GVTA Constitution and By-Laws

Last Updated: December 2024; Effective January 1 2025

An association by Veterinary Professionals, for Veterinary Professionals and Paraprofessionals. 

The Georgia Veterinary Technician Association is hereafter referred to as the Association.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Association is to foster high professional standards and provide support for veterinary professionals and paraprofessionals. The primary goals are to facilitate continuing education (CE) opportunities specifically aimed toward the needs of veterinary professionals and paraprofessionals, and provide a means to fulfill the required CE hours to maintain certification in the state of Georgia. The Association will serve as a forum for the presentation and exchange of information, promote public awareness of the value of the profession, and work toward educating veterinarians in the beneficial aspects of professional and paraprofessional utilization. 

Article I

Executive Board Defined and Offices

The elected officers of the Association shall consist of the President, President Elect, Vice President, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Social Media Manager, Webmaster, and NAVTA Representative and Conference Coordinator(s). The President, President Elect, Vice President, Membership Secretary, and Treasurer shall make up the executive board.

The eligibility, tenure, duties, meeting and election of Officers shall be set forth in the “By-Laws of the Association.” 

Article II

Members

  1. An application is required for all classes of membership submitted to the Executive Board. Each such application shall be accompanied by the dues.

  2. Non-Discrimination Statement: The Association shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, and status as a veteran).

  3. Classes of Members:

    1. Professional Membership: Professional Members in the Association shall be veterinary technicians currently licensed through the Georgia Veterinary Medical Board. Professional Members in good standing are eligible to hold an elected office and shall have voting privileges and be entitled to one vote.

    2. Associate Membership: Any persons, including veterinary support staff, veterinarians, veterinary assistants, veterinary salespersons, and veterinary technology students, wishing to support and promote the Association are eligible for associate membership. Associate members shall not be eligible to serve in the offices of the Executive Board or vote, but shall be eligible to serve on committees

    3. Student Membership: Student Members of the Association shall be those persons who are enrolled in an AVMA-CVTEA accredited Veterinary Technology Program. Students shall not be eligible to hold office or serve as officers of the Association, but shall be eligible to serve on committees. Student members may not vote.

    4. Practice/Hospital Membership: Open to hospitals, specialty practices, emergency clinics or other institutions within the veterinary profession interested in supporting the goals of GVTA. Practice/Hospital members may not vote or hold an elected office.

  4. Annual Dues: Annual dues for each class of membership shall be established by the Executive Board. The membership renewal period for the following year will be December 1st to January 15th. A member who has not renewed by January 15th shall be considered a nonmember. Membership may be reinstated by application approval and payment of dues. 

Article III

Fiscal Year, Reports, Financial Review, and Disbursement of Funds

  1. Fiscal Year
    The fiscal year of the Association shall commence on January 1st and terminate on January 1st of the following year.

  2. Reports
    The Treasurer shall present at the Annual Meeting a report verified by the President and Vice President or by a majority of the present members of the Executive Board. The report shall indicate the following: any personal property owned by the Association, where the property is located and the cost and nature of the property acquired during the year immediately preceding the date of the report; the total amount of applied, appropriated or expended funds during the year immediately preceding such date and purpose, objects, or persons to or for which such applications, appropriations or expenditures have been made. These reports shall be filed with the records of the Association and an abstract thereof entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the Annual Meeting & on the website for members to access. 

  3. Financial Review
    Within ninety (90) days after the close of the fiscal year the Association, the Executive Board shall conduct a financial review or initiate an audit of the books of the Treasurer of the Association. 

  4. Disbursement of Funds
    The Treasurer and one other board member shall be signers on the checking account of the Association, which shall require one signature to validate.

Article IV

Executive Board

  1. Titles 
    The Executive Board of this Association shall be President, President Elect, Vice President, Membership Secretary, and Treasurer. Each officer shall serve a two year term and no person may hold more than one office unless appointed by quorum of the Executive Board.
    The Executive Committee of this Association shall be described in the By-Laws.

  2. Duties

    1. President Shall coordinate the agenda, give notice of the date, time, place and location of meetings, and preside over all meetings. The President will represent the Association in all matters. The President has the power to break voting ties. 

    2. President Elect Shall serve as a voting member on the Executive Board the two years prior to taking office as President. Shall stand in for President in their absence.

    3. Vice President Serve as the executive board representative for committee chairs, organize and moderate occasional meetings, and assist in public relations and communications with outside organizations and veterinary technician programs.

