Articles Of Bylaws Of The Arkansas Recreation And Parks Association (ARPA)
Adopted by General Membership on September 8, 2000
Changes to Agency Membership Adopted on March 1, 2001
By-laws Of The Arkansas Recreation And Parks Association
a. To broaden recreation, park and leisure opportunities for all citizens of Arkansas through mobilizing citizen and professional leadership to:
1. Promote the growth, accessibility and professional consistency of programs of public and private leisure resources, including recreation and park lands, facilities and programs.
2. Educate the public to the increasing importance of recreation, leisure and preservation of our natural history to the physical, mental and social well being of the citizens of Arkansas.
3. Strengthen the quality of professional leadership in recreation, park and leisure services through continuing education and training opportunities, assuring that the leadership reflects the Association’s diversity.
4. Advance science through encouraging research and disseminating information on recreation, natural preservation areas, park and leisure related subjects.
b. To provide an organization which will unite all recreation, park, and leisure services personnel within the State of Arkansas.
c. To foster and maintain high standards of professional qualifications and ethics among all recreation, park, and leisure personnel in the State of Arkansas.
d. To identify and promote minimum standards for recreation, park and leisure services and resources and encourage the continuance of study and research of such standards.
e. To foster and maintain a professional image to the public and related associations through positive public relations and affiliation for mutual benefit and cooperation.
f. To advocate on behalf of the interest of recreation, park, and leisure services personnel as a group in situations where such advocacy is necessary.
SECTION 2. Goals and accomplishments of the Association shall be reviewed and addressed annually at the Executive Retreat.
a. The Association shall have the power necessary to carry out its purposes and goals, subject only to limitations provided by the Articles of Incorporation, by the By-Laws or by law. Such powers shall include without limitation:
1. Control of its affairs.
2. Designation of time and manner of conducting meetings.
3. The control of its members.
4. The determination of time and manner of selections, qualifications, powers and duties of its officers and members of committees.
5. The determination of what constitutes a vacancy in any office or committee and the manner of filling that vacancy.
6. The adoption of such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the law, Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws with the right to amend or repeal as deemed necessary.
a. Professional: Any person employed in the field of recreation, park, and leisure services in Arkansas, an educator of recreation, park and leisure in an Arkansas university or college. It includes all rights and voting privileges.
b. Commercial: Individuals employed as commercial vendors, consultants or suppliers who are actively involved in the promotion of parks, recreation and leisure professions. This membership will have all rights including voting and holding office.
c. Retiree: An individual who has retired from the profession with a minimum of seven (7) years voting membership in ARPA prior to retirement. This membership category shall have full membership privileges including the right to vote and hold office.
d. Lifetime: A membership by recommendation of the Awards Committee and approved by the Board of Directors, awarded to retired professionals who have performed outstanding services in the recreation, park, or leisure services. It includes all rights and voting privileges.
e. Agency: Any public or private recreation, park, or leisure service department or organization in Arkansas such as recreation and park boards, city and county commissioners, municipal, state, federal, and district agencies and associations boards. Agency members receive ARPA bulletins, survey results, and other data; agency membership includes all voting rights and the right to hold office. All agency members must be directly associated with the agency who holds membership.
f. Board/Commissioner: An appointed or elected individual who is serving at least a two year term on a park, recreation or leisure services board or commission. Includes all rights and voting privelages.
g. Student: Any individual who is attending a college or university as a student in the field of park, recreation, leisure services, resource management, forestry, or any related field. Voting rights for Student Board Representative only.
h. Associate: Any individual in Arkansas not professionally employed in park, recreation, leisure services, resource management, forestry, or any related field, but interested in the field. No voting rights.
SECTION 2. There shall be three classes of non-voting memberships: Honorary, Student and Associate.
a. Honorary: A membership reserved for designated and deserving individuals, groups, or agencies for outstanding services or contributions to the field of recreation and parks or its related programs. This membership is strictly honorary and holds no voting powers.
b. Student: Any individual who is attending a college or university as a student in the field of park, recreation, leisure services, or any related field. This membership will have voting rights to elect the student representative for the Board of Directors. (A student may join as an individual professional member.)
c. Associate: Any individual in Arkansas not professionally employed in the recreation, park and leisure field, but interested in the recreation, park and leisure profession or out-of-state recreation, park and leisure professional. This membership includes all rights except voting privileges.
