Revised 1988; 1991; March, 2004
Chapter I
Governing Body
The North Texas Society of Radiation Therapists, an affiliation of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, shall be the governing body. Hereafter, the NTSRT shall be referred to as the Society.
Chapter II
Purposes and Functions
Section 1: Purposes
The purposes of this Society shall be to advance the science of radiation therapy and radiologic technology, to assist in establishing and maintaining high standards of education and training, and to enhance the quality of patient care. These purposes shall not be restricted by any consideration of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual preference, age, veterans status, visible or non-visible handicap or disability.
Section 2: Functions
The functions of this Society shall be:
(A) To provide meetings at which to transact Society business, to present scientific papers, to carry on educational activities, to discuss professional problems, and to encourage similar programs among organizations affiliated with the Society;
(B) To publish and disseminate information pertinent to the conduct of the Society or the profession:
(C) To assist in establishing and enunciating high standards of education and training and to implement them through appropriate channels;
(D) To stimulate and encourage research designed to provide the knowledge needed to ensure increasingly efficient patient care;
(E) To expand educational opportunities and to develop programs designed to broaden the scope of technologic service;
(F) To enunciate policies concerning the professional status, legislative activity, and the welfare of its members;
(G) To cooperate with external organizations or agencies whose policies are not in conflict with those of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists as may be necessary to maintain continued progress and growth of the Society.
Chapter III
Policies
Section 1: The Society shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan. No commercial enterprise nor any candidate for public office shall be endorsed by the Society. Neither the name of the Society nor any of its officers in their official capacities shall be used in connection with a commercial company or with any partisan interest or for other than regular functions of the Society.
Chapter IV
Membership
Section 1: The membership of this Society shall consist of active members, associate members, student members, life members, and honorary members. All candidates for membership and honorary membership shall submit the prescribed application form properly completed, together with the required fees, and shall furnish any additional information as may be required.
Section 2: Active members, hereinafter designated as members, shall be those who are radiation therapists certified by and in good standing with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and who are certified by and in good standing with the Texas Department of Health as Medical Radiologic Technologists, and who are employed in the art and science of radiation therapy. Active members shall hold voting privileges.
Section 3: Associate members shall be those individuals who are interested in the field of radiation oncology but who are not eligible for active membership. They shall have all the obligations and privileges of active members except the right to vote and hold office.
Section4: Student members shall be those students who are enrolled full-time in a radiation therapy technology program accredited by a mechanism acceptable to the ARRT. This includes educational programs accredited by the JRCERT and programs housed in post secondary institutions accredited by a regional accreditation agency. Eligibility for this category shall terminate on conclusion of or discontinuity of such training. Eligibility shall be retained for students who have graduated but are not certified. This status shall not exceed a six month period. Student members shall have all of the privileges and obligations of members except the right to vote and hold office.
Section 5: Life members shall be those individuals who are eligible for active membership and who have rendered unusual service to the Society. Life members shall be selected by a majority vote at a regular meeting upon a unanimous recommendation of the Board of Directors. They shall pay no dues and have all the privileges and obligations of active members.
Section 6: Honorary membership shall be those individuals who have rendered outstanding service in the field of radiation oncology. Because of the interest they have evidenced in the activities and aims of this Society, the Society wishes to honor them with this honorary membership. Honorary members shall be chosen by a majority vote at a regular meeting of the Society. They shall pay no dues and shall have all the privileges and obligations of members except the right to vote and hold office.
Section 7: No member who is in arrears for dues shall vote or hold office or shall be entitled to receive reports of the transaction of the Society. It shall be the duty of the Secretary-Treasurer to erase from the rolls of membership the name of any person who is in arrears for more than ninety (90) days. Any member dropped from the rolls for nonpayment of dues may be reinstated only upon applying for reinstatement and payment of the dues for the year in which that member is reinstated and a reinstatement fee not to exceed an amount equivalent to the annual dues.
Section 8: Any member may resign from membership in the Society by making application to the Secretary-Treasurer, providing all of the member's dues or other indebtedness to the Society have been paid. Any member who has resigned in good standing may be reinstated after paying the reinstatement fee of $1.00 and the dues for the year in which that person is reinstated.
Section 9: Charges ained at the expulsion of any individual in any category shall be submitted in writing by at least two members of the Board of Directors, who will investigate the charges and render a decision within ninety (90) days. If in the Board of Directors' judgment the charges are sufficient, that individual shall be advised of the charges and shall have the right to submit a written defense or appear, in person or by means of an authorized representative, before a meeting of the Board of Directors. The individual charged will be notified at least twenty (20) days in advance of said meeting. If in the unanimous opinion of the Board of Directors a satisfactory defense has not been made, the Board of Directors shall have the right to terminate the membership.
Chapter V
Membership Fees
Section 1: The application fee for active and associate members shall be uniform. This fee shall in no case exceed $5.00. In the case of the student member, the fee may be waived.
Section 2: The annual dues for active, associate, and student members may be equal to, but not exceed, the limit of annual dues permitted by Article V of the Articles of Incorporation of the Texas Society of Radiologic Technologists, payable each year in advance.
