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By-Laws of Carteret County Democratic Women

Article I

Name

1. The Name of the organization shall be Carteret County Democratic Women.

ARTICLE II

Objectives:

1. To support and promote the principles of the Democratic Party.

2. To encourage and support Democratic Women candidates to seek public office.

3. To work with the Carteret County Democratic Party Executive Committee to strengthen

the Democratic party in Carteret County.

4. To assist in organizing and maintaining active Democratic Women’s organizations at the

state, district, and county levels.

5. To initiate, or carry out programs and service projects which serves all the citizens of

Carteret County on behalf of the Carteret County Democratic Women

6. Educate women voters in the political process by offering information about local important issues.

7. Support Democratic candidates running for national, statewide, and county offices.

8. Support legislature in the NC General Assembly and the US Congress that reflects the principles of the Democratic Party.

9. Assume responsibility to educate ourselves about the ability and integrity of the proposed candidates so that we may vote intelligently and elect officials with high standards.

ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1

Any woman who is a registered Democrat in North Carolina who pledges herself to the principles of the Democratic Party and to work for the election of Democratic candidates through her local Democratic Women’s organization, shall be eligible for membership in this organization.

Section 2

Membership donations shall be paid annually in January but no later than March 31st.

A person shall be considered a voting member upon payment of their annual donation.

The fiscal year shall begin January 1st and end on December 31st.

Dues shall be paid to the Democratic Women of NC by March 31st of each year based on the current membership of the Carteret County Democratic Women.

Section 3

By-Laws of Carteret County Democratic Women

Associate membership is open to any Unaffiliated woman or a male who is a registered Democrat and who supports the purposes and goals of this organization, Associate members are non-voting members and may not hold office.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 1

The officers of the organization shall be:

1. President

2. First Vice President

3. Second Vice President

4. Third Vice President

5. Past President

6. Secretary

7. Treasurer

It is strongly recommended that at least one of the above officers shall be diverse, in respect to race or orientation, and at least one of the officers shall be under thirty-six (36) years of age at the time of her election. All officers shall have Carteret County as their primary residence.

Section 2

The appointed officers of the organization shall be:

1. Parliamentarian

2. Historian

Section 3

The duties of the officers shall be as follows:

1) The President shall:

a) Have general supervision over the affairs of the CCDW and preside at all meetings.

b) Be the chairperson of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.

c) Appoint the Parliamentarian and Historian.

d) In consultation with the Executive Committee, she shall fill all vacancies occurring within the committees.

e) Set up other committees as deemed needed.

f) The President may not participate actively in primary elections. A leave of absence shall be in order in the event of her proposed active involvement in such activity.

g) Attend the Democratic Women of North Carolina Annual Conference, and she shall be reimbursed by the chapter for her registration, hotel, and miscellaneous expenses

(February 27, 2007).

h) Maintain appropriate records and within thirty (30) days upon completion of her term of office shall submit such records to her successor at mutually agreed upon time and place.

By-Laws of Carteret County Democratic Women

2) The First Vice President shall:

a) Serve as an aide to the President and shall assist as required.

b) Preside at all meetings in the absence of the President assume her duties.

c) Serve as the Chair of the Membership Committee.

d) Check for any updates on google docs (if available) on Roster changes

e) Transfer all appropriate records to her successor upon completion of her term of office.

3) The Second Vice President shall:

a) Be responsible for arrangements of the meeting for the organization by securing speakers, zoom scheduling and links, and/or meeting place.

b) Preside at all meetings in the absence of the President and the First Vice President and shall assist those two offices, in all their duties, as requested.

c) Serve as a member on a Standing or Special Committee.

d) Transfer all appropriate records to her successor upon completion of her term of office.

4) The Third Vice President shall:

a) Serve as Chair of the Public Relations Committee

b) Preside at all meetings in the absence of the President, First Vice President and Second Vice President and shall assist them as requested.

c) Have computer skills and desktop publishing experience to publish and edit newsletters, special events, fundraisers, or whatever is deemed necessary.

d) Transfer all appropriate records to her successor upon completion of her term of office.

5) The Past President shall:

a) Preside at all meetings.

b) Serve as resource to the President and shall assist as needed.

6) The Secretary shall:

a) Be responsible for recording or having recorded the minutes of all meetings for the organization and of its Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

b) Assist the President with the correspondence of the organization and shall perform such other duties as may be requested of her by the Executive Committee or Board of Directors. The secretary will update and keep current MailChimp. This can be done on a Google doc

c) Transfer all appropriate records to her successor upon completion of her term of office.

