2011-2012 AAA Handbook - Arkansas Activities Association

Name - Mission Statement and Purpose - Membership - Meetings - Governing Body
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Arkansas Activities
Association.
ARTICLE II
MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSE
SECTION 1. MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Arkansas Activities Association is to promote
the value of participation in interscholastic activities in the AAA
member schools and to provide services to the schools in a fair
and impartial manner while assisting and supporting their efforts
to develop thinking, productive, and prepared individuals as
they become positive, contributing citizens modeling the
democratic principles of our state and nation.
SECTION 2. PURPOSE
More specifically the main purposes of the association shall be
to:
A. Promote the educational values inherent in interscholastic
activities that contribute to the accepted aims of education
while avoiding interference with the educational goals of
the school.
B. Ensure that interscholastic activities shall remain an
integral part of the educational program as they provide
opportunities for youth to acquire worthwhile knowledge,
skills, and attitudes.
C. Promote an understanding that participation in
interscholastic activities is a privilege accorded to those
who meet the adopted criteria.
D. Foster a cooperative spirit of good sportsmanship on the
part of the school representatives, school patrons, and
students.
E. Support opportunities for students to experience the
benefits that are derived from teamwork, developing a
sense of fair play and accomplishment. Promote an
understanding and appreciation that rules, consistently
applied, create order and discipline.
F. Provide standard and consistent interpretations of the rules
of the association as adopted by the member schools or
authorized by the Board of Directors.
G. Conduct championship events by the procedures adopted
by the schools in a thorough and impartial manner.
H. Prevent exploitation of youth by special interest groups.
I. Develop standards of officiating and adjudicating to ensure
greater statewide consistency and quality.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1.
Any middle, junior, or senior high school accredited by the
Arkansas Department of Education or the Arkansas Nonpublic
School Accrediting Association may become a member of the
association upon approval of the Board of Directors.
The chief administrative officer of the school must agree in the
name of the school board to abide by the rules of the
Page 8 - 2011-12 AAA Handbook
association as set forth in its constitution and bylaws and as
interpreted by the AAA Governing Body, Board of Directors,
and the Executive Director. AAA rules shall govern
interscholastic activities for grades seven through twelve.
SECTION 2. MEMBERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE
The superintendent shall be the authorized representative of
the member school. The superintendent may designate an
assistant/deputy superintendent or the principal/assistant
principal of the member school as the school’s voting
representative.
SECTION 3. INTERSCHOLASTIC PARTICIPATION
A. Member schools are NOT permitted to participate with:
1. Arkansas schools that are not members of the AAA; or
2. Schools outside of Arkansas that are not members of a
state association affiliated with the National Federation;
or,
3. Schools that are not approved by National Federation
state associations; or,
4. Schools that are under suspension or expulsion from the
AAA or other approved associations.
B. Member schools may not participate in athletic competition
(including scrimmage) with teams or individuals of any nonschool
groups, organizations, etc., except for charitable
purposes, when such events are under school sponsorship.
C. The Board of Directors may make exceptions to the AAA
participation requirements for schools whose entire
enrollments are composed of handicapped students and for
students involved in contests sponsored by the state
chapter of the Arkansas Special Olympics.
SECTION 4. FISCAL YEAR - VOTING ELIGIBILITY
The fiscal year of the association shall end on June 30 of each
year. Annual membership fees are due by October 1. No
school shall be eligible to vote in the annual meeting unless a
membership application has been approved.
ARTICLE IV
MEETINGS
SECTION 1. ANNUAL
A. The annual meeting of the association for the authorized
representatives of all member schools shall be held at a
time and place to be designated by the Board of Directors.
One hundred members shall constitute a quorum for the
regular meeting.
B. The authorized representative shall represent only one
school at any one meeting.
SECTION 2. SPECIAL.
Special meetings of the Governing Body may be called by the
president when deemed necessary. One hundred members
shall constitute a quorum for a special meeting.
ARTICLE V
GOVERNING BODY
SECTION 1. COMPOSITION
The sovereign body of the association shall be known as the
Governing Body and shall be composed of one voting
representative from each member school. The superintendent,