GHATS
Members
GHATS Constitution is Changing!
April 20, 2025
Dear GHATS Membership,
In December, the Executive Board made the unanimous decision to create a Task Force to Review the Standing Rules and Constitution that governs the Greater Houston Athletic Trainers’ Society. The last approved changes to the Constitution were approved by the GHATS Membership in 2014. The Executive Board felt that the Standing Rules and Constitution needs to be reviewed to ensure that the needs of our organization were still being met, as well as our pledge to the area athletic trainers, athletic training students and our athletic training community.
The Task Force members were composed of Dennis Fyke, the GHATS Parliamentarian, Joseph Eberhardt, the Task Force Lead, and Chris Shaddock, a Task Force Member. The purpose of the Task Force is to maintain and review the GHATS Standing Rules and Constitution to avoid inconsistencies and outdated information to better the efficiency and compliance of the GHATS Executive Board and Society processes.
The GHATS Executive Board have agreed with the Task Force and in order to fully convey the changes and improvements to the GHATS Constitution, we wanted to give everyone the chance to review the current Constitution alongside the proposed changes. Every member already has access to the GHATS Constitution online through the GHATS.org website. However, for ease, the Constitution and the proposed changes are included in this newsletter below.
During the General Business Meeting on Saturday, April 5 during the GHATS Student Athletic Training Workshop at Goose Creek Memorial High School, there will be a short presentation reviewing the changes and answer any questions that any of the membership has. Following the discussions, a vote will be made via a link/QR code following the General Business Meeting and stay open until 4/20/2025 at 11:59 pm. All votes will be reviewed and calculated from the Membership. If you are not a current member, your vote will not count towards the calculations. If the membership agrees and the proposed changes pass, the new constitution will be posted online.
To help everyone review and distinguish between the current Constitution and the proposed changes the Constitution found below will have different textual colors. They are as follows:
Red – Removed
Yellow – Altered
Green – Added or New
If you have any questions or concerns from today until the General Business Meeting on April 5, 2025, please feel free to contact myself or your Regional Representative.
Sincerely,
Kim Faterkowski
GHATS President
GHATS Members
GHATS Members receive through their membership updates on CEU opportunities, are invited to engage with other professionals at our socials, are eligible to receive and nominate for awards, invited to attend our annual student workshop with their students, and nominate students for scholarships.
Membership Cost: $20.00 before December 1 – $30.00 starting December 1
Membership Year: September 1st – August 31st
GHATS Professional Awards
Nominations due April 1, 2025
Nominations Due April 1st
Bobby Gunn an athletic trainer who blazed a trail in the profession. He was best known for being straightforward and honest, choosing to do what he thought was right. Mr. Gunn was not present at the inaugural meeting of the NATA in Kansas City in 1950, but remained very involved in the event. Bobby played a key role in making Texas the first state to license our profession. Among his highlights include founding officer of SWATA, NATA Board of Directors Chair, and first NATA president.
Nominations Due April 1st
Logan Wood, a native Houstonian, was the head athletic trainer of Houston ISD for 37 years. Mr. Wood was tapped to lead the first licensing board of athletic trainers in the State of Texas. Logan was a champion of the Greater Houston Athletic Trainers’ Society promoting it among the Greater Houston community and State of Texas. Mr. Wood true to his Houston roots earned both a bachelors of science and masters of education from the University of Houston. Among his other accomplishments he served as a distinguished officer of both SWATA and NATA.
Nominations Due April 1st
The G“HATS” Off Award, previously given as the Meritorious Service Award (2005) is presented
to a GHATS Member who has exemplified the spirit of athletic training. This award recognizes the
actions an athletic trainer has taken under unusual circumstances to protect those in his/her care, or
unique, meritorious service performed on behalf of the athletic training profession. In recognition of
action taken under unusual circumstance, GHATS proudly presents this award to a Member in good
standing as deemed by the GHATS Executive Board and the Honors & Awards Committee.
Nominations Due April 1st
Tom Wilson served as an athletic trainer for the University of Houston through five decades. He was known as a mentor to countless young men and women in the course of his career. Wilson earned his bachelors degree in physical education at Stephen F. Austin. His first job out of college was at the University of Texas under legendary athletic trainer Frank Medina. It was in 1953 that he joined the Cougar athletics staff. Wilson worked with countless All-American student athletes and was seen with his Cougar pride on display wearing his many championship rings.
Nominations Due April 1st
The GHATS Hall of Honor was established to honor all of the dedicated athletic trainers in the Greater Houston area. Their stanch dedication and tireless service to their patients, students, and profession makes them stand out.
Nominations Due April 1st
Walter R. Lowe is a long-time supporter of the Greater Houston Athletic Trainers’ Society. Dr. Lowe serves in many different capacities which include: Chairman and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School (UT Health), Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Memorial Hermann at the Texas Medical Center and LBJ General Hospital, and Medical Director of the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute. He is a world-renowned orthopedic physician providing services to organizations such as the Houston Texans, Houston Rockets, and the University of Houston. Additionally, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration utilizes Dr. Lowe’s expertise as a consultant for the health and safety of their astronauts. This college scholarship is provided by UT Physician’s in the name of Dr. Lowe for a student’s pursuit of a degree in athletic training and who are members of GHATS.
**All Awards are given based on merit as recommended by the Honors and Awards Committee and approved by the GHATS Executive Board**
Past Award Recipients
Upcoming CEU Events
- Emergency Care In Sports: A Hands-On Approach
Meeting Minutes
Upcoming Social Events
Previous Social Events
- Bowling Social
- 2022 Robert French Social and Cornhole Tournament
- Night with the Rockets
- Axe Throwing
- 2021 Robert French Social and Cornhole Tournament
- Zoo-Boo
- Texas Renaissance Festival
- Festival of Lights
- Lost Lake Social event
By participating in GHATS events, you are providing the Greater Houston Athletic Trainers Society (GHATS) with permission to use the photos taken of you (including your family) and your information on the GHATS website.