These bylaws, including all amendments, shall govern the operations of the Westchester Democratic Club.

ARTICLE I: NAME

The legal name of this organization shall be the Westchester Democratic Club, (hereinafter, “the Club”); however, it shall be commonly known as Westchester Democrats.

ARTICLE II: AFFILIATION

1. The Club shall be chartered by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee (hereinafter, “the Central Committee”), and affiliated with the California Democratic Council (hereinafter, “the CDC”).

2. As a chartered Club of the Central Committee, the Club shall comply with the bylaws of the Central Committee and the California Democratic Party.

ARTICLE III: MISSION

The Mission of the Club shall be to:

Improve awareness of Democratic candidates and issues.
Increase Democratic voter turnout to elect Democratic Party candidates.
Strengthen the Democratic Party.
Foster the participation of all Members, on the basis of equality, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual preference, national origin, physical ability, or economic status.

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

1. Any person, registered to vote as a Democrat, and who has paid the dues for that calendar year, shall be a Member of the Club. Also, a Member shall be any person, who is not yet eligible to register to vote (a minor, or non-citizen awaiting naturalization), but who is: devoted to the principles of the Democratic Party; who has paid the dues for that calendar year; and, expressed the intent to register as a Democrat, immediately upon becoming eligible.

2. To be in good standing, Members shall: abide by these bylaws; pay annual dues; and, never use the Club’s name in connection with any candidate, issue, or ballot measure, not formally endorsed by the Club.

3. Annual dues, of twenty-five dollars ($25), shall be paid upon joining the Club, and on the first (1st) day of January, but not later than the first Club meeting of each calendar year, thereafter. The foregoing notwithstanding, any person who claims financial hardship, may have their dues reduced, or waived completely, as determined by the Executive Board.

4. The dues established in Paragraph 3, above, may be changed upon a recommendation of the Executive Board, which is approved by a simple majority vote of the Membership at the Club’s annual election.

5. Membership may be revoked or denied by the Executive Board for just cause at any time.

6. Nondiscrimination—the Club shall not require or use any test of membership, or oath of loyalty, which has the effect of requiring prospective or current Members to acquiesce in, condone, or support discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, national origin, physical ability, sex, age, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, or economic status.

7. Elected federal, state, and local Democratic Office Holders; Officers of the National, State, or County Democratic Party; and Officers of CDC will be considered Ex-Officio Members of the Club.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

1. Officers shall be elected and inducted, pursuant to Article IX: Elections, at the second Membership meeting in a calendar year, for a term of one (1) year.

2. The Officers of the Club shall be the President, one or more Vice Presidents, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Controller. The Executive Board may recommend additional officers, as needed.

3. Officer Duties:

President

The duties of the President shall be to provide overall direction of the Club’s activities with the advice and consent of the Executive Board, preside over all Club and Executive Board meetings, sit as an ex-officio member of all committees; speak on behalf of the Club on matters on which the Club has taken a position; be the Club’s first delegate to conventions, Central Committee, and CDC meetings; and, perform such other duties that are consistent with the Club's Mission.The President may appoint with the consent of the Executive Board a professional Treasurer, who need not be a member and who may be compensated; any compensation for the Treasurer must be approved by the Executive Board; no such contract for services shall bind Westchester Democrats past the end of the term of the officers unless approved by the Executive Board.

The President may authorize, with concurrence of the Controller, or in the absence of the Controller, with concurrence of the Vice President, expenditures in any given month up to an amount preauthorized by the Executive Board. Expenditures beyond the preauthorized amount require approval of the Executive Board.

Vice President

The duties of the Vice President(s) shall be to: assist the President in the overall direction of Club activities; assume the duties of the President in his/her absence; and, perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Executive Board.

Recording Secretary

The duties of the Recording Secretary shall be to: record minutes for each Club and Executive Board meeting; maintain the Club’s official files, including, but not limited to, the minutes, committee reports, and these bylaws, including all amendments; and, perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Executive Board.

