Gig Harbor Republican Women

Gig Harbor Republican Women Bylaws 2009-2010

ARTICLE I NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Gig Harbor Republican Women, hereafter known as GHRW.

ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this organization shall be:

a.  To promote an informed electorate through political participation, education and activities;

b.  To increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government through active political participation;

c.  To recruit and promote qualified Republican men and women for all elective offices- local, state, and national;

d. To facilitate cooperation among the National Federation Republican Women (NFRW) and Washington Federation Republican Women (WFRW) clubs in the State of Washington;

e.  To promote loyalty to the Republican Party and its principles and to work for the election of Republican candidates;

f.  To support the objectives and policies of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Washington State Republican Party (WSRP);

g.  To provide opportunities to serve America and the community through service projects and goodwill.

ARTICLE III – POLICY

a.  Neither the Gig Harbor Republican Women President nor the GHRW organization shall endorse a candidate prior to a primary election or Republican Party convention when there is more than one candidate for the same office. This applies to the GHRW organization as an entity, not to individual members.

b.  The immediate GHRW President shall be an available resource and support to the incoming GHRW President in organizing  the beginning of her new year.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Application for Membership

a.  GHRW shall be a member of the Washington Federation of Republican Women (WFRW) and National Federation of  Republican Women (NFRW).

b.  Membership shall be extended to all Republican Women’s Clubs whose bylaws subscribe to the stated objectives and bylaws of the WFRW and the NFRW.

c.   GHRW shall consist of ten (10) or more Republican women of legal voting age who form a permanent organization, adopt bylaws, charge annual dues, forward payment of WFRW and NFRW dues, and service charges, and hold at least seven (7) meetings a year.

d.  The word "Republican" must be used in the title of GHRW.

SECTION 2. Membership Classifications

a.  Active Membership

1. Republican women in good standing, paying current GHRW dues and shall hold active membership.

2. Any woman believing in the principles of the Republican Party and intending to support its candidates is eligible for membership.

3. Active members shall vote in only one (1) unit club and are entitled to delegate/alternate status to the WFRW and NFRW conventions and regional meetings.

4. The GHRW Board of Directors shall approve applications for membership.

b.  Associate Membership

1. Persons supporting the ideals of the Republican Party who are women holding membership in another Republican Federation Club, or men, or persons under voting age are all eligible to be GHRW Associate Members.

2. Associate members shall be entitled to all privileges of GHRW except those of making motions, voting, or holding    office. They may not be counted in a quorum.

3.  Associate members are not eligible for membership in the WFRW or NFRW.

4.  Associate members may contribute to the WFRW and NFRW and subscribe to the WFRW and NFRW magazines for the   required fee.

5. The GHRW Board of Directors shall approve applications for associate membership.

SECTION 3. Names and Membership List and Email addresses

a.  The GHRW membership list shall be released only to the GHRW, WFRW and NFRW.

b.  GHRW email lists must be sent by blind copy and must not be shared with any other organization outside of the GHRW, WFRW, and NFRW.

SECTION 4. Removal from Membership

a.  The GHRW Executive Committee shall have jurisdiction over removal of a member.  A two thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting is required. Basis for removal from membership are:

1.  Failure to support party ticket, advocating a split ticket, supporting a candidate of an opposing ticket.

2.  Failure to support bylaws of the WFRW and the NFRW.

3.  Failure of financial issues.

SECTION 5. Reinstatement to Membership

a.   Filing application with the Executive Committee may reinstate a member removed from membership for any cause.

b.   A two thirds (2/3) majority vote by the Executive Committee will authorize reinstatement.

c.   Any and all financial issues that caused removal must be remedied.

ARTICLE V - DUES

SECTION 1. Fiscal year

a.     The fiscal year of this club shall be from January 1 to December 31.

SECTION 2. Payment

a.  The membership dues of this club shall be as stated under standing rules of GHRW for each member, payable for one (1) year.

b.  This club shall pay the required annual dues and fees to WFRW and NFRW as stated in the Standing Rules

c.  The dues for GHRW shall be payable to the treasurer of WFRW each fiscal year, December 31.

d.  Members dues are due and payable to the GHRW Treasurer on or before December 1 of each year, for the following fiscal year.

