Recreation & Tourism Students Association Constitution

Article I - Name of the Organization
This organization shall be known as the Recreation & Tourism Students’ Association (RTSA) of Arizona State University (Main/Downtown PHX Campus).

Article II - Mission Statement
The mission statement of the Recreation & Tourism Students Association is to enrich the academic, social and cultural experiences of Recreation majors and to provide interaction with professionals within the Recreation and Travel & Tourism fields. To actively participate in University, municipal, state and national activities and affairs related to the fields of recreation and human services. RTSA shall encourage each member to reach his or her fullest potential by providing insightful and meaningful experiences to the benefit of all those involved.

Article III - Aims & Objectives

  • RTSA will encourage open communication between students and faculty.
  • RTSA will increase interaction between Recreation & Tourism students to promote the exchange of ideas.
  • RTSA will facilitate interactions between students and professionals, thus helping to create networking opportunities.
  • RSTA will promote and foster personal and professional growth of Recreation and Tourism majors and minors.
  • RTSA will represent the interests of all Recreation students as a group in situations where their professional interests are concerned.

    Article IV - Membership
    Membership shall be open to anyone sincerely interested in furthering the previously stated aims and objectives of the association.

    Active membership in the association shall be constituted by:

    1. Enrollment as a student at Arizona State University.
    2. Dues paid in full - $20 a year or $15 a semester.

    Article V - Officers
    The elected officers of RTSA shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. If there is a great deal of interest in serving, up to two officers-at-large may be elected.

    Officers of the Association must:

  • Maintain a 2.5 GPA.
  • Be in good standing with University academic requirements.
  • Be willing to perform the responsibilities of the position which they hold.
  • Be available for the majority of the RTSA meetings.
  • Be available for the majority of the RTSA Board of Directors meetings.
  • Be a Recreation or Tourism major or minor.

    Each officer’s term will last for one academic year (August to May).

    Article VI - Duties of Officers

    Section I - President:

  • Preside at all meetings of the RTSA.
  • Assume leadership in actively promoting the aims, objectives and activities of the association.

    Section II - Vice President:

  • Serve as chairperson of the Nomination Committee.
  • Assume the duties of the President should he/she be absent from a regularly scheduled meeting of the association.
  • Assume all duties of the President should he/she be unable to continue said duties of his/her office.
  • Serve as a liaison between all standing committees and the association.

    Section III - Secretary

  • Keep records and take minutes at all meetings.
  • Carry on all correspondence of the association.
  • Distribute and post all minutes and the agenda of the meeting to the association.
  • Post announcements of all upcoming events on the RTSA Blackboard site, and e-mail members with announcements

    Section IV - Treasurer

  • Oversee all revenues and expenditures of the association.
  • Submit periodic reports of the financial status of the association to the membership.
  • Collect all membership dues and issue business/membership cards to all official RTSA members.
  • Keep a current list of members, as well as a historical list of members, and update the member list on Blackboard as often as is necessary.

    Section V - Officers-at-Large

  • Actively promote the aims, objectives, and activities of the organization.

    Section VI - Order of Succession

  • In the case of resignation of the President, the Vice President shall assume all duties of the President and the association shall elect a new Vice President.
  • In the case of resignation of both the President and Vice President, the association shall hold a special election for both officers, and the Secretary shall preside until an official election has been held.

    Article VII - Elections

  • Elections shall be held in April.
  • All voting shall be done by members who attend the officer election meeting by written secret ballot with the votes being tabulated by the outgoing secretary and the outgoing president.
  • Officers shall be elected by simple majority vote.
  • Special elections shall be called by the executive committee as needed.

    Article VIII - Committees

    Section I - Types of Committees

  • The Association may have up to five standing committees: membership & recruitment, social activities, professional activities, nominations & elections, and fundraising.
  • In the absence of enough member participation to sustain such committees, the officers may oversee these activites. Section II - Ad Hoc Committees
  • The President shall have the power to form special committees as he/she deems necessary in the interest of the association.
  • Such committees shall be formed with the approval of the other officers.

    Section III - Chairpersons

  • Chairpersons of standing committees shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the other officers.
  • All chairpersons shall have active communication with the Vice President.

    Article IX - Advisor Section I - Selection

  • A volunteer from the faculty of the Recreation Management and Tourism Department will serve as both an advisor and a liaison for the association.

    Section II - Duties

  • The Faculty Advisor shall advise the association and its officers on matters pertaining to the association.
  • The Faculty Advisor should, when at all possible, attend meetings and activities of the association and its officers.
  • The Faculty Advisor shall advertise the activities of the Association to the faculty, and encourage them to share RTSA information with their students.

    Article X - Amendments
    Amendments to this constitution shall be proposed at a meeting in written format to every person attending. Any member in good standing may propose an amendment. Voting on an amendment shall take place at the following meeting unless otherwise directed by the President. Ratification shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the attendees.

    Download Official Constitution (Word Document): RTSA_ConstitutionS04.doc