Amendments for May 17, 2005 Meeting

There are two amendments to the bylaws which will be up for final vote.
1.  The first amendment clarifies members' participation in primary and non-partisan elections.  While the club cannot, and will not, endorse candidates in competitive party primaries nor endorse one of two Democrats running for a non partisan office, we may support registered Democrats running for such offices when they have no opposing Democrat.  Further, we want to make it clear that members are both free and encouraged to lend their individual support to Democrats running for such offices.

Amend Article II PURPOSE as follows:

Presently reads: . . . . At no time shall this organization endorse or support a Primary candidate nor support a candidate from another party.

Change to read: . . . . 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 Democratic candidates of their choice at any time.
2.  The second amendment is required by the Florida Democratic Party to comply with reregistration of the club.  It extends the Anti-Discrimination Provision to include sexual orientation.

Amend Sections 1 and 2 of Article XII ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROVISION as follows (added words shown in italics):

"        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."