ARTICLE VI  -  MEETINGS

SECTION 1. Meetings

a.  The annual election meeting of this club shall be held during November or during a specific month that is convenient to the GHRW calendar.

b. The regular meetings of this club shall be held monthly, as stated in Standing Rules, unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors.

c.  A quorum for a meeting of the club shall be twenty per cent (20%) of active members.

d.  Special meetings shall be held at the call of the president or upon request of ten (10) members, purpose of the meeting to be stated in the call, and no other business to be transacted.

ARTICLE VII  -  OFFICERS

The officers of this organization shall be President, First Vice-President, Second-Vice President, Recording Secretary and Treasurer.

SECTION 1. Eligibility

a.      GHRW officers shall be active members and in good standing with the WFRW and NFRW.

SECTION 2. Elections

a.  Each October a review will be made to determine need for election for vacancy/vacancies occurring mid-term, or at the end of two (2) year term.  A nominating committee will be appointed (Article IX. Section 2. a.1.)

b.  Election shall be held during the November general meeting.

c.  Election shall be by ballot and a majority of all votes cast shall constitute an election.

d.  Where there is only one (1) candidate for an office, election may be by a voice vote.

SECTION 3. Installation

a.  An installation ceremony shall be held at the regular December or January meeting. The new officers term shall begin once installed.

1. If installation cannot take place in December, installation of officers will take place at the next regular meeting.

SECTION 4. Term of Office

a.  All GHRW officers shall hold office for a term of two (2) years. They shall serve from January 1 to December 31 or until their successors have been elected.

1. In the event that an Officer is unable to complete a two (2) year term, the vacancy will be filled at the end of one (1) year by election.

2. Vacancies occurring between elections will be filled by Board of Directors (Article VIII.Section 1.c.3).

SECTION 5. Duties of the President          

a. The President shall:

1.  Preside at all meetings of the GHRW, the GHRW Board of Directors, and GHRW Executive Committee.

2.  Have general supervision of the work of the GHRW.

3.  Appoint all committee chairs with the approval of the Executive Committee except the nominating committee.

4.  Be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.

5.  Appoint a parliamentarian. She may also appoint a corresponding secretary, a historian, and advisory members, if she so desires.

6.  Sign checks in event of the inability of the treasurer to do so.

SECTION 6. Duties of the Vice-Presidents

a. The Vice-Presidents

1.  The First Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in her absence, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to her.

b.  The Second Vice-President shall perform such duties as are assigned by the President.

SECTION 7. Duties of the Secretary

a.  The Secretary shall:

 1. Record all minutes of GHRW Board of Directors, GHRW Executive Committee, and GHRW meetings.

 2. Send, or otherwise furnish, copies of the minutes to members of the Executive Board and Newsletter Editor.

 3. Maintain minutes and correspondence in a permanent file.

SECTION 8. Duties of the Treasurer          

The Treasurer shall:

a.  Receive all funds of the GHRW, including all dues of GHRW;

b.  Forward all WFRW and NFRW dues and service charges;

c.  Be the custodian of all Service Account and Campaign Account funds of the GHRW;

d.  Pay all GHRW  bills  as stated in Standing Rules;

e.  Keep an account of all moneys received by her and gives full report at all GHRW meetings, and at any times the GHRW President requests such a report;

f.  Arrange for an annual audit of the books, by a committee established by the GHRW Executive Committee prior to the end of the fiscal year. The Treasurer may not serve on the audit committee;

g. Send notices of unpaid dues to members;

h. Be a member of the GHRW Budget Committee.

SECTION 9 Officer's Records

a.  All GHRW officers shall deliver all records, files, and properties of the GHRW to their successors within one (1) month after retiring from office.

ARTICLE VIII  -  BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION 1. Board of Directors

a. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers, the immediate Past President, and chairs of standing committees.

b.  Historian, parliamentarian, corresponding secretary, advisory members, and chairs of special committees shall serve on the GHRW Board of Directors with all privileges except voting.

c.  Duties:

1. Be the governing body of the GHRW;

2. Serve as advisors to the GHRW President;

3. Fill vacancies among officers as may occur between elections;

4. Recommend proposed amendments to the bylaws;

5. Adopt an annual budget for the GHRW;

6. Act on applications for membership by new members, removal of present members and reinstatement of former members;

7. Raise funds to support the GHRW and Candidates.

d.  Meetings;