    4. Membership Secretary Maintain record of minutes during all meetings, maintain an updated list of new members and potential members, maintain a central email account for the Association, contact any current members via other means that do not have current email address, send RSVP reminders for meetings to all members and potential members.

    5. Treasurer Shall keep monies disbursed under the direction of the Executive Committee.  The Treasurer shall also keep accounts, financial reports and  written statements of receipts and disbursements, deposit all monies in the name of the Association in a federally insured bank approved by the Executive  Committee.   One member of the executive committee and the Treasurer shall sign all written contracts and obligations. Neither the President nor any other member of the Executive Committee has the authority to make the Association liable for any debt beyond the amount of money in the Association bank accounts not required for the discharge of existing debts or liabilities.

  3. Elections 
    The Executive Board of the Association shall supervise the election during the Fall Meeting and establish means for obtaining declaration of candidacy for office, the counting of ballots and shall promptly advise all members of the results of each election. 
    The President Elect, Vice President, Membership Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected at the fall meeting and shall take office the following January, thus giving current officers and officers-elect a transition period to organize for the upcoming year. 
    Following the election, the current President Elect will work directly with the President on all aspects of the office and presidential responsibilities, allowing for full transfer of duties within the allotted time frame. 
    Following the election, the incoming President Elect will work directly with the incoming Vice President on all aspects of the office and vice presidential responsibilities, allowing for full transfer of duties within the allotted time frame.

  4. Eligibility
    Only Professional Members in good standing may be nominated or declare his/her intent to run for an elected office. Any Professional Member who intends to run for office shall declare his/her intention to do so no later than the closing date for declarations as scheduled by the Executive Board. Declarations shall not be accepted after the closing date scheduled by the Executive Board. Any current officer of the Executive Board or Executive Committee must declare their intent to run for re-election.

  5. Vacancies
    A vacancy in any office, except that of the President may be filled by appointment by the Executive Board for the balance of the unexpired term. 

  6. Resignations
    Any elected officer who wishes to resign a position must notify the Executive Board in writing of intent and the date which the resignation will be effective. The President shall inform the Association of the resignation.

  7. Removal/Replacement of Officers: Officers of the Association may be removed due to one or more of the following reasons:

    1. Missing three or more scheduled Association meetings within a calendar year.

    2. The refusal or inability for any reason of an officer to perform her/his duties.

    3. The misuse of her/his office to obtain personal, financial or material gain.

    4. Any misconduct that is in violation of the Georgia Veterinary Practice Act or charges of unprofessional conduct.

    The officer in question shall be notified in writing by the President (or the Vice President, if the officer in question is the President), and the officer shall be invited to resign or offer a rebuttal. A rebuttal will result in a special meeting of the membership to resolve the issue. Due process will be complied with. Response to such action should be limited to no more than four weeks. If no response is received within four weeks, the officer in question shall have forfeited all rights to rebuttal and resignation shall be assumed to be the decision of the officer.

Article V

Quorum, Delegation of Powers and Compensation

  1. Quorum
    The presence of a majority of members of the Executive Board shall constitute quorum for the transaction of business. 

  2. Delegation of Powers
    In the absence of any officer except the President, or for any other good and sufficient reason, the Executive Board may delegate the duties and powers of said officer to another officer of the Association or a member of the Association for such a period as it may designate. All other duties and powers of officers shall be described in the By-Laws.

  3. Compensation
    Compensation for active participation, planning and organization to be as follows: Members participating in the planning, organization, set up, and operation of a seminar or continuing educational forum shall be compensated with free admittance to the same activity or one other Association sponsored activity within one year. Annual dues of Executive Board Members, being Professional Members when nominated and voted into office, are waived during the years in which he or she is in office and for all following years that their veterinary technician license is active and in good standing. Executive Board officers, Executive Committee officers, and members serving as committee leaders (provided they serve an entire fiscal year) will earn complimentary admittance to any Association sponsored activities. 

Article VI

Committees

  1. Authorization

    Committees will be created by the Executive Board on an as needed basis based on the needs of the Association. The Executive Board shall have the authority to replace committee leaders at any time. Committees can be formed and dissolved by the executive board.

Article VII

Amendments

Written proposals for amendments to this constitution must be submitted to the Executive Board, which may make recommendations to the Professional Members regarding the proposed amendment. All proposed amendments shall be presented to all members. The constitution be amended in an annual, special, or general meeting by a two-thirds vote by the members present or by email ballot. The proposed amendment and notice of time and place of the meeting must be emailed to the membership at least 30 days prior to the meeting. 


