Summary of Articles and Bylaws Revisions, 2016

doi:10.5014/ajot.2016.706s2_Bylaws

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Official Documents

Issue Date: November/December 2016

Published Online: November 17, 2016

Updated: January 01, 2021

Summary of Articles and Bylaws Revisions, 2016

Article Information

American Journal of Occupational Therapy, November 2016, Vol. 70, 7012410090. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2016.706s2_Bylaws

Proposed revisions to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Bylaws were adopted by the members who attended the Annual Business Meeting at the 2016 AOTA Annual Conference & Expo in Chicago, Illinois. Of note are the following changes:

• The addition of language for establishment of a quorum at the commencement of a meeting, which remains established for its duration as defined under Washington, DC, nonprofit law.
• The elimination of President-Elect as an Officer of the Board, because Washington, DC, nonprofit law does not recognize the President-Elect as an officer. The President-Elect continues to serve as a member of the Board with voice only.
• The elimination of the Assembly of Student Delegates (ASD) as an Organizational Advisor to the Board, because ASD is now a Standing Advisory Committee of the Board.
• The elimination of the term resolutions as a format by which members may propose actions to the Representative Assembly (RA). A motion is the appropriate parliamentary procedure for proposing any action, including the adoption of a resolution. Hence, there is no need to specify the term resolution in the Bylaws.
• The clarification of open meetings to be consistent with Association Policy A.6.
• Changes were made to the Term of Office section for Representatives of the RA to clarify the process for filling vacancies.
• The addition of language regarding revocation of membership for cause other than nonpayment of dues or violation of the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics, which clarifies and defines cause in conformance with Washington, DC, nonprofit law.

The minutes and adopted 2016 Bylaws are available in their entirety on the AOTA website at http://www.aota.org/AboutAOTA/Documents.aspx; they are also available in the Reference Manual of the Official Documents of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (21st ed.), available for order through the AOTA Online Store at http://myaota.aota.org/shop_aota/.