Revised 02-22-2012
Constitution and Bylaws of the
Student Occupational Therapy Assistant (SOTA) Club
Bylaws of the Student Occupational Therapy Assistant Club at Panola College in Carthage, Texas.
Article I. Introduction
The purpose of these bylaws is to establish a Student Occupational Therapy Assistant (SOTA) Club
that will represent the Occupational Therapy Assistant Students at the Panola College in Carthage,
Texas, hereinafter collectively referred to as SOTA.
Article II. Mission Statement
The Mission of the SOTA Club is to promote community service among its students, as well as
enhance communication, interaction and positive relationships between the OTA students at Panola
College and the community while ensuring students display a commitment to their educational duties.
Article III. Objectives
The objectives of this organization shall be as follows:
Section One:
To represent, and unite all Occupational Therapy Assistant Students and
Alumni at Panola College.
Section Two:
To provide for and enhance communication between the OTA students at
Panola College and the state and national organizations respectively,
TOTA and AOTA.
Section Three:
To enhance communication between OTA students at Panola College,
other OT and OTA students on the local, state and national levels.
Section Four:
To promote communication, interaction, and positive relationships
between the OTA students at Panola College and the community.
Section Five:
To assist in broadening the intellectual and professional activities of the
OTA students at Panola College.
Section Six:
To provide time and/or money for at least one community service project
per 16 week semester.
Section Seven:
To raise funds so that active members may be assisted in joining their
respective State or National organization. Member will be required to
participate in fundraisers.
Section Eight:
Funds will be raised by the organization to meet the above objectives.
Section Nine:
Any active freshmen or sophomore may request monetary assistance to attend a
An educational seminar that will further enhance their experience as an OTA.
The SOTA request for funds from must be filled out in it’s entirety and
Presented to the President so that this may be added to the next SOTA
meeting for approval or denial. (9/2011) A cap for educational expenses has
been put into place in the amount not to exceed $150.00 per semester. This
funding will be based on a first come first serve basis.
Article IV. Membership
Section One:
Membership shall be divided into three classes, once dues have been paid:
a. Active: All currently enrolled Occupational Therapy Assistant
students in the program.
b. Declared OTA Program Majors: Students enrolled in the college who
are actively pursuing acceptance into the OTA program.
c. Alumni: Those previously active members who have graduated from
the program.
Section Two:
Privileges of members
a. Active members:
1. Shall be eligible to vote and hold executive office.
2. Shall be eligible to serve on a committee or chair a
committee.
3. Shall be eligible for financial assistance for State or National
OT Association membership.
b. Declared OTA Program Majors and Alumni:
1. May not vote in the affairs of the organization.
2. May not hold office.
3. May serve on committees of the organization on an advisory
basis.
4. May attend any SOTA meetings.
5. May give more insight on OTA Program.
ARTICLE V. Officers
Section One:
The chapter officers shall consist of:
a. President
b. Vice President
c. Secretary
d. Treasurer
e. Historian(s) (3)
f. Freshman Liaison
Section Two:
Election of Officers:
a. Nominations shall be made in the form of self-nomination or
nomination by others and elections shall be held by secret ballot.
b. A simple majority vote shall be needed to win an election. A quorum
shall be defined as the number of members present.
c. Officers shall be selected from the active members of the Freshman
class and shall be voted on by active members of the Freshman class.
d. Officers are elected by April of the spring semester and take
office the first week of June.
e. The Freshman Liaison shall be chosen during the Fall semester when
the Officers present SOTA to the Freshmen class. The Freshmen will vote
on who they want their Liaison to be.
Section Three:
Duties of Officers:
A. President
1. Shall preside at the meetings and oversee elections.
2. Shall be the official liaison between SOTA and the SGA and
will participate (or designate another officer) in SGA meetings and
risk management programming.
3. Shall come with prepared agenda.
4. Shall co-sign all purchase requests.
5. Is invited to participate in the OTA Advisory Committee meetings at
the Program Director’s discretion.
6. Shall keep a current, dated notebook to include all correspondence
made to the President during the active year. Shall be responsible for
passing the notebook on to the next President.
B. Vice President
1. Shall preside at all meetings in absence of the President.
2. Shall assume all other duties of the President in the absence
of the President.
3. Shall collaborate with local news media concerning SOTA
activities.