Written proposals for amendments to the By-laws must be submitted to the Executive Board, which may make recommendations to the Professional Members regarding the proposed amendment(s). All proposed amendments to the By-laws shall be presented to all Executive Board and Executive Committee Members. The By-Laws may be amended in an annual, special, or general meeting by a two-thirds majority vote by the Executive Board and Executive Committee Members. Association membership must be notified by the Executive Board of any approved amendment(s) to the By-laws within 30 days of the vote.

END GVTA CONSTITUTION

START GVTA BY-LAWS

Article I – Name

Georgia Veterinary Technician Association shall hereafter be referred to as the Association.

Article II – Purposes and Objectives

The purposes and objectives shall be set forth in the constitution of the Association

Article III – Meetings

  1. Annual Business Meeting
    The Annual meeting of the Association shall be held during the Spring conference each year.

  2. Executive Board Meetings
    Executive Board Meetings shall be held monthly, unless otherwise noted. The President shall notify the board members one month prior to the meeting. The Executive Board Meeting will be open to other officers and committee members.

  3. Election Meetings
    The Executive Board of the Association shall supervise election of Executive Board and Executive Committee Officers during the Fall. The meeting will reiterate candidacy for office - as stated in Constitution Article IV section 4,  the counting of ballots, the timeline for submitting intent to run for an elected office, and the timeline for voting. The Executive Board shall advise all members of the results of the election within 72 hours of the voting period concluding.

  4. Committee Meetings 
    All Committee Meetings shall be called by the discretion of the committee leaders, who shall be appointed by the Executive Board. All interested members are encouraged to attend committee meetings.

  5. Special Meetings 
    Special Meetings may be called by the President or upon the request of 10% of the membership. A notice of such a special meeting and its agenda shall be made to all members by email. No other business other than the specified agenda for which the meeting was called may be transacted at a special meeting.

Article IV – Officers of the Executive Committee

Non-Executive Board office positions (Executive Committee) will be created by the Executive Board on an as needed basis based on the needs of the Association. Officers will serve a one year term with eligibility for re-election. 

  1. Webmaster
    Respond to any email inquiries about the organization, maintain a copy of the mission statement and current bylaws, make any changes to the bylaws after all officers and/or members have approved changes, assist in creating any documents necessary to conduct Association business, and assist the Membership Secretary as needed.

  2. Social Media Manager
    Maintain social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms. Assist Webmaster with spreading information, developing graphics, and coordinating event promotion. Respond to inquiries submitted to the social media accounts. 

  3. NAVTA State Representative
    Acts as a communication liaison between NAVTA and GVTA to help keep the members up to date on the goals and efforts to NAVTA; must have an active NAVTA membership. Liaison between GVMA, State Board of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Technology college programs in the state with the assistance of the Vice President as necessary. 

  4. Conference Coordinator(s)
    Coordinates and Plans the Fall and Spring Conferences including organizing speakers, organizing breakfast and lunch, and organizing vendors and sponsors. Submits CE approval to the GA Veterinary Medical Board for the Fall and Spring Conferences

  5. Member(s)-at-Large

    Serve as the un-biased voice on projects and changes posed by the positions above. Assist other board positions as needed.

Article V - Elections

  1. The President Elect and Treasurer, will be elected during even numbered years. The Vice President, Membership Secretary shall be elected during odd numbered years. The President Elect shall take the position as President at the end of their term. 

  2. Following the election, the President Elect, Vice President, Membership Secretary, and Treasurer shall take office the following January, thus giving current officers and officers-elect a transition period to organize for the upcoming year. 

  3. Following the election, the current President Elect will work directly with the President on all aspects of the office and presidential responsibilities, allowing for full transfer of duties within the allotted time frame. 

  4. Following the election, the incoming President Elect will work directly with the incoming Vice President on all aspects of the office and vice presidential responsibilities, allowing for full transfer of duties within the allotted time frame.

  5. Elections for Officers of the Executive Committee will be held at the Fall meeting.

Article VI - Committees

  1. Public Relations Committee
    Initiates methods to promote membership in the Association, promotes cooperative professional relationships with the general public and other professional organizations, which include: GVMA, AVMA and NAVTA.

  2. Continuing Education Committee
    Seeks suggestions for topics, arranges or authorizes speakers or educators, sponsors, subjects, dates, place and time of all educational meetings, seminars and special programs.

END GVTA BY-LAWS