LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NORTHFIELD-CANNON FALLS BYLAWS
(as amended May 15, 2008)
Article I – Name
The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of Northfield-Cannon Falls, hereinafter referred to as LWV Northfield-Cannon Falls.
Article II – Purposes and Policy
Section 1 – Purposes
The purposes of the LWV Northfield-Cannon Falls are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues.
Section 2 - Political Responsibility
The LWV Northfield-Cannon Falls shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.
Article III – Membership
Section 1 – Eligibility
Any person who subscribes to the purposes and policy of the LWVUS shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2 – Types of Membership
a) Voting Members – Citizens at least 18 years of age who join the LWV Northfield-Cannon falls shall be voting members of local Leagues, state Leagues and of the LWVUS;
(1) individuals who live within an area of a local League may join that League or any other local League
(2) those who reside outside the area of any local League may join a local League or shall be a state members-at-large;
(3) those who have been members of the League for 50 years or more shall be honorary life members excused from the payment of dues.
b) Associate Members – All other who join the League shall be associate members.
Article IV – Board of Directors
Section 1 – Number, Manner of Selection and Term of Office
The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than 9 members and not more than 15 which shall include the officers of the League and which shall be elected by the general membership at each Annual Meeting. The terms of office of the Directors (excluding Officers; see Article V) shall be one year and shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual Meeting.
Section 2 – Qualifications
No person shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to serve as an officer or director of this organization unless she/he is a voting member of the LWV Northfield-Cannon Falls.
Section 3 – Vacancies
Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors by reason of the resignation, death or disqualification of an officer or elected member may be filled, until the next Annual Meeting, by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors. Three consecutive absences from a Board meeting of any member without a valid reason shall be deemed a resignation.
Section 4 – Powers and Duties
The Board of Directors shall have full charge of the property and business of the organization, with full power and authority to manage and conduct same, subject to the instructions of the general membership. It shall plan and direct the work necessary to carry out the Program as adopted by the national Convention, the state Convention and the Annual Meeting. The Board shall create and designate such special committees as it may deem necessary.
Section 5 – Regular Meetings
There shall be at least six regular meetings of the Board of Directors annually. The President shall notify each of the directors of all meetings at least one week before any such meeting.
Section 6 – Special Meetings
The president may call special meetings of the Board of Directors, and must call a special meeting upon the written request of three members of the Board. Members of the Board shall be notified of the time and place of special meetings by personal telephone contact or letter sent at least two days prior to such meeting.
Section 7 – Quorum
A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
Article V – Officers
Section 1 – Enumeration and Election of Officers
The officers of the LWV Northfield-Cannon Falls shall be a president, a vice-president/president-elect, a secretary, a treasurer and a newsletter editor who shall be elected by the general membership at an Annual Meeting and take office immediately. The officers shall be elected in odd-numbered years for a two-year term except the president and vice-president who shall each be elected for a one-year term. The vice-president shall serve as president-elect for one year and subsequently as president for one year. In the event that a position is vacated, the nominating committee shall recommend to the board another member to fill the position.
Section 2 – The President
The president shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the Board of Directors. She/he may, in the absence or disability of the treasurer, sign or endorse checks, drafts and notes. She/he shall be, ex officio a member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. She/he shall have such usual powers of supervision and management as may pertain to the office of the president, and perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board. She/he shall be responsible for arranging for an annual review of the books, to be completed before the Annual Meeting.
Section 3 – The Vice-president/president-elect
The vice-president/president-elect shall assist the president. They will divide the president’s leadership responsibilities equitably between them, both to relieve the burden on the president and to give the vice-president a stake in the decision-making.
Section 4 – The Secretary
The secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the League and of all meetings of the Board of Directors. She/he shall notify all officers and directors of their election. She/he shall sign, with the president, all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the Board and shall perform such other functions as may be incident to her/his office.
Section 5 – The Treasurer
The treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due. She/he shall be the custodian of these moneys, shall deposit them in a bank designated by the Board of Directors, and shall disburse the same only upon order of the Board. She/he shall present statements to the Board at their regular meetings and an annual report to the Annual Meeting.
Section 6 – Membership Chair
She/he shall be responsible for sending members’ change of address and annual membership reports to the LWVUS and LWVMN.
Article VI – Financial Administration
Section 1 – Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the LWV Northfield-Cannon Falls shall commence on the first day of April each year.
Section 2 – Dues
Annual dues, the amount to be determined by the Board, shall be payable by October 1. Any member who fails to pay her/his dues within two months after they become payable shall be dropped from the membership rolls.
Section 3 – Per Member Payment
Each local League shall make a per member payment directly to the League of Women Voters of the United States, the amount of such payment to be determined by the Convention by a three-fifths vote of those present and voting. Additional support for state and national Leagues shall be determined at state Convention or Council.
Section 4 – Budget
A budget for the ensuing year shall be submitted by the Board of Directors to the Annual Meeting for adoption. The budget shall include support for the work of the League as a whole.
