The proposed amended ABD bylaws, which will be discussed and brought to a vote at the next meeting, are below. The purpose of the proposed changes is to move from an annual organizational structure to a biennial structure in order to coincide with the election cycles and conform with the campaign finance, county, and state Democratic Party organization. To do this the proposed bylaws have changed the following:  membership dues will be paid every two years, and officers, elected at a biannual meeting, will serve for two year terms. It is also proposed that the bylaws state that meetings of the ABD membership will be scheduled periodically rather than monthly to conform with our current practice, and that funds up to $500 may expended by the Chair in consultation with the Treasurer, with prior approval of the Executive Committee needed for higher expenditures.

If you have any questions about these proposals before the next meeting contact Charles Doolittle (charles@emt.org) or Lois Kolesar (elkole@gmail.com or 455-0424.)

Bylaws of the Arizona Borderlands Democrats
(Proposed – 1/10/12)

Article I - Name.

The name of this organization shall be Arizona Borderlands Democrats (ABD).

Article II - Purpose.

The purpose of ABD shall be:  To support and advance the principles and ideals of the Democratic Party, to provide a regular forum for candidates, and to keep the electorate informed on current events and issues.

Article III - Policy.

Section 1 - Endorsements :  ABD, as a body, shall not publicly endorse the candidacy of any Primary candidate or in any other manner give its influence as an organization to the cause of any candidate or faction of the Democratic Party in any intraparty controversy.    


Section 2 - Public Comments :  The foregoing shall not be construed to prevent ABD from commenting on or making recommendations on any public issues whenever it is decided by a majority vote of the members present and voting that such action is in the interest of good government.

Article IV - Membership.

Section 1 - Active Members: Registered Democrats and Independents shall be eligible for membership.

Article V - Officers, Elections and Duties.

Section 1 - Elected Officers : Elected Officers shall include a (1) President/Chairman (2) a Vice President/Vice Chairman (3) a Secretary (4) a Treasurer (5) County Committee Representative.  Each office holder will be elected to serve a term of one two years to coincide with national election cycles. Any office may be shared by two individuals.


Section 2 - Elections of Officers :  Officers shall be elected at the Biannual meeting.


Section 3 - Duties of Officers:


A. President:


The President Chair shall preside over all meetings of the Executive Committee and the Membership,, be an ex-officio voting member of all committees and shall perform such other duties as customarily pertain to this office.


B. Vice President:


The Vice President Chair shall in the absence of the President Chair, perform all the duties pertaining to that office and at the request of the Chair, assist with other duties. supervise special mailings to the membership
Publicize ABD meetings, events and activities.


C. Secretary:


The Secretary shall keep a record of actions taken at meetings, keep an attendance record of the Executive Committee meetings, preside at meetings in the absence of the President and Vice President Chair and Vice Chair , and attend to all correspondence for ABD.


D. Treasurer:


The Treasurer shall collect dues and be responsible for the safe and timely deposit of the organization’s funds, maintain a membership roster, pay by check all bills sanctioned by the organization, report at each meeting on the financial condition of ABD, keep accounts current and have them available whenever requested by the membership or the Executive Committee, and file timely Campaign Finance Reports.


E.


County Committee Representative shall attend meetings of the Santa Cruz County Democratic Party Executive Committee, shall report to the members of ABD on the activities of the County Committee, shall be a Precinct Committeeperson in order to vote at County Committee meetings, shall be a voting member of the ABD Executive Committee and. The County Committee Representative may hold another ABD office concurrently.


Article VI - Executive Committee

Section 1 - Membership: There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the elected Officers and the County Committee Representative. The immediate past President Chair shall be an ex-officio voting member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall act on the behalf of ABD between meetings. The President shall be the Chairperson of the Executive Committee.

Section 2 - Meetings :   The Executive Committee shall meet at such times and places as the Executive Committee it may decide.  The President or a majority of the voting members of the committee may call a special meeting with at least 3 days notice to the other members of the committee.  No proxies shall be allowed at Executive Committee meetings.

Section 3 - Committees :  The President Chair may from time to time appoint such other Committees as the President Chair, the membership, or the Executive Committee may deem necessary or advisable.

Section 4 - Vacancies :  The Executive Committee shall fill any vacancies occurring among officers or the Executive Committee, except those of the President Chair or Vice-President Chair who shall be elected by the membership within a reasonable time following the vacancy.

    

Section 5 - Absences :  Any member of the Executive Committee may be removed following three consecutive unexcused absences from regular Executive Committee meetings.  The Secretary will notify the member if action is to be taken.

Section 6 - Quorum :  A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be 50% plus one of the serving Executive Committee members serving.

Article VII - Membership Meetings

Section 1 - Biannual Meeting :  The Biannual Meeting of Arizona Borderlands Democrats shall be the first regular meeting of the calendar year in a new election cycle.

Section 2 - Schedule:  Meetings of the membership of ABD will be scheduled periodically by the Executive Committee.

Section 2 – Regular Meetings :  Regular meetings of ABD shall normally be held once each month.  Meeting dates may be set/changed by majority vote of the membership present at any meeting

Section 3 - Special Meetings :  Special meetings of Arizona Borderlands Democrats shall be held on such occasions as the President and the Executive Committee may specify.  Notice of each special meeting shall be given at least 7 days in advance of the meeting.

Article VIII - Dues

Section 1 - Annual Dues :  Each member shall pay biannual dues in the amount determined by the membership.  Dues for the current year must be paid prior to the Annual Meeting.

Article IX - Voting Qualifications

Section 1 - Eligibility :  Members whose dues are paid for the current year term are eligible to vote or hold office.

Article X. Expenditures

Section 1 - Expenditures Purposes and Restrictions: :  ABD may expend funds for purposes of a specific nature or in response to a specific request as follows:

  1. If for $100.00 $500 or less, by the President Chair in consultation with the Treasurer.
  2. If for more than $100.00 $500 with prior approval of the Executive Committee.
  3. Receipts for all expenditures shall be submitted to the Treasurer in a timely manner.

Article XI - Amendments.

Section 1 :  This document may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present and voting, a quorum being present.
Section 2 :   Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the executive committee which will circulate them, in a form acceptable to the proposer, at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which the amendment will be considered.

Article XII- Quorum.

Section 1 - Quorum :  A Quorum for the conduct of general business at meetings of the ABD membership shall be at least 10 members presided over by a member of the Executive Committee.

Article XIII - Order.

Section 1 - Order :  These Bylaws shall govern the organization and operation of  ABD. Roberts Rules of Order shall govern situations not covered by these Bylaws.


Enter your email address below to join our list!

subscribe unsubscribe
First Name
Last Name