BYLAWS

 

These Bylaws of the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Democratic Club were originally adopted in January of 1976 and last revised May 10, 2004.

 

Article I - Name

The name of the organization shall be:

“ALICE B. TOKLAS LESBIAN GAY BISEXUAL TRANSGENDER DEMOCRATIC CLUB”

(Herein referred to as the Club).

 

Article II - Objectives

The objectives of the organization shall be to:

A.  Work within the Democratic Party and within the community at large to influence the Democratic Party’s policy on lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender rights issues and to help educate the public about the Democratic Party’s policy on all issues.

1.      As a chartered, partisan organization the Club will abide by the Rules and Regulations as set forth in the State Democratic Party Charter. 

B.     Organize the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community to work politically to bring about justice for all people, with special emphasis on justice for lesbian/gay/ bisexual/transgender people.

C.    Campaign for candidates for public and Party offices, campaign for/against City and State ballot propositions and lobby for/against any proposed legislation.

D.  Generate funds for the support and implementation of the Club’s policies and endorsements.

 

Article III - Officers & Duties

A.    All officers shall serve as members of the Board of Directors.  The officers shall be:

1.         Club Chair or Co-chairs (2)*, Political Action Co-chair(s), Issues Co-chair(s), Membership Co-chair(s), Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Public Relations Director(s), Finance Co-chair(s), Program Co-chair(s), Logistics Co-chair(s), Volunteer Coordinator(s)*, Technology Co-Chair(s), the Newsletter Editor(s), Parliamentarian, Sergeant-at-Arms, AIDS Action Director(s), the immediate Past Club Chair or Co-chairs, and no more than five (5) At-Large Representatives.

* There shall be no more than two (2) Club Co-chairs.  The Club is committed to working toward gender balance in all Club offices.

a.           The Club Chair or Co-chairs shall be responsible for the organization and operation of the Club, selecting a slate of officers and communicating the duties involved.  All other Club officers report to the Co-chairs and the Co-chairs are ultimately responsible for all Club activities.  The Co-chairs also act as the Club’s media spokespersons for all issues including endorsed candidates and propositions.  The Co-chairs shall serve as ex-officio members of all committees.

b.           The Membership Co-chair(s) shall seek to attract new Club members by planning, organizing, and implementing outreach efforts into the community and shall seek to develop a feeling of community among Club members through membership parties, hospitality and administration service.  The Membership Co-chairs are responsible for verifying the party affiliation of members.

c.           The Political Action Committee (Candidate PAC) Co-chair(s) shall be responsible for convening the Political Action Committee.  Through the PAC, the PAC Co-chair(s) shall coordinate all Club lobby efforts, coordinate voter registration drives, conduct candidate interviews and candidate campaign related activities and make recommendations to the General Membership for all candidate endorsements for public office.

d.           The Issues Committee Co-chair(s) shall be responsible for convening the Issues and Platform Committee.  Through these Committees, the Issues Committee Co-chair(s) shall keep the Club appraised of concerns that help realize the objectives of the Club and report to the General Membership appropriate recommendations for action; conduct interviews with issues representatives on all City and State ballot Initiatives and Propositions; conduct initiative campaign related activities and make recommendations to the General Membership for all initiative and proposition endorsements on the ballot.

e.           The Treasurer is responsible for the receipt of moneys, preparation and submission of an annual budget for approval by the Board of Directors, monitoring expenditures for adherence to the budget presenting financial reports to the General Membership at each General Membership meeting, and preparation and submission of all regulatory filings to City, County, State, and Federal agencies.  In this regard, the Treasurer of the Club shall also serve as treasurer or assistant treasurer for any other affiliated organizations, including slate mailer organizations.

f.             The Recording Secretary is responsible for taking Club minutes at all Board of Directors and General Membership meetings and publishing the minutes for review and adoption at the next scheduled respective meeting.

g.           The Corresponding Secretary is responsible for producing all correspondence as determined by the Board of Directors and General Membership.

h.           The Public Relations Director(s) shall be responsible for press releases, publicity related to authorized functions and events undertaken by the Club or its committees.

i.             The Finance Co-chair(s) shall investigate and implement fundraising activities of the Club.

j.              The Program Co-chair(s) shall be responsible for the Club’s General Membership meetings and other events including guest speakers, meeting notices, and meeting agendas.