4. Shall serve as public relations chairperson.
C. Secretary
1. Shall maintain a current list of active membership.
2. Shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings.
3. Shall pass around sign-in sheet at all SOTA meetings.
4. Shall post all meeting notices one week in advance via email.
5. Shall post all important information.
6. Shall keep a current, dated notebook to include minutes of meetings,
list of active members and yearly reports such as a summary of what
SOTA accomplished. Shall be responsible for passing the notebook
on to the next Secretary.
D. Treasurer
1. Shall be responsible for collecting dues and working with Secretary
to ensure all memberships are paid each semester.
2. Shall be responsible for keeping accounts of all financial
transactions of the organization.
3. Shall maintain current account balances and provide them
upon request.
4. Shall be the fundraiser chairperson.
5. Shall be responsible for making all deposits, including money from
SOTA room.
6. Shall keep a current, dated notebook to include all deposits and
copies of check requests, list of active members and yearly reports
such as bank statements and a summary of all community service
contributions made from SOTA throughout the year. Shall be
responsible for passing the notebook on to the next Treasurer.
E. Historian(s)
1. Shall be responsible for gathering and organizing pictures of
activities/events.
2. Shall organize memorabilia for a SOTA Scrapbook, CD or other
memorabilia.
3. Shall organize and compile the information for members.
F. Freshman Liaison
1. Shall be responsible for relaying all information from SOTA
meetings to freshmen class. Liaison is not required to attend
meetings but assumes the responsibility of getting all information
from one of the officers who attended.
2. Freshman Liaison is also responsible for keeping the SOTA room
key for the freshmen class. Liaison does not have to assume any
responsibility for restocking SOTA room.
All elected officers must represent the SOTA club in an ethical manner
defined by a high level of standards, character, and morals.
Section Four:
Executive Board
a. Membership
1.
Membership of the Executive board shall consist of the
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Historian(s).
b. Membership Privileges
1.
Submit proposals for SOTA activities/events to
membership for approval.
2.
May elect to have one or more meeting/retreat(s) for
planning purposes.
Article VI. Meetings
Section One:
The organization shall meet at least once a month while school is in session. If
meetings are held while freshmen are out, the President or another officer will
relay all information to freshmen liaison.
Section Two:
Special meetings may be called by the President or by a majority of the
membership.
Section Three:
Votes may be made by a minimum of 15 active members before final decision.
Section Four:
Votes may be taken via WebCT/CANVAS when necessary.
Article VII. Dues
Section One:
Dues shall be collected as a means of determining and recording active
membership.
Section Two:
Dues of $5.00 must be paid by September 15 and February 1 of each semester.
Article VIII. Faculty Advisor(s)
Section One:
Shall be a member or members of the Occupational Therapy Assistant
Program faculty.
Section Two:
Shall be appointed by the O.T. Department Director.
Section Three:
Shall act as liaison between the SOTA and faculty.
Section Four:
Does not have a vote in affairs of the organization, but may participate
in discussions of motions.
Article IX. Impeachment
Section One:
Any executive officer may be impeached by ¾ vote of the total active
membership affirming failure to perform the duties of the office so stated
in this document.
Article X. Amendment
Section One:
This document shall be amended in whole or in part by a 2/3 vote of the
total active members, and should be reviewed and/or revised on a yearly
basis.
Article XI. Standing Committees
Section One:
Fundraising Committee, Community Service, Public Relations
Committee and SOTA Room.
Section Two:
Committee chairperson shall be appointed by each committee unless
otherwise stated in bylaws.
Section Three:
The Fundraising Committee shall be responsible for organizing events
to raise money for SOTA.
Section Four:
The Community Service Committee shall be responsible for planning all
Service projects for SOTA and maintaining the equipment and storage
area for the equipment needed by community.
Section Five:
The Public Relations Committee shall be responsible for communicating
SOTA events to students, faculty and public as appropriate.
Section Six:
The SOTA Room Committee shall be responsible for maintaining,
purchasing and obtaining “SOTA Snacks.”
Article XII. Official Reports
Section One:
The officers and chairpersons are responsible for comprehensive report
of the activities they handled and the outcome of each project.
Section Two:
All such reports are to be kept in the Secretarial notebook.
Article XIII. Delineated Funds
Section One:
Funds raised by SOTA Room and SOTA Dues go into the General Funds
account and shall be used at the discretion of club by majority vote.
In the event the General Fund account becomes excessive funds will be
transferred to the Community Service Fund as approved by majority vote.
Section Two:
Funds obtained by solicitation for the purpose of community service
projects may only be used for said projects or community service
fundraisers.