LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF GLEN ELLYN BYLAWS

[Adopted May 3 , 2007]

 ARTICLE I

Name

The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVGE or as the League. This League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVUS, of the League of Women Voters of Illinois, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVIL, and the League of Women Voters of DuPage County.

ARTICLE II

Purposes and Political Policy

Section 1. Purposes. The purposes of the LWVGE are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and to act on selected governmental issues.

 

Section 2. Political Policy. The League 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 League shall be eligible for membership.

 Section 2. Types of Membership.

a.      Voting Members. Citizens at least 18 years of age who join the LWVGE shall be voting members of the LWVGE, LWV of DuPage County, LWVIL, Lake Michigan ILO and of the LWVUS. 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 others who join the League shall be associate members. Associate members are those who have paid their dues but are under 18 years of age or are not citizens of the United States. Associate members are non-voting members of LWVGE.

 

 ARTICLE IV

Officers

 Section 1. Election, Qualifications and Term. The officers of the LWVGE shall be a president or co-presidents, two vice presidents, a secretary, a voter-service officer, and a treasurer who shall be elected for terms of two years by the general membership at the annual meeting and take office at the conclusion of the annual meeting. The president or co-presidents, one vice president, and the secretary shall be elected in the odd-numbered years. One vice president, the voter-service officer, and the treasurer shall be elected in the even-numbered years. No person shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to serve as an officer of this organization unless the person is a voting member of the LWVGE.

 Section 2. The President or Co-Presidents. The president or co-presidents shall have such powers of supervision and management as customarily pertain to the office; shall be the public spokesperson(s) for League positions; shall preside at all meetings of the organization and the board or designate another person to do so; shall be ex officio a member of all committees except the nominating committee; may sign or endorse checks, drafts, and notes in the absence of the treasurer; and shall perform such other duties as the board may direct. In the event of the absence, disability, resignation or death of the president, one of the vice presidents shall assume the office. If no vice president is able to serve as president, the board shall fill the vacancy from among the elected directors.

 

Section 3. The Vice Presidents. The vice presidents shall perform such duties as the president and the board shall direct.

 

Section 4. The Secretary. The secretary shall keep minutes of the meetings of the board. The secretary shall notify all officers and directors of their election and shall sign with the president all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the board, and shall perform such other duties as the president and the board shall direct.

 

Section 5. The Treasurer. The treasurer shall perform such duties as customarily pertain to the office and, at the direction of the board, maintain deposits in authorized financial institutions. The treasurer shall present statements to the board at their regular meetings and an annual report to the annual meeting.

 

Section 6. The Voter-Service Officer. The voter-service officer shall provide information and perform other functions relating to voter service.

 

Section 7. Executive Committee. In the event that a decision must be made when it is impractical to convene the board of directors, the above named officers shall constitute the executive committee and shall be empowered to make such a decision by majority vote. Notice of any executive committee decision shall be communicated to the remainder of the board as soon as practical and no later than the next meeting of the board.

 

 

ARTICLE V

Board of Directors

 

Section 1. Number, Manner of Selection and Term of Office. The board of directors shall consist of the officers of the LWVGE, eight elected directors, and not more than eight directors appointed by the elected members of the board. Four directors shall be elected by the general membership at each annual meeting and shall serve for a term of two years or until their successors have been elected and qualified. Appointed directors shall serve for one year, until the close of the next annual meeting.

 

Section 2. Qualifications. No person shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to serve as a director of this organization unless the person is a voting member of the LWVGE.

 

Section 3. Vacancies. Vacancies may be filled by vote of the members of the board, unless otherwise provided in these bylaws.

 

Section 4. Powers. The board shall manage and supervise the business, affairs and activities of the LWVGE subject to the instructions of the annual meeting. The board shall act by majority vote when a quorum is present. It shall select delegates to the national convention, the state convention and council, and the county convention and council. It shall accept responsibility for such other matters as the national or state board may from time to time delegate to it. It shall have the power to create such special committees and to join organizations and coalitions, as it deems necessary. It shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws.

 

Section 5. Meetings. At least nine regular meetings of the board shall be held annually. The president may call special meetings and shall call a special meeting upon the written request of five members of the board. More than three consecutive unexcused absences from regular board meetings shall constitute a resignation.

 

Section 6. Quorum. A majority of the members of the board of directors of the LWVGE shall constitute a quorum. For this section, “members of the board of directors” is defined as members holding positions listed in Section 1 of this article.

 

ARTICLE VI

Meetings

 

Section 1. General and Unit Membership Meetings. There shall be at least six meetings of the membership each year. The time and place shall be determined by the board.