k.           The Logistics Co-chair(s) shall be responsible for arranging event locations, food and beverage service, audio and visual aids and other presenter requirements, and the possible sale of merchandise.

l.              The Volunteer Coordinator(s) shall develop volunteer participation in producing Club events and supporting the Club’s political activities.

m.         The Newsletter Editor(s) shall publish and distribute the Club’s Newsletter.  Any ad sales, editorial policies, or publishing procedures are established by the Board of Directors based on suggestions from the Newsletter Editor(s).

n.           The Parliamentarian shall advise everyone on parliamentary procedure.  The Parliamentarian shall act strictly in an advisory and consultative role, as the Chair or Co-chair(s) alone have the power to rule on questions of order or to answer parliamentary inquiries.

o.           The Sergeant-at-Arms assists in preserving order on the floor of General Membership and Committee meetings as the Club Chair or Co-chairs or Committee may direct.  The Sergeant-at-Arms shall also assist the Credentials Committee in checking credentials or verifying eligibility of those arriving and/or to deny entrance to unauthorized persons.

p.           The AIDS Action Director(s) shall be responsible for advising the Club and its Board of Directors on HIV issues and recommending specific actions that the Club and its members should take to address these issues or concerns.

q.           The Technology Co-Chair(s) shall be primarily responsible for revising and maintaining the Club’s Web Site.  Site graphic and content policies are established by the Board of Directors based on suggestions from the Technology Co-Chair(s). In addition, the Technology Co-Chair(s) shall be responsible for coordinating the collection, maintenance and dissemination of all Club electronic records, and shall provide technological support to other Club Officers.

 

2.   Additional duties of each elected officer are made as designated in Robert’s Rules of Order, latest revised edition.

 

 

Article IV - Club Elections

A.  The Club shall elect its Officers in the following manner:

1.   The Club shall hold elections in January of each year for the following offices:

a.        Club Chair or Co-chairs*, Membership Co-chair(s)*, Issues Co-chair(s)*, Political Action Co-chair(s)*, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Public Relations Director(s), and Finance Co-chair(s).

* There shall be no more than two (2) Club Co-chairs

2.   Nominations for the above offices may be made by any member at the regular General Membership meetings in October, November, or December.  Additional names may be placed in nomination at the January General Membership meeting prior to voting.

3.   If there are more than two candidates for a position and none gets a majority of the votes cast in that race, a second ballot shall be taken between the top two vote getters.

4.      Newly elected officers shall assume office immediately upon election.  Each officer shall serve a term of one year, January to January, or until a successor is elected.

5.      The Logistics Co-chair(s), Program Co-chair(s), Volunteer Coordinator(s), Technology Co-Chair(s), Newsletter Editor(s), Parliamentarian, Sergeant-at-Arms, AIDS Action Director(s), and no more than five At-Large Representatives shall be appointed by and serve the pleasure of the Board of Directors. These appointments may be suspended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at any time.   The Board of Directors is not required to fill all appointed offices.

6.      Due to extenuating circumstances such as a March primary, the Board of Directors may, by majority vote, defer regular Club elections up to four months.  This deferment is subject to ratification by the General Membership at the next scheduled General Membership meeting.

7.      Ballots of General Membership for the following shall be taken only if prior notice has been given to all Club members of the intent to conduct the ballot.

1)   Candidate or ballot measure endorsements

2)   Officer recall

3)   Amendments to these Bylaws

4)   Rescinding candidate or ballot measure endorsements

5)   Election of a Club Officer

6)   Life Memberships

7)   Changing membership dues

8.   There shall be no proxy voting.

 

B.     In the event of a vacancy in any elected officer position, notice shall be given that an election will be held for the purpose of electing a successor at the next General Membership meeting.  The Board of Directors may appoint an interim officer to fill a vacated seat until such time as an election may be held.

 

C.  In order to recall an elected officer:

1.   A petition calling for the recall of any officer, signed by a quorum of the General Membership, may be submitted to the Recording Secretary at a General Membership meeting.

