WCRW Bylaws Approved by TFRW March 1998 Revised September 2008 ARTICLE I – NAME AND ADDRESS The name of this organization shall be: Williamson County Republican Women. The address shall be a post office box paid for by the organization. ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES The objectives of this organization shall be: To promote an informed electorate through political education. To increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government through active political participation. To facilitate cooperation among Republican Party Women’s clubs. To foster loyalty to the Republican Party and to promote its principles and candidates in all elections including non-partisan elections. To work for election of Republican Party Nominees. ARTICLE III – POLICY SECTION 1. CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT: This organization, its President, and its Campaign Activities Chairman shall not publicly endorse any candidate for public office in contested Republican primaries, runoff elections, and special elections, and/or nonpartisan elections when more than one Republican is in the race. Individual members of this organization, with the exception of the President and Campaign Activities Chairman, may work for any candidate of their choice in contested Republican primaries but not in the name of the organization. Members shall not openly support or promote a member of a party other than the Republican in an election when a Republican in good standing is seeking election to office. SECTION 2. CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT EXCEPTION: This article pertains only to contests between Republican candidates for public office. An officer of this organization who is a candidate, or whose husband, or another family member, is a candidate shall be exempt from this rule, but may not endorse in the name of the organization. SECTION 3. WORKING FOR CANDIDATES: No club shall publicly endorse or work for a known candidate of another party in a partisan or non-partisan race where a Republican is in the race. SECTION 4. LOBBYING: There shall be no lobbying with Legislators using the name of the Texas Federation of Republican Women by any federated local club or any individual member without the express permission of the Board of Directors of the Texas Federation of Republican Women. SECTION 5. CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES: This organization and its officers shall not issue statements or pass resolutions on controversial issues in the name of the organization without first polling its members and obtaining a two-thirds vote of approval of the total membership. SECTION 6. REMOVAL: The Executive Board, by a majority vote of the board, is authorized to request the removal of any member who violates the policies as described in Article III. SECTION 7. VIOLATION: A violation of these policies may result in the removal of this club from the Texas Federation of Republican Women. SECTION 8. DISSOLUTION: This club may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote at any meeting of the local club, provided that notice of the dissolution has been submitted in writing at the previous meeting and has been sent by mail to all members of the local club. In the event of dissolution, the Board of Directors shall, after payment of all liabilities of the local club, distribute any remaining assets to the state federation. None of the assets shall be distributed to any member or officer of the organization and the right to use the name shall revert to state federation. ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP SECTION 1. ELIGIBILITY: Any woman believing in the philosophy of the Republican Party and in the objectives of this organization shall be eligible for membership. SECTION 2. CLUB ELECTIONS: To be eligible to vote in club elections, a member must have paid her dues at least 30 days prior to the election and must have attended at least one meeting. SECTION 3. ACTIVE MEMBER: An active member is a woman who meets the eligibility requirements of this organization and pays the annual dues. She shall enjoy the full privileges of membership. She shall be a registered voter. SECTION 4. ASSOCIATE MEMBER: A Republican woman who is a regular member of another federated local unit and who wishes to support Williamson County Republican Women may be eligible for associate membership upon payment of required dues. She cannot hold office, vote or be counted for the purpose of determining the number of delegates to National or State Federation meeting or conventions. As an associate member she does not become a member of the State or National Federation. A Republican man is eligible for associate membership in Williamson County Republican Women upon payment of the required annual dues. He cannot hold office, have a voice or vote or be counted for the purpose of determining the number of delegates to National or State Federation meeting or conventions. SECTION 5. DELEGATE REPRESENTATION: An active member may be counted in one club only for the purpose of delegate representation to Federation State and National Conventions and this will be the only club in which she may hold office. Her dues and name shall be submitted to the Texas Federation of Republican Women from this club only. SECTION 6. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN: All officers and Committee Chairpersons must be regis­tered members of the Texas Federation of Republican Women. ARTICLE V – OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD SECTION 1. OFFICERS: The officers of this organization shall be President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary and Trea­surer. SECTION 2. DUTIES OF OFFICERS: (a) The President – shall preside at all meetings of the organization and the Executive Board, shall appoint chairpersons for all standing and spe­cial committees, except the nominating committee, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall appoint a Parliamentarian, shall serve ex- officio as a member of all committees except the National Committee, and shall have general supervision of the work of the organization. (b) The First Vice President – shall serve as Program Chairperson and perform other duties as the President may designate. (c) The Second Vice President – shall serve as Member Chairperson. She may perform other duties as the President may designate. (d) The Secretary – shall keep a factual and unbiased record of the proceedings of all meetings of the organization and Executive Board, shall prepare the correspondence of the organization, shall have custody of all records pertinent thereto and shall perform such additional duties as my be required of the office. (e) The Treasurer – shall receive and be custodian of all funds of the organization and shall pay all bills upon authorization by the President. The Treasurer shall keep an account of all moneys received and distributed and shall give a report at each regular meeting of the organization to the membership. She shall submit her financial records to the Internal Review Committee. All checks must have two signatures, that of the Treasurer and the President. SECTION 3. EXECUTIVE BOARD: The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officials, the immediate past President, who shall serve as an advisor, the Chairperson of the Standing Committees, and the Parliamentarian. SECTION 4. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE BOARD: The Executive Board shall have the authority to transact any necessary business between meetings, to make recommendations to the policies of the organization, to advise the President, and to fill vacancies that occur between elections by a two-third vote of the Board members present. SECTION 5. TERMS OF OFFICE: The term of officers and chairpersons shall be one year. ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETING: The annual meeting of the organization shall be held in November. SECTION 2. REGULAR MEETING: The regular meetings shall be held monthly unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Board, provided that there shall be no less than five regular meetings per annum. SECTION 3. SPECIAL MEETING: Special meetings shall be held at the call of the President or upon the request of thirty percent (30%) of the members. The purpose of the meeting to be stated in the call and no other business shall be considered at the special meeting except that stated in the call of the meeting. SECTION 4. REGULAR MEETINGS EXECUTIVE BOARD: Regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be prior to each monthly meeting at such time and place as may be determined by the President. The Execu­tive Board will meet at least three times a year. SECTION 5. SPECIAL MEETINGS EXECUTIVE BOARD: Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President or upon the request of the majority of the members of the board; the purpose of the meeting to be stated in the call and no other business shall be transacted. ARTICLE VII – DUES SECTION 1. FISCAL YEAR: The fiscal year of this organization shall be from January 1 to December 31. SECTION 2. MEMBERSHIP DUES: The membership dues shall be thirty dollars ($30.00) payable January 1, and shall be delinquent on March 1. Associate membership shall be twenty dollars ($20.00) and shall be retained by Williamson County Republican Women. No member shall be eligible to vote on any matter until 30 days after dues are paid. SECTION 3. ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGES/DUES: This organization and its members shall pay service charges and per capita dues to the Texas Federation of Republican Women and the National Federation of Republican Women. ARTICLE VIII – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS SECTION 1. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS: A nominating committee of not less than three or not more than five, at least two whom shall not be a member of the Executive Board, shall be elected by the membership at the September meeting. The nominating Committee shall elect its chairperson from one of its own members and shall report one nominee for each office at the October meeting. SECTION 2. ELECTIONS: Elections shall be held at the November meeting, and nominations from the floor shall be allowed. Prior consent of the nominee shall be obtained. Where there is only one candidate for an office, election may be by a voice vote. Where there is more than one candidate for an office, election shall be by ballot. A plurality vote shall elect. There shall be no absentee or proxy voting. SECTION 3. INSTALLATION: Officers shall be installed at the December meeting. SECTION 4. ASSUMPTION OF DUTIES: Officers shall assume their duties on January 1. ARTICLE IX – COMMITTEES SECTION 1. STANDING COMMITTEES: The standing committees shall include: Campaign Activities (Campaign Hours) Chair Fund Raising/Ways and Means Hospitality/Housekeeping Technology Public Relations Political Action Committee (PAC) Treasurer Legislative Chairman Awards Chairman SECTION 2. STANDING COMMITTEE DUTIES: Standing Committees shall outline programs for action in their respective fields for con­sideration and adoption by the Executive Board and shall carry out such other duties as may be prescribed by the Executive Board. SECTION 2a. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE PAC: The PAC Treasurer shall work closely with the Club Treasurer to ensure adequate records are available as required by the Texas Ethics Commission and Texas Election laws and shall file all reports required by same in a timely manner. The PAC treasurer shall register with the Texas Ethics Commission. SECTION 3. SPECIAL COMMITTEES INCLUSION: The special committees shall include Internal Review, Nominations, and Finance. Other special committees may be appointed by the President and/or Executive board as deemed advisable. SECTION 4. SPECIAL COMMITTEE DUTIES: The Special Committees shall outline programs in their respective fields for consideration and adoption by the Executive Board. These committees shall be formed only for the duration of their service. SECTION 5. FINANCE COMMITTEES: The President, Secretary, Treasurer and Chairperson of the Finance Committee shall serve as the mem­bers of the committee. The Finance Committee shall draw up a projected budget for each fiscal year and submit it to the membership for approval. SECTION 6. INTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE: The committee shall review the books by December 31 of the fiscal year and shall submit its report to the Executive Board prior to the regular meeting in January. The treasurer shall be present at the review. SECTION 7. ALL COMMITTEES: All committees shall report to the Club as ordered by the President. ARTICLE X – REPRESENTATION SECTION 1. BIENNIAL STATE CONVENTION REPRESENTATION: This organization may be represented at the Biennial State Convention by one delegate and one alternate for each ten members and an additional delegate and alternate for a remainder of six to none members. Delegates and alternates to the convention of the Texas Federation of Republican Women shall be elected at the May meeting. SECTION 2. BIENNIAL NATIONAL CONVENTION REPRESENTATION: The organization may be represented at the Biennial National Convention by the President as Delegate and an Alternate from the body of elected officials in the following order: First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer. If the President is not available to be the delegate, then the delegate will be next officer available in the following order: First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer. The Alternate would then be the next available officer in the aforementioned order. If none of the elected officials are available, then a vote may be taken by the body to determine the delegate and alternate. ARTICLE XI – QUORUM SECTION 1. QUORUM FOR REGULAR MEETING: A quorum for a meeting of this organization shall be thirty percent (30%) of the voting mem­bers. SECTION 2. QUORUM FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS: A quorum for a meeting of the Executive Board shall be a majority board. ARTICLE XII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern all proceedings ex­cept where inconsistent with the bylaws of this organization and of those of the Texas Federation of Republican Women and of the National Fed­eration of Republican Women. ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENTS These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at any regular meeting of the organization or adjourned session. Notice of the proposed amendments shall be made available to the membership 10 days prior to the regular meeting at which the vote on the proposed amendments is held. The Bylaws Committee shall present its proposed amendments to the Executive Board for approval. Proposed amendments are adopted by a majority vote of the Executive Board.