assembly shall mean a general meeting of the Chapter membership to conduct KRA business.

9. 9. The Fiscal Year of the Chapter shall be January 1 to December 31.

10. 10. State Division/Division shall mean a State Chapter approved scientific, professional and/or interest group of Chapter members.

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the State Chapter shall be available to all persons or organizations interested in the rehabilitation of person with disabilities and who contribute to the support of the State Chapter as provided for in the By-Laws of the State Chapter. No member of the State Chapter shall be denied membership in any organizational unit of the State Chapter because of race, creed, national origin, sex, age or disability. All members of the State Rehabilitation Association residing in the geographical boundaries set forth in Article III shall be eligible for such Chapter membership.

SECTION 1. CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP

The classes of membership of this Chapter shall be the same as defined by the Association.

SECTION 2. PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP

a. Members of the Chapter shall receive all official publications of the Chapter.

b. All classes of members of the Association shall be entitled to become members of an affiliated state, local or campus chapter.

c. All classes of members shall be eligible to hold an elective office, to serve as member of the

d. Board, and to serve as a member for the Delegate Assembly.

e. All classes of members shall be entitled to participate in the national meetings of the Chapter, in GPR/NRA meetings, and meetings of the Chapters or Local Chapters.

SECTION 3. MEETINGS OF MEMBERSHIP

Except when the Board in unusual circumstance shall determine that it is not possible to hold such a meeting, there shall be at least one meeting of the membership of the State Chapter during each calendar year at a time and place to be determined by the Board.

ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP ASSEMBLY

SECTION 1. POWERS OF MEMBERSHIP ASSEMBLY

The Assembly:

a. May adopt rules bf procedure for the conduct of meetings of the Assembly.

b. May request to hear all reports of Committees of the Chapter.

c. May pass resolutions pertinent to the purposes and objectives of the Chapter, such resolutions to be considered policies of the Chapter.

d. May adopt amendments to this Constitution as herein provided.

e. May delegate to the Board any of its powers except the adoption amendments to this Constitution.

SECTION 2. MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY

Each member of the Chapter shall be entitled to one vote in the Assembly.

SECTION 3. MEETINGS OF THE ASSEMBLY

The assembly shall convene for a regular meeting at the time and place determined by the Board. Special meetings shall be called by the President upon request by a majority of the members of the Board.

SECTION 4. QUORUM

Membership present at the convened Assembly shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of Business at the Assembly.

SECTION 5. METHOD OF VOTING

Each member of the Assembly shall have one vote on any matter coming before the Assembly. Voting shall be by voice, hand count, or mail ballot at the discretion of the President or by special rules adopted by the Assembly.

ARTICLE VI - KRA BOARD

SECTION 1. COMPOSITION OF BOARD

The board shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, the immediate Past-President, the President from KRA Local Chapters, the President of Chapter Divisions, and 3 Board Members-at-Large.

SECTION 2. FILLING VACANCIES

The Board shall have authority to fill by the votes of its own members the offices which have become vacant between elections, including vacancies in its own membership. When a vacancy occurs in one of the elective offices of KRA, the vacancy may be filled for the term of office. If the office of the President is vacated, the Vice-President automatically becomes President for the remainder of the term. When a vacancy occurs in a Board Member-at-Large position the vacancy may be filled by the Board appointment until the end of the term of office.

SECTION 3. POWERS OF THE BOARD

Powers of the Board shall include, but not be limited to:

a. Adoption of a fiscal year for KRA.

b. Adoption of policies governing all fiscal affairs of KRA.

c. Establishing advisory groups or committees, prescribing their functions, membership, hearing, and acting on their reports.

d. Serving as the final judge of the results of elections of KRA.

e. Proposing resolutions and other policy statements to the Assembly.

f. Instructing the President to call meetings of the membership and the Assembly, setting the time and place of such meetings, and notifying the membership of such meetings through an official publication of KRA.