2.   The petition shall be recorded in the minutes of the General Membership meeting for review by all Club members.

3.   The notice of petition shall be given and shall be voted on at the next General Membership meeting.

4.   Recall of any elected officer shall require two-thirds affirmative votes of the members voting.

 

 

Article V - Membership & Voting Eligibility

A.     Applicants for new membership in the Club shall submit a Club membership application.  In order to be eligible for membership, applicants must be a registered Democrat at the time the membership application and dues are submitted.  If an applicant is ineligible to register to vote as a Democrat for any reason, that applicant may submit an application accompanied by a written declaration of intent to register to vote as a Democrat once eligible.  Membership in the Club is terminated, and no refund of dues shall be paid,  when a member changes their  registration and ceases to be a registered Democrat

 

B.  Applications for new membership in the Club shall be accompanied by payment of dues, based upon a dues schedule approved by the General Membership.  The Club shall not accept dues from any individual, organization, corporation or other entity for more than one individual new member applicant in one calendar year. However, a single payment of dues may be accepted for two individuals living at the same address.  The Club shall set and maintain at all times a dues level for applicants with special needs, and no applicant shall be denied admission to the Club based on an inability to pay dues.  The Club shall not accept the payment of membership dues in cash, except at regularly scheduled and noticed General Membership meetings.

 

C.    At each Board of Directors meeting, the Membership Co-chair(s) shall present a list of new membership applicants who have submitted membership applications during the previous month.  Unless referred to the Credentials Committee for review, new membership applications shall be deemed effective retroactively to the date the application and dues were received by the Club.  Upon motion, the Board of Directors may refer any new membership application to the Credentials Committee for review.  The Credentials Committee shall promptly investigate the membership application and shall determine whether the new membership application meets the qualifications for membership in the Club, as set out in these Bylaws.  All disputes regarding new membership applications shall be decided by the Credentials Committee, whose decision shall be final.  If application for membership is not accepted, the dues payment and application shall be returned within fifteen business days after the receipt, thereby providing time for verification of party affiliation.  Once a new membership application is approved by the Credentials Committee, the memberships shall be effective retroactively from the day the applications and dues were received by the Club.

 

D.  A membership shall be deemed expired one year from the effective date of the membership. Expired memberships may be renewed at any time within eighteen months of the expiration date by payment of dues in the manner described herein.  Upon receipt of dues, an expired membership is reactivated for one year from the date payment is received and the member shall be entitled to vote in all Club matters.

 

E.  A new member shall be eligible to vote in all club matters as of the effective date of the new membership, except that a new member shall be eligible to vote on Club endorsements 60 days after the date the membership becomes effective.  Upon adoption, this section shall be applied retroactively to all new members.

 

 

Article VI - Meetings & Notices

A.     Regular meetings of the General Membership shall generally be held once a month on a date to be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

B.     Special meetings of the General Membership shall be called by the Board of Directors, or shall be called upon written demand of a quorum of the General Membership, or shall be called by a majority vote of the General Membership.

 

C.    Prior notice shall be given to all Club members of any General Membership meeting.  Publication of meetings in the Club newsletter shall be considered sufficient notification to meet the demands of the Bylaws.

 

D.    A quorum shall consist of at least ten percent of dues-paying members or 20 Club members, whichever is smaller.

 

E.     Robert’s Rules of Order, last revised edition, shall govern procedures to the extent that they are consistent with these Bylaws or those bylaws of other bodies that the Club may join.  A copy of these Bylaws shall be provided to any Club member upon request.

 

F.   Consensus will be the goal of all decisions made by the Club.

 

 

Article VII - Budget & Expenditures

A.  Budget and Expenditures shall be approved as follows:

1.      Moneys derived from membership dues shall be used for the regular operations of the Club.  Campaign expenditures shall not be considered regular operations of the Club and shall be supported through other specific campaign fundraising. There shall be no deficit encumbrances or deficit expenditures by the Club.

 

B.     The Treasurer shall propose an annual budget for approval of the Board of Directors and shall oversee all expenditures of the Club.  Any receipt or expenditure of more than $500, by the Club or any affiliated organization, must be approved by the Chair or Co-chairs before such receipt is accepted or such payment is made by the Treasurer.

 

Article VIII - Endorsement Procedures

All candidate and ballot measure endorsements shall be made in the following manner:

A.       The Political Action Committee shall provide candidate endorsements to the General membership.  The Candidate PAC shall consist of the Board of Directors and other Club members who meet the requirements of this committee as established by the Board of Directors.  Candidates must receive at least sixty percent affirmative vote of all ballots cast in that race to be recommended to the General membership.  The Candidate PAC may, at its discretion, utilize instant run-off voting (IRV) patterned after San Francisco’s IRV law to determine its candidate recommendation to the General membership.