Section 3: The amount of the application fee and annual dues shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast by the members, consistent with the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of this chapter. Notice of such vote shall be given to the members at least thirty (30) days in advance.
ChapterVI
Voting Procedure
Section 1: The Society shall establish, by a majority vote, such voting procedure as best meet the needs of the Society and are applicable to the business to be conducted.
Chapter VII
Officers
Section 1: All officers of the Society shall be active members of this Society.
Section 2: The officers of the Society shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and such additional officers as are recommended by the Board of Directors and ratified by the membership. The office of the Secretary-Treasurer may be divided into two offices.
Section 3: The President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer, or any officer shall be elected by plurality ballot at a regular meeting. Should the membership choose another election procedure, the officers shall be elected according to the method designated by the membership.
Section 4: All officers shall serve for a term of one year or until their successors have been appointed or elected.
Section 5: Newly elected officers shall be installed into office under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Chapter VIII
Duties of Officers
Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society and perform all duties consistent with this office. The President shall be ex-officio member of all committees, except the nominating committee, unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws.
Section 2: The Vice-President shall assume the duties consistent with this office, The Vice-President shall become acquainted with all the duties of the President. In the absence of the President the Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President.
Section 3: In the absence or inability of the President or Vice-President to act, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall call the meeting to order and preside until a temporary Chairperson can be elected.
Section 4: The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a correct and permanent record of the membership, conduct correspondence, and perform all duties that usually and customarily pertain to the office of Secretary and shall receive and keep funds of the Society and pay out same only upon order of the Board of Directors. At the time of the annual meeting the Secretary-Treasurer shall make a full financial report which shall be incorporated in the minutes.
Chapter IX
The Board of Directors
Section 1: Business and affairs of the Society shall be managed by its Board of Directors.
Section 2:
(A) The Board of Directors shall be composed of, but not limited to, three members including the President and the two immediate past Presidents. The Chairperson of the Board will be the senior past President serving on the Board.
(B) Vacancies shall be filled in accordance with Chapter 12.
Section 3: The responsibilities of the Board of Directors shall include:
(A) To provide for the audit of the books and accounts of the Society;
(B) To control all funds and/or properties of the Society:
(C) To change the date and/or location of any meeting if found advisable and, in the case of local, state, or national emergency, to cancel any meeting;
(D) With membership approval, to employ such personnel as may be necessary to conduct the business of the Society.
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Chapter X
Meetings
Section 1: The Society shall hold at least four meetings each year.
Section 2: Special meetings of the Society may be called at such time and place as designated by the Board of Directors. A majority of this group shall constitute sufficient authority. Members shall be notified at least fifteen (15) days in advance of such meetings, together with a statement fo the business to be transacted. No essential business other than specified shall be transacted at a special meeting.
Chapter XI
Committees
Section 1: The Board of Directors shall establish committees and/or task forces as deemed necessary to aid the Society in carrying on its activities. Such committees and task forces shall be responsible to the Board of Directors and may be altered or eliminated at any time by the Board of Directors.
Section 2: The President shall appoint the members of the committees and task forces unless in conflict with other sections of the Bylaws.
Section 3: A nominating committee of three (3) or more members shall be appointed within thirty (30) days preceding the election of officers. The committee shall satisfy itself that all candidates have the proper credentials and are willing to serve if elected. The procedure by which this committee is appointed and the qualifications of its members shall be established by a majority vote of active members at a regular meeting. The report of the nominating committee shall be submitted in a manner approved by the membership consistent with the adopted voting procedure.
Chapter XII
Vacancies
Section 1: A vacancy in any committee shall be filled by appointment by the President.
Section 2: A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be filled by an appointment unanimously agreed upon by the President and the remaining members of the Board of Directors to complete the unexpired term.
Section 3: A vacancy in any elective office except the office of the President shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors.
Chapter XIII
Procedures
Section 1: The rules contained in the revised edition of "Robert's Rules of Order" shall govern this Society in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are consistent with these Bylaws.
Section 2: The following shall be the order of the business unless otherwise ordered by the assembly.
(A) CALL TO ORDER
(B) DISPOSAL OF MINUTES
(C) REPORTS OF OFFICERS
(D) REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
(E) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(F) NEW BUSINESS
(G) ELECTIONS
(H) SELECTION OF MEETING PLACE
(I) ANNOUNCEMENTS
(J) ADJOURNMENT
Chapter XIV
Amendments
Section 1: Amendments to these Bylaws may be made by majority vote at any business meeting of the Society as long as 15 or more eligible voting members are present. Notice of such proposed amendments must be sent to all members at least thirty (30) days prior to the time of voting.
Chapter XV
Dissolution
Section 1: In the event of dissolution or final liquidation of the Society, all of the assets remaining, after payment of its obligations, shall be distributed as designated by voting members of the Society to and among such corporations, foundations, educational programs, or to other organizations organized and operated exclusively for scientific and/or educational advancement associated with radiation therapy and/or the treatment of cancer.
END OF BYLAWS