 

Section 2. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting shall be held approximately one month prior to the LWVIL or the LWVUS convention, the exact date to be determined by the board. The annual meeting shall adopt a local program for the ensuing year, elect officers and directors, elect the chair and two members of the nominating committee; adopt an adequate budget; vote on proposed bylaws amendments in the odd-numbered years; and transact such other business as may properly come before it. Action shall be taken by a majority vote when a quorum of members is present, unless otherwise stated in these bylaws. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.

 

Section 3. Quorum. Twenty percent of the voting members shall constitute a quorum at all general membership and annual meetings of the LWVGE, provided written notice of the meeting is sent to the membership at least one week in advance.

 

 

ARTICLE VII

Nominations and Elections

 

Section 1. Nominating Committee. The nominating committee shall consist of five members. The chair and two members, who shall not be members of the board, shall be elected at the annual meeting. Immediately after the annual meeting, the board shall appoint two of its members to the committee. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the board.

 

Section 2. Report of the Nominating Committee. The report of the current nominating committee, containing its nominations for officers, directors, chair and two members of the incoming nominating committee, shall be sent to the members one month before the annual meeting. The report of the nominating committee shall be presented at the annual meeting. Nominations may be made from the floor immediately thereafter provided the consent of the nominee has been obtained.

 

Section 3. Election. Election shall be by ballot, unless there is only one nominee for an office. Then it shall be a voice vote. A majority vote shall constitute an election.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Principles and Program

 

Section 1. Principles. The Principles are concepts of government adopted by the national convention and supported by the League as a whole. They are the authorization for the adoption of national, state and local program. These principles are to be published in the LWVGE membership directory. 

Section 2. Program. The program of the LWVGE shall consist of action to implement the Principles and those local governmental issues chosen by the annual meeting for concerted study and/or action as follows:

a.      Voting members may make recommendations to the board at least two months before the annual meeting.

b.     The board shall consider these recommendations and formulate a proposed program, which shall be sent to the members at least one month before the annual meeting.

c.      The annual meeting shall adopt a program by a majority vote. Program recommendations submitted to the board at least two months before the meeting, but not proposed by the board, may be considered by the annual meeting provided that the annual meeting shall order consideration by a majority vote. The annual meeting must adopt the item by a two-thirds vote.

 

Section 3. Changes in Program. Changes and/or additions in the program, in the case of altered conditions, may be made provided that information concerning the proposed change/addition has been disseminated to all members at least two weeks before a general membership meeting, at which time the change/addition shall be discussed and voted upon. If a quorum (20% of voting members) is present, the change/addition must be adopted by a two-thirds vote.

 

In the event a quorum is not present, the Secretary shall promptly contact the membership, who then will have five days to vote on the proposed change/addition. The Secretary shall record the votes of those responding. The change/addition must be approved by two-thirds of those voting, provided a quorum (20% of the voting members) is obtained.

 

 

Section 4. Program Action. Members may act in the name of the LWVGE only when authorized to do so by the president. They may act only in conformity with, and not contrary to, a position taken by the LWVGE, the LWVIL and the LWVUS.

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

Financial Administration

 

Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the LWVGE shall be from May 1 through April 30 of each year.

 

Section 2. Dues. The board of directors shall set the annual dues, subject to the approval of the members, at the annual meeting. Annual dues shall at least cover the cost of all per member payments (PMPs) and shall be payable May 1. New members paying annual dues after January 1 shall be exempt from the May 1 payment of dues. Persons who have reached the age of 65 may elect to pay one-half the amount of annual dues. When two members reside at the same address in a common household, a payment equal to one and one-half times the annual dues shall be made.

 

Section 3. Budget Committee. The budget shall be prepared by a committee, which shall be appointed for that purpose at least three months before the annual meeting. The treasurer shall be, ex officio, a member of the budget committee but shall not be eligible to serve as chair. The proposed budget for the next fiscal year shall be sent to all members one month before the annual meeting.

 

Section 4. Audit. The books shall be audited each year by a person appointed by the executive committee. A report of the audit shall be made to the board by July 1.

 

Section 5. Distribution of Funds on Dissolution. In the event of dissolution of the LWVGE, all money and securities owned by or under the control of the LWVGE shall be paid to the LWVIL 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 the time be owned or under the control of the LWVGE, shall be disposed of to such person, organization or corporation for such public, charitable or educational use and purposes as the board in its absolute discretion may designate.

  ARTICLE X

Parliamentary Authority

 

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and consistent with these bylaws.

 

 

ARTICLE XI

Bylaws Committee and Amendments and Publication

 

Section 1. Bylaws Committee. A bylaws committee shall be appointed by the president in the odd-numbered years three months prior to the annual meeting, to study the bylaws and suggest amendments, if necessary, and to consider proposals suggested by any League members for changing the bylaws.

 

Section 2. Amendments. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present and voting at the annual meeting, provided that the amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one month in advance of the meeting.

 

Section 3. Publication. These bylaws shall be published in the annual directory and program document.