LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CENTRAL DELAWARE COUNTY
Bylaws
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this organization shall be League of Women Voters of Central Delaware County, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVCDC. The LWVCDC is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVUS, and of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVPA.
ARTICLE II
Purposes and Policy
Sec. 1. Purposes. The purposes of the LWVCDC are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues.
Sec. 2. Policies.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Sec. 1. Eligibility. Any person who subscribes to the purposes and policy of the LWVCDC shall be eligible for membership.
Sec. 2. Types of Membership.
a. Voting Members. Persons at least 16 years of age who join the League shall be voting members of the LWVCDC, LWVPA and of the LWVUS; (1) individuals who live within an area of 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 a state member-at-large; (3) 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 LWVCDC shall be associate members.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Sec. 1. Election, Qualifications and Term. The officers of the LWVCDC shall be a president, one or more first vice president(s), one or more second vice president(s), a secretary, and a treasurer who shall be elected for terms of two years by the annual meeting. All officers shall take office immediately following the annual meeting. The president, the first vice president(s) and the secretary shall be elected in the even-numbered years. The second vice president(s) and the treasurer shall be elected in the odd-numbered years. The outgoing treasurer will remain on the Board and assist the incoming treasurer until the end of the fiscal year and the audit has been completed.
Sec. 2. The President. The President shall have such powers of supervision and management as customarily pertain to the office; 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, the vice-presidents, in order of their rank, 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.
Sec. 3. The Vice President(s). The vice president(s) shall perform such duties as the president and board shall direct.
Sec. 4. The Secretary. The secretary shall keep minutes of the meetings of the membership and 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 board shall direct.
Sec. 5. The Treasurer. The treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due; be custodian of these moneys; deposit them in a bank designated by the board of directors; disburse the same only upon order of the board, except as provided for in the budget; provide a monthly report to the Board; and arrange for an annual audit of the books.
ARTICLE V
Board of Directors
Sec. 1. Selection, Qualifications and Term. The Board of Directors shall consist of (a) the officers of the LWVCDC, and (b) eight (8) elected directors, four (4) of which shall be elected in odd-numbered years and four (4) of which shall be elected in even-numbered years, and (c) not more than eight (8) directors appointed by the sitting members of the Board. All directors shall be voting members of the LWVCDC. All directors, whether elected or appointed, shall serve for a term of two years or until their successors have been elected or appointed and qualified. Vacancies other than the presidency may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the board until the next annual meeting.
Sec. 2. POWERS. The board shall manage and supervise the business affairs and activities of the LWVCDC subject to the instructions of the annual meeting. It shall select delegates to state convention and council and to national convention and to conventions or councils of interleague organizations and any other organizations to which the league sends representatives. 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 as it deems necessary and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws.
Sec. 3. Executive Committee. The board shall appoint an executive committee consisting of no fewer than five members of the board including the officers and any other members the board appoints. The executive committee shall exercise such power and authority as may be delegated to it by the board and shall report to the board on all actions taken by it between regular meetings of the board.
Sec. 4. Meetings. At least seven (7) 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 eight (8) members of the board. More than three consecutive unexcused absences from regular board meetings shall constitute a resignation.
Sec. 5. Quorum. A majority of the members of the board of the LWVCDC shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings
Sec. 1. Membership Meetings. The League shall have one membership meeting per year and any other membership decision-making meetings as shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Sec. 2. Informational Meetings. There shall be informational meetings for our membership and the public.
Sec. 3. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting shall be held between April 1 and June 30, 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; the chair and two members of the nominating committee; adopt a budget; and transact such other business as may properly come before it.
Sec. 4. Special Business Meeting. The board may call a special business meeting and shall call such a meeting upon the written request of thirty percent of the voting members provided written notice of the meeting is sent to the membership at least two weeks in advance.
Sec. 5. Quorum. Ten (10) percent of the voting members shall constitute a quorum at all business meetings of the LWVCDC.
ARTICLE VII
Nominations and Elections
Sec. 1. Nominating Committee. The nominating committee shall consist of three members. The chair and one member who shall not be members of the board, and one member, who shall be a member of the board, shall be elected by the annual meeting. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the board. Any voting member may send suggestions for nominations for officers and directors to the committee.
Sec. 2. Report of Nominating Committee. The report of the nominating committee, containing its nominations for officers and directors and the chair and two members of the next nominating committee, shall be sent to the members at least one month before the annual meeting. The report of the nominating committee shall be presented to the annual meeting. Nominations may be made from the floor immediately thereafter provided the consent of the nominee has been obtained.
Sec. 3. Election. Election shall be by ballot or voice vote. A majority of those present and voting shall constitute an election.
ARTICLE VIII
Principles and Program
Sec. 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.
Sec. 2. Program. The program of the LWVCDC shall consist of action to implement the Principles and those local governmental issues chosen by the annual meeting for concerted study and action as follows:
a. Voting members resident within the jurisdiction(s) of the local government(s) concerned may make recommendations to the board at least one month 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. Issues that relate to a special jurisdiction(s) in the program as presented in the program recommended by the board shall require for adoption a majority vote of members present and voting who are residents within the jurisdiction(s) concerned, followed by a majority vote by all the members present and voting.
d. Suggestions for program submitted by members but not included in the program recommended by the board may be considered provided that they were submitted at least one month before the annual meeting and they are approved for consideration by a majority vote of all the members present and voting at the annual meeting.
Sec. 3. Changes in Program. In the event that altered conditions require immediate action, program changes may be made at a general membership meeting provided that (1) information concerning the proposed changes has been sent to all members at least two weeks prior to a general membership meeting at which the changes are discussed, (2) final action by the membership resident within the jurisdiction(s) of the local government(s) concerned is taken at a meeting, with a subsequent majority vote by all the members present.
Sec. 4. Program Action. Members may act in the name of the LWVCDC only when authorized to do so by the board. They may act only in conformity with, and not contrary to, a position taken by the LWVCDC, League of Women Voters of Delaware County, the LWVPA and the LWVUS.
ARTICLE IX
Financial Administration
Sec. 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the LWVCDC shall be from July 1 to June 30 of each year.
Sec. 2. Dues. Annual dues are determined by a three-fifth vote of those attending the annual meeting. Local Leagues must submit to the LWVUS all members in good standing by
January 31. If a current member has not renewed their annual membership to LWVCDC they will be dropped from membership at all levels of LWV (national, state and local).
Sec. 3. Budget Committee. The budget shall be prepared by a committee, which shall be appointed for that purpose at least four 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 at least one month before the annual meeting.
Sec. 4. Distribution of Funds on Dissolution. In the event of the dissolution of the LWVCDC all monies and securities which may at the time be owned by or under the control of the LWVCDC shall be paid to the LWVPA 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 LWVCDC 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 not inconsistent with these bylaws.
ARTICLE XI
Amendments
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members at the annual meeting provided that any proposed amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one month in advance of the meeting.
Adopted at the Annual Meeting on May 27, 2021
Adopted at the Annual Meeting on June 4, 2022
Adopted at the Annual Meeting on June 6, 2023