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BY LAWS OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF RADNOR TOWNSHIP

Established 1920

Bylaws Last Revised 2016

ARTICLE I

Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of Radnor Township (hereafter LWVR). This local League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States (hereafter LWVUS) and of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (hereafter LWVPA).

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE AND POLICY

Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of the LWVR is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues.

Section 2. Policy. LWVR may take action on local government measures and policies in the public interest in conformity with the Principles of the League of Women Voters of the United States. It 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 LWVUS shall be eligible for membership.

Section 2. Types of Membership. The membership of the LWVR shall be composed of voting members and associate members.

(a) Voting Members. Persons at least 16 years of age who join the League shall be voting members of local Leagues, state Leagues and of the LWVUS; (1) those who live within an area of a local League may join that League or any other local League; (2) those who reside outside the area of any local League may join a local League or shall be state members-at-large; (3) those who have been members of the League for 50 years or more shall be life members excused from the payment of dues.

(b) Associate Members. All others who join the League shall be associate members.

ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Number, Manner of Selection and Term of Office. The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers of the League, up to eight elected Directors, and not more than eight appointed directors.

Section 2. Qualifications. No person shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to serve as an officer or Director of this organization unless that person is a voting member of the LWVR and agrees to perform a specific task for the League as designated by the Board.

Section 3. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors by reason of resignation, death, or disqualification may be filled, until the next Annual Meeting, by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee may be asked to recommend names for consideration by the Board. Three consecutive absences from a Board meeting of any member without a valid reason may be deemed a resignation.

Section 4. Powers and Duties.

(a) The Board of Directors shall have full charge of the property and business of the organization, with full power and authority to manage and conduct same, subject to the instructions of the general membership. It shall plan and direct the work necessary to carry out the program as adopted by the National Convention, the State Convention, and the Annual Meeting. The Board shall create and designate such special committees, as it may deem necessary.

(b) The Board retains the right to remove from office, by majority vote of the full Board, any board member who does not comply with League bylaws, policies, principles or procedures.

Section 5. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee consisting of the five elected officers of the LWVR. It shall exercise such power and authority as may be delegated to it and shall report on all actions taken by it between regular meetings of the Board.

Section 6. Meetings. There shall be at least nine regular meetings of the full Board of Directors annually. The president may call special meetings of the Board of Directors and shall call a special meeting upon the written request of five members of the Board. Attendance at regular board meetings shall be open to any member, subject to policies established by the Board for participation.

Section 7. Quorum. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum, the minimum required to transact the business of the LWVR.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

Section 1. Enumeration of Officers. The Officers of the LWVR shall be a President, a first Vice-President, a second Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Section 2 President. The President shall preside at meetings of the organization and of the Board of Directors. The President may, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, sign or endorse checks, drafts, and notes. The President shall have such powers of supervision and management as may pertain to the office of President and perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board. The President shall be an ex officio member of all committees.

Section 3. Vice-Presidents. The two Vice-Presidents, in order of their rank, shall, in the event of absence, disability, or death of the president, possess all the powers and perform all the duties of that office. In the event that neither Vice-President is able to serve in this capacity, the Board of Directors shall elect one of their members to fill the vacancy. The Vice-Presidents shall perform such other duties as the President and Board of Directors may designate.

Section 4. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the League and of all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall send meeting notification to the Board of Directors with copies of minutes of previous meetings enclosed. The Secretary shall sign, with the President, all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the Board, and shall perform such other functions, as may be incidental to that office.

Section 5. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of these monies, shall deposit them in a bank designated by the Board of Directors, and shall disburse the same only upon order of the Board. The Treasurer shall present statements to the Board at their regular meetings and an annual report to the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer is a member of the Budget Committee.

ARTICLE VI: FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION

Section 1. Calendar. The fiscal year of the LWVR shall be from July 1 to June 30 of each year.

Section 2. Annual Dues. A change in the annual dues may be voted at any general membership meeting by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present, provided that the change has been sent to all the membership at least one month in advance of the meeting. Those who join after the Per Member Payment annual report is filed will not be billed the following billing period. When two members reside at the same address in a common household, a payment equal to one and one half times the payment determined by the Annual Meeting shall be made. Any member who fails to pay dues within three months may be dropped.

Section 3. Budget. A budget for the ensuing year shall be submitted by the Board of Directors to the Annual Meeting for adoption.

Section 4. Budget Committee. A Budget Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at least two months prior to the Annual Meeting to prepare a budget for the ensuing year. The proposed budget shall be sent to all members at least one month before the annual meeting. The Treasurer shall not be eligible to serve as chair of the Budget Committee, but should be a member of the Budget Committee.

