St. Mary’s Republican Club

Bylaws

(Adopted 21 October 1997,  revised 15 February 2000)

 

Article I - NAME AND PURPOSE

 

Section 1.            The name of this organization is the St. Mary’s Republican Club.

 

Section 2.            The purpose of the Club is to provide a social and charitable forum for people who support and promote the ideals, philosophy and candidates of the Republican Party.

 

Section 3:            The charitable and civic activities of the Club shall be conducted on a non-partisan basis.

 

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

 

Section 1.            The two categories of membership in the Club are: Regular and Associate.  Member-ship in good standing includes payment of annual dues, in advance, during January or when joining the Club.

 

                        a.            Regular membership is open to all those of voting age who subscribe to the purposes of the Club.

 

                        b.            Associate membership is open to those who have not yet attained voting age who subscribe to the purposes of the Club.

 

Section 2.            The minimum annual dues of the Club shall be set by vote of the Regular Members present at the Annual Membership Meeting. Dues for Associate Members shall be one-half the dues for Regular Members

 

Section 3.            All applications for membership shall be submitted to an officer of the Club with a tender of dues payable. The officer receiving the application will refer it to the other members of the Executive Committee for decision prior to the next monthly meeting of the Club. The Club officer receiving the application shall advise the applicant of the decision of the Executive Committee and apprise the successful applicant of the time and place of the next meeting of the Club.

 

Section 4.            A member whose dues are in arrears may be dropped from the rolls by action of the Executive Committee.

 

Section 5.            Members in good standing shall be provided with notice of all meetings and other activities of the Club. They are eligible for appointment to such committees or task forces as may be established by the President.

 

Article III - OFFICERS

 

Section 1.                The officers of the Club shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The officers are elected for one year terms by majority vote of Regular Members present at the Annual Membership Meeting. Candidates for elective office in the Club must be Regular Members in good standing and be registered Republicans. The term of office for elected officers of the Club shall be from 1 January to 31 December of the calendar year following the election conducted at the Annual Membership Meeting.

 

Section 2.            The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and of the Executive Committee. The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the Club and shall appoint all committee or task force leaders and members as required.

 

 

Section 3.            The Vice President shall perform such duties as the President may assign and preside at all meetings and act as the Chief Executive Officer of the Club in the event of absence or incapacity of the President. The Vice President shall complete the unexpired term if the Presidency becomes vacant.

 

Section 4.            The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings and of the Club and the Executive Committee and shall conduct the correspondence of the Club and the Executive Committee at the direction of the President or resolution of the Executive Committee or the membership. The Secretary also shall send notices of meetings to all members, keep the membership rolls and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.

 

Section 5.            The Treasurer shall:

 

                        a.            Prepare an annual budget for the Club and submit the budget for approval and adoption at the January Regular Membership Meeting.

 

                        b.            Have and maintain custody of all funds of the Club. Deposit those funds in a bank or banks designated by the Executive Committee. Pay all just bills of the Club as authorized by the President or the Executive Committee. Checks drawn to meet obligations of the Club must be signed by two officers of the Club. Submit a current financial statement of Club accounts at each meeting of the Club or the Executive Committee for review and approval. Submit a financial statement of Club accounts for the preceding calendar year at the January Regular Membership Meeting for review and approval.

 

                        c.            Each December, in cooperation with the Secretary, send or deliver notice of dues payable for the following year to each member of the Club. In February, send or deliver notice to those in arrears.

 

                        d.            Prepare and file such tax returns or other financial forms required by law.

 

                        e.            Account to an Audit Committee appointed by the Executive Committee for all funds received and disbursed during the Treasurer’s term upon completion of that term. Deliver the financial records and balance of Club funds to the custody of the succeeding Treasurer.

 

Article IV - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

Section 1.            The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the Club and the Immediate Past President. If the Immediate Past President is not available, another Regular Member of the Club shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to fill that vacancy.

 

Section 2.            The Executive Committee shall control and manage the affairs of the Club between meetings.

 

 

 

Article V - ELECTION OF OFFICERS

 

Section 1.            Officers for the coming year shall be elected at the Annual Membership Meeting. Officers will be elected by a majority of Regular Members, in good standing, present and voting. In the event any nominee does not receive a majority of votes cast, the nominee with the fewest votes shall be dropped from subsequent ballots and another vote taken until a nominee receives a majority. Voting by proxy is not permitted.

 

Section 2.            The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of not less than three Regular Members, including the Immediate Past President, if practicable, who shall chair the committee. The Nominating Committee shall be appointed at least four weeks prior to the Annual Membership Meeting and make nominations of at least one Regular Member candidate for each elective office of the Club. The Nominating Committee will file their nominations with the Secretary at least two weeks prior to the Annual Membership Meeting.

 

Section 3.            Additional nominations of Regular Members, in good standing, for elective office in the Club may be made from the floor during the Annual Membership Meeting provided they are seconded by at least two Regular Members in good standing.

 

 Article VI - RESIGNATIONS AND VACANCIES

 

Section 1.            An officer of the Club may resign at any time by written submission to the Executive Committee. Such resignation to be effective when accepted by the Executive Committee.

 

Section 2.            A member of the Executive Committee may be removed at any time by a two-thirds majority vote of Regular Members, in good standing. The Executive Committee member being considered for removal must be notified in writing of the intent to remove at least thirty days prior to any membership meeting which will consider such action.

 

Section 3.            A vacancy in any Office of the Club shall be filled for the unexpired term of office by appointment of the Executive Committee.

 

Article VII - MEETINGS

 

Section 1.            The Annual Membership Meeting shall be held in St. Mary’s County each November at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee with due regard to the convenience of a majority of Regular Members.

 

Section 2.            Regular Membership Meetings shall be held throughout the year at times and places determined by the Executive Committee.

 

Section 3.            Special Membership Meetings shall be called by the President upon receipt of a written request to address a specific action or purpose signed by at least ten Regular Members of the Club. The President shall call the Special Membership Meeting within fourteen days of receipt of a valid request or to immediately precede the next scheduled Regular Membership Meeting.

 

Section 4.             Executive Committee Meetings shall be held on call of the President at least quarterly at a time and place specified. Executive committee meetings are open meetings.

 

Section 5.            Written notice of all membership meetings shall be mailed to all members at least ten days prior to the scheduled date of the meeting.

 

Article VIII - QUORUM

 

Section 1.            Nine Regular Members of the Club shall constitute a quorum for conduct of business at any membership meeting of the Club. The President or the Vice President must be present to conduct the meeting. Voting by proxy is not permitted.[JC1] 

 

Section 2.            Three members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for conduct of business of the Club between membership meetings. Voting by proxy is not permitted.

 

Article IX - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

 

                        The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order, Revised shall govern the affairs of the Club, except to the extent they be inconsistent with these bylaws.

 

Article X - AMENDMENTS

 

                        These bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Regular Members present at the Annual Membership Meeting or at any Regular Membership Meeting, provided that the substance of the proposed amendment has been announced to the members and the text of the amendment provided to Regular Members along with the notice of the meeting at which adoption will be proposed.

 

 

 

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