SECTION 3. Professional, Retiree, Commercial, Lifetime, Board/Commissioner and Agency members in good standing shall have the right to hold office.
SECTION 4. Any member may be expelled from or denied membership in the Association by two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, only after written notice is received by the member that he/she has the right to a full hearing before the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5. Any member of the board or officer wishing to resign may do so by submitting a written notice to the Association President.
SECTION 6. Any member in good standing in a recognized state recreation and park association or society may transfer such membership to the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association for the remainder of the year, without payment of additional membership dues upon presentation of proper credentials.
SECTION 2. The membership dues of the Association shall be determined by the Board of Directors and approved by a majority of the eligible members present at the annual meeting or may be mailed to each member eligible to vote and thirty (30) days from such mailing any amendments receiving a majority of the votes cast favoring their adoption shall be adopted.
a. Authorize all expenditures and regulate the finances of the Association.
b. Make decisions of any affairs of the Association provided such decisions are not in conflict with the Association Articles of Incorporation and By-laws.
c. Approve the location, day and time of the Annual Conference and Business meeting.
d. Authorize the employment and determine the compensation of such persons as it considers necessary to carry out the purposes and policies of the Association.
e. Approve all honorary memberships of the Association.
f. Take official action between meetings of the Association.
SECTION 2. The Board of Directors shall meet at least quarterly during the year.
a. POST-CONFERENCE MEETING: A meeting of the newly-elected Board of Directors shall be held at the close of the Annual Association Conference.
b. EXECUTIVE RETREAT: A retreat to formulate goals and objectives for the coming year is to be held within 60 days of the annual conference.
1. All members of the Association are invited to attend the executive retreat to formulate the goals and objectives for the following year.
2. A Board of Director’s meeting will follow the retreat.
SECTION 3. Special votes may be called at any time by the President of the Association may request a vote by mail, fax, phone or electronic mail by the Board of Directors. A fifty percent plus one reply must be received and a majority of the votes received shall decide the question.
SECTION 4. The time and place of all meetings of the Board of Directors shall be designated by the President. The Executive Director shall provide agenda and financial report to Board of Directors fourteen (14) days prior to the meetings. The Executive Director shall provide minutes from the meeting to Board of Directors thirty(30) days following the meetings Fifty percent plus one shall constitute a quorum at all meeting.
SECTION 5. An appeal from the decisions of the Board of Directors may be made at the Annual meeting or at any regular Board of Directors meeting if it has been placed on the agenda prior to the beginning of the meeting.
SECTION 6. It shall be the duty of the board of Directors to approve, disapprove and pass on to the membership recommended amendments to the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws and all committee reports in which action by the Association is required.
SECTION 2. All state officers shall assume their offices each year at the Post-Conference Board Meeting during the Annual Conference. They shall be installed at the Annual Conference.
SECTION 3. President: The President of the Association shall be presiding officer of the Board of Directors and the Annual State Conference and shall perform such duties as ordinarily pertain to the office of the President.
a. The President shall serve as ex-officio member of all committee of the Association and shall be a member of the NRPA Southwest Region Council and the Arkansas Trails for Life Grant Committee.
b. The President shall conduct meetings of the Board of Directors during his/her elected term of office, as provided herein. The President may call other meetings of the Board of Directors as needed to further affairs of the Association.
c. The President shall appoint the chairpersons to any committee of the Association not provided for by the By-Laws.
d. The President shall have the power to add committees or make appointments as deemed necessary.
e. Upon the resignation or death of any officer of the Association, the President shall fill such an office by appointment of such appointee to serve until the next election.
f. The President, with approval from the Board of Directors, shall remove from office at any time any officer who is ineffective or not acting in the best interest of the Association.
g. The President shall represent the Association at state, regional, national and other meetings as necessary.
SECTION 4. Past President: The Past President shall serve as a member of the Board Directors for one year immediately following his/her term of office.
a. The Past President shall chair the Nominating Committee.
b. The Past President shall be program chair of the annual conference. The Conference Committee shall prepare and arrange programs for the Annual Association Conference. The program shall be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval at a regular Board Meeting.
SECTION 5. The President-Elect shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors and shall act for the President in his/her absence. The President-Elect shall automatically succeed to the term of office of President at the conclusion of the Annual Association Conference. The President-Elect shall chair the scholarship and awards committee and make arrangements for the Annual Executive Retreat. The President-Elect will serve as a member of the Budget Committee.