Section 5 – Budget Committee
A Budget Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at least two months prior to the Annual Meeting to prepare a budget for the ensuing year. The proposed budget shall be sent to all members one month before the Annual Meeting. The treasurer shall not be eligible to serve as chairman of the Budget Committee.
Section 6 – Distribution of Funds on Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the League of Women Voters of Northfield, all moneys and securities which may at the time be owned by or under the control of the League of Women Voters of Northfield shall be paid to the League of Women Voters of Minnesota after the state and national per member payments and other obligations have been met. All other property of whatsoever nature, whether real, personal or mixed which may at that time be owned or under the control of the League of Women Voters of Northfield, shall be disposed of to such person, organization or corporation for such public, charitable or educational use and purpose as the Board in its absolute discretion may designate.
Article VII – Meetings
Section 1 – Membership Meetings
There shall be at least three meetings of the membership each year. Time and place shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 2 – Annual Meeting
An Annual Meeting shall be held between April 1 and April 30, the exact date to be determined by the Board of Directors. The Annual Meeting shall
a) adopt a local Program for the ensuing year;
b) elect officers and directors, members of the Nominating Committee;
c) adopt an adequate budget; and
d) transact such other business as may properly come before it.
Section 3 – Quorum
One third (33 1/3%) members shall constitute a quorum at all business meetings of the LWV Northfield-Cannon Falls.
Article VIII – Nominations and Elections
Section 1 – Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members. The chairman, who shall not be a member of the Board, and the two members of the Nominating Committee shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. Nominations for these positions shall be made by the current Nominating Committee. Any vacancy on the Nominating Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors. Suggestions for nomination for officers and directors may be sent to this committee by any voting members.
Section 2 –
The report of the Nominating Committee of its nominations for officers, directors and the members of the succeeding Nominating Committee shall be sent to all members one month before the date of the Annual Meeting. Immediately following the presentation of this report, nominations may be made from the floor by any voting member provided the consent of the nominee shall have been secured.
Section 3 – Elections
The election shall be by ballot, provided that when there is but one nominee for each office, the secretary may be instructed by a voice vote of the majority of the membership present to cast the ballot for every nominee. A majority vote of those qualified to vote and voting shall constitute an election. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.
Article IX – Program
Section 1 – Authorization
The governmental principles adopted by the national Convention, and supported by the League as a whole, constitute the authorization for the adoption of Program.
Article X – National Convention, State Convention, and State Council
Section 1 – National Convention
The membership or the Board of Directors at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the national office shall select delegates to that Convention in the number allocated the League of Women Voters of Northfield under the provisions of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of the United States.
Section 2 – State Convention
The membership or the Board of Directors at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the state office shall select delegates to that Convention in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of Northfield under the provisions of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota.
Section 3 – State Council
The membership or the Board of Directors at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the state office shall select delegates to that Council in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of Northfield under the provisions of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota.
Article XI – Parliamentary Authority
Section 1 – Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws.
Article XII – Amendments
Section 1 – Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present and voting at the Annual Meeting, provided that amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one month in advance of the meeting. Amendments must be submitted to the League of Women Voters of Minnesota for review before submission to the membership of the League of Women Voters of Northfield.
Section 2 – Program
The Program of the League of Women Voters of Northfield shall consist of:
a) action to protect the right to vote of every citizen;
b) action to implement principles of the League of Women Voters of the United States;
c) action on those local governmental issues (includes ILO, county) chosen for concerted study and action; and
d) action on those state and national issues which require implementation at the local level of government.
Section 3 – Action by the Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting shall act upon the Program using the following procedures:
a) The Board of Directors shall consider the recommendations sent in by the voting members two months prior to the Annual Meeting and shall formulate a Proposed Program.
b) The Proposed Program shall be sent to all members one month before the Annual Meeting.
c) A majority vote of voting members present and voting at the Annual Meeting shall be required for adoption of subjects in the Proposed Program as presented to the Annual Meeting by the Board of Directors.
d) Recommendation for Program submitted by voting members two months prior to the Annual Meeting but not recommended by the Board of Directors may be considered by the Annual Meeting provided that:
i. The Annual Meeting shall order consideration by a majority vote; and
ii. The Annual Meeting shall adopt the item by a majority vote.
e) Changes in the Program, in the case of altered conditions, may be made provided that:
i. Information concerning the proposed changes has been sent to all members at least two weeks prior to a general membership meeting at which the change is to be discussed; and
ii. Final action by the membership is taken at a succeeding meeting.
f) Recommendations for Program submitted by voting members at the Annual Meeting may be considered by the Annual Meeting provided that:
i. Each recommendation shall have written pledges of support by at least six members; and
ii. A two-thirds majority of voting members present and voting shall be required for adoption.
Section 4 – Member Action
Members may act in the name of the League of Women Voters only when authorized to do so by the appropriate Board of Directors. They may act only in conformity with, and not contrary to, a position taken by the LWV Northfield-Cannon Falls, the LWVMN and the LWVUS.