Bylaws
BYLAWS of the LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® OF BLACK HAWK-BREMER COUNTIES
Article I
NAME
Sec. 1
Name. The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties, Iowa (LWVBHB). This local League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States, and of the League of Women Voters of Iowa.
Article II
PURPOSES AND POLICY
Sec. 1.
Purposes. The purposes of the LWVBHB are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues.
Sec. 2.
Political Policy. The League shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.
Article III
MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 1
Eligibility. Any person who subscribes to the purposes and policy of the League shall be eligible for membership.
Sec. 2
Types of Membership. The membership of the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties shall be composed of voting members and associate members.
Voting Members. Persons at least 16 years of age who join the League shall be voting members of local Leagues, state Leagues, and of the LWVUS; (1) those who live within an area of a local League may join that League or any other local League; (2) those who reside outside the area of any local League may join a local League or shall be state members-at-large; (3) those who have been members of the League for 50 years or more shall be life members excused from the payment of dues.
Associate Members. All others who join the League shall be associate members.
The membership of the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties shall be composed of voting members and associate members.
Article IV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sec. 1
Number, Manner of Selection, and Term of Office. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers of the League, seven (7) elected Directors and not more than seven (7) appointed Directors. The elected Directors shall be elected for terms of two (2) years by the general membership at an Annual Meeting and take office July 1. Four (4) shall be elected in even-numbered years. Three (3) shall be elected in odd-numbered years. The president or co-presidents, with approval of the elected members, may appoint up to seven (7) members necessary to carry on the work of the League. The term of office of the appointed directors shall be one (1) year and shall expire June 30.
Sec. 2
Qualifications. No person shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to serve as an officer or director of this organization unless that person is a voting member of the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties.
Sec. 3
Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled, until the next Annual Meeting, by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors. Three consecutive absences from the Board meetings by any member without a valid reason shall be deemed a resignation.
Sec. 4
Power and Duties. The Board of Directors shall have full charge of the property and business of the organization, with full power and authority to manage and conduct same, subject to the instructions of the general membership. It shall plan and direct the work necessary to carry out the purposes, policies, and programs as adopted by the National Convention, the State Convention, and the Annual Meeting. The Board shall create and designate such special committees as it may deem necessary.
Sec. 5
Meetings. There shall be at least eight (8) regular meetings of the Board of Directors annually. The Presidents or Co-Presidents may call special meetings of the Board of Directors and shall call a special meeting upon the written request of five (5) members of the Board.
Sec. 6
Quorum. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
Sec. 7
Electronic Communication. Board business may be conducted by email, telephone, or other electronic means acceptable to the Board.
Article V
OFFICERS
Sec. 1
Enumeration and Election of the Officers. The Officers of the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties shall be a President and Vice-President OR Co-Presidents (Vice-President optional), a Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall be elected by the General Membership at the Annual Meeting and take office July 1. The President or Co-Presidents and the Vice-President shall be elected for two-year terms in odd-numbered years. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected for two-year terms in even-numbered years.
Sec. 2
President. The President or Co-Presidents shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the Board of Directors. The President or Co-Presidents may, in the absence of the Treasurer, sign or endorse checks, drafts and notes. The President or Co-Presidents shall serve, ex officio, on all committees except the Nominating Committee and shall have such usual powers of supervision and management as may be designated by the Board.
Sec. 3
Vice-President. The Vice-President shall, in the event of the absence of the President or Co-Presidents, possess all the powers and perform all the duties of that office until such time as the Board of Directors shall elect one of its members to fill the vacancy. The Vice-President shall perform such other duties as the President or Co-Presidents and Board may designate.
Sec. 4
Secretary. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all General Meetings of the League and of all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall notify all Officers and Directors of their election. The Secretary shall sign, with the President or Co-Presidents, all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the Board, and shall perform such other duties as the President or Co-Presidents and Board may designate.
Sec. 5
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of these monies, shall deposit them in an accredited financial institution designated by the Board of Directors, and shall disburse the same only upon order of the Board. The Treasurer shall present reports to the Board at its regular meetings and an annual report to the Annual Meeting. The books of the Treasurer shall be audited annually by a three-member committee after the close of the fiscal year. The annual audit shall be presented to the Board by August 15 and to the membership at the next Annual Meeting.
Sec. 6
Past President. The outgoing President or Co-Presidents, shall stay on the Board of Directors one year past her/his/their designated presidential term(s) to serve as Past President(s) to provide both counsel to the sitting President and institutional memory to the Board, or may be elected to a two-year term as Director(s).
Article VI
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
Sec. 1
Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties is July 1 – June 30.
Sec. 2
Dues. Annual dues shall be those recommended by the Board and approved by the general membership at the Annual Meeting. Any member who fails to pay dues by December 1 of the current fiscal year shall be dropped from the membership rolls.
