Blog
A New Era for APTA Virginia: Embracing Change, Strengthening Our Future
At APTA Virginia, we are committed to evolving in ways that better serve our members, enhance efficiency, and strengthen our governance. This past fall, during our Annual Members Meeting, the membership approved a series of transformative bylaw changes designed to make our chapter more agile, efficient, and member-focused.
These changes were driven by member feedback, industry trends, and a shared vision of a stronger, more connected APTA Virginia. Now that our new bylaws are officially in effect, let's take a moment to celebrate what this means for all of us!
Summary/TL;DR
This is a long article, so let's start off with high-level overview just in case you don't have time to read this in its entirety.
Key Updates:
· Regional Restructure: Six districts merged into three streamlined regions to improve collaboration and resource distribution.
· Governance Enhancements: Reduced board size (from 16-17 to 12-13), added a dedicated PTA Representative, standardized terms, and aligned governance with the calendar year.
· Committee Reforms: Finance, Nominating, and Ethics Committees optimized for efficiency, with a more focused and agile approach.
· New Community Engagement Coordinators (CECs): Established to improve local networking, education, and member support.
· Student Involvement: The APTA Student Council Representative will now be elected rather than appointed.
· Expanded Leadership Opportunities: Eligibility for Chapter Delegates broadened, allowing PTAs to participate and “years of service” requirement removed.
A Stronger, More Unified Regional Structure
To create a more connected and efficient organization, we restructured our districts into three streamlined regions:
· Northern Region – A merger of the Northern and Blue Ridge Districts.
· Eastern Region – A merger of the Tidewater and Central Districts.
· Western Region – A merger of the Valley and Mountain Districts.
This shift fosters greater collaboration across the state. By consolidating districts, we can offer stronger networking and continuing education opportunities while making better use of technology to connect members. Virtual events and region-led initiatives will now play a bigger role in delivering value to our community.
Governance That's More Agile and Efficient
Smaller, More Nimble Leadership
A key focus of these changes was making our governance structure more efficient and effective. Our updated board structure now:
· Reduces the overall number of board members, streamlining from 16-17 to 12-13, leading to more efficient decision-making and reduced administrative costs.
· Introduces a dedicated PTA Representative to ensure PTAs have a permanent voice in chapter leadership.
· Standardizes all terms to two years, except APTA Student Council (remains a 1-year term), providing greater consistency and stability in leadership transitions.
· Aligns our governance year with the calendar year, allowing a smoother transition and onboarding process for new leaders.
Finance Committee
Previously, the Finance Committee was composed of 6 district treasurers and the chapter treasurer, making it a large group. Under the new structure, the committee will now consist of at least three members from anywhere in the chapter, with the Chapter Treasurer serving as chair. This reduces the committee's size from seven members to a more nimble group of 3 or more, ensuring a sharper focus on financial oversight while increasing flexibility in selecting qualified members to serve on the committee.
Nominating Committee
To ensure that leadership roles are always well-staffed, we've adjusted the Nominating Committee to include one additional at-large member. While the committee will still have regional representation, this extra member—elected from anywhere in the chapter—will help focus on statewide leadership positions, such as officers and delegates as well as help the regional representatives. This ensures stronger candidate pools and balanced elections.
Ethics Committee
Previously, the Ethics Committee included one representative from each district. However, since ethics complaints are not handled at the chapter level but are referred to APTA and the state licensure board, the committee's structure was unnecessarily complex. The new bylaws replace this large committee with a single liaison role, ensuring that referrals are handled smoothly without the need for multiple volunteers.
Community Engagement Coordinators (CECs)
Another key governance update is the creation of the Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC) role. The CEC will be responsible for coordinating networking, continuing education, and member engagement at the local level. This change ensures:
· Stronger regional coordination of events and initiatives.
· More direct support for members in each region.
Expanding Student Engagement Through Elections
One of the most exciting updates is the new election process for our APTA Student Council Representative!
Previously, this position was filled by presidential appointment, but thanks to the new bylaws, student members will now have the opportunity to vote for their representative. This change empowers students to actively participate in the chapter election process, ensuring that their voices are heard and their leadership is recognized.
Delegation Service Enhanced
We also took a big step toward expanding leadership opportunities by revising eligibility requirements for Chapter Delegates. Previously, only physical therapists with two consecutive years of membership could serve. Now, that requirement has been removed, allowing a broader pool of members to step into leadership roles.
Additionally, APTA now permits one PTA to serve on our delegation, ensuring PTAs have a direct voice in governance through the House of Delegates – and we embraced this change by incorporating into our bylaws! This marks a major milestone in recognizing the value and contributions of PTAs within our professional community.
What These Changes Mean for You
These bylaw updates mark a bold step forward for APTA Virginia. By making our structure more streamlined, efficient, and member-driven, we are better positioned to provide high-quality resources, education, and advocacy for physical therapy professionals across the state.
With a more connected regional structure, a governance model that prioritizes efficiency and engagement, and increased opportunities for members at every level, the future has never looked brighter.
Thank you for being part of APTA Virginia—together, we are shaping the future of physical therapy!