Democratic Club

of

Bonita Springs and South Lee County

BYLAWS

Article I

NAME

    The name of this organization shall be the Democratic Club of Bonita Springs and South Lee County.

Article II

PURPOSE

    The Purpose of this organization shall be to foster and strengthen the ideals and purposes of the Democratic Party; to engender active interest in political and governmental affairs; to participate in, and contribute to, the candidacy of nominees of the Democratic Party in local, state and national elections; to maintain an active relationship with our parent organizations at County, State and National level.  At no time shall this organization endorse or support a Primary candidate nor shall this organization support only one Democratic candidate when other Democratic candidates are in a Primary election.  Members, as individuals, are free to support candidates of their choice at any time.

Article III

MEMBERSHIP

    All persons who are registered to vote as Democrats in the State of Florida are eligible for Membership. To be a Member in good standing all dues, which shall have been set by vote of the Board of Directors, must be paid for the current fiscal year which runs from January 1 to December 31.  The Club offers general membership and other levels of membership.

Article IV

MEETINGS

    Regular meetings of the Club shall be held monthly, preferably on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, in the event this is not possible, members shall be appropriately notified. Special meetings for a stated purpose may be called by the President or a majority of the Board of Directors. All Members must be notified a minimum of one week prior. Ten percent of the total Membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all Membership meetings. A majority vote carries motions. No proxy voting shall be allowed.

Article V

OFFICERS

    SECTION 1. The Officers of this club shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other Officers as deemed necessary by the membership. Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these Bylaws.  In contested elections, Officers and Directors shall be elected by secret ballot.

    SECTION 2. All terms of Office shall be for one year. Officers shall be eligible for unlimited terms in the same office.

Article VI

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

   The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected Officers; President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and four elected or appointed Directors and the immediate Past President.  The Board shall meet on a regular basis in a timely fashion at the President’s discretion preceding the Membership meeting.

   (1) Newly elected Officers and Directors of the Board shall be installed at the January meeting.  Goals for the year shall be presented at the February meeting

   (2) Special meetings may be called by the President or majority of the Board.  All Members of the Board must be appropriately notified. Such other persons as are necessary may be invited. Five Members shall constitute a quorum at any Board meeting. Any Member who fails to attend  three consecutive meetings, without an excused absence, shall be contacted by the Secretary regarding continuation in office which matter shall then be brought before the Board.  The Board shall then vote on whether to continue or dismiss that Member.  If that Member be dismissed for good cause shown, then the President shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term of the dismissed Member.

   The Board is responsible for conducting routine business, formulating policy to be presented to the Membership, acting on such business as may be brought before it, and keeping minutes of all meetings which shall be posted at the Membership meetings.

Article VII

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

    SECTION 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the club and Board of Directors, of which the President is automatically Chairperson; shall be ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee; represent the club at County, District and State functions; give guidance to Committee Chairpersons in their work and perform all duties pertaining to the office of President.

    SECTION 2. The Vice President shall render all possible assistance to the President in matters pertaining to the Club and shall assume the office of President in the absence of, or inability of the President to serve.

    SECTION 3. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all meetings of the club; shall maintain a current list of members with addresses, phone numbers and precinct numbers; shall maintain a copy of the Club Bylaws with any amendments properly recorded.

    SECTION 4. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys of the Club; shall keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures; shall present a statement of all income and all expenditures at each meeting occurring since the previous meeting of the Club, and at other times when requested by the Board of Directors; and shall pay out funds subject to confirmation by the Board. Expenditures in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) shall be signed jointly by the Treasurer and the President.

Article VIII

STANDING COMMITTEES

    The Standing Committees shall consist of the Bylaws, Campaign, Membership, Publicity and Finance Committees.  The Chair of each Committee shall be appointed by the President as soon as possible after the Annual Meeting.

    a) The Bylaws Committee Chair shall act as Parliamentarian.  This committee shall  review Bylaws on an annual basis and recommend changes, if any, to the Board and the Membership.

    b) The Campaign Committee must remain vigilant in seeking out potential candidates, presenting them to the Board and Membership, formulating ideas and methods for the Club’s role in assisting candidates to be elected (in the general election), and executing same.

    c) Membership is the backbone of any organization. This committee must seek new Members as well as contacting old ones to enhance the functioning of the Club.

    d) Publicity is the lifeblood of all political activity. This committee needs to establish bonds with the media which may be used to enhance the workings of this organization.

    e) Finance: The Chair and every Member of this committee must remain alert and flexible to the best methods of obtaining and expending funds to achieve the goals of this organization.

    1.  A budget must be prepared and submitted to the Membership by the end of the first quarter.  At that meeting the Membership shall vote on its acceptance.

    2.  A ways and means must be established to raise funds including annual dues.

    3.  Both the Treasurer and the President are ex officio members of this committee.

Article IX

TEMPORARY COMMITTEES

    The President shall appoint the following Temporary Committees.

    1.  Audit - The books shall be audited in January of each year.  The Treasurer shall not be a member of this committee. A report shall be submitted not later than the February Board and Membership meetings.

    2.  Nominating - At the October Membership meeting, the President shall announce the Chair of the committee and the Officers and Board memberships for the upcoming election. The committee shall present a slate to fill every elective office at the November meeting. Additional nominations from the floor shall then be accepted.  The Nominating Committee shall preside over the elections at the December meeting.

    3.  Elections - At the December meeting of each year the following shall be elected:  President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and two Members of the Board of Directors. The Board Members are elected for two years.

Article X

CHARTER RECERTIFICATION

    In July of every odd numbered year, the Club shall be recertified by the Lee County Democratic Executive Committee.

Article XI

AMENDMENTS

    A proposed amendment may be made by any Member. It must be in writing, signed and given to the Secretary who shall read it aloud at the next Membership meeting for Information Only. The Bylaws Chairperson shall review it and report back at the next Membership meeting at which time a motion ( with a second) may be made. This is followed by discussion. The Amendment must receive a Two-Thirds vote of those present.

Article XII

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROVISION

    The Club hereby adopts and shall enforce the following anti-discrimination provisions.

    1.  No Democratic Loyalty Oath should be used which has the effect of requiring members of the Democratic Party to condone or support discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical disability.

    2.  The time and place for all public meetings of all Democratic Clubs should be publicized fully and in such a manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons, and should be open to all members of the Democratic Party regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical disability.

    3.  In order to fully and adequately inform prospective and current Members of a full description of the legal, practical and pertinent procedures for selection of all Democratic Club Representatives and Officers, the Club should publicize such procedures fully, and in such a manner, as to assure notice to all interested Democrats in time to have adequate opportunity to participate.