Progressive Women in North Orange County: Progressive WIN-OC By-Laws

Progressive WIN-OC By-Laws

Progressive Women in North Orange County, Progressive WIN-OC Constitution and By-Laws July 2007

I. Name
The name of this organization shall be the Progressive Women in North Orange County, known as Progressive WIN-OC.

II. Purpose
Progressive Women in North Orange County, Progressive WIN-OC (hereinafter called the Club) shall focus its efforts within North Orange County, described for the purposes of this club as Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Orange, Placentia and Yorba Linda; and shall seek to publicize activities, and to build its membership from registered Democrats within this area. The Club may become involved with activities outside of the area by a 2/3 vote of those present and voting at any Club meeting.

The Club shall develop a work plan (including action items with evaluation criteria), which shall be evaluated by the membership at least once every six months. This work plan shall include a report on the number of registered Democrats within North Orange County, a report on Democratic voter turnout in North Orange County, and a comparison of local Democratic statistics to other political affiliations.

III. Affiliation
A. The Club is affiliated with the Orange County Central Committee (hereinafter called the Central Committee) and was duly chartered by the Committee on (To be determined).

B. As a chartered and affiliated club of the Central Committee, the Club shall comply with bylaws of the Central Committee and the California Democratic Party, as they apply to fully chartered local affiliates.

C. The Club shall apply for membership in the California Democratic Council. Membership above the minimum affiliation level shall be permitted if approved by a majority vote of the club, or 2/3 of its officers.

IV. Membership Requirements

A. Qualifications: Any individual qualifies for Club membership if:

1) The individual is a registered Democrat; or

2) The individual is ineligible to vote (due to minority, non- residency, or other legal impediment), but pledges to register as a Democrat when eligibility is attained; and

3) Supports the purpose of the Club as stated in Article II, above.

B. Active Membership: A qualified individual shall be considered an active member only if

1) The member has attended at least one meeting prior to being eligible to vote and

2) The member has paid all club dues.

V. Dues

A. Each member shall pay dues on an annual basis, as follows:

Individual $20

Senior (over age 60) $10

Student (Full time) $10

B. Dues are due on January 1 and payable by January 31 of each calendar year.

C. Annual dues for new active Club members shall not be prorated.

VI. Meetings

A. Regular Meetings

1) The Club shall hold regular monthly meetings on such day as the membership may determine from time to time.

2) Regular meetings shall not be canceled more than 3 times within any calendar year and in no event shall more than 2 regular meetings be canceled in succession.

B. Special Meetings

1) Special meetings may be called by the president at any time, on notice as specified below.

2) In the absence of the president, any two officers may call a special meeting, on notice as specified below.

C. Notice of Meeting

1) Notice of regular or special meetings shall be given at least 24 hours in advance to all active members, in any manner as follows:

a. Notice in writing by US mail

b. Notice in writing by e-mail and/or Yahoo Group notice

c. Telephone message

2) Notice of the meeting shall be deemed sufficient by any manner specified above if such notice includes the date, time and place of the meeting and is calculated to be received at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

VII. Rules for Meetings

A. The Club shall use the newly revised Roberts Rules of Order to govern parliamentary procedure at all official meetings of the organization, except as specifically noted in these bylaws. The group wishes to whenever possible arrive at decision making by collaborative consensus.

B. A quorum for any official meeting of the Club shall be 15 percent of the total organizational membership, or ten members, whichever is smaller, as of 24 hours before the meeting, as reported by the secretary. Telephone participation is acceptable as attendance in special circumstances if approved by the members for any particular meeting.

C. Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, the Club may adopt events and conduct regular business with a vote of 50 percent plus one of the members present at any meeting.

D. The Club may pass resolutions not related to endorsements with a vote of 2/3 of those present and voting at any meeting.

E. A process to consider the endorsement of candidates must be approved prior to any suggestion of endorsements. If the discussion of an endorsement process is noticed in the meeting agenda, such process must be approved by at least 2/3 of those present and voting at any meeting. If the discussion of an endorsement process is brought up from the floor as New Business, such process must be approved by at least three-fourths of those present and voting at any meeting. Under no circumstances may the Club consider the endorsement of a candidate for public office who is not registered with the Democratic Party. The minimum threshold for endorsement in a race with multiple Democratic candidates is two-thirds of the members present and voting.

F. The Club may suspend specific portions of these bylaws and/or Roberts Rules of Order for purpose of emergency business by a vote of two-thirds of the membership present at a meeting, unless the item to be suspended calls for a higher qualification. In such case, the percent specified in that portion of the bylaws shall be required to suspend that text. The motion to suspend shall call out the particular section of the bylaws proposed to be suspended.

G. Changes to the constitution and bylaws not specifically referenced elsewhere must be noticed to the membership at least 72 hours before the vote in question, and must be approved by a majority vote of the Club, or 2/3 of its officers.

VIII. Officers

A. Club officers shall consist of president, vice-president and web manager, secretary, treasurer, and publicity officer. They shall be elected to serve two-year terms of office.

B. Election of officers shall be held in June, although the first election will be held in July. If the president vacates office, the vice-president shall ascend to the position of president, until an election is held to fill the president's remaining term of office.

C. In the temporary absence of the president, the vice-president shall serve as president. If the position of vice-president is vacant, the secretary shall serve as vice-president.

D. The secretary shall be responsible to ensure that all members are notified of Club meetings. Additionally, the secretary shall maintain all written and the treasurer shall maintain all financial records of the Club.

E. The president shall officiate at all meetings of the Club.

F. The president may appoint members temporarily to fill un-expired terms of office, subject to election by the membership at the next Club meeting 30 days after the office is vacated.

G. The Club shall be represented at meetings of the Central Committee and any Assembly District Committee meetings at which it may be entitled to membership, and at meetings of the California Democratic Council. A person may serve as representative to more than one outside body if the club membership approves.

H. The Club appointed a publicity officer, who shall have the responsibility to develop and to implement a plan to increase the visibility of the Club among Democrats within the North Orange County Service Areas, working closely with the Vice-President/Web Manager.

I. The president may appoint Club members to serve in other capacities as needed.

J. The Club may elect such other officers as may be deemed necessary from time to time to conduct Club business.

ADOPTED THIS 29th DAY OF July, 2007.

Certified by:

Rose Espinoza
Secretary