Democrats of Napa Valley Club Bylaws
I. Name: The name of this organization shall be the Democrats of Napa Valley Club.
II. Purpose: The purpose of the Democrats of Napa Valley Club (hereinafter called the Club or DONV) is to:
A. Seek to publicize activities, and build its membership from registered Democrats within Napa County and its Assembly District.
B. Provide a forum for elected officials, candidates for office and concerned citizens to gather and discuss issues and ideas in an effort to promote Democratic ideals.
C. Educate, inform and involve the public in important Democratic issues, policies and activities and gain greater access to legislative representatives through meetings, speakers, voter outreach, special projects or events, membership development, publicity and other community education efforts.
D. Develop Democratic candidates for partisan and nonpartisan elected positions.
E. Raise and expend funds for our collective purposes, including making donations.
F. Endorse measures and candidates at the Local, State and Federal levels. Engage the community to work actively for the passage of the measures and the election of the candidates.
G. Promote social interaction among Democrats.
III. Chartering
A. The Club is chartered by the Napa County Democratic Central Committee (hereinafter called the Central Committee).
B. As a chartered club of the Central Committee, the Club shall comply with the Bylaws of the Central Committee and the California Democratic Party, as they apply to chartered Clubs.
C. The Club shall be represented at meetings of the Central Committee and any Assembly District Committee meetings at which it may be entitled to membership. A person may serve as representative to more than one outside body.
IV. Membership Requirements
A. Qualifications: Any individual qualifies as a Member in good standing (hereinafter called a Member) if:
a. The individual is a duly registered member of the Democratic Party of California and at least 18 years of age; or
b. The individual is ineligible to vote (due to minority, non-residency, or other legal impediment), but pledges to register as a Democrat when eligibility is attained. However, these individuals will not be included in the roster of Members for the California Democratic Party (hereinafter called “CADEM”) Pre-Endorsement Conference, as referenced in Section XII.A. herein; and
c. Supports the purpose of the Club as stated in Article II, above; and
d. The Member’s dues are current.
e. Membership shall not be open to individuals, or members of any organization, found by the Club, by a majority of the members at a properly noticed general membership meeting, or by the Central Committee to be inconsistent with the principles of the Democratic Party.
B. Only Members are entitled to cast a vote in matters put before the general membership for a vote.
a. A Member will be eligible to vote in election and endorsement meetings the following month after joining; and
b. The member has attended at least one general membership meeting within the preceding twenty-four (24) months prior to the election; and
c. The member’s dues are current prior to casting their vote; and
d. The Member will be at least 18 years of age on or before the date upon which the next primary, general, local, or special election is scheduled to occur.
D. A member of the Club may be removed for such cause as failing to pay dues or to meet the requirements for membership as set forth above in the same manner and procedure as for the removal of an officer.
V. Dues
A. Each member shall pay dues on an annual basis, as follows:
a. Individual $25
b. Family/Household* $40. *A Family/Household membership may include up to three Members. Annual dues payable for household memberships will be increased by $10 for each additional Member greater than three from the same Family/Household.
c. Senior (over age 60) $20
d. Veteran (US Armed Services) $15
e. Student (Full time) $10
B. In cases where the payment of such dues will present or intensify a condition of financial hardship, new member applicants and renewing members may request a waiver or a reduction in the amount of his/her current year’s annual dues payable. The hardship waivers will be determined by the Executive Committee.
VI. Meetings
A. Regular Meetings
a. The Club shall hold regular monthly general membership meetings on such day as the President may determine from time to time.
b. Regular meetings shall not be canceled more than 3 times within any calendar year and in no event shall more than 2 regular meetings be canceled in succession.
B. Special Meetings
a. Special meetings may be called by the President at any time, on notice as specified below.
b. In the absence of the President, any two officers may call a special meeting, on notice as specified below.
C. Executive Committee Meetings (See Section X)
D. Notice of Meeting
a. Notice of regular or special meetings shall be given at least 24 hours in advance to all Members, in any manner as follows:
i. Notice in writing by US mail
ii. Notice in writing by e-mail
iii. Telephone message
iv. Text message
b. Notice of the meeting shall be deemed sufficient by any manner specified above if such notice includes the date, time and place of the meeting.
VII. Rules for Meetings
A. The Club shall use the newly revised Roberts Rules of Order to govern parliamentary procedure at all official meetings of the organization.
B. A quorum for any official meeting of the Club shall be 15 percent of the total organizational membership, or ten Members, whichever is smaller.
C. Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, the Club may adopt events and conduct regular business with a vote of 50 percent plus one of the members present at any meeting.
D. The Club may pass resolutions not related to endorsements with a vote of sixty percent (60%) of Members present and voting.
