PREAMBLE
The purpose of this Association is to provide a means of communication among the membership in order to advance and improve the expertise of the Veterinary Technician; to create and maintain a professional image of himself and to the Veterinarian; to enlarge the Technician's knowledge and awareness of Veterinary Medicine; to raise the standards of integrity, courtesy and honesty and to foster high ethical standards within our profession for the welfare of the public.

ARTICLE I
This organization shall be known as The New York State Association of Veterinary Technicians.

ARTICLE II
Membership

SECTION 1
Membership shall consist of:

A. Veterinary Technicians licensed by the State of New York hereafter referred to as active members.

B. Students members that pay discounted membership dues to NYSAVT, and who are currently enrolled in a New York State-approved veterinary technology program. Each student will not have an individual vote. Each school with a New York State approved veterinary technology program will have one vote for its entire student body.

C. [Individuals who have exhibited an interest in Animal Health, hereafter referred to as Associate members. Associate members will have all the privileges of licensed members except for voting.]

D.[A member may be expelled for cause prejudicial to the best interest of the Association upon a 2/3 vote of the Governing Body at a duly called meeting. Any member may withdraw from the Association by submitting a written statement of resignation to the Executive Board.]

SECTION 2
All applications will be subject to approval by the Application Review Board.

ARTICLE III
The Governing Body  

The Governing Body shall have general control over the affairs of the Association. It shall determine policy, control finances and recommend annual dues to be paid by the members. It shall comprise the officers of the Executive Board and members of the Council.

The Executive Board shall, by 2/3 vote of the voting Board members, have the power to appoint a member in good standing to a vacated Executive Board position for the rest of the unexpired term.

SECTION 1
The Executive Board:

A. shall consist of the President, President‑Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and Immediate Past President.

B. shall perform all duties as stated by the by-laws and/or Standing Rules.

SECTION 2
The Council:

A. shall consist of the newsletter editor, district representatives, and committee chairpersons and student chapter representatives, and student body representatives.

B. shall assist the Executive Board in determination and administration of the organizational policy.

C. shall perform all duties as stated in the by-laws and/or Standing Rules.

ARTICLE IV
Officers

SECTION 1
The Executive Board:

A. The President:

1. shall supervise and direct the affairs of the Board and Council.
2. shall preside at meetings of the Board, the Governing Body and the general membership.
3. shall have the power to create any committee and to make any appointment deemed necessary to aid in the fulfillment of Presidential duties subject to the approval, by a majority vote, of the voting members of the Executive Board.
4. shall perform such duties that ordinarily pertain to the office.

B. The President‑Elect:

1. shall succeed to the Presidency upon completion of the term of the President.
2. in the absence of the President, shall act as the presiding officer.
   
3. shall assist and work closely with the President in whatever duties possible to create a smooth transition from the office of President‑Elect to President.

C. The Secretary:

1. shall compile minutes of the meetings of the Board, the Governing Body and the general membership.
2. shall be responsible for notifying members of the Governing Body of all business meetings.
3. shall be responsible for totaling and keeping on file, all ballots and notifying the Board and general membership of voting results.

D. The Treasurer:

1. shall keep an accurate account of all fees, dues and assessments.
2. shall give a report of the current income and expenses at each Governing Body meeting.
3. shall be responsible for the prompt payment of all bills against the association in accordance with the by-laws.
   
4. shall be responsible for the reimbursement of any bills of the Association accrued by the Governing Body.
5. shall present the account books for auditing at the end of each fiscal year.
   

E. The Immediate Past President

1. shall oversee NYSAVT Fall Workshops
2. shall be a member of the Awards Committee
3. shall be a Student Chapter Coordinator

SECTION 2
The Council

A. The Newsletter Editor:

1. shall be responsible for the organization and distribution of the Association newsletter.
2. shall adhere to the copyright and reprint laws.
3. shall serve an appointment of one year and shall be eligible for reappointment without limitation.
4. The Newsletter Editor shall have the power to appoint any individuals deemed necessary to assist in the fulfillment of the appointment.    

B. The District Representatives:

1. shall be a member of good standing from each of the designated areas, to serve a term of appointment of one year and shall be eligible for reappointment without limitation.
2. shall supervise continuing education program for people in their area.
3. shall encourage new membership.
   
4. shall be responsible for submitting to the Board a written report of their district activities.