Corresponding Secretary

The duties of the Corresponding Secretary shall be to: write and send any official correspondence from the Club, as directed by the President, Executive Board, or Membership; to assume the duties of the Recording Secretary in his/her absence; and, perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Executive Board.

Controller

The duties of the Controller shall be to maintain the financial records of the Club, including the names, dates, and amounts for all dues collected and funds expended; disburse the funds of the Club, as authorized by the President or, in the absence of the President, the Vice President; make a financial report at all meetings of the Executive Board; submit to the Club, in writing, at the close of the fiscal year, an annual statement (including a Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Statement of Receipts and Disbursements); abide by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and Federal Election Commission (FEC) laws and regulations; maintain an accurate roster of paid Members; develop an annual budget for the Club to be presented to the Executive Board for approval; shall secure written reports from those responsible for all fund-raising activities; shall be responsible for ensuring the confidentiality and security of all records and membership lists; shall ensure that all financial records are available for review by any officer upon reasonable notice; shall supervise activities of the Treasurer as related to the financial affairs and operations of the Club; and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Executive Board and implicit in the title.

Treasurer

The Treasurer shall open and maintain bank accounts as required for the deposit of Club funds; pay regular and recurring expenses of less than a preauthorized amount when such expenses are presented by the Controller or the President or in the President’s absence the Vice President, provided that any expenditure exceeding a preauthorized amount must be approved by the Executive Board; require that all checks not signed by the Treasurer shall bear the signatures of two of the following three: President, Vice President or Controller; require that all expenses and disbursements be supported by receipts or vouchers and signed by the responsible members; take custody of and properly deposit all funds raised or received by the Club, directly or indirectly; be responsible for the timely filing of all financial reports and any other reports required by law; and provide monthly financial reports to the Controller.

4. No Officer of any other Democratic Club may be an Officer in this Club other than Treasurer.

ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES

1. Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees may be created and Committee Chairs appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board, and assigned such responsibilities as may be appropriate to carry out the Mission of the Club.

2. Committee Chairs shall be Members of the Club. Committee Chairs shall be members of the Executive Board and shall report to the Executive Board.

3. The President shall be an ex-officio Member of all Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees.

ARTICLE VII: EXECUTIVE BOARD

1. The membership of the Executive Board shall include the elected Officers, the immediate past President, and the Chairs of the Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees.

2. Members of the Executive Board shall be responsible for overseeing the planning and direction of all Club activities, and establishing Club policies and standing rules for carrying out the role of the Executive Board. Policies and standing rules shall be reviewed annually by the Executive Board and provide a report concerning any changes upon request by the membership. The Executive Board shall establish and approve Rules & Procedures for Club Elections and Rules & Procedures for Endorsements. The Executive Board shall oversee the work of committees, present an annual action plan, budget, and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Club.

3. Any Member of the Executive Board may be removed from office for just cause by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Executive Board. Any Executive Board Member who misses three (3) consecutive meetings, without providing good and valid reasons, shall be removed and notified. Executive Board Members may resign their office at any time by notifying the President or Executive Board in writing.

4. Any vacancy occurring during the term of any elected Officer shall be filled by a majority vote of the Executive Board and shall be subject to ratification by a majority vote of the Members at the next General Membership meeting.

ARTICLE VIII: MEETINGS

1. The Executive Board shall meet at least quarterly, at a time and place determined by the President. Executive Board meetings shall be open to any member of the Club. Invited members of the public may address the Board only at the discretion of the chair.

2. There shall be a General meeting of Membership of the Club, held at least quarterly, at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Board. In no event shall there be less than four (4) meetings held in a calendar year, nor shall two (2) consecutive Membership meetings be cancelled.

3. Notices for General Membership meetings shall be made at least ten (10) days in advance of the meeting, and may be made through the Club website, local newspapers, via US Mail, or telephone for those members without computer access, or with special needs. Whenever possible, meeting agendas shall be posted with such notices.

4. Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President or the Executive Board. Such meetings may be conducted via e-mail or telephone, as may be necessary to ensure timely decisions.