E. The Club may suspend specific portions of these Bylaws and/or Roberts Rules of Order for purpose of emergency or urgent business by a vote of sixty percent (60%) of the Members present and voting, unless the item to be suspended calls for a higher qualification. In such case, the percent specified in that portion of the Bylaws shall be required to suspend that text. The motion to suspend shall call out the particular section of the Bylaws proposed to be suspended.
VIII. Officers
A. Club officers shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. They shall be elected to serve a one-year term of office that terminates upon a successor being elected whose term then begins. Proper reporting of change of officers shall be filed within 10 days of the change. All former officers are duty bound to fully inform the successor of all matters of the office in a timely manner and take all necessary and proper steps to transition to the new officer including providing all DONV documents, access information, and records. No Member may hold 2 DONV Club officer positions at the same time.
B. The duties of the elected officers shall be as follows:
B.1. President
a. Shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Club.
b. Shall prepare the agenda for these meetings and provide it to the membership at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.
c. Appoint Committee Chairs
d. Shall represent this Club at public and/or political functions within Napa County, or will appoint delegates to attend such functions.
e. Shall have the authority to co-sign checks.
f. Shall be responsible to the Executive Committee and the membership for his or her actions.
g. The president may appoint members temporarily to fill un-expired terms of office, subject to election by the membership at the next Club meeting
h. May appoint a parliamentarian.
B.2 Vice President
a. Shall assist the President in the performance of all duties and shall be the presiding officer in the temporary absence of the President.
b. Shall have the authority to co-sign checks.
c. Shall be responsible to the Executive Committee and the membership for his or her actions.
d. Other duties as assigned by the Executive Committee.
e. If the president vacates the office, the Vice President shall ascend to the position of President, until an election is held to fill the President’s term of office.
B.3 Recording Secretary
a. Shall keep or cause to be kept, minutes of all meetings of the Club and of the Executive Committee. The minutes shall indicate the date, time and place of the meeting; and whether the meeting is a regular meeting or special meeting, and, if a special meeting, how authorized; notice given; and names of those present.
b. Shall record the minutes of all meetings, and disseminate these minutes prior to the next meeting. The minutes shall contain a summary of the proceedings at each meeting. Minutes shall be kept in a binder or electronically for 5 years and turned over to the new Secretary upon change of officers.
c. Shall attach copies of any handouts or written reports submitted at the meetings to the minutes.
d. The Secretary shall maintain, or shall work with the President or Membership Chair to maintain, an accurate attendance record for each general membership meeting; attendance records shall be preserved for 2 years.
e. Shall be responsible to the Executive Committee and the membership for his or her actions.
f. Shall be responsible to ensure that all Members are notified of Club meetings.
g. If the position of the Vice President is vacant, the Secretary shall serve as Vice President, until an election is held to fill the Vice President’s term of office.
B.4 Treasurer
a. Shall collect dues, donations or other funds and shall keep and maintain an accurate record of all financial transactions of this organization and summarize such transactions in a report at the regular membership meeting.
b. Shall deposit or cause to be deposited, all monies and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Democrats of Napa Valley Club.
c. Shall pay all bills and disbursements authorized by the President or Executive Committee of the Club. Shall have the authority to sign checks up to $300. Any expenditure over $300 must be approved by the Executive Committee.
d. Keep or cause to be kept, an accurate account of all monies, gifts and property received and disbursed in the name of the Democrats of Napa Valley.
e. Perform all required duties of Treasurer in the absence of a Professional Treasurer.
C. Election of officers shall be held in January.
D. An officer of the Club may be removed from office for such causes as misconduct in exercising his or her duties; neglect of duty in office; affiliation with or registration to vote as a Member of another political party; public avowal of preference for another political party; publicly endorsing or publicly advocating for candidates in opposition to DONV-endorsed candidates; or has an affiliation and/or membership with an organization that is repugnant to the principles of the Democratic Party.
D. Procedure for Removal of Officers, Executive Committee Members.
a. A petition for removal shall be made in writing, be signed by at least five (5) Members in good standing, state the grounds for the proposed removal, and be delivered to either the President or the Secretary at least three (3) weeks prior to the next general membership meeting.
b. Upon receipt of such petition, the members of the Club and the accused person shall be informed, and the petition shall be placed on the agenda for the next general membership meeting.
c. At said general membership meeting, the accused person shall be afforded an opportunity to respond to the charges.
d. Removal shall require a two-thirds vote, by secret ballot, of the members present, and, if approved, must be followed immediately by the election of an Acting Officer to complete the term of the removed officer.
IX. Elections
A. The Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President in October of each year to find and recommend candidates to run for the officer positions of the Club. The appointments to the Nominating Committee must be approved by the Executive Committee.