1. There shall be monthly meetings of the GHRW Board of Directors.

2. Special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be at the call of the GHRW President or upon written request of five members of Board of Directors.

e.  A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of its voting members.  Each member has one (1) vote;

1. In the event that any individual holds more than one office, or serves as an officer and head of a committee, that person shall have only one (1) vote

SECTION 2. Executive Committee:           

The Executive Committee shall consist of all the elected officers of the GHRW.         

a.  Duties:

1. The Executive Committee shall act for the Board of Directors in matters requiring summary action;

2. It shall advise the GHRW President;

3. It shall transact any necessary business between scheduled GHRW Board of Directors meetings;

4. Meeting shall be at the call of the President or upon written request of three members of the Executive Committee;

5. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be a majority of its members;

6. Each member has one (1) vote.

ARTICLE IX  -  COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. Standing Committees

a.  Standing Committees of the GHRW shall be Awards, Budget, Bylaws, Campaign, Caring for America, Fund-Raising, Legislative, Literacy, Membership, Newsletter Editor, Program, Public Relations and Resolutions.

b.  Standing Committee chairs shall be appointed by the GHRW President and approved by the Executive Committee prior to the first GHRW Board of Directors meeting while, as needed for a new President, completing the appointments in the next two months.

c.  Standing Committee chairs shall be in good standing and have full privileges as members of the GHRW Board of Directors, including the right to vote.

d.  The Budget committee shall prepare an annual budget to submit to the Board of Directors.

e.  Committee chairs shall serve a term of two (2) years, from January 1 to December 31, or one (1) year if circumstances do not permit full term.

f.  Duties:  

1. Committees shall outline programs for action in their respective fields for consideration and adoption by the GHRW Board of Directors, and shall carry out such other duties as prescribed by the GHRW President and Board of Directors;

2. All committees shall report to the club at regular board meetings and as ordered by the President;

SECTION 2. Special Committees

a.  Special committees carry out necessary functions for GHRW and may be ongoing.  Chairs shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors;

1.  A nominating committee of three (3) members shall be elected at the October meeting if an election is to be held, to be chosen as follows: One (1) member shall be elected by the Board of Directors and two (2) members shall be elected by the members present at the October meeting. The nominating committee shall report one (1) nominee for each office at the November meeting, after which nominations from the floor shall be called.

2.  An Audit Committee of three (3) members shall be appointed by the GHRW President with the approval of the Executive Committee no less than thirty (30) days before the end of the GHRW fiscal year. The annual Audit Report shall be presented and adopted at the first Board of Directors meeting of the new fiscal year and then published.

ARTICLE X  -  CONVENTIONS

SECTION 1. Conventions

a.  Delegate Eligibility to WFRW and NFRW conventions:

1. WFRW delegates, alternates, and GHRW unit itself shall be in good standing at least sixty (60) days prior to the convention.

2. NFRW delegates, alternates and GHRW unit itself shall be in good standing at least ninety (90) days prior to the convention.

3. A woman may be counted as an active member of one (1) club only for the purpose of the delegate representation at the WFRW and NFRW conventions.

b.  Alternates for WFRW Convention Delegates:

1.  GHRW is entitled to an alternate to represent each delegate selected.

2.  There shall be no alternate for the GHRW President at WFRW conventions.

ARTICLE XI - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, (current addition thereof) shall govern this organization in all matters of procedure not covered in these bylaws.

ARTICLE XII  -  AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be amended by a two thirds  (2/3) vote of members present and voting at any GHRW monthly meeting provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been presented previously in writing to the Bylaws Chair.  A notice of such amendment, accompanied by the recommendation of the Board of Directors shall be presented to the club. Bylaws, adopted this 9^th day of February 2009.

ARTICLE XIII -  DISSOLUTION

SECTION 1. Withdrawal / Dissolution of a Club

a.  Any club wishing to dissolve must:           

1. Hold a meeting duly called by the club president and advertised to all voting members.

2. Convey in writing to the District Director that the club is dissolving or disbanding at least two (2) weeks before last meeting.

b. All assets of the club, upon dissolving or disbanding, must be forwarded to the WFRW. None of the assets shall be distributed to any member or officer of the club.

c.  The right to use the name of a dissolved or disbanded club will revert to the WFRW.

Year drafted:  1995;Year approved:  1996

Amended:  1998; 1999; 2001; 2003; 2005; 2007; 2009