STANDARD BYLAWS
OF THE
DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF SOUTHWEST VOLUSIA COUNTY

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Democratic Club of Southwest Volusia County.

ARTICLE II – OBJECT AND PURPOSE

The object of this organization shall be to stimulate active interest in political and governmental affairs; to strengthen and to further the ideals and principals of the Democratic Party; to provide reasonable volunteers and financial support to the Volusia County Democratic Executive Committee as may be requested by the DEC; to promote participation among Democrats; to support and elect the duly selected nominees of the Democratic Party in national, state, and local campaigns and to foster good fellowship among Democrats and other Democratic Clubs and organizations. In the Primary Elections no candidate will be endorsed or supported individually by the club . At no time will a candidate from another Party be supported by members of this organization.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Democrats registered to vote in Volusia County interested in the objectives of this club shall be eligible for membership. No other residency restriction may be placed upon membership or the privileges of membership in this club. In accordance with Article VI of the Florida Democratic Party Bylaws, with the exception of the organizational meeting of this club, those members permitted to vote in any club election for officer or club board member must have been a dues paying member of the club at least forty-five (45) days prior to the date of such election. Officers and directors shall be required to execute the Loyalty Oath in the form included in the Bylaws of the Florida Democratic Party.

ARTICLE IV – DUES

Annual dues shall be determined by the club's Executive Board and voted upon by the membership as needed. Regular Membership dues are payable to the Treasurer by January 1 for the ensuing club year or at the time of becoming a member, and paid again on or before the January 1 due date unless the member joins on or after July 1, in which case dues for regular membership will be halved for the remainder of the club year. The Board shall have the right to waive fees for indigent or distressed persons. Dues for membership classes are as follows:

ARTICLE V – PARTY CONTRIBUTION

Annual Party Contribution: In January of each year, each Democratic club chartered under the rules of the Florida Democratic Party shall pay an annual contribution based on membership as of December 31 of the proceeding year to the Democratic Executive Committee in the county of charter based on the following:

Clubs with 0-50                                  $25.00
Clubs with 51-100                              $50.00
Clubs with 101-300                            $75.00
Clubs with 301-500                            $100.00
Clubs with 501-750                            $150.00
Clubs with 751-1000                          $250.00

Any Club chartered after January 1985 will pay a contribution based on the number of members at the time of chartering which is consistent with the annual party contribution fee schedule.

Eighty percent (80%) of the contribution will remain with the county Democratic Executive Committee and twenty percent be remitted to the Florida Democratic Party no later than April 1 of that year.

ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this club shall be a president, vice president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer, parliamentarian, and such other officer as deemed necessary by the membership. Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws.

Section 2. All terms of office shall be for one (1) year. The President shall be eligible for no more than two consecutive terms in the Presidency.

ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the club and Board of Directors, of which the President is automatically chairman; shall be an ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee; shall appoint all Standing and Special Committees and their chairs; shall represent the club at county, district and state functions; shall give guidance to the committee chairmen in their work and shall perform all duties pertaining to the office of President.

Section 2. The Vice President shall render all possible assistance to the President in matters pertaining to the club, and shall assume the office of in the absence of, or inability of, the President to serve. The Vice President shall assist and, at the option of the President, direct this club’s campaign efforts.

Section 3. The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all meetings of the club and all meetings of the Board of Directors; and shall have a copy of the club Bylaws, with any amendments properly recorded. Copies of all minutes will be made available to all members, and a copy, including the Treasurer’s Report shall be forwarded to the Volusia County DEC within 20 days of each meeting.

Section 4. The Corresponding Secretary shall handle correspondence; and shall maintain a list of members with addresses, phone numbers, E-mail addresses and precinct numbers.

Section 5. The Treasurer shall receive all monies of the club; shall keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures; shall present a statement of all income and all expenditures at each meeting occurring since the previous meeting of the club, and shall provide a copy of the statement to the chair of the Volusia County DEC: and shall pay out funds only as authorized or budgeted by vote of the members of the club. All financial records shall be audited by the Audit Committee annually and a report of the audit shall be given to members at the annual meeting or as close to said date as possible and a copy forwarded to the Volusia County DEC. Checks shall be signed jointly by the Treasurer and the President or a designated board member, who may sign checks at the President’s request or absence. In the absence of the treasurer, the designated board member may serve in the treasurer’s place and report all income and expenditures to the Treasurer. The Treasurer may not be a member of the Audit Committee.

Section 6. The Parliamentarian shall be a member of the Bylaws committee, and upon request read from the Robert’s Rules of Order and interpret the rules when necessary.

Section 7. The creation of additional offices shall be undertaken in the Bylaws at the time when they are adopted or amended. Additional sections shall be added for each additional officer.

ARTICLE VIII – MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular meetings of the club shall be held monthly, on the 1st Thursday of each month unless otherwise ordered by the club or by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the president or a majority of the Board of Directors with one week’s notice to the members. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call.

Section 3. Twenty percent (20%) of the total current membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any regular or special meeting. A majority vote is necessary to carry motions.

Section 4. All meetings shall be in a facility accessible to the physically handicapped.

Section 5. Proxies and absentee voting are prohibited.

ARTICLE IX – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers and at least four elected members.

Section 2. The duties of the Board of Directors shall be to transact business of the club in regular or special sessions, and to make recommendations to the club.

Section 3. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be within two weeks prior to the regular meeting of the club, or at request of the President or three members of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. A majority of the members of the Board of directors shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE X – ELECTIONS

Section 1. Officers shall be elected annually at the annual meeting held in January of each year with the exception of the charter year.

