Bylaws & Rules

CALHOUN COUNTY DEMOCRATS CLUB

ARTICLE I - NAME

The Name of the Association shall be Calhoun County Democrats Club.

ARTICLE II - PRINCIPAL OFFICE

The principal office of the Association shall be designated by the President.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

A. Eligibility: Any person who is a registered voter is eligible to become a member of the Association, upon submitting an application and dues, as per attached application, full voting rights and other privileges.

B. Duration of Membership: Membership in the Association may terminate by voluntary withdrawal as herein provided or otherwise as provided in these rules. All rights, privileges, and interest of a member in or to the Association shall cease on termination of membership.

C. Termination of Membership: Any member of the Association may bring charges against any other member of the Association. When charged member is charged with conduct detrimental to the objects or interests of the Association or in violation of its Constitution or Bylaws, the Executive Committee shall consider the matter and if it shall decide to take further action, the Secretary shall send a copy of the charges to the charged member by certified mail, return receipt requested and emailed. Charged member shall be given thirty (30) days to reply, whereupon the Executive Committee shall take such action as it may deem proper. In no case shall action by the Executive Committee take place without offering charged member and charging member the opportunity to appear in person before the Committee. If the issue cannot be resolved by such Committee, charged member or charging member shall have the right to direct appeal to the Association membership at the next regular meeting of the Association. If no appeal is made or reply received, and a majority of the Committee finds the charges have merit, the Committee may request the charged member to resign. Should charged member decline to resign, charged member's name shall be stricken from the membership rolls of the Association. If appeal is made, action shall be taken as per the decision of the majority of the membership at the appeal meeting.

ARTICLE IV - DUES

Amount of dues. The annual dues required for membership in the Association shall be:

Individual Membership - $20.00

Couple Membership - $30 a year

Sustaining Membership - $50 a year

Lifetime Membership shall be a one-time fee of $1,000.00

Dues may be changed by a majority vote of the active members at the annual meeting.

ARTICLE V- MEETINGS

A. Annual Meeting: There shall be an annual meeting of the Association at the time and place of the regular monthly meeting in May of each year for the election of officers and at-large members of the Executive Committee.

B. Regular Meetings: Monthly meetings shall continue unless or until action is taken by majority vote of members present at any annual, regular or special meeting.

C. Special Meetings: Special meetings of the Association may be called at any time by the President, and must be called t any time by the President, or in his or her absence or failure to act by the Vice President, on the written request of a majority of the Executive Committee, or on the written request of not less than ten (10) members of the Association. Seven (7) days' written notice of any special meeting must be given to the members of the Association. The notice must state the object of the meeting.

D. Quorum: Ten percent of the members of this Association, when present at any meeting, shall constitute a quorum, and in case there are less than this number, the presiding officer may adjourn from time to time until a quorum is present.

E. Order of Business: The order of business at the annual meeting shall be as follows:
- 1. Call to order
- 2. Reading of minutes of previous meeting
- 3. Receiving communications
- 4. Reports of officers
- 5. Reports of committee heads and committee members
- 6. Unfinished business
- 7. New business
- 8. Election of officers
- 9. Adjournment

The order of business may be altered or suspended at any meeting by a majority vote of the members present. The usual parliamentary rules as laid down in Roberts Rules of Order shall go over, when not in conflict with these Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS

A. Elective Officers: The elective officers of the Association shall be: a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.:

B. Terms: The President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall take office immediately upon their election and serve until their successors are duly elected. Officers are eligible for re-election, Vacancies in any office may be filled for the balance of he term thereof by the Executive Committee.

C. President: The President shall be the chief officer of the Association, and shall be present at meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee. He or she shall be a member ex-officio of all committees. He or she shall communicate to the Association such matters and make such suggestions as may in his or her opinion tend to promote the welfare and increase the usefulness of the Association, and shall perform such other duties as are necessarily incidental to the office.

D. Vice President: The Vice President shall perform all duties of the President during the absence of the President. He or she shall be a member ex-officio of all committees.

E. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall keep an account of all monies received and expended for use of the Association, and shall make disbursements authorized by the Executive Committee or such other persons as the Association members may prescribe. All sums received shall be deposited by him or her in the bank or banks approved by the Executive Committee.

F. The Treasurer shall make a report at the annual meeting of the Association or when called upon by the President. Funds may be drawn only on the signature of the Treasurer. The funds, books, and vouchers in his or her hands shall, at all times be subject to verification and inspection of the elective officers of this association. At the expiration of his or her term of office, the Treasurer shall deliver to his or her successor all books, money, and other property of the Association.

