Articles of Incorporation
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE ARKANSAS RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION
Adopted by General Membership on September 8, 2000
Changes to Agency Membership Adopted on March 1, 2001
ARTICLE I - Name and Location
ARTICLE II - Duration of the Corporation
ARTICLE III - Purpose, Goals and Powers
ARTICLE IV - Membership
ARTICLE V - The Board of Directors
ARTICLE VI - Amendments
ARTICLES VII - By-Laws
ARTICLE VIII - Officers
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE ARKANSAS RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION
SECTION 1. The official name of this organization shall be the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association, an affiliate of the National Recreation and Park Association.
SECTION 2. The principal office of the Association shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3. This is a mutual benefit corporation.
ARTICLE II - Duration of the Corporation
The corporation shall have perpetual existence.
ARTICLE III - Purpose, Goals and Powers
SECTION 1. The purpose of the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association shall be to promote the common interest of its members in the field of parks, recreation and leisure in the state of Arkansas. It’s primary goals being:
a. To broaden recreation, park and leisure opportunities for all citizens of Arkansas through mobilizing citizen and professional leadership to:
1. Promote the growth, accessibility and professional consistency of programs of public and private leisure resources, including recreation and park lands, facilities and programs.
2. Educate the public to the increasing importance of recreation, leisure and preservation of our natural history to the physical, mental and social well being of the citizens of Arkansas.
3. Strengthen the quality of professional leadership in recreation, park and leisure services through continuing education and training opportunities, assuring that the leadership reflects the Association’s diversity.
4. Advance science through encouraging research and disseminating information on recreation, natural preservation areas, park and leisure related subjects.
b. To provide an organization which will unite all recreation, park, and leisure services personnel within the State of Arkansas.
c. To foster and maintain high standards of professional qualifications and ethics among all recreation, park, and leisure personnel in the State of Arkansas.
d. To identify and promote minimum standards for recreation, park and leisure services and resources and encourage the continuance of study and research of such standards.
e. To foster and maintain a professional image to the public and related associations through positive public relations and affiliation for mutual benefit and cooperation.
f. To advocate on behalf of the interest of recreation, park, and leisure services personnel as a group in situations where such advocacy is necessary.
SECTION 2. Goals of the Association shall be reviewed and addressed annually at the executive retreat.
a. The Association shall have all the power necessary to carry out its purposes and goals, subject only to limitations provided by the Articles of Incorporation, by the By-Laws or by law. Such powers shall include without limitation:
1. Control of its affairs.
2. The designation of the time and manner of conducting meetings.
3. The control of its members.
4. The determination of time and manner of selection, qualifications, powers, and duties of its officers and members of committees.
5. The determination of what constitutes a vacancy in any office or committee and the manner of filling that vacancy.
6. The adoption of such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the law, Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws with the right form time to time to amend or repeal as deemed necessary.
7. The right to add, amend or delete policies and procedures as approved.
The membership of this Association shall be limited to those person, agencies, and organization meeting the requirements as provided hereinafter by By-Laws, regardless of race, creed, or natural origin.
ARTICLE V - The Board of Directors
SECTION 1. The governing body of this Association shall be known as the Board of Directors. The voting members shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Past-President, 7 at large members, student representative and a commercial representative.
SECTION 2. Executive Director, NRPA Southwest Regional Representatives, and Southwest Region/ ARPA Citizen Representative will serve as ex-officio members of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 1. Amendments must be presented to the Articles and Bylaws Revision Committee for discussion. The Articles and By-laws Committee will submit revisions and amendments to Board of Directors for approval.
SECTION 2. Amendments to these articles may be made at any time provided the amendments have been approved by the Board of Directors. Approved amendments may be voted upon by eligible members present at the Annual meeting or may be communicated to each member eligible to vote and thirty (30) days from such communication any amendments receiving a majority of the votes cast favoring their adoption shall be adopted. Any amendments approved under this provision shall go into effect upon certification of the results by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of a Board of Directors meeting the amendments shall be adopted sixty (60) days after the ballots are communicated to the membership.
There shall be official By-Laws of the Association. Amendments to the By-Laws may be made at anytime provided the amendments have been approved by the Board of Directors. Approved By-Laws may be voted upon by the eligible members present at the annual meeting or may be mailed to each member eligible to vote and thirty (30) days from such mailing any amendments receiving a majority of the votes cast favoring their adoption shall be adopted. Any amendments approved under this provision shall go into effect upon certification of the results by the Board of Directors.
The officers of this Association shall be a President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, immediate Past-President and seven Board Members At-Large and one Student Representative (elected by the student membership. They shall be elected by the membership as provided for the By-Laws