7) The Treasurer shall:

a) Be responsible for all receipts and disbursements of funds.

b) Make a full financial report at every meeting of the Board of Directors and regularly scheduled meetings of the organization.

c) Make such interim reports as the President of the organization may direct.

d) File reports with the State Board of Elections as per their guidelines.

e) Submit membership reports and fees to the Democratic Women of NC (ss).

f) Complete mandatory training with the State Board of Elections.

g) All accounts shall be audited at the end of her two-year term of office.

h) Serve as a member of the Finance Committee.

i) Transfer all appropriate records to her successor upon completion of her term of office.

j) Treasurer will update the paid member contact information to the google doc.

8) The Parliamentarian shall:

a) Advise the President on matters of parliamentary procedure.

b) Serve as a member of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee

c) Parliamentarian will review the bylaws yearly. Serve as a member of the Grievance Committee.

d) Make necessary grammatical, spelling, and numerical alignment changes as needed. Such changes shall be subject to the approval of the CCDW Executive Committee and shall not require a vote from the general membership. Present to the committee for their consideration all proposed amendments.

9) The Historian shall:

a) Keep a record or scrapbook of the publicized activities of the organization.

Section 4

The Terms of office shall be as follows:

1. Terms of office shall begin at the close of the Annual Meeting in May. All officers shall hold office for two (2) years or until their successors are elected or appointed. Officers may not succeed themselves. Elections are held in odd years.

2. Any vacancy arising among the officers or standing committees (except Nominating Committee) of this organization shall be filled by the President of the Carteret County Democratic Women, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. Any person so appointed shall hold office for the unexpired term of the person she succeeds.

3. Officers who are indifferent or ineffective in fulfilling their prescribed duties may be replaced at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

* “If you are a new treasurer for an existing committee, you will amend the Statement of Organization (along with some additional forms depending on your type of committee), you will not officially be the new treasurer until you have submitted these forms.”

“It’s important for volunteers and others to know some of the basic rules. No matter how diligent and devoted the treasurer is, it might not be possible for the treasurer to always be there to handle the finances. It would be quite easy for someone acting on behalf of the committee (volunteer, etc.) to accept a contribution or make an expenditure that is not allowed. Therefore, it’s important that others know the basic rules. The treasurer is responsible for sharing the information with those individuals.” From the State Board of Election.

By-Laws of Carteret County Democratic Women

ARTICLE V

Nominating Committee

Section 1

A Nominating Committee of five members shall be elected by the organization at the regular meeting in January. The Chairperson for this committee will be elected by the committee. This committee shall nominate candidates for the offices to be installed at the May Annual Meeting.

The proposed slate of candidates shall be e-mailed to the membership in March of the election year. Election shall take place at the regular meeting in April. Nominations may also be made from the floor at this meeting. Offices which have only one candidate shall be elected by voice vote, and offices which have more than one candidate shall be elected by ballot.

Section 2

Members may not serve two consecutive terms on the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE VI

Regular Meetings

Section 1

The regular meetings of the organization shall be held on a day to be determined by the current board at the end of each month from January to June and August to October unless otherwise ordered by the organization or its Board of Directors.

Section 2

The regular meeting in May shall be known as the Annual Meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing and installing officers in alternate years, receiving annual reports of officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.

Section 3

Twenty-five percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VII

The Executive Committee

Section 1

The officers of the organization shall constitute the Executive Committee.

Section 2

It shall have general supervision of the affairs of the organization between meetings of the Board and Business meetings of the organization.

Section 3

It shall meet upon the call of the President or upon the request of two of its members.

ARTICLE VIII

The Board of Directors

Section 1

The officers, the female Chairperson, or the female Vice Chairperson of the Carteret County Democratic Executive Committee, and the immediate past president, shall constitute the Board of Directors.

Section 2

The Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the organization between its meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the organization, and perform such other duties as may be directed by the organization.

Section 3

The Board shall meet monthly except July, August, November, and December. Special meetings may be called by the President.

ARTICLE IX

STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1

Membership Committee

1. First Vice-President will Chair the Membership Committee and all meetings of the committee.

2. Committee will be composed of the First Vice President, who shall be the chairperson, and two additional members approved by the Executive Committee.

