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Adopted from the Bylaws of the Arizona Student Special Interest Group, for the Nevada Chapter
of the American Physical Therapy Association

DRAFT 7
ARTICLE I: NAME
1. The name of this organization is the Nevada Student Special Interest Group,
hereinafter referred to as the NV-SSIG.​ ​The NV-SSIG shall be a special interest
group within the Nevada Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association,
hereinafter referred to as the NVPTA and APTA respectively.
2. Physical Therapists hereinafter referred to as PT and Physical Therapy Assistant
hereinafter referred to as PTA.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
1. The NV-SSIG exists to introduce students to the NVPTA and APTA, as well as
enhance the educational experience for all but not limited to Student Physical
Therapists, hereinafter referred to as SPT and Student Physical Therapist
Assistants hereinafter referred to as SPTA within the State of Nevada. This will
be accomplished through but not limited to: outreach to students, educational
seminars, and professional networking events.
ARTICLE III: OBJECTIVES
Section A. To cooperate with the NVPTA and APTA to:
1. Identify and respond to issues and areas of concern that are important to
members.
2. Advance the profession of Physical Therapy in Nevada.
Section B. To Promote:
1. The exchange of information between any and all SPTs and SPTAs concerning
the issues confronting the profession of Physical Therapy.
2. Membership in the APTA, NVPTA, and NV-SSIG.
3. Participation in the APTA, NVPTA, and NV-SSIG.
4. The provisions of the APTA and NVPTA bylaws, policies, and other enactments.
5. Interschool relations within the state of Nevada.
6. Representation of the interests of the NV-SSIG members before the official
decision-making bodies of the APTA and NVPTA.
ARTICLE IV: DEFINITIONS
Section A. Good standing member
1. For a member to be considered in good standing they must meet the following
requirements:
a. Submit NV-SSIG membership dues by beginning of each month or year
(if applicable).
b. Comply with the provisions of NV-SSIG bylaws.
 c. Operate in accordance with policies and positions of NVPTA and APTA.
Section B. Voting member
1. A voting member must meet the following requirements:
a. Member of the NV-SSIG.
ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP
Section A. Qualifications
1. Membership in the NV-SSIG shall be open to any member of the APTA and
NVPTA enrolled in an accredited or candidate for accreditation PT or PTA
program in the state of Nevada. Membership in the NV-SSIG shall also be open
to any person who has committed to enrolling in an accredited or candidate for
accreditation PT or PTA program in the state of Nevada.
Section B. Rights
1. All members have the right to attend meetings, activities, speak, debate, make
motions, second a motion, and vote.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
Section A. Business Meetings
1. A minimum of two business meetings shall be held each calendar year, one in
the Spring and the second in the Fall. General Elections for all positions will be
held in the Fall during NVPTA elections.
2. Notice of meetings shall be sent at least 30 days prior to the meeting date to all
NV-SSIG members via email; any questions or concerns a member wishes to
bring before the Executive Board shall be sent via email at least 14 days prior to
the meeting date.
3. A quorum shall comprise of at least 5 voting members, including at least 2
members of the Executive Board.
Section B. Special Meetings
1. The Executive Board or 8 voting members may call a special meeting at any time
and place as deemed necessary with a minimum of 14 days’ notice, with
invitations going to all members via email.
Section C. Meeting Minutes
1. One Executive Board member shall take minutes at each meeting of the
NV-SSIG. Copies of these minutes shall be made available online to all members
and the Chapter.
ARTICLE VII: EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section A. Composition
1. One President shall be elected from an accredited or candidate for accreditation
PT education program.
2. One Vice President shall be elected from an accredited or candidate for
accreditation PT education program. The Vice President must be from a different
institution than the President.
3. There shall be 1 representative from each accredited or candidate for
accreditation PT education program or PTA education program that is not
represented by the President or Vice President position.
 a. An institution may not have a representative if there is no currently
enrolled student who is interested in holding office. This position can be
filled at any time. The new representative shall contact the current SSIG
President and Vice-President via email. Their position on the board will
be activated 7 days after the email is sent.
Section B. Qualifications
1. Must be a member and in good standing with the NV-SSIG, NVPTA, and APTA.
2. Must have approval from their educational program director or advisor indicating
that the student is in good academic standing.
Section C. Terms of Office
1. Elections for the office of President/Vice President shall be conducted online
following the same timeline as the NVPTA’s elections. This will occur in the fall of
each year.
2. Each President and Vice President shall serve for the term from fall elections to
the close of the elections the following year. .
3. Election for the Representatives of PTA education programs shall be consistent
with the elections for the President and Vice President.
4. Each PTA Program Representative shall serve from fall elections to the close of
the elections the following year.
5. Members shall hold the same office for no more than two consecutive terms.
6. Candidate must be a voting member of the NV-SSIG at the time of the election.
7. Vacancies shall be filled by Executive Board appointment from among voting
members within 30 days of the vacancy. The appointed member will serve in an
interim role until the next election and can be re-elected to that position.
a. Should the President have to vacate their seat they will automatically be
replaced by the Vice President. The new Vice President must be from an
institution different from the newly appointed President.