Section 2. The President shall appoint a Nominating and Election Committee at the regular meeting in November. At that same meeting two more members of the nominating committee shall be elected from the floor. This committee shall present a candidate of each elective office within this club at the meeting in December. Additional nominations from the floor shall be in order at that time.

Section 3. With the exception of the organizational meeting, there shall be a forty-five (45) day paid membership requirement prior to a member being permitted to vote or participate in any club election for officer or board members.

Section 4. If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Vice President shall become President. Other vacancies occurring shall be filled by the club at a regular meeting.

Section 5. Voting for officers and directors must be by secret ballot.

Section 6. Any officer may be removed from office upon a two-third (2/3) vote of the membership of the club at any regular or special meeting after ten (10) days notice to the membership that a motion for the purpose of removal of said officer will be considered at the regular or special meeting. The removal may be for cause, including but not limited to the following: malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, incompetence, permanent inability to perform official duties, or conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude.

ARTICLE XI – STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1. The standing committees shall be Audit, Budget, Campaign, Membership, Publicity,
Bylaws, and Ways and Means, and shall be appointed by the President promptly after each annual meeting.

Section 2. The Budget Committee shall prepare a budget for the fiscal year and submit it to the club for adoption at the March meeting.

Section 3. The Campaign Committee Chairperson shall be a member of the Board of Directors. The Campaign Committee shall organize and run the campaign headquarters and all activities relative to specific campaigns under the direction of the Board of Directors; work toward the election of Democratic candidates and nominees for the area covered by this club, including County, State, and National candidates.

Section 4. The Membership Committee shall see that all persons wishing membership are, in fact, registered Democrats and also shall organize and assist on membership campaigns.

Section 5. Publicity Committee shall see that all activities including meetings, are advertised through the media.

Section 6. The Bylaws committee shall recommend such changes to the Bylaws as appear necessary and feasible from time to time, and to file the changes to the Democratic Party within thirty days (30) from approval by the members.

Section 7. Ways and Means Committee shall find ways of fundraising and shall coordinate all fundraising activities.

Section 8. The Audit Committee shall audit all financial records annually and provide a report of the audit to members at the annual meeting or as close to said date as possible and forward a copy to the chair of the Volusia County DEC.

ARTICLE XII – ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROVISIONS

The club hereby adopts and shall enforce the following anti-discrimination provisions:

1. No Democratic Loyalty Oath should be used which has the effect of requiring members of the Democratic Party to condone or support discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, or physical disability.

2. The time and place for all pubic meetings of Democratic Party clubs shall be publicized fully and in such manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons, and should be open to all members of the Democratic Party regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, or physical disability.

3. In order to fully and adequately inform prospective and current members of a full description of the legal, practical and pertinent procedures for selection of all Democratic Club representatives and officers, the club should publicize full and in such manner, as to assure notice to all interested Democrats in time to have adequate opportunity to participate.

ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENTS

The Bylaws maybe amended by a majority vote at a regular meeting pursuant to notification in writing one week prior to the meeting. Bylaws and changes or amendments thereto shall be filed with the Florida Democratic Party within thirty (30) days following adoption. All amendments are subject to approval by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Certification Committee (DEC chairman, State Committeeman, and State committeewoman) and the Florida Democratic Party Committee on Clubs, Organizations, and Caucuses, together with copies of the minutes of the meeting at which these amendments were adopted.

ARTICLE XIV – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the club in all cases to which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and the rules of the County Democratic Executive Committee, Florida Democratic Party, and the National Democratic Party.

ARTICLE XV – JURISDICTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Section 1. All items within this club’s charter and bylaws are within the jurisdiction of the Volusia County Democratic Executive Committee, the Charter and Bylaws of the Florida Democratic Party, and the Florida Statutes. Failure to comply with any or all of these provisions may result in the revocation of the club charter.

Section 2. Charter Recertification: In July of each odd-numbered year the club shall apply to the Certification Committee for a Certificate of Compliance. Failure to do so shall result in the forfeiture of all rights and privileges of the use of the word Democrat, Democratic, or derivative thereof.

Section 3. Dissolution: In the event this club wishes to dissolve, a resolution stating the date of dissolution and reasons for the same shall be adopted by a majority vote of the club after being submitted in writing at the previous meeting. When the club disbands for any reason, the club’s assets and funds, after all debts are satisfied, shall become property of the county Democratic Executive Committee.

Section 4. Grievances: Disputes and grievances maybe resolved with the county Chairman, State Committeeman, and State Committeewoman of the county Democratic Executive Committee in the county of charter. Should one (1) person hold two (2) of these offices the Vice Chairman of the County Democratic Executive Committee shall also be involved in said resolution. Such resolution may be appealed to the county Democratic Executive Committee, whose decision shall be final unless appealed to the Judicial Council not later than forty-five (45) days from the date of said decision.

ARTICLE XVI - ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

1. The Volusia County Democratic Executive Committee will require documents submitted electronically by the Democratic Clubs be attached in an e-mail, and that they be readable in a commonly used application, as an Adobe Acrobat (PDF), or Microsoft Word (DOC) document.

2. All clubs certified through the Volusia County Democratic Executive Committee must follow the State of Florida, and the Federal campaign finance laws. This includes, but is not limited to, the filing of all reports pursuant to Florida Statutes section 106.07, or filing for the appropriate waiver pursuant to Florida Statutes section 106.07(7).

3. This organization shall at all times, and as a condition of remaining certified, be a political entity in good standing with the Division of Elections, either as a "political committee", "committee of continuing existence", or such other entity as approved in writing by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Certification Committee (DEC chairman, state committeeman and state committeewoman) and the Florida Democratic Party Committee on Clubs, Organizations, and Caucuses.