SECTION 6. Secretary: The Secretary shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors and perform such duties as ordinarily pertain to the Office of Secretary. The duties include, but are not limited to:
a. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping accurate minutes for all Board of Directors meetings. The written minutes shall be provided to the Executive Director for distribution to the Board of Directors thirty (30) days following the meeting. The secretary shall keep the file of all the business of the Association up-to-date and complete and pass on this file to the incoming secretary.
b. The Secretary shall compile and keep an up-to-date accurate list of recipients of the Association Awards. This list shall be a part of the permanent historical file of the Association to be kept in the Executive Office.
SECTION 7. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors and perform such duties as ordinarily pertain to the Office of Treasurer. The duties include, but are not limited to:
a. The Treasurer shall receive and hold all funds of the Association and shall disburse funds authorized by the Board of Directors.
b. The Treasurer shall make a written financial report at the Annual State Conference, and all Board meetings.
c. The Association books shall be reviewed by an outside company at least every two (2) years or upon direction of the Board. The fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31st.
d. The Treasurer shall file the membership report and pay the dues required for the annual affiliation with the National Recreation and Park Association.
e. The Treasurer shall serve a two year term of office.
f. The Treasurer shall provide a financial report for distribution to the Board of Directors at the board meetings.
SECTION 8. There shall be seven at-large members elected by the general membership. Seven at-large members will serve two year terms. Three (3) at-large members will be rotate off one year and the following year four (4) at-large members will rotate off. There shall be one Commercial and One Citizen member on the Board appointed by the President.
SECTION 9. There shall be one student representative on the board elected by the student members. The student will be voting member of the board.
SECTION 10. There will be an Executive Director employed by the Board. This position is an
ex-officio member of the board. The duties shall be determined by the board.
SECTION 11. All officers should refer to the Manual of Procedures for detailed information on their office.
SECTION 12. There shall be five Regional Directors representing ARPA membership from their respective region. Area of the regions is determined by the Board of Directors. This position is elected by the members of their region and will serve a two year term.
SECTION 2. The committee shall be chaired by the current Past-President, and shall be composed of members from each region.
SECTION 3. The committee shall be chaired by the current Past-President, and shall be composed of members of his/her choice.
SECTION 4. The President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and board members at-large shall be elected by a state-wide election on a ballot. This ballot shall contain the names of each office as recommended by the Nominating Committee and one write-in space for each office being voted on.
SECTION 5. Ballots will be counted by three (3) independent appointees of the President. The candidate (s) receiving the largest number of votes shall win the election. In case of a tie, a run—off election shall be held at the business meeting at the conference. Ballots must be retained by the Board of Directors for one year in the ARPA Executive Office and available for inspection at the Annual State Conference.
SECTION 2. All Committee Chairs will have members designated from each region to participate on their respective committee and should refer to the Manual of Procedures for detailed information on the operation of their particular committee.
SECTION 3. Conference Committee shall present to the Board of Director the possible sites for Board approval. Conference site locations will be rotated to each region, unless the Board determines that it is not feasible to do so. The committee shall prepare and arrange programs for the Annual Association Conference. The Past President shall serve as Chair for the conference Committee. The program shall be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval at a regular Board Meeting.
SECTION 4. Awards and Scholarship Committee shall promote and encourage recreation, park, and leisure service scholarships to colleges and universities with objectives of securing more effective and qualified personnel for the recreation, park and leisure field; shall promote and encourage professionals in need to apply for scholarships to attend the Annual Conference; shall also encourage professionals, departments, and private organizations to seek recognition for outstanding programs or facilities in which they are involved. The duty of this committee shall be to secure nominations, and recommend to the Board those to be honored and present all awards at the Annual Association Award Banquet. The President-Elect shall act as Chair.
SECTION 5. Nominating Committee shall carry out the functions outlined in Article VIII of this By-Laws.
SECTION 6. Finance Committee shall be chaired by the Treasurer and shall monitor the finances of the Association and develop an annual budget which shall be presented to the Board of Directors for approval at the end of year Board meeting.
SECTION 7. Membership Committee shall develop and initiate necessary membership drives to attract new members and retain members. The Membership Committee shall address issues of the members.
SECTION 2. Delegates must be current members of both Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association and the National Recreation and Park Association.
SECTION 2. The Manual of Procedures can be amended by two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.