g. Formulating and carrying out agreements with other organizations whose purposes are in a harmony with those of KRA when such agreements will advance and promote the purposes of KRA. Such organization shall be known as Associated Organizations. A full report of the transactions under this provision will be made to the Assembly.

h. Adopting such By-Laws and Rules/Regulations as may be necessary for carrying out the activities authorized by this Constitution and the Assembly, including rules/regulations necessary in connection with the development and maintenance of effective relationships with regional organizations, divisions and Local Chapters to assure the performance of the functions specified for such units of KRA in this Constitution.

i. Certifying delegates to the Association Delegate Assembly. The number of delegates who may be selected is governed by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association.

SECTION 4. TERMS OF EXECUTIVE MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

a. a. Except in instance of appointments to fill a vacancy, Board Members-at-Large shall be elected for a three year term.

b. b. One Board Member-at-Large shall be elected each year for a term of three years. Such election shall be conducted under rules/regulations established by the Board.

ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS

SECTION 1. ELECTIVE OFFICERS

The elective officers of the Associations shall be the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary.

SECTION 2. ELECTION OF ELECTIVE OFFICERS

Elective officers shall be elected by a ballot, such election to be conducted under rules/regulation adopted by the Board. The elective officers shall assume the offices to which they have been elected the first day of the next fiscal year following their election.

SECTION 3. DUTIES OF ELECTED OFFICERS

The duties of elective officers shall be those usually pertaining to such positions, including the following specific duties assigned to each office:

a. a. President. The duties of the President shall include: calling meetings of the KRA Assembly and the Board, presiding over meetings of the Assembly and the Board, nominating to the Board members to fill vacancies on the Board, serving as Ex-Officio member of all Committees, representing the Assembly and Board in carrying out the policies of KRA.

b. b. President-Elect. The President-Elect shall serve on the Board and shall assume the presidency at the beginning of the first day of the next calendar year following his/her tenure as President-Elect. The President-Elect shall serve as chairperson of the Program Committee (Standing Committee).

c. c. Vice-President. If the presidency of the Chapter should become vacant or if the President is unable to perform the duties due to temporary circumstance, the Vice-President shall serve as President until the President is again able to resume the duties. The Vice-President shall have other duties as the Board may from time to time assign.

d. d. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall make recommendations to the Board with respect to financial policies of KRA. The Treasurer shall make an annual report to the Board, and to the Assembly of the financial status of KRA. The Treasurer shall perform other such related functions as may be assigned by the Board.

e. e. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep all minutes of meetings of the Chapter. The Secretary shall prepare such reports as may be required by the Board and shall act as custodian of all records and 'papers' of the Chapter.

ARTICLE VIII - STANDING COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. NUMBER AND NATURE OF COMMITTEES

To assist the President and the Board in carrying out Chapter functions, the Chapter shall have the following standing committees: Program, Membership, Legislative, Public Relations, Nominating and By-Laws, and Finance. Special Committees may be appointed as provided in Article VI, Section 3.

SECTION 2. PROGRAM

This Committee shall be responsible for planning and conducting programs at the meeting of the Chapter. The President-Elect of the Chapter is the Chairperson of this Committee.

SECTION 3. MEMBERSHIP

This Committee shall plan and execute under direction of the Board an annual membership campaign.

SECTION 4. LEGISLATIVE

This Committee shall study the organization and administration of rehabilitation and related programs, public and voluntary, with respect to overall rehabilitation policy; and analyze proposed rehabilitation legislation in the light of such rehabilitation policy; prepare and submit statements of policy to the Board for consideration; and lead the Chapter membership in implementing policy.

SECTION 5. PUBLIC RELATIONS

This committee shall be responsible for promoting publicity and public relations for the Chapter. The chairperson shall serve as editor of the KRA newsletter.

SECTION 6. NOMINATING AND BY-LAWS

This committee shall present at the meeting designated for the election of officers with one or more nominations for each position to be filled. This Committee shall also prepare amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Chapter upon the request of the Board. It may also make recommendations to the Board with respect to desirable changes in the Constitution and By-Laws.

