BY-LAWS of APTRA
The Associated Press Television-Radio Association:
California, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho,
Washington, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska
ARTICLE 1: AUTHORITY
These are the adopted bylaws of The California, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona and New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska Associated Press Television-Radio Association. which will serve as the rules and regulations for the government of the association.
ARTICLE 2: MISSION
The name of this association will be: The California, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona and New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska Associated Press Television-Radio Association. APTRA's purposes are to advance journalism through the media of radio and television, to co-operate with the Associated Press in order to make available an accurate and impartial record of the news, and to serve as a liaison between representatives of the radio and television stations in the aforementioned States that are members of the Associated Press and the management thereof, in attainment of those goals.
ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP
Any person who works for a licensed radio and/or television station in California, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska Associated Press Television-Radio Association is eligible for membership, provided the station involved is a licensed member of The Associated Press. Each AP radio and television station member will have one vote in all APTRA affairs to be presented to the association at large and at annual meetings of APTRA for the purpose of electing association officers.
ARTICLE 4: MEETINGS
The California, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska Associated Press Television-Radio Association will meet at least once per calendar year at a time and place designated by the President of the association.
ARTICLE 5: OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1: Representatives:
The California, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska Associated Press Television-Radio Association will be managed by an elected Board of Directors consisting of 24 board members: twelve members from member radio stations and twelve members from member TV stations, plus the APTRA President, APTRA Vice President, and Executive Secretary-Treasurer.
Section 2: Elections:
The election process will begin 12 weeks before APTRA's Annual Convention and include the following timeline:
- An announcement will appear on the AP news wires and on www.aptra.org inviting nominations. Nominations will be accepted during the initial two week period. (Weeks 1 and 2)
- After vetting, nominee pictures, bios and/or campaign statements will appear on www.aptra.org for a two week period. (Weeks 3 and 4)
- The electronic election on APTRA's website will commence at the conclusion of that window of time and last for two weeks. (Weeks 5 and 6)
- There will be a period of one week to make sure there are no fraudulent ballots. (Week 7)
- The announcement of winners will follow. (Exact date to be determined by APTRA's President)
- New officers will begin their terms the Sunday morning of convention weekend at the board's first meeting. Subsequent meetings will be determined by the board and its leadership and may be in person or conference calls given the size of our region.
Section 3: Terms of service:
The officers of The California, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska Associated Press Television-Radio Associationwill consist of a President, Vice President, an Executive Secretary-Treasurer. The Executive Secretary-Treasurer will be a full-time Associated Press employee, appointed by The Associated Press, but will only have a tie-breaking vote with the APTRA Board of Directors and should be invited to attend all meetings and record all minutes.
APTRA Presidents will be elected for terms of two-years, after which they can run for re-election for a second two-year term. After election to a second term a former President must wait at least two years before being eligible to run as President again. The President will be a non-regional elected position who can come from station membership in any of the member States.
APTRA Vice Presidents will be elected each year by the general members prior to the annual Awards banquet to carry out leadership duties determined by the elected President. In the event an elected President cannot continue in the office, the Vice President will succeed the President as President-Designate until another election can be completed from among the general membership.
APTRA Board Members will be elected to two year terms with half of the elected board seeking election each year. (Twelve board members will serve during even years, twelve board members serving during odd years). As additional States are added to the general membership, the President will appoint those radio and television representatives for a one-year term in order to catch-up to the normal rotation. No board members should serve more than two consecutive terms.
Vacancies on the Board of Directors will be filed by appointment of the President with the approval of the majority of the Board of Directors.
Section 4: Quorum
A majority of the Board of Directors will constitute a quorum. A quorum will be needed to approve APTRA business.
Section 5: Committees
The APTRA President will have the power to appoint special committees to advance the objectives of APTRA. Four permanent committees are to conduct business annually.
The AP Wire Performance Committee will aim for constant improvement of the AP News report for the benefit of the membership. The committee will issue a report annually to the President and Executive Director. The report will include what has been accomplished during the past year and suggestions for future improvement of AP services.
The Associated Press Network News and Associated Press Television Network Performance Committee will perform in the same manner as outlined for the Wire Performance Committee.
The Awards Committee will be responsible for updating , when needed, the rules and regulations concerning APTRA’s annual awards event.
The Nominating Committee will nominate candidates from the general members for the Board of Directors and office holders. The candidates will be selected from petitions received from the general membership, from suggestions from the Board of Directors and from members of the Nominating Committee.
ARTICLE 6: AMENDMENTS
The bylaws may be amended by the APTRA Board of Directors at any meeting of the board by an affirmative vote from two-thirds of the board members present as long as there is a quorum of board members present, but no amendment will become operative until submitted to the general APTRA membership in writing by way of electronic mail or posting on AP wires or on the APTRA website. Members will have 30-days after the proposed change is posted to discuss the issue. The Executive Director or Secretary-Treasurer will certify the vote returns.