The name of this organization shall be Washington County Republican Women.

To promote an informed electorate through political education, and to encourage active involvement in local, state and national issues.

To increase the effectiveness of women in good government through education, active participation, and campaign support of women who aspire to political office and whose platform is in line with the Republican Party.

To be an influential organization on a local, state, and national level by:

1) Facilitating cooperation among all Republican Women.

2) Fostering loyalty to the Republican Party and promoting its ideals.

3) Working for the election of Republican Party nominees.

Members of the Executive Committee (all elected officers) must abstain from endorsement of any individual in primary campaigns. Individual members are free to work for the candidate of their choice as long as it is not done in the name of the club.

The initiation of litigation by any member or any other adversary proceeding against WCRW or in which WCRW is named defendant or respondent, shall constitute cause for removal and WCRW shall be entitled to recover from such member, officer or appointee its attorney fees and any other costs and expenses relating to any such litigation or proceeding if the WCRW shall substantially prevail therein.

Section 1: All women who pledge themselves to support Republican candidates and the Republican Party platform are eligible for membership.

Section 2: The WCRW Membership shall consist of Members in Good Standing, Associate Members, Contributors, Sponsors and Young Republicans.

A. Members in Good Standing are those members who are current in their payment of their dues.

B. Associate members shall be active male Republicans or female members of another Federated Unit as a woman may be counted in only one club. Associated members may not be counted for total membership or for the purpose of determining the number of delegates to national and state conventions. Associate members do not automatically become members of UFRW or NFRW. Associate dues shall remain in the WCRW. Associate members are persons who wish to support the organization by paying annual dues and attending meetings, but are not eligible to hold office, make motions, or vote on other than local issues. Annual dues shall be the same for Members in Good Standing..

Section 3: The organization shall be a member of the Utah Federation of Republican Women and a member of the National Federation of Republican Women.

NFRW By-laws do not permit continued membership of a club that is on record as having advocated a split party ticket or having supported a candidate running on an opposition ticket.

Membership dues shall be determined by the Executive Committee. Dues shall include the cost of membership in the State and National Federation of Republican Women. Dues are payable when a member joins WCRW and all dues are renewable January 1^st.

The fiscal year of the organization shall be from January 1st to December 31st.

Eligibility: Each officer, or appointed officer, shall be a Member in Good Standing, attend most of the monthly meetings and be involved in special committees.

Section 1: The officers of the organization shall be: President, First Vice-President/Programs, Second Vice-President/Membership, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Member-at-large.

The immediate past President shall be included to complete the Executive Committee.

A vacancy in an elective office, other than the President, shall be filled by the Executive Committee at its next meeting following the vacancy.

Section 2: Duties of the Officers

A. The President shall preside at all meetings and shall have general supervision of the work of the organization. She shall represent the organization at all times or designate someone as representative in her absence or inability to do so. She shall appoint the chairperson of the Nominating Committee. She shall appoint the Parliamentarian, the Auditor, and chairpersons of all the standing committees with the approval of the Executive Committee. She shall appoint committees not otherwise provided for by the Constitution. She shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, except the nominating committee. She shall assign duties to all officers as needed.

B. The First Vice-President, in the absence of the President, shall perform the duties of the President. She shall perform other duties as may be assigned to her by the President. She shall serve as Program Chairperson.

C. The Second Vice-President, in the absence of the President and First Vice-President, shall perform the duties of the President. She shall perform other duties as may be assigned to her by the President. She shall be the Membership Chairperson and keep an accurate roster of all members. These records shall be provided to the Secretary and Treasurer periodically as needed.

D. The Secretary shall keep and read the minutes of all the meetings, or make available to the membership the minutes in written form. She shall be custodian of all records of the club, issue notices at the direction of the President, handle correspondence, and any other duties assigned by the President.

E. The Treasurer shall receive and be custodian of all funds of the organization, shall pay all bills, and make payments due to UFRW. Two signatures shall be required on all checks: the President and the Treasurer, with the Assistant Treasurer signing if the Treasurer or President is unavailable. She shall keep records of all monies received and disbursed by her and prepare a written financial report for each monthly meeting. This written financial report will be provided to the President and Secretary. She shall keep a record of attendance and compile statistics for the Board to assist in their preparation of an annual budget.