ARTICLE IX - ELECTIONS

SECTION 1

An election of officers and Board Member-at-Large shall be conducted at the Annual Assembly or by mail ballot under rules/regulations established by the Board provided, however, that the following rules shall be included among those established by the Board.

a. The ballots shall be prepared listing by lot the names of all nominees under the office for which they have been nominated.

b. The same number of blank space shall be provided under each office for write-in votes as there are offices to fill.

c. The voting should be secret unless otherwise ordered.

d. The election shall be held at least thirty (30) days prior to the close of the Chapter fiscal year.

ARTICLE X -- DIVISIONS

SECTION 1. ORGANIZATION OF A DIVISION

Major scientific, professional or other interest groups may be organized as divisions within NRA/KRA to facilitate the promotion of specific interests and to meet the special needs of members of these groups when such interests and needs are in harmony with the purposes of NRA/KRA.

SECTION 2. CREATION OF A DIVISION

A division may be organized when a significant number of KRA members request it and the Board approves. The Board may also create a division to help carry out the purposes of the Chapter. A division may not represent NRA/KRA in any matter of NRA/KRA policy. A division may, by resolution, present its viewpoint on any matter directly to the Board and/or to the Assembly. The Board shall adopt provisions for reporting to divisions on action taken on such resolutions as may presented to it.

ARTICLE XI -- LOCAL CHAPTERS

SECTION 1. PURPOSE OF LOCAL CHAPTERS

For the purposes of effecting greater membership participation in the affairs of the Chapter and in carrying out the provisions of this Constitution, the Board shall designate such local Chapters as is deems necessary.

SECTION 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL CHAPTER BOUNDARIES

The boundaries of Local Chapters shall follow the boundaries of counties within the state. The Board shall designate the Local Chapters and their boundaries. Requests from individuals who wish to join a Local Chapter outside their geographical area should be directed to the Board.

SECTION 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL CHAPTER ORGANIZATIONS

Members of the Chapter may request to form a Local Chapter to carry out the functions and responsibilities of Local Chapter organizations under the Constitution and By-Laws of the Chapter. The Board will approve or disapprove the establishment of the Local Chapter. Local Chapters are not affiliate organizations but administrative units of the Chapter and subject to the control of the Board.

SECTION 4. MEMBERSHIP IN THE LOCAL CHAPTER ORGANIZATION

All members of the State Chapter in the geographical area designated as a Local Chapter shall be members of the Local Chapter. A Local Chapter may not require the payment of dues in excess of NRA fees. The Local Chapter may engage in other means of raising revenue. A Local Chapter may not represent the Chapter in any matter of national or state policy.

ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS

The Constitution of the Chapter may be amended as follows:

1. 1. An amendment approved by a majority of the Board may be adopted by a majority vote of the members of the Assembly present and voting at a regular meeting provided the proposed change is published prior to the meeting of the Assembly during which such action is taken.

2. 2. An amendment may be proposed by a delegate provided the proposal is submitted in writing, and provided at least five (5) members have signed an endorsement of the proposal. All such proposals shall be presented to the Assembly, and if approved by a majority of the Assembly present and voting, the proposal shall be referred to a special committee to be appointed by the President for study and recommendation to the next regular meeting of the Assembly, and if ratified at such meeting by a majority of members present and voting, the proposal shall be adopted.

ARTICLE XIII -- MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 1. SAVING CLAUSE

All provisions of the previous Chapter Constitution are hereby repealed.

SECTION 2. RULES OF ORDER

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern meetings of the Assembly and the Board when they are not in conflict with the Constitution or By-Laws of the Chapter or rules adopted by the Assembly or the Board.

SECTION 3. CONFLICTING STATEMENTS

Any portion of the Chapter Constitution in conflict with the Association Constitution shall be considered invalid and inoperative.

Amended as of 11/7/1992.