b. Should the vacancy come within 30 days of the start of a new voting
period the seat can remain vacated.
c. Vacancies do not apply to PT/PTA Representative positions.
Section D. Duties
1. President Shall:
a. Be in contact with all Directors of all PT and PTA education programs in
the state of Nevada on a monthly basis at a minimum of one week prior to
the monthly meeting of the NVPTA.
i. Maintain a record of communication with PT and PTA education
program directors.
b. Organize, Delegate, and Prepare NV-SSIG meetings with objectives a
minimum of every six months.
c. Maintain a record of communication.
d. Communicate with the NVPTA President on a monthly basis.
e. Update the NV-SSIG website or delegate these responsibilities to another
representative.
 f. Attend at least six monthly NVPTA meetings and relay information
obtained to other schools and/or the website.
g. Be an active member of the NVPTA and APTA.
2. Vice President Shall:
a. Be in contact with all PT and PTA education program Directors in Nevada
60 days, 40 days, 20 days, and 10 days prior to Voting Events.
b. Oversee the voting process and confirm validity of votes cast with PT and
PTA education program directors by cross referencing voter name with
student ID number.
c. Support the NV-SSIG President in all necessary tasks.
d. Serve in the role of President should the President vacate office for any
reason.
e. Be an active member of the NVPTA and APTA.
3. Institutional Representatives Shall:
a. Report back to their educational institution about upcoming events,
current and new changes in legislation, and update from meetings.
b. Represent their institution as the primary as speaking member for their
institution and maintain regular communication with president and vice
president of the NV-SSIG.
c. Be an active member of the NVPTA and APTA.
4. Executive Board members Shall:
a. Attend all NV-SSIG meetings.
b. Attend at least one of the bi-annual NVPTA Federal Board of Examiners
Board meetings.
c. Attend as many monthly NVPTA meetings as possible.
d. Attend National APTA Conferences when possible (CSM, NEXT, NSC,
House of Delegate, etc.).
ARTICLE VIII: FINANCE
Section A. Fiscal year
1. The fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 31.
Section B. Dues
1. Annual membership dues shall be $0 for all members, unless the NV-SSIG is
unable to maintain finances sufficient to be self-supporting.
2. Should the NV-SSIG determine that they need to raise or establish dues it will be
applied for 1 calendar year and the use of the funds and budget must be
disseminated to​ ​all NV-SSIG members.
Section C. Budget and Annual Report
1. An annual budget consistent with chapter guidelines shall be developed for and
approved by the NV-SSIG Executive Board at the October meeting.
2. Annual budgets shall also be made available upon request by February 15 for the
previous year.
3. Financial updates shall be made available for the chapter upon request.
ARTICLE IX: COMMITTEES
 Section A. Committees
1. Can be formed by members in good standing and approved by the NV-SSIG
Executive Board.
Section B. Student Assembly Core Ambassador
1. Committee shall consist of ​one​ Core Ambassador.
2. Committee may consist of the Core Ambassador and the Executive Board
Representatives.
3. Executive Board Representatives shall function as a conduit of communication
between Core Ambassador and PT and PTA education programs.
ARTICLE X: ELECTIONS
Section A. Nominations/Candidacy
1. Nominations shall be submitted via email to the current Vice President 30 days
prior to the Fall meeting.
2. President, Vice President, and PT education Program Representative(s) shall
assume duty at 12:00 AM following their election in the Fall meeting.
3. To be eligible to run for President the candidate must be from a PT education
program, there is no election for Vice President as detailed in Article X, Section
B, Bullet 6.
4. PTA Education Program Representatives shall assume duty at 12:00 AM
following their election in the Fall.
Section B. Election and Voting
1.
2. Each eligible voter is entitled to one vote.
3. A link to vote in the election shall be emailed to all eligible voting members. The
minimum requirement to ensure that all eligible voting members receive access
to the ballot is to email the voting link to students enrolled at all accredited or
candidate accreditation PT and PTA education programs.
4. Candidates shall be elected by receiving the most votes of all candidates for the
position.
5. Election of President and Vice President. There will only be an election for
President, no election for Vice President. These individuals must be enrolled in a
PT Education Program in Nevada. The individual receiving the greatest number
of votes in the Presidential election will become the NV-SSIG President. The
highest vote getter from an institution other than the one that is elected President
shall become Vice President.
6. In the event of a tie, election shall be determined by re-balloting that follows the
same guidelines of a general election. Voting shall open on the Tuesday
following the election at 12:00 AM and close on Thursday at 11:59 PM, a 3 day
voting window.
a. Should there be a tie in the second election each candidate will have 3
minutes to present their case to the current President, Vice President, and
one other previously determined Executive Board member. These three
 members will break the tie and determine the new President and Vice
President.
Section C. Results
1. Results of the election shall be announced via email from the NVPTA board
members.
2. Election results shall be posted for public access at the of the next business day
following the Fall elections.

ARTICLE XI: DISSOLUTION

1. Group may dissolve, subject to a recommendation to dissolve, supported by no
fewer than 2/3 of member voting in a referendum on the question to dissolve.
ARTICLE XII: BYLAWS
1. The members may amend these bylaws with majority vote and a quorum being
present at any meeting of the NV-SSIG. A copy of proposed amendments must
be sent via email to all members of the NV-SSIG at least 30 days prior to the
meeting and made available online.
2. Amendment of bylaws must be opened at least every 3 years.
3. Amendment of bylaws can only be opened one time per year.