Skip to main content.

New Hampshire Rehabilitation Association

"Advancing the Rehabilitation of Persons with Physical and Mental Disabilities."

By-Laws of the New Hampshire Rehabilitation Association

ARTICLE I – BY-LAWS

This document shall be known as the By-Laws of the New Hampshire Rehabilitation Association pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution of the Association

ARTICLE II – DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of these By-Laws:

  1. Association shall mean the New Hampshire Rehabilitation Association
  2. Member will mean a member of the New Hampshire Rehabilitation Association
  3. Board of Executive Board shall mean the Executive Board of the New Hampshire Rehabilitation Association

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

The New Hampshire Rehabilitation Association membership policies and dues are consistent with the current membership policies of the National Rehabilitation Association.  All members are entitled to participate in all general meetings of the Association and to attend meetings of the Executive Board as an observer.

ARTICLE IV – ADMINISTRATION

SECTION 1    TERM OF OFFICER FOR ELECTED OFFICERS:

The President, President-elect, and Secretary shall serve for a term of one year, and take office on January 1st, following the Annual Meeting.  The President-Elect shall take office immediately at the conclusion of the President’s term.  The Treasurer shall serve a two year term of office, commencing on January 1st after the election and terminating on December 31st of the next calendar year.  All other Board member’s terms shall commence on January 1st after the election and terminate on December 31st of the next calendar year.  Four of the Board Members-At-Large positions shall be elected annually and serve for two year terms.

SECTION 2    THE EXECUTIVE BOARD:

A. The Executive Board shall consist of the four elected officers, the immediate Past-President and sufficient members elected at large to comprise a board of 13 members.
B. Meetings:  The Executive Board will meet at least four times a year, including the Annual Meeting.  Meetings shall be called by the President or President-Elect or upon written petition by eight Board Members.
C. Quorum:  A quorum consists of 7 members of the Executive Board and one member must be the President or President-elect of the Association.
D. Responsibilities

  1. The Executive Board shall have authority to transact all business of the Association for which a membership vote is not specifically required by the Constitution or By-Laws.
  2. The Executive Board shall call an Annual Meeting of this Association to be held in November unless otherwise voted by a majority of the Executive Board.
  3. The Executive Board shall elect official delegates of this Association to the Delegate Assembly of the National Rehabilitation Association, Inc.
  4. The Executive Board shall have authority to accredit local chapters, approve income to be rebated to local chapters, or spend income on local chapter activities.
  5. The Executive Board shall determine whether and how the membership is informed of the actions of the National Rehabilitation Association, Inc., the New Hampshire Rehabilitation Association and its local chapters.
  6. The Executive Board shall have the responsibility and duty to appoint officers and members to the Executive Board to fill vacancies until these positions can be filled at the next regular meeting.  The Board shall fill vacancies by majority vote at the next meeting after the vacancy occurs.

SECTION 3    OFFICERS:

A. The elective officers are those as set forth in the Constitution.  They shall be elected annually by the membership, except the President.  The President-Elect will automatically succeed to the Presidency.
B. Terms of office:  The term of office for Officers and Board Members shall be as set forth in Article IV, Section 1 above.  The President shall not succeed himself.    All other officers may be re-elected.
C. Responsibilities:

The Officers of this Association shall perform the usual duties of such offices together with duties provided in sub-section below:

  1. The President shall serve as the New Hampshire member of the Executive Board of Region 1 of the National Rehabilitation Association, Inc.
  2. The President-Elect shall, during his term of office, become informed of the current affairs and activities of the Association and shall become involved in these affairs and activities as requested by the President or the Executive Board.  The President-Elect may serve as chairperson of a committee for planning and conducting the Annual Meeting.  The President-Elect shall have such other duties as the President of the Executive Board may from time to time assign.  The President-Elect shall serve on the Executive board and shall succeed to the Presidency following the Annual Meeting.
  3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall inform all members of changes of rules and regulations of the National Rehabilitation Association, Inc., as instructed by officers and/or Executive Board.

SECTION 4    COMMITTEES:

A. Chairpersons of the various committees shall be appointed by the President at the advice and consent of the Board.
B. Duties of Chairperson:  In addition to the usual duties, the chairperson of each committee shall insure that records of committee work be kept and made available to the Executive Board.  All records shall be completed and submitted to the   President at the annual meeting.
C. Committees of the New Hampshire Rehabilitation Association may be appointed   according to need.

SECTION 5    RULES OF ORDER:

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern meetings of the membership, the Executive Board, and the Committees of the Association when they are not in conflict with the Constitution and By-laws of the Association.

ARTICLE V – DIVISIONS

Scientific, professional, or other interested groups may be organized as Divisions of the Association 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 purpose of the Association.  The organization of a Division (State or local chapter) shall be subject to approval of the membership of this Association.  A majority of the ballots returned from ballots mailed to all members shall constitute approval.

ARTICLE VI – NOMINATION AND ELECTIONS

SECTION 1    NOMINATING COMMITTEE:

A Nominating Committee of three shall be appointed by the President, of whom one shall be the immediate Past-President of the Association with two members serving one year terms, half being appointed each year.  The Chairperson shall be designated by the President.

SECTION 2    DUTIES OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE:

The Nominating Committee shall nominate to the Executive Board at least one member for each vacancy for the position of member-at-large of the Executive Board.  The Nominated Committee will furnish a brief resume of all candidates to the membership at least a week before the election.

SECTION 3    PROVISION FOR ADDITIONAL NOMINEES:

In addition to the slate presented by the Nominating Committee at the annual meeting a member may nominate, from the floor, another member for office.

SECTION 4    REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTION:

To be elected, candidates for office must receive a plurality of the votes cast

SECTION 5    ABSENTEE BALLOT:

Members in good standing may apply to the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee for an absentee ballot.  That ballot, in order to be counted, must be received by the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee in person or by mail one day prior to the annual meeting.

SECTION 6    COUNTING THE VOTE:

The President or his substitute shall select tellers to tally the vote.

ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS

The By-Laws of the New Hampshire Rehabilitation Association may be amended as follows:

  1. Any member wishing to propose an amendment to the By-Laws of this Association shall present such proposal in writing to the Executive Board.  A simple majority of the entire Executive Board shall be required to approve presentation of the proposed amendment to the membership.
  2. Such an amendment shall be submitted to the membership at least two weeks before a vote is taken.
  3. Amendments to the By-Laws shall be ratified by a majority of the membership in attendance at an annual meeting or by a majority of the ballots returned by members.
  4. Votes on an amendment shall be tallied at the annual meeting or on a date stated on the ballot if the vote is by mail.  The results shall be announced at the annual meeting or at the next meeting of the Executive Board whichever shall come first.  The Executive Board shall then notify the membership within one month after the meeting at which the vote results is announced.
  5. The effective date of the amendment shall be the annual meeting or the mailing date of notification by the Executive Board unless otherwise stipulated within the amendment.