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

Section 1. Membership Meetings. There shall be at least two general meetings of the membership each year. Time and place shall be determined by the Board.

Section 2. Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting the membership shall:

(a) Adopt a State or Local Program for the ensuing year.

(b) Elect officers and directors, the Chair and two off-Board members of the Nominating Committee.

(c) Adopt a budget.

(d) Transact such other business as may properly come before it.

Section 3. Quorum. A majority of voting members present and voting shall constitute a quorum, provided that notice of the meeting has been sent to the membership at least one month before the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Nominees. The Nominating Committee shall present in odd numbered years a nominee for President, second Vice-President, and Secretary. In even numbered years it shall present nominees for Vice- President and Treasurer. It shall also present up to four nominees for Directors each year. The elections shall take place at the Annual Meeting and the electees shall serve for a term of two years. Those persons newly elected shall join the Board of Directors in appointing additional Directors, not to exceed eight, as soon as possible after the Annual Meeting. The terms of office of the appointed Directors shall be up to one year and shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual Meeting.

Section 2. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five members, one of whom shall be the Membership Chair. The members of the Nominating Committee shall be chosen in the following manner:

(a) Three members of the committee, including the chair, shall not be members of the Board of Directors. Nominations for these three offices shall be made by the current Nominating Committee and they shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. A vacancy shall be filled by the Board by appointment of another off-Board member.

(b) Two members of the Nominating Committee shall be members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall appoint two of its members to the Nominating Committee as soon as possible after the Annual Meeting and shall fill any vacancy by appointing another Board member. Nominees for President and Vice-President shall not be members of the Nominating Committee.

(c) Suggestions for nominations for Officers, Directors, or off-­Board members of the Nominating Committee may be given to the Nominating Committee by any voting member.

Section 3. Notification; Additional Nominations. The report of the Committee of its nominations for Officers, Directors, and three off-Board members of the succeeding Nominating Committee shall be sent to all members at least one month before the Annual Meeting. Immediately following the presentation of the Committee’s report to the Annual Meeting, nominations may be made from the floor by any voting member provided that the consent of the nominee shall have been secured.

Section 4. Voting. Elections shall be by ballot provided that when there is but one nominee for each office, the Secretary may be instructed to cast a ballot for the entire slate. Election shall be by a majority vote of those present.

ARTICLE IX: Principles and PROGRAM

Section 1. Authorization. The Principles are concepts of government adopted by the National Convention of the LWVUS which are supported by the League as a whole and which constitute the authorization for the adoption of the national, state and local programs.

Section 2. Definition. The Local Program of the LWVR shall consist of:

(a) Action to implement the Principles and Program of the National and State Leagues, including action to protect the right to vote of every citizen, and

(b) Such current local issues as the membership shall choose for concerted study and action. The League shall testify in support of its positions whenever appropriate occasions shall arise.

Section 3. Adoption. The membership at the Annual Meeting shall act upon the Program using the following procedures:

(a) The Board of Directors shall consider recommendations submitted by the voting members at least two months before the Annual Meeting and shall formulate a recommended program.

(b) The recommended program shall be sent to all members at least one month before the Annual Meeting.

(c) A majority of voting members present and voting at the Annual Meeting shall be required for adoption of subjects in the recommended Program as presented to the Annual Meeting by the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Program Additions. Additions to the Program may be adopted by a majority vote of the Board of Directors provided that notice of the proposed change or changes has been sent to the membership at least two weeks before the Board meeting. All program additions must be ratified by the membership at the next general membership meeting following the adoption of the program addition by the Board of Directors. Such ratification shall be by majority vote of voting members present.

Section 5. Program Action. Members may act in the name of the LWVR only when authorized to do so by the Board of Directors. Board members (or designees) may speak for the LWVR only when they are reflecting a League position. Board members who are not speaking for the League must clearly state that they are speaking in their individual capacity.

ARTICLE X: DELEGATES

Section 1. Conventions and Councils of National and State Leagues. The Board of Directors shall be authorized to elect delegates to represent the LWVR at conventions and/or councils of the National and State Leagues in such numbers and at such dates as are appropriate or required by the National or State Leagues.

Section 2. Conventions or Annual Meetings of Inter-League Organizations (ILOs). The Board of Directors shall be authorized to elect delegates to represent the LWVR at conventions or annual meetings of inter-League organizations of which the local League is a member, in such numbers and at such dates as are appropriate or required by the ILOs.

ARTICLE XI: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1. The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws.

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present and voting at the Annual Meeting, provided the amendments were sent to the membership in writing at least one month in advance of the meeting.