Proposed Bylaws

Written by: Crispin Reedy on May 3, 2006 6:23 PM EDT

Here are the proposed bylaws for our group.

ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this organization shall be Democracy For America Dallas, also known as DFA Dallas.

ARTICLE II
Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be to actively promote local, state and national causes and political candidates, and to establish and maintain a location from which members can meet to educate the public and to plan, organize and engage in progressive activities.

ARTICLE III
Members
Section 1. Individuals 16 years of age and older shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2. All people are welcome to attend meetings and participate in club functions. The people who attend meetings and are enrolled on DFA-Link are considered to be General Members. No membership fee is required to become a General Member.
Section 3. In order to have a vote on matters that affect the organization, a person must become a Sustaining Member and pay the annual dues of $50. This membership becomes effective 28 days after the dues are paid, with the exception of the year the group is established.
TBD: Also can become a Sustaining Member by volunteer hour contribution.?

Section 4. Sustaining Members whose dues are current are eligible to serve as officers on the Leadership Team.

ARTICLE IV
Committees
Section 1. The activist work of DFA-Dallas is done in small working committees. These committees are formed as needed to work on specific projects. For example, the Training Committee develops and provides training. The Summer Speaker Series Committee sponsors that series. Etcetera.
Section 2. Working committees are formed as needed and dissolved when not needed under the sponsorship of the Leadership Team. Any interested member who wishes to lead a team for a special project of activist work sponsored by DFA-Dallas can ask the Leadership Team to establish a committee for that project. You do not have to be a member of the elected Leadership Team to be a committee chair. Committee chairs will be considered ad hoc members of the Leadership Team.
Section 3. An Audit Committee of three members shall be voted on in January by the Sustaining Members and the members will be from the Sustaining Members in good standing, and shall not include the Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the Audit Committee to audit the Treasurer's accounts at the close of January. The Audit Committee shall report at the Leadership Team meeting that immediately precedes the Annual Meeting. The Audit Committee shall also report at the Annual Meeting.
Section 4. Committees shall make periodic written and/or oral reports as determined by the Leadership Team.


ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1. The Leadership Team will consist of four elected members and a Treasurer.
A. Any member of the Leadership Team can coordinate or preside over meetings and programs of the organization, or represent the organization at functions.
B. Any one of the Leadership Team may serve as Secretary to record and maintain minutes and to prepare notices and correspondence as necessary.
C. Duties of the Treasurer shall be to receive and deposit all money paid to this organization, to maintain a current list of Sustaining members with an indication of their status (including responsibility for providing 30 days advanced notice of membership suspension to members in arrears), provide reports.


ARTICLE V
Meetings
Section 1. There shall be four types of meetings: Annual, Monthly, Leadership Team, and Committee.
A. An Annual Meeting shall be held the first Wednesday in March for the purpose of electing Leadership Team Members, receiving reports of officers, and committees, amending the Bylaws and any other formal business. The Annual Meeting shall be open to all General and Sustaining Members, as well as guests. Only Sustaining Members in good standing shall be eligible to vote during the Annual Meeting.
B. A Monthly General Meeting, unless otherwise specified shall be held the first Wednesday of each month and shall be open to all members and guests. Monthly General Meetings shall consist of reports on actions general program material.
C. The Leadership Team Meetings will be held on an as-needed basis and can be requested by any member of the Leadership Team. Heads of committees who are not on the elected Leadership Team will attend Leadership Team meetings as necessary.
D. Committee Meetings will be held on an as-needed basis to do work.
Section 2. An Annual Meeting shall be determined to exist if a quorum of its members in good standing, including 4 or more Leadership Team members, are present.
Section 3. A quorum for the Annual Meeting shall consist of 9 or more members in good standing.
Section 4. A quorum for a Leadership Team Meeting shall consist of 4 or more Leadership Team Members in good standing.


ARTICLE VI
The Leadership Team
Section 1. The Leadership Team will consist of a four elected members and a treasurer. The Leadership Team will be elected from among the organization's Sustaining members in good standing during the Annual Meeting.
Section 2. The Leadership Team shall fix the hour and place of meetings, conduct business and perform such other duties as are specified in these Bylaws.
Section 3. Each Leadership Team member has a 1 year term.
Section 4. Leadership Team Members shall serve until their successors are elected and their term of office shall begin at the close of the Annual Meeting at which they are elected.
Section 5. The Leadership Team shall fill Officer and Leadership Team vacancies by appointment. The appointee shall serve the remainder of the term of the appointed office. The appointee shall be chosen from among the current Leadership Team members already serving or from among DFA Dallas members in good standing.
A. An Leadership Team vacancy shall exist if the Leadership Team member does not attend two consecutive Leadership Team meetings unless excused by the Leadership Team or the member's status is considered not in good standing for at least 60 consecutive days.
Section 6. The initial election of permanent Leadership Team members shall take place at the meeting following the adoption of these Bylaws.
Nominations shall be from the floor and nominees shall be established Sustaining Members, present and voting.
A simple majority of the votes cast by established Sustaining Members shall be required to elect permanent Leadership Team members in the initial election.


ARTICLE VIII
Parliamentary Authority
The business conducted during the Annual Meeting will be conducted pursuant to Robert's Rules of Order Revised.

ARTICLE IX
Amendment of Bylaws
Amendment to these Bylaws shall be considered during the Annual Meeting and ratified by a number representing 2/3 of the members present and voting during such Annual Meeting. Amendment proposals shall be submitted in writing to the Leadership Team, then published and distributed either electronically or by U. S. Mail to Members at least 15 days prior to the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE X
Standing Rules
The Leadership Team may adopt standing rules for this Organization to the extent that such rules are not in conflict with these Bylaws.

Tags:
Location: Dallas, TX 75238