C. Committee Chairpersons:

1. shall organize and direct the affairs of their committees.
2. shall be responsible for submitting to the Board a written report of the results of their committee findings.

D. Student Chapter Representatives:

1. shall be a licensed veterinary technician.
2. shall be a member in good standing.
3. shall act as a liaison between the Vet Tech Program and NYSAVT.
4. shall assist NYSAVT with the fall workshop programs.
5. shall oversee and encourage student membership.
6. shall be responsible for submitting to the board a written report from the student chapter.

E. Student Body

1. shall be a student from a school with a New York State approved veterinary technology 
2. shall be elected by his/her peers
3. shall vote according to the wishes of the student body of his/her respective school
4. shall give a report of the activities of his/her student chapter at an Annual Meeting
5. shall encourage non-member peers to join NYSAVT
6. shall assist the student chapter representative from his/her respective school with any NYSAVT related tasks.

ARTICLE V
Term of Office

SECTION 1   
The President, President ‑ Elect and Immediate Past President shall be elected for a one-year term and shall not be eligible for consecutive re‑election.

SECTION 2
The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected for a term of one year and shall be eligible for re‑election without limitation.

SECTION 3
The term of office shall commence on the first day of the fiscal year.

ARTICLE VI
Election of Officers

SECTION 1
Nominations

A. Nominations for candidates shall be open to licensed members in good standing.

B.  The period for which nominations will be accepted is defined in the Standing Rules.

SECTION 2
Ballots

A. voting shall be open to all licensed members in good standing each of which will have one vote with the exception of the President who shall vote only in the case of a tie.

B. all voting shall be done by secret ballot.

C. elections shall be decided by simple plurality.

ARTICLE VII
Meetings

SECTION 1
There will be at least one general membership meeting per year. Members will be notified as to location, date and time.

SECTION 2
The Governing Body shall meet at the call of the President.

SECTION 3       
The Executive Board shall meet at least 4 times per year. * Adopted by Governing Body 11/22/86.

A. The Governing Body shall meet at least two times per year.

B. The order of business at meetings shall be:

1. reading of minutes of previous meetings and their approval       
2. financial report by the Treasurer          
3. reports by the District Representatives          
4. reports of standing committees
5. reports of special committees           
6. unfinished business of previous meetings      
7. new business

ARTICLE VIII
Quorums

SECTION 1
Fifteen percent of licensed members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for consideration of business at any general meeting of the membership.

SECTION 2
For transaction of business by mail, one third of the licensed members in good standing shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 3
At any meeting of the Governing Body, one third of the members shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE IX
Amendments

Any member may propose an amendment to these Bylaws at any time. The proposal shall receive the consideration of the Governing Body and then be presented to the membership in writing at least thirty days before the next regular or annual meeting along with the Governing Body's recommendation.

SECTION 1
Amendments shall be proposed and adopted according to the protocol outlined.

SECTION 2
The amendment shall become effective immediately upon adoption.

SECTION 3
Voting:

A. An amendment proposed to the Governing Body and to be voted on at the next general meeting will be presented to licensed members with an abstract of any discussion by the Governing Body and a list of its proposing members no later than two weeks prior to the general meeting.

B. An amendment presented at a general meeting shall be recorded in the minutes by the Secretary and may be voted on at that time by licensed members as long as a quorum is present.

C. The amendment voted on at a general meeting is to be considered adopted if it receives a 2/3 affirmative vote of the voting members.

D. If an amendment is to be voted on by a mail‑in ballot, an abstract of discussion by the Governing Body or by the members at the general meeting will be sent with each ballot to all licensed members. Ballots must be returned no later than two weeks after the mailing date.

E. The amendment voted on by a mail‑in ballot shall be considered adopted if it receives a 3/4 affirmative vote by those voting as long as the quorum of 1/3 of the licensed members vote on the issue.

ARTICLE X
Dissolution of the Association

In the event of dissolution of this Association, none of the proceeds or property of the Association shall be distributed among the Association members or the Governing Body. After payment of all debts incurred by the Association, all the remaining assets and property shall be transferred to any Organization or Association selected by the Governing Body, provided that such Organization or Association is organized and operated with the same purpose and goals as the dissolved organization and whose activities do not include intervening or attempting to influence legislation. The recipient organization or Association will not use any part of the net earnings to benefit any individual or any member of its Board of Directors.

Revised July 2010