5. Special meetings of the Membership may be scheduled by a majority vote of the Executive Board or the Membership. Notice of special meetings, clearly stating the purpose of the meeting, shall be made no less than 24 hours in advance.

6. A quorum of at least twenty percent (20%) of the Membership, including at least three (3) Officers, is needed to vote on matters at a Membership meeting. A quorum of a simple majority of the members of the Executive Board is needed to vote on matters at an Executive Board meeting, unless otherwise provided by these bylaws. Passage of an action item, at either a Membership or an Executive Board meeting, shall require a simple majority of Members present, unless otherwise provided in these bylaws. Any action of the Executive Board may be overruled by a majority vote of the total Membership.

7. Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, unless otherwise provided in these bylaws. The Club may suspend specific portions of Robert’s Rules of Order for the purpose of emergency business upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Members present at a meeting.

ARTICLE IX: ELECTIONS

1. For the sole purpose of founding and chartering the Club, the initial set of Club Officers shall be elected by the Steering Committee. The Officers so elected shall serve for the remainder of the calendar year in which they are elected, and through the following calendar year. The qualifications for Officers, stated in Paragraph 2, below, shall not apply to this initial election.

2. All persons nominated for Office must be Members. Candidates for President must have been Members for at least one (1) year preceding the election, and candidates for all other offices must have been Members for at least six (6) months preceding the election.

3. A Member who meets the qualifications in paragraph 2 for a Club Office may be nominated by any Member. Nominations may be made prior to or at the first General Membership meeting of the calendar year. The final list of candidates shall be published in the same manner as meeting notices, following the first General Meeting in a calendar year. Candidates shall have the opportunity to place brief statements of their qualifications and platform on the Club website, and to hand out such statements at any meeting prior to the onset of voting.

4. The election of Officers shall be held at the second General Membership meeting in a calendar year. To be elected, a candidate must receive fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of votes cast for the Office. If there are more than two candidates, and none receives the required majority, there will be an immediate runoff election between the two (2) candidates receiving the most votes.

5. Unless otherwise approved by the Membership, voting will be done via secret, paper ballots. There will be no proxy voting. There must be a quorum present for the election to be official. The results shall be announced before the close of the meeting, as well as on the Club website. The term of the newly elected officers shall begin immediately.

ARTICLE X: ENDORSEMENTS

1. In the absence of any endorsement by the State or County Democratic Committees, or the CDC, the Club may endorse Democratic Party candidates and positions on ballot measures, upon: the recommendations of the Executive Board; the request of a candidate, or sponsor of a position on a ballot measure; or a motion from a Member. The rules governing voting on endorsements shall be the same as those in Paragraph 5, of Article IX, Elections, above. To win endorsement, a candidate, or a position on a ballot measure, must obtain a favorable vote from at least sixty percent (60%) of the Members present and voting.

2. Whenever possible, candidates, and proponents of positions on ballot measures, should be invited to make a presentation and answer questions, at a Club Membership meeting prior to the election meeting. Notice of endorsement meetings should be made in the same manner as notices for all General Membership Meetings.

3. In no event shall the Club endorse a non-Democratic candidate, in any race, nor shall it provide any financial support for non-Democrats.

ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENTS

1. Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by the Executive Board, a standing committee, or a Member.

2. Proposed amendments must be accompanied by a specific reason to amend the bylaws and be submitted to the Membership in written form at a General Membership Meeting. The proposed amendments will be voted on at the following General Membership meeting.

3. A proposal for an amendment together with the recommendation(s) of the Executive Board, shall be sent to the Members at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which a vote will be taken.

4. Amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Members present at the meeting, and shall be effective at the time of adjournment of that meeting, unless otherwise specified at the time of adoption.

5. The Recording Secretary shall immediately update the official copy of these bylaws, as well as those displayed on the Club’s website.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

These bylaws became effective upon their approval by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Steering Committee Members voting, on the date officially recorded below:

Date: __June 6, 2007___________ Sheila Mickelson

Amended 7/16/07 Attest: Sheila Mickelson, President