THE BYLAWS OF THE HOWARD COUNTY REPUBLICAN WOMEN’S CLUB
Current as ratified May 22 2007.
ARTICLE I-NAME
The name of this organization shall be HOWARD COUNTY REPUBLICAN WOMEN’S CLUB.
ARTICLE II-OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this organization as a component of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women (MFRW) shall be:
A. to educate, support, and encourage Republican women to participate in the political process;
B. to foster and encourage loyalty to the Republican Party, and promote its ideals;
C. to increase membership in the Republican Party;
D. to support the objectives and policies of the Republican National Committee and to cooperate with official Republican Party committees;
E. to collect, report upon, and disseminate information concerning governmental and political affairs;
F. to work for the election of the Republican Party’s nominees; to promote the principles of freedom, equality and justice on which the government of this Country is founded.
ARTICLE III-MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBLITY
Section 1. Full Membership: Membership shall be extended to registered Republican women believing in the principles of the Republican Party upon payment of annual dues.
Section 2. Associate Membership:
A. Registered Republican women who have primary membership in a federated local club are eligible for associate memberships in other federated local clubs upon payment of required annual associate member dues. Associate members cannot hold office, vote, or be counted for the purpose of determining the number of delegates to national or state federation meetings or conventions. Associate members do not pay state or national federation dues to the club.
B. Republican men are eligible for associate membership upon payment of the required annual associate member dues to the club. They cannot hold office, have a voice, vote, or be counted for the purposes of determining national or state federation meetings or conventions. Republican men who are associate members in local clubs do not become members of the state or national federations.
ARTICLE IV-DUES
A. The annual dues of regular members shall be $35.
B. Dues for associate members shall be $30.
C. Annual dues are payable to the Treasurer. Dues shall be payable in advance for each calendar year beginning in November of the prior year.
D. The fiscal year of this club shall be from January 1 to December 31.
ARTICLE V-OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Section 1. Officers:
A. The officers of the club shall be a president, first vice president, second vice president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer which shall constitute the Executive Committee.
B. The officers shall be elected at the annual meeting in odd calendar years and shall hold office for a term of two (2) years beginning the following January. They shall serve until their successors are elected. The annual meeting is to take place in November of each year on a date to be determined by the Executive Board.
C. In the event that the office of president shall be vacant, the first vice president shall automatically succeed to the presidency. A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by a member appointed by the Executive Board and approved at the next regular meeting.
Section 2. Duties:
A. The president shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and the club and shall be its chief executive officer, exercising a general supervision over the interests and welfare of the club. Subject to the approval of the Executive Board she shall appoint all standing and special committees not otherwise provided by these bylaws. She shall be ex-officio a member of all committees except the nominating committee.
B. The first vice president shall perform all duties of the president in the event of the president’s absence. She shall arrange the regularly scheduled club programs and shall be responsible for ensuring that the club meets the requirements of the MFRW’s award program. The first vice president shall serve as the chairman of the awards committee.
C. The second vice president shall, with the approval of the president, be responsible for and oversee all special events.
D. The recording secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the club and the Executive Board. She shall be custodian of all records of the club and the club historian.
E. The corresponding secretary shall send out notices of all meetings and shall conduct other correspondence as may be requested by the president and shall serve as the chairman of the newsletter committee.
F. The treasurer shall receive all funds of the club and shall deposit them in the name of the club in such bank or banks as may be designated by the Executive Board. She shall disburse funds according to the budget proposed by the Executive Board and approved by the club. She shall keep itemized accounts of receipts and expenditures and file records for all payments. The treasurer shall render reports to the Executive Board and at the general meeting of the club. The treasurer’s accounts shall be audited annually by an accountant selected by the president.
G. The assistant treasurer shall keep the membership statistics for the club, be responsible for the collection of dues, and prepare the membership forms for the MFRW. She shall assist the treasurer on special events and shall perform the duties of the treasurer in her absence. The assistant treasurer shall serve as the chairman of the membership committee.
H. The officers shall prepare an annual report for presentation at the annual meeting.
I. All officers and chairmen shall deliver all HCRWC records, files, and property to their successor at the end of their terms.
ARTICLE VI-NOMINATION AND ELECTION
Section 1. Nomination: A nominating committee of three (3) members shall be elected at the September meeting of the club in odd calendar numbered years. It shall be its duty to present a slate of at least one candidate for each office. The report of the nominating committee shall be included in the notice for the annual meeting. Nominations from the floor are in order at the annual meeting, provided that the permission of the nominee has been previously secured.
Section 2. Election: Election of officers shall be by ballot unless there is only one candidate for an office, in which case election may be by voice vote.
ARTICLE VII-MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular Meetings: Regular meetings shall be held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, unless otherwise determined by the club or Executive Board. There shall be at least five meetings a year.
Section 2. Annual Meeting: The meeting held in November shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers in odd calendar years, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.
Section 3. Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by the president, or upon the written request of at least five (5) members. The purpose of the meeting shall be specifically stated in the notice to the membership and no other business may be transacted.
Section 4. Quorum: Fifteen members shall constitute a quorum at any regular meeting of the club.
ARTICLE VIII-EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the Executive Committee and the chairman of each of the standing committees.
Section 2. Meetings of the Executive Board shall be called by the president a minimum of six times a year.
Section 3. The Executive Board is authorized to transact necessary business between general membership meetings, provided it does not conflict with the bylaws.
Section 4. Five (5) of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE IX-COMMITTEES
Unless otherwise designated in these bylaws, the president shall appoint committee chairmen, with the approval of the Executive Committee.
Section 1. Standing committees shall be:
A. Awards,
B. Fundraising,
C. Membership,
D. Newsletter,
E. Program.
Section 2. Special committees shall be:
A. Campaign Activities,
B. Political Education,
C. Public Service,
D. Telephone,
E. Public Relations.
Section 3. Other committees standing or special, authorized by the club or the Executive Committee shall be appointed by the president. The president shall ex-officio be a member of all committees except the nominating committee.
Section 4. A program committee shall be appointed by the president at the January meeting each year whose duty it shall be to plan programs for all regular meetings except the annual meeting. The first vice president shall be the chairman of this committee.
ARTICLE X-INDEMNIFICATION
This club shall indemnify any officer, employee, or member acting in good faith on behalf of this club to the fullest extent authorized and permitted by the Executive Board, who is made or threatened to be made a party to any action, lawsuit or legal proceeding by reason of her participation in club activities.
ARTICLE XI-PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.
ARTICLE XII-AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
These bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the club by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided prior written notice of the proposed amendments are sent to each member at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the meeting.