F. The Assistant Treasurer shall perform duties assigned by the Treasurer.

G. The Member-at- Large shall be nominated from the floor at the November meeting. She shall serve as a liaison between the membership and the Executive Committee. She shall be ready to fill any vacancy, temporary or permanent, which may occur on the Executive Committee.

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Committee, elected officers, standing committee chairs, special committee chairs and appointees. The immediate Past President, chairpersons and appointees shall serve on the committee in a non-voting advisory capacity.

Section 2: The Executive Committee shall have authority to transact any necessary business meetings, to make recommendations as to policies, to advise the President, and to approve payments of invoices presented by the Treasurer. The Executive Committee shall present an annual budget to the membership. No person may serve more than two consecutive terms in one position, with a term limit of 4 consecutive years on the Board. A term of office shall be 2 years. An officer who has served more than ½ a term (1 year) shall be considered as having served a full term.

Section 3: The Parliamentarian shall decide questions and procedures upon request, conduct all elections, and act as a member of the By-laws Committee.

All officers and committee chairpersons shall be required to turn over to their successor officers and committee chairpersons all records, files or documents pertinent to their organization responsibilities within two (2) weeks of the termination of their term office, unless otherwise directed by the President or the Executive Committee.

Section 1: Election of officers shall be held at the regular November meeting of the membership, and those elected shall be installed and assume their duties at the close of the December meeting following installation.

Section 2: To provide continuity, the new board members will assume office in a staggered rotation as follows:  in even-numbered years, the positions of 2nd Vice President and Assistant Treasurer will rotate; in odd-numbered years, the positions of 1st Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary will rotate.  The Member-at-Large will rotate every year.

Section 3: Organization officers shall be elected in the following manner: The Nominating Committee of five (5) members shall be elected by a majority vote of the general membership at the May meeting. The President shall appoint one member who shall be chairperson of the Nominating Committee.

A. The Nominating Committee shall select one nominee for each elected office and announce its slate of candidates at the regular October meeting of the membership.

B. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the October meeting of the membership.

C. Election voting shall take place at the regular November meeting of the membership. Where there is one candidate for office, election may be made by voice vote, otherwise elections shall be made by written ballots. Where written ballots are required, the Parliamentarian will provide ballots and tally the results. A majority vote shall prevail.

D. To be eligible to vote for officers, a member must be in good standing. No proxy voting shall be permitted.

Section 1. General member meetings shall be held monthly unless otherwise designated by the Executive Committee. There will be at least 10 general meetings per year.

Section 2: Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held prior to the general member meetings at such time and place as may be designated by the President. Committee Chairpersons shall be invited as deemed necessary by the President.

Section 3: November shall be designated as the annual meeting for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for any other business.

Section 4: A quorum for a meeting of the organization shall be ten (10) percent of the membership.

Section 5: A quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be a majority of the Executive Committee.

The committees may include but not be limited to:

By-laws (see Article XII, B) Membership

Caring for America/Community Activity Program

Fund Raising/Campaign Publicity/Public Relations

Legislative

Achievement Awards/Volunteer Hours Literacy/MELP

Auditor for January audit Newsletter/Announcements

CAP Alert Program Nominating

Chaplain Parliamentarian Historian/Photographer

Hospitality

The President shall have the authority to appoint and establish all standing and special committees

Rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order, newly revised, shall govern all proceedings except where inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution and By-laws of this organization.

A. These By-laws may be amended at the regular meeting by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the club members provided that a notice of the proposed amendment has either:

1.) Been sent to each member at least 30 days prior to the meeting, or

2.) Been submitted in writing at a previous regular meeting.

Proposed changes are sent to the State Federation By-laws Chairperson for review and approval.

B. The By-laws shall be reviewed every two (2) years by the By-laws Committee. Proposed changes are then sent to the State Federation By-laws Chairman for review and approval. Once approved, the club shall vote on the changes.

C. All club members shall have a copy of the Membership Handbook which shall include a copy of these By-laws.

The club may be dissolved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at any meeting of the club, provided that notice of the dissolution has been submitted in writing at the previous meeting and has been sent by mail to all members of the club. In the event of dissolution, the Executive Committee shall, after payment of all liabilities of the club, distribute any remaining assets to the State Federation. No funds shall be used to the benefit of any individual member.

SEE 2011 DRAFT...