B. Candidates must be a Member in good standing and have attended at least one meeting in the last 6 months to run for elected office or approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Members may only run for one office per election. All candidates may submit statements or campaign materials to be distributed electronically to the membership.
C. The nominees for officers shall be submitted to the membership in November of each year. Nominations may also be made from the floor by any Member in good standing.
D. Election of officers shall be conducted by a secret ballot at the January general membership meeting.
X. Executive Committee:
A. The Executive Committee shall consist of the four officers, the chairs of the official Club committees, and 3-5 members at large. The Executive Committee may appoint Executive Committee Members at Large to serve on the Executive Committee. The members at large will serve for one year upon appointment.
B. Any Executive Committee meeting may be held by conference telephone, video screen communication, or other communications equipment.
C. If an urgent matter needs attention, the President will make an effort to convene an Executive Committee meeting. If it is not possible to convene a physical meeting in the next 5 days, the President may make the decision after attempting to solicit input from the other Executive Committee Members. The President’s actions will be recorded in the minutes of the next Executive Committee meeting.
D. All decisions of the Executive Committee shall be made by a majority vote of the Executive Committee Members present and voting.
E. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
F. The Executive Committee may designate a Professional Treasurer to serve as follows:
a. Shall prepare and present annual budget as requested by the Board.
b. Shall complete and file all financial reports required by law and government regulations.
c. Can summarize the items above in a report for the regular membership meetings instead of the elected Treasurer if called upon to do so.
d. Can pay bills if called upon to do so.
e. Shall maintain and preserve all records as required.
G. The Executive Committee at any time may require from an officer a full and detailed statement of account of any action or business done in the name of the Club.
H. The Executive Committee may adjourn into closed session, if necessary to discuss confidential or legal matters.
I. Executive Committee Members shall be removed from office by the same procedure as for removing officers.
J. The Executive Committee shall notify the membership of the date, time and place of all Executive Committee meetings at the regular general membership meetings. It shall notify all members of the date, time and place of any emergency meetings. All Members in good standing may attend Executive Committee meetings.
XI. Endorsements
A. The Club may endorse any nominee or candidate for public office, who is a registered Democrat, and may endorse or support any position on any issue, provided such an endorsement falls within the function and purposes of the organization and its Members. The Club membership shall not endorse any candidate who is not a registered Democrat in any partisan or non-partisan election; the Club may endorse a Democrat over another Democrat. Further, the Club will not endorse a candidate in any public electoral contest if the State or County Democratic Central Committee has declared a Democratic candidate to be offensive to the principles of the Democratic Party.
B. Endorsements shall require a vote of sixty percent (60%) of the Members present and voting after due notice has been given to the entire membership of the Club. Such notice shall be given no less than 14 days prior to the meeting. A sixty percent (60%) vote of the members present and voting at which the endorsement is considered may override the requirement for notice.
C. The Endorsement Process:
a. Balloting will be by a secret ballot
b. All Balloting shall also include “No Endorsement” as a choice for each contest.
D. Endorsed measures and/or contests shall be published and mentioned in DONV communications outreach.
XII. California Democratic Party (CADEM) Pre-Endorsement Conference
A. The roster of Members in good standing provided to CADEM shall:
a. Consist only of Members in good standing within Napa County and its Assembly District as of a date that is announced by the State Chair;
b. Be provided to the NCDCC and to the CADEM Region 2 Director by the CADEM specified date;
c. Be certified by the Club’s President, Secretary, or Treasurer as members in good standing within Napa County and its Assembly District.
B. The Club’s list of Designated Representatives to the CADEM Pre-Endorsement Conference (hereinafter called Representatives) shall:
a. Be selected from the roster of members in good standing;
b. Be selected at a duly-noticed meeting of the Club’s Executive Committee and approved by a majority vote of the Club’s Executive Committee present and voting.
c. Adhere to the CADEM Equal Division Rule, to the extent possible.
d. Be submitted to the Chartering Authority and the Regional 2 Director by the CADEM specified date.
XIII. Amendments
A. Proposed Amendments to the Bylaws of the Democrats of Napa Valley Club must be submitted to a Bylaws Committee for review and consideration. The Bylaws Committee will make a recommendation to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will take a position on the proposal and communicate their position to the membership with the notice of Proposed Bylaws Amendment.
B. The Bylaws may be amended by a sixty percent (60%) vote of the Members present and voting after due notice has been given to the entire membership of the Club. Such notice shall be given not less than five (5) days prior to the meeting at which the proposal shall be submitted for a vote.
AS AMENDED on MAY 20, 2019.
Recording Secretary