ARTICLE I: Name
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the League of Women
Voters of Southwestern Indiana. This local League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the
United States and of the League of Women Voters of Indiana.
ARTICLE II:
Purpose and Policy
Section 1. Purpose.
The purpose of the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana shall be to promote political responsibility through informed
and active participation of citizens in government and to act on selected governmental issues in conformity with the Principles
of the League of Women Voters of the United States.
Section 2. Policy.
The League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.
The League will study and may take a stand on public issues.
ARTICLE III: Membership
Section l. Eligibility.
Any person who subscribes to the purpose, policy, and principles of the League shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2. Types of Membership. The membership of the League of
Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana shall be composed of voting members and associate members.
A. Citizens at least 18 years of age who join the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana shall be voting members
of that League and of the LWVIN and LWVUS. Any person who has been a member of the League for 50 years or more, or who
has made a lump-sum life membership payment to the LWVUS shall be a life member and be excused from payment of dues.
B. Associate members shall be all other persons who join the League. They shall be non-voting members.
ARTICLE IV: Board of Directors
Section
1. Numbers, Manner of Selection, and Term of Office. The Board of Directors
shall consist of the Officers of the League, and the chairs of each standing committee. The elected Officers shall take
office after the adjournment of the outgoing Board during the June Board Meeting following the Annual Meeting. Prior to the
Annual Meeting, the standing committees shall nominate their chairpersons. Directors shall take office on July
1st and serve for one year.
Section 2. Qualifications.
Only persons who are voting members of the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana may be elected, appointed, or continue
to serve as an officer or director of this organization.
Section
3. Standing Committees may vary from one year to the next.
Section 4. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors
by reason of the resignation, death, or disqualification of an officer or elected member may be filled, until the next Annual
Meeting, by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors. Three consecutive absences of any member from
a Board meeting without valid reason shall be deemed a resignation.
Section
5. 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
the same, subject to the instructions of the general membership.
B. It shall plan and direct the work as necessary to
carry out the program as adopted by the National Convention, the State Convention, and the Annual Meeting.
C. The Board shall annually
review the Policies and Practices adopted by previous Boards and make such changes as may be appropriate.
D. The
Board shall create and designate such special committees as it may deem necessary.
Section
6. Meetings. There shall be at least nine regular meetings of the 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.
Section 7. Quorum.
A. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
B. Any one or more members
of the Board may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all
persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute
presence in person at a meeting.
C. Board members who are unable to attend a Board meeting may appoint an alternate,
who will have full voting rights.
ARTICLE V: Officers
Section 1. Enumeration and Election of Officers. The Officers of the League
of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana shall be a President, a Vice- President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, who shall be
elected by the general membership at the Annual Meeting for a term of one year, and shall serve until their successors have
been elected and qualified. The officers shall take office after the adjournment of the outgoing Board during the June Board
Meeting following the Annual meeting.
Section 2. The
President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization and 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 be, ex-officio, a member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President shall have such
usual powers of supervision and management as may pertain to the office of the President and perform such other duties as
may be designated by the Board.
Section 3. The Vice-President.
The Vice-President 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 the Vice-President is not able to serve in this capacity, the Board of Directors
shall elect a member to fill the vacancy. The Vice-President shall perform such duties as the President and the Board shall
designate.
Section 4. The Secretary.
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the League and of all meetings of the Board of Directors. This person
shall notify all Officers and Directors of their election. 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 incident to the office.
Section 5. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall collect and receive
all moneys due. This person shall be the custodian of these moneys, shall deposit them in the financial institu-tion(s) designated
by the Board of Directors, and shall discharge the same only upon order of the Board. The Treasurer shall present statements
to the Board and the membership at their regular meetings and an annual report to the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE VI: Financial Administration
Section 1. Fiscal year. The fiscal year of the League of
Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana shall begin on the first day of July in each year.
Section 2. Dues. Annual dues are payable on the first day of the fiscal
year (July 1). Any member who fails to pay dues within four months after they become payable shall be dropped from the membership
rolls. The Board shall submit recommended changes in dues for individual and/or joint membership at the annual meeting for
approval by a 3/5 affirmative vote of members present and voting. Dues of those joining after January 1 may be reduced, pro-rated,
or credited to payment of dues for the ensuing year, according to the policy established by the Board. Joint dues may
be paid when two members reside at the same address in a common household and receive a single mailing of all newsletters
and other material. The Board has the authority to offer reduced dues rates to selected populations.
Section 3. Audit. The books of the Treasurer shall be reviewed
annually.
Section 4. Budget.
A budget for the ensuing fiscal year may be submitted by the Board of Directors to the Annual Meeting for adoption. A budget,
if adopted, should include support for the work of the League as a whole.