3. Committee will plan, coordinate, and effectively oversee new member recruitment, and member retention.

4. Chair will transfer all appropriate records to her successor upon completion of her term of office.

Section 2.

Program Committee

1. The Second Vice President will be responsible for arrangements of the meeting for the organization by securing speakers, zoom scheduling and links, and/or meeting place.

2. Second Vice President will be the Chair and will receive input concerning programs from the executive members, other standing committees, as well as suggestions from the members at large. Approval will be made by the executive committee.

Section 3

A Finance Committee

1. Treasurer will oversee finances and will receive approval of her report from the Executive Board.

2. Treasurer and Board will draft a budget if necessary.

3. Transfer all appropriate records to her successor upon completion of her term of office.

Section 4

Fundraising Committee

1. This committee will be composed of three members. The chair will be appointed by the President.

2. Present ideas to the Executive Committee for their approval as fund raising projects augment the income of this organization.

3. Review possible fundraising projects to determine their suitability with the Executive Committee.

4. Transfer appropriate records to her successor upon completion of her term of office.

Section 5

Communications Committee

1. Secretary will chair this committee of 5- 6 members.

2. Secretary will be responsible for recording or having recorded the minutes of all meetings for the organization and of its Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

3. Assist the President with the correspondence of the organization and will perform such other duties as may be requested of her by the Executive Committee or Board of Directors.

4. Secretary will receive updates from the treasurer concerning any new paid members to add to the call list.

5. Secretary will appoint 5 – 6 members to develop a call list and monthly phone/text messages to CCDW members about upcoming meetings, speakers, service projects, and other events.

Section 6

Public Relations Committee

Third Vice President will serve as Chair of the Public Relations Committee

1. Have computer skills and desktop publishing experience to publish and edit newsletters, special events, fundraisers, or whatever is deemed necessary with approval of the Executive Committee.

2. Transfer all appropriate records to her successor upon the completion of her term of office.

Section 7

Resolutions Committee

Person or persons will work with the CCDP to develop and distribute Resolutions that represent CCDW, particularly before the CCDP convention in the spring.

Section 8

Service Committee

1. Service committee will be organized for the purposes of outreach in our community and to further our support of the issues we believe in.

2. Service committee members will be aware of the needs in our county and will develop ideas and service activities to support people in our area.

3. The chair should be appointed by the President with the approval of the board. She should have 2 committee members (if needed), approved by the board.

Section 9

Legislative Committee

Person or persons:

1. Select issues and proposed legislation of interest to women and support and promote them among the membership.

2. Encourage Democratic Women to apply for positions on local and state boards and commissions, and to run for public office.

3. A member of this committee could give a quote or saying each month related to a famous person, group, or event (historical remembrance or current happening) that coincided with our meeting date and aligned with our Democratic principles.

4. Coordinate with the DWNC Legislative Committee for guidance and instruction.

5. Encourage membership to participate in DWNC Lobbying Days.

Section 10

Standing Committees/AD HOC Terms

The committees outlined in Article IX under CCDW shall be considered standing committees.

Other committees may be added, and appointments made on a term-by-term basis at the discretion of the President. All committee members’ term shall begin at the close of the Annual Meeting in May and shall continue for two years, or until their successors are elected or appointed. They may not succeed themselves.

Section 11

Grievance Committee

1. The Chair should receive all grievances in writing.

2. Notifications are to be made to the Executive Committee.

3. Every effort should be made by the Committee to resolve the grievance to the satisfaction of the aggrieved, and in a reasonable amount of time.

Section 12

Nominations and Elections Committee

1. Five members of CCDW will be elected by the members at large to form a committee every other year to nominate new officers for the upcoming 2-year term.

2. They will be charged with finding and vetting Democratic Women for the following offices:

President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, 3rd Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

3. They will notify candidates by email and/or phone and will share the duties and term limits of the office.

4. The slate of nominees will be presented to the CCDW members at the monthly meeting in April.

5. The members will be sworn in during the May meeting and will begin their term on that day.

6. Members may not serve two consecutive terms on the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE X

Bylaws

1. Parliamentarian will review the bylaws yearly.

2. Make necessary grammatical, spelling, and numerical alignment changes as needed.

Such changes shall be subject to the approval of the CCDW Executive Committee and shall not require a vote from the general membership. Present to the committee for their consideration all proposed amendments.