I. NAME: The name of
this organization shall be the West Austin Democrats.
II. PURPOSE: The purpose
of the organization is to (1) improve our own neighborhoods, (2) work for the
development of more adequate programs to improve the quality of life for all
residents of Travis County, (3) provide grassroots support for the Travis
County Democratic Party with emphasis on West Austin precincts and for good
city government, (4) endorse candidates, amendments, and propositions that
promote WAD objectives, and (5) inform the membership about current issues.
III. MEMBERSHIP: Membership
is open to all residents of Travis County, Texas, who pay annual dues. Dues are payable by each September. The amount of dues is set by majority vote of
the membership. Any increase must be set
by the preceding June. Membership
entitles each member to receive the WAD newsletter and to vote on all issues
presented at the meetings. However, for
new members, dues must be paid 25 days before any voting privileges come into
effect. Continuing members (i.e., those
who were current in their dues the previous year) may renew by the beginning of
the meeting for full voting privileges to continue.
IV. OFFICERS
The officers of the club shall be President,
Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
The President shall preside at meetings of the members and those of the
Executive Committee. The Vice-President
shall preside in the absence of the President.
The Treasurer shall receive, hold, and account for all money that shall
come into the possession of the organization, pay the organization’s bills, and
report quarterly to the membership on the state of the organization’s
finances. The Secretary shall keep a
permanent record of the proceedings of every meeting of the members and those
of the Executive Committee.
The officers are elected annually in May. Their term is one year or until their
successors are elected. Notice of the
election of officers shall be mailed to the membership at least seven days
prior to the election. Nominations shall
come from a nominating committee appointed by the Executive Committee. Nominations will also be accepted from the
floor.
The officers shall have oversight of the
Treasurer and shall make arrangements, set the agenda, arrange programs for
member meetings, appoint committees, and perform other duties that the
membership may delegate. They may
recruit other members to assist in performing all tasks.
V. MEETINGS AND MEMBER VOTES
Member meetings shall be held monthly on a
regular day and at a regular time and place affirmed by the membership. The membership may agree to have additional
meetings. The Executive Committee may
call additional meetings. In addition, a
meeting may also be called by 10 members by petition to the Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee will
then call that meeting within 15 days.
Member meetings are open to nonmembers, who may speak at the meeting but
may not vote.
Meetings shall be conducted in accordance
with Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
Fifteen members of the organization shall constitute a quorum. All votes are decided by a simple majority
vote of those current members present and voting, except for club endorsements
and amendments to bylaws.
Notice of called
meetings and regular meetings shall include a list of any topics to be voted on
and must be mailed to the members at least five days in advance.
Club Endorsements:
Sole endorsements of candidates or propositions require at least 60% support
from members who vote in that race at the endorsement meeting. Dual endorsements result when two
alternatives receive more than 40% support and there are more than two
alternatives.
Amendments to these bylaws may be made by a
two-thirds vote at any meeting, provided that the meeting notice included
information on the changes to be considered.
VI. PUBLICATION OF ENDORSEMENTS
The officers shall cause the results of member
endorsement votes to be publicized to all members and, when feasible, to other voters. Any publicity by the club shall give
substantially equal treatment to all club endorsements for contested races in
the relevant election.
The officers shall register the club or an
affiliate as a political action committee if this is required by law in order
to spend funds to recommend endorsed candidates to nonmembers. The officers shall each year submit a
fund-allocation plan to the members for discussion and approval, and may
allocate club revenue as needed to carry out the approved plan.