Section
5. Distribution of Funds and Property on Dissolution. In event of a dissolution for
any cause of the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana, all moneys and securities which may at the time be owned
by or under the absolute control of the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana shall be paid to the League of Women
Voters of Indiana. All other property which may at the time be owned by or under the control of the League of Women
Voters of Southwestern Indiana shall be disposed of by any officer of the organization having possession of the same to such
person, organization, or corporation for such public charitable or educational uses and purposes as may be designated by the
Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana.
Section
7. National and State Per Member Payment. The League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana
shall make a national Per Member Payment (PMP) in the amount to be determined by the LWVUS and a Per Member Payment to the
state League to be determined by the LWV of Indiana.
ARTICLE VII: Meetings
Section 1. Membership Meetings.
There shall be at least two general meetings of the member ship each year, including the Annual
Meeting. Time and place shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The Board shall call a special membership
meeting upon the written request of ten percent of the voting members.
Section 2. Annual
Meeting. An Annual Meeting shall be held during June, the exact date to be determined by the Board
of Directors. The Annual Meeting shall:
A. Propose a local program for the ensuing year.
B. Elect officers, and members of the Nominating Committee.
C. Transact such other business as may properly come before it.
Section 3. Quorum. Ten percent of the voting members
shall constitute a quorumat all general meetings of the League
of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana, provided written notice of the meeting is sent to the membership at least one week
in advance. The official number of voting members should be that
submitted
to the LWVUS for per-member-payment purposes.
Section 4. Units. Small discussion groups shall meet according to a
schedule
determined by the groups.
ARTICLE VIII: Nominations
and Elections
Section
1. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five members,
two of whom shall be members of the Board of Directors. The term of office shall be one year. Three members, none of whom
shall be members of the Board, shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. Nominations for these offices shall be made by the
current nominating committee. The other two members shall be appointed by the Board of Directors as soon as possible after
the June Board Meeting. The organization of the nominating committee shall be determined by the committee itself.
Any vacancy on the Nominating Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors. Suggestions for nominations for
Officers and Directors may be sent to this committee by any voting member.
Section 2. Report of the Nominating Committee and
Nominations from the Floor. The report of the Nominating Committee of its nominations for Officers,
Directors, and the members of the succeeding Nominating Committee shall be sent to all members of the League of Women Voters
of Southwestern Indiana three weeks before the date of the Annual Meeting. The report of the Nominating Committee shall be
presented to the Annual Meeting. Immediately following the presentation of this report, nomination may be made from the floor
by any voting member, provided the consent of the nominee shall have been secured. In the ensuing year, when appointments
are to be made by the President and/or the Board of Directors, the previous Nominating Committee shall be consulted.
Section 3. Elections. When there is only one nominee for an office, the election
for that office shall be by voice vote. When there are two or more nominees for an office, the election for that office shall
be by ballot. A majority vote of those qualified to vote and voting shall constitute an election. Absentee or proxy voting
shall not be permitted.
ARTICLE
IX: Program Section
1. Authorization. The governmental principles adopted by the
National
Convention, and supported by the League as a whole, constitute the
authorization
for the adoption of Program.
Section 2. Local Program. The Program of the League of Women Voters
of Southwestern Indiana shall consist of those local governmental issues
chosen for concerted study
and action.
Section 3. Adoption
of Local Program.
The Board of Directors shall have the authority to appoint committees to plan
programs and activities addressing the selected issues.
Section 4. Member Action. Members may act in the name of the League
of Women Voters only when authorized to do so by the appropriate Board of
Directors. They may act only in conformity with, and not contrary to, a position
taken by the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana, the LWVIN, and
the LWVUS.
ARTICLE X:
National Convention, State Convention, and State Council
Section 1. National Convention. From names submitted by the membership, the Board
of Directors, at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the National office, may select
delegates to that Convention in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana under the provisions
of the By-Laws of the League of Women Voters of the United States.
Section 2. State Convention. From names submitted by the membership, the Board
of Directors, at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the State office, may select delegates
to that Convention in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana under the provisions of the By-Laws
of the League of Women Voters of Indiana.
Section 3. State Council. From names submitted by the membership, the Board of
Directors, at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the State office, may select delegates
to that Council in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana under the provisions of the By-Laws
of the League of Women Voters of Indiana.
ARTICLE XI:
Parliamentary Authority Section
1. Parliamentary Authority. The rules contained in the current edition
of Roberts Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall govern the
organization in all
cases to which they are applicable and not inconsistent with these By-Laws.
ARTICLE XII:
Amendments
Section 1 Amendments. These By-Laws may be amended by a two-third
vote of the voting members present and voting at the Annual Meeting, provided
the amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least three weeks in advance
of the Annual Meeting.
