• Geriatrics SIG
• Home Health SIG
• Pediatric SIG
• Women's Health SIG

 

• Download How to Start a SIG document

American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey
How to Start a Special Interest Group

Below is a list of documents regarding APTAnj governance that should be read by all individuals interested in creating a new Special Interest Group (SIG):

1. (national) APTA's GUIDELINES: FORMATION AND STRUCTURE OF COMPONENT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS BOD G03-99-30-95 [Amended BOD 11-90-42-166; BOD 03-90-28-100; Initial BOD 11-89-41-162] [Guideline] [If the link for this document does not work, go to http://www.APTA.org and use the SEARCH TOOL to find it.]

PLUS the following documents should always be referenced. They are posted on the APTAnj website http://www.aptanj.org

2. APTAnj Bylaws See #2 below.
3. APTAnj Standing Rules See #3 below.
4. APTAnj Mission & Goals See #4 below.
5. Standing rules of other special interest groups See #5 below.
6. APTAnj Policies As of the date this "how to create a SIG" document was created (8/3/09) there are no written APTAnj policies that address the formation of a Special Interest Group.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The APTAnj "Council of Directors" [or "COD"] is the NJ chapter's "board of directors". Make sure you communicate with the COD Secretary and let him/her know that you want to start a SIG. The Secretary will keep the COD apprised of your request and actions.

Below is the portion of APTAnj Bylaws that concerns the formation of Special Interest Groups. The complete APTAnj Bylaws are posted on the NJ chapter website: www.aptanj.org.

2. BYLAWS of the AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY, A NEW JERSEY NON-PROFIT CORPORATION

Amended in November 1991, March 1997, January 1999, October 2001, October 2002, January 2006

ARTICLE V. DISTRICTS and SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

Section 2: Special Interest Groups

A. Purpose - A special interest group may be organized to provide a means by which members having a common interest in special areas of physical therapy may meet, confer, and promote the interests of the respective special interest group.
B. Formation and Dissolution - Special interest groups of the Chapter may be established and dissolved in accordance with the rules and conditions set down by the Chapter Council of Directors.
C. Structure - Each special interest group shall operate under guidelines established by the Council of Directors of the Chapter. The group shall develop specific objectives for their operation.
D. Obligations - Each special interest group shall conduct its affairs as set forth in the Chapter bylaws and standing rules, maintain financial records and hold meetings.
E. Property and Records - In the event that a special interest group is dissolved, all property and records of whatever nature in possession of the group shall after payment of its bonafide debts be conveyed to the Chapter.

Section 3: Limitations
Districts and Special Interest Groups are subject to the following limitations:

A. Bylaws and policies of the Chapter and the Association.
B. No district or special interest group shall profess or imply that it speaks for or represents the Chapter or members other than those currently holding memberships in the district or special interest group unless authorized to do so by the Chapter's governing body.

 

Below is the portion of the APTAnj Standing Rules that concern Special Interest Groups. The complete APTAnj Standing Rules are posted on the NJ chapter website: www.aptanj.org.

3. STANDING RULES
American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey, Inc.
A Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, Inc.

These Standing Rules supplement the articles of the Bylaws of the American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey, Inc. The Purpose of these rules is to further clarify regulations under which the Chapter shall operate. The Standing Rules in this document are binding in governing Chapter affairs.

IV. SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

A. Formation

1. The Council of Directors must act upon an application for Special Interest Group formation at the first COD meeting after the receipt of a petition that meets the criteria stated in the Chapter Bylaws. The petition must contain the signatures of at least fifteen (15) PT or PTA members in good standing.
2. If the Special Interest Group is approved, it becomes operative immediately after the COD meeting at which it was approved.
3. If the objectives of a proposed Special Interest Group are not approved by the Chapter COD, the group must amend their objectives and request the Council to reconsider the request.

B. Membership

1. The criteria for membership of the Special Interest Group shall be the same as for membership in the New Jersey Chapter APTA.

C. Finance

1. The Special Interest Group shall not charge any annual dues, but may levy assessments provided such assessments do not carry punitive action or loss of good standing and are approved by the Chapter Council of Directors.
2. The Chapter Council of Directors shall have the authority to allocate monies to a Special Interest Group. All monies shall be disbursed by the Chapter Treasurer, in accordance with the Action Plan.

D. Organization

1. The Special Interest Group shall develop standing rules, which must be submitted to the Chapter COD for approval within 3 months of formation.
2. The officers of the group shall consist of a chairperson and other officers as required by the standing rules of the group.

E. Responsibilities

1. The Special Interest Group must meet at least twice a year.
2. A written report of the group's activities from the preceding year shall be submitted as part of the Annual Report, at the discretion of the Executive Director.
3. A membership list shall be made available to the Chapter Office.
4. No officer or member of the Special Interest Group shall serve as a spokesperson for the Chapter without prior approval of the Chapter President.

F. Duties of the Chairperson

1. Each chairperson shall contact his/her Council liaison on a bimonthly basis regarding the activities of the Special Interest Group by the Council of Directors.
2. Each committee chairperson shall perform charges directed to the Special Interest Group by the Council of Directors.
3. Each chairperson shall make an annual written report to the Chapter and to the Council of Directors.
4. Each chairperson shall submit a yearly Action Plan and corresponding budget requests for the upcoming year by October 1.

NOTE: Though the number of petition signatures required is indicated, keep in mind that the more signatures collected can be perceived as a greater need for the chapter to support a new SIG. Several other APTA chapters indicate twenty (20) as a minimum number.

How to obtain signatures? Contact all 3 District Directors at Large and request time to make an announcement at their next district meeting. Don't forget to provide the Directors with a petition for members to sign. You can also make an announcement at the bi-annual chapter meetings. Also, the "new" APTAnj website will eventually have a listserv and once it is up and running, you'll be able to communicate with colleagues by posting on the APTAnj listserv.

4. Mission Statement
The American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey promotes the integrity and excellence of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants through the coordination of advocacy, education, and resources to be responsive to and serve the membership and community.

Goals & Objectives

1. Promote professionalism through effective communication and advocacy.
2. Provide and expand educational resources to promote and support evidence-based practice.
3. Influence payers, legislators, and the public to recognize physical therapists as the practitioners of choice for persons with conditions that affect movement, function, health and wellness.

 

5. APTAnj currently has 4 active Special Interest Groups: Geriatric SIG, Home Health SIG, Pediatric SIG & Women's Health SIG. It will be helpful if you read through the standing rules of each SIG. All are posted on http://www.aptanj.org. The Women's Health & Geriatric SIGs are the most recently created ones and would have the most contemporary language to use as a model. The APTAnj Council of Directors must approve the final language of SIG standing rules.

 

Remember, any component of this chapter, including a SIG, needs to support the mission & goals of APTAnj.