G. Secretary: It shall be his or her duty:
- 1. To give notice of and attend all meetings of the Association and Executive Committee meetings and to make provision for the keeping of a record of proceedings
- 2. To conduct correspondence and to carry into execution all orders, votes, and resolutions not otherwise committed;
- 3. To keep a list of the members of the Association
- 4. To establish machinery for the collection of dues and their payment to the Treasurer
- 5. To prepare, with the concurrence of the Treasurer, an annual report of the transactions and condition of the Association, and generally to vote his or her best interests to the Association

ARTICLE VII - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. Composition: This Association shall have an Executive Committee consisting of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and five at-large members. Members of this Committee shall be elected at the Annual Association Meeting. At-large member vacancies that occur by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise may be filled by the remaining members for the unexpired term. The Executive Committee shall have supervision, control, and direction of the affairs of the Association, shall execute its policies, and decisions of the membership, shall actively prosecute the Association's objects, and shall have discretion in the disbursement of funds. It may adopt such rules for the conduct of its business as shall be deemed advisable, and may, in the execution of powers granted, appoint subcommittees to work on specific problems or reports. The Executive Committee shall have a regular meeting at the time and place of the annual meeting, and shall report to the membership of its activities. The Executive Committee shall meet on the call of the President or Vice President. It shall also meet on demand of a majority of the members of the Association.

ARTICLE VIII – ELECTIONS

A. Officers: The election of Association officers shall take place annually at the time and place of the regular annual meeting. Candidates who receive a majority of votes so cast shall be elected.

B. Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer and five at-large members.

C. Election of Officers: At the first annual meeting held after the adoption of these amendments to ARTICLE VIII, there shall be elected by a majority vote of the members the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
- President and Secretary shall be elected for a term of two years.
- Vice President and Treasurer shall be elected for a term of two years.
- At each annual meeting thereafter, two officers will be elected, with the Vice President and Secretary being elected to their first two-year term one year from the date of the election of the President and Treasurer to their first two year term.

D. Election of At-Large Members: Two At-Large Members of the Executive Committee will be elected for terms of one year and three will be elected for terms of two years. At each annual meeting thereafter, a number of members of the Committee equal to that of those whose terms have expired or are about to expire shall be elected to a term of two years. Any member shall be eligible for reelection. The members of the Executive Committee shall upon election immediately enter on the performance of their duties and shall continue in office until their successors are duly elected.

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended, repealed, or altered, in whole or in part, by a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of the active members present at any meeting where seven (7) days' notice of such proposed action has been announced in the notice of the meeting.

ARTICLE X - LIABILITIES

Nothing herein shall constitute members of the Association as partners for any purpose. No member or officer shall be liable for the acts or failure to act of any other member or officer of the Association. Nor shall any member of officer be liable for his or her acts or failure to act under these Bylaws, excepting only acts or omissions arising out of his or her willful misfeasance.

ARTICLE XI – FUNDS

A. Finances: This Association is not intended as a profit-making organization, nor is it founded with the expectation of making a profit. This Association shall use its funds only for objects and purposes specified in these Bylaws.

B. Bonding: Persons entrusted with the handling of Association funds may be required, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, to furnish, at Association expense, a suitable fidelity bond.

ARTICLE XII – INSIGNIA

The Executive Committee may adopt insignia, colors, badges, and flags for the Association as it deems desirable.

ARTICLE XIII - PARTY LOYALTY

The Association was organized and exists to seek, develop and promote the election of Democratic Party candidates at every election and to strengthen the Democratic Party in every way. The Association now has and continues to develop certain political properties and assets, both tangible and intangible, intended to further these goals. All members and officers are hereby prohibited from using, loaning or disseminating in any manner whatsoever any and all of these assets to be used in support of the candidacy of any candidate(s) other than a Democrat.

Such political properties and assets shall include but not be limited to:

Membership lists and voting lists whether electronic or hard copy
Democratic Headquarters
Democratic fair booth(s)
Democratic parade floats(s)
Democratic Club meetings or any functions whatsoever of the Association or of the Democratic Party

Any member or officer of the Association accused by a member of any of the above or of endorsing, campaigning for, or contributing to, any candidate(s) opposing the Democratic nominee in any General Election or Democratic nominees in the Democratic Primary may be subject to charges as per Article III above.