 

B.       The Issues Committee shall provide ballot measure (Initiative and Proposition) endorsements to the General Membership.   The Issues PAC shall consist of the Board of Directors and other Club members who meet the requirements of this committee as established by the Board of Directors.  Ballot measures must receive sixty percent affirmative vote of all ballots cast on that particular issue to be recommended to the General membership.

 

C.  No candidate for any public office or ballot measure shall receive the endorsement of the Club unless prior notice of that intent has been made to Club members.

1.   Candidates and ballot measure endorsements must receive at least a sixty percent affirmative vote of the ballots cast in that race by the General Membership at a Club meeting.

2.   Multiple ballots shall be allowed during the same Club meeting provided that prior notice of multiple balloting has been made to all Club members.  As an alternative, the Board of Directors may, at its discretion, utilize instant run-off voting (IRV) patterned after San Francisco’s IRV law to determine its candidate endorsements. 

3.   In partisan and nonpartisan elections, only registered Democrats may be considered and supported for public office.  If no viable choice is available, the Club may make no endorsement.

 

D.  To rescind a Club endorsement, a petition to rescind, signed by a quorum of Club members, must be submitted to the Recording Secretary at a General Membership meeting.

1.   The petition shall be entered into the minutes of the General Membership meeting, and a ballot for rescinding the endorsement shall be taken at the next General Membership meeting provided that prior notice has been given to all Club members.  To rescind an endorsement, the petition to rescind must receive at least two-thirds affirmative votes of the original endorsement votes cast in that race.

 

E.  The general membership of the Club may not entertain any motion to endorse a candidate for public office or a ballot measure until the official filing date for said public office or ballot measure has passed unless a motion to suspend the Bylaws is approved.  Suspension of this section requires a 60% affirmative vote by the members voting.   

 

 

 

Article IX  Board of Directors and Standing Committees

A.  Board of Directors

1.   The officers of the Club, whether elected or appointed, shall constitute the Board of Directors.

2.      Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at least once a month.  Any Club member shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the Board of Directors.

 

B.     The Executive Committee shall consist of the Club Chair or Co-Chairs, Political Action Co-chair(s), Issues Co-chair(s), Public Relations Director(s), Finance Co-chairs, and Treasurer.  The Executive Committee may make take action, as authorized by these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors, between meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Membership.  In addition, any promotional or campaign material, by the Club or any affiliated organization, may not be produced unless its content is approved by three or more members of the Executive Committee, at least one of whom is the Chair or a Co-chair.

 

C.    The Credentials Committee shall consist of the Club Chair or Co-chairs, the Membership Co-chair(s), the PAC Co-Chair(s), and any other Board of Directors member appointed by the Club Chair or Co-chairs.  In all matters decided by the Credentials Committee, a tie vote shall be determined by the vote of the Club Chair or Co-chairs. The Credentials Committee shall deliver a written report of all actions taken to the Board of Directors at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

 

D.    The Bylaws Committee shall be appointed by the Club Chair or Co-chairs when bylaws amendments are proposed.  This committee shall report back at the next General Membership meeting with its recommendations.

 

E.     The Platform Committee shall be appointed by the Club Chair or Co-chairs and shall be chaired by the Issues Committee Co-chair(s).  The Committee shall convene as needed, but at least annually, to evaluate and develop the Club’s position on significant issues affecting San Francisco.

 

F.   Ad-Hoc Committees may be established by the Board of Directors for special functions.  Activities of any Ad-Hoc Committee must be in accordance with these Bylaws of the Club.  Only Club members may vote in any Club committee.

 

 

 

Article X - Bylaws & Implementations

These Bylaws shall become effective immediately upon approval of the General Membership and may be amended only by the following procedure:

A.     Any member may make a motion to amend these Bylaws at a regular meeting of the General Membership.

 

B.     Prior notice of Bylaws amendment must be sent to all Club members.

 

C.    Any proposed Bylaws amendment must be referred to the Bylaws committee for formatting, review, and recommendation to the General Membership.

 

D.    The Bylaws may be amended if a motion to amend receives at least two-thirds affirmative majority vote of the General Membership present at the meeting.

 

E.     The Bylaws, or a specific section of the Bylaws, may be suspended by a 60% affirmative vote by Club members voting.