Sec. 3
Budget. The Board shall submit to the Annual Meeting for adoption a budget for the ensuing year. The budget shall provide for the support of the League as a whole.
Sec. 4
Budget Committee. A Budget Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at least two months prior to the Annual Meeting to prepare a budget for the ensuing year. The proposed budget shall be sent to all members one month before the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer shall serve, ex officio, as a member of the Budget Committee, but shall not be eligible to serve as its chairperson.
Sec. 5
Distribution of Assets on Dissolution. In the event of dissolution for any cause of the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties, all monies and securities which may at the time be owned by or are under the absolute control of this League shall be paid to the League of Women Voters of Iowa. All other property of whatsoever nature, whether real, personal or mixed, which may at the time be owned by or is under the control of this League shall be disposed of by any officer or employee of the organization, having possession of same, to such person, organization or corporation, for such public, charitable, or educational uses and purposes as may be designated by the then Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties. Disposition of property will follow the non-partisan policies of the League.
Article VII
MEETINGS
Sec. 1
General Membership. There shall be at least five (5) meetings of the membership each year including the Annual Meeting, with time and place of each determined by the Board of Directors.
Sec. 2
Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting shall be held during the month of April, the exact date to be determined by the Board of Directors. The annual Meeting shall (a) adopt a program for the ensuing year; (b) elect Officers and Directors, and members of the Nominating Committee for the ensuing year; (c) adopt an adequate annual budget; and (d) transact such other business as may properly come before it.
Sec. 3
Quorum. Twenty percent (20%) of the membership shall constitute a quorum at all General and Annual Meetings of the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties.
Article VIII
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Sec. 1
Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) members, two of whom will be elected at the Annual Meeting: the Chair of the Committee and one additional member. The Committee Chair cannot serve on the Board at the same time. The second member elected at-large may be from the Board. Nominations for these two members shall be made by the current Nominating Committee. The third member shall be appointed by the Board of Directors immediately following the Annual Meeting. Any vacancy on the Nominating Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors. Suggestions for nominations for Officers or Directors may be sent to the Committee by any member.
Sec. 2
Report of Nominating Committee and Nominations from the Floor. The report of the Nominating Committee of its nominations for Officers and Directors, as well as the Chairperson and one other member, who may be from the Board, of the succeeding Nominating Committee, shall be sent to all members one month before the date of the Annual Meeting. The report of the Nominating Committee shall be presented to the Annual Meeting. Immediately following the presentation of this report, nominations may be made from the floor by any voting member provided the consent of the nominee shall have been secured.
Sec. 3
Elections. Elections shall be made by ballot at the Annual Meeting provided that, when there is but one nominee for each office, the Secretary may be instructed to cast the ballot for every nominee. A majority vote of those present and qualified to vote and voting shall constitute an election.
Article IX
PROGRAM
Sec. 1
Authorization. The Governmental Principles adopted by the National Convention and supported by the League as a whole constitute the authorization for the adoption of Program.
Sec. 2
Program. The Program of the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties shall consist of (a) action to implement the Principles referred to in Article IX, Sec. 1, and (b) those local governmental issues chosen for concerted study and action.
Sec. 3
Program Selection.
a. The Board of Directors shall consider the recommendations sent in by voting members two months prior to the Annual Meeting and shall formulate a Proposed Program.
b. The Proposed Program shall be sent to all members one month before the Annual Meeting.
c. A majority of those qualified to vote at the Annual Meeting shall be required for adoption
of subjects in the Proposed Program as presented to the Annual Meeting by the Board of
Directors.
d. Recommendations for Program submitted by voting members two months prior to the Annual Meeting but not recommended by the Board of Directors may be adopted by the Annual Meeting provided that: (1) the Annual Meeting shall order consideration by a majority vote; and (2) the Annual Meeting shall adopt the item by a majority vote.
e. Changes in the Program, in the case of altered conditions, may be made at the Annual Meeting by a majority vote of members present.
Sec. 4
Member Action. Members may act in the name of the League of Women Voters only when authorized to do so by the Board of Directors.
Article X
NATIONAL CONVENTION – STATE CONVENTION – STATE COUNCIL
Sec. 1
National Convention. The Board of Directors, at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the national office, shall select delegates to that Convention in the numbers allotted by the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties under the provisions of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of the United States.
Sec. 2
State Convention. The Board of Directors, at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the state office, shall select delegates to the Convention in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer Counties under the provisions of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Iowa.
Sec. 3
State Council. The Board of Directors at a meeting, before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the state office, shall select delegates to the Council in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk/Bremer counties under the provisions of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Iowa.
Article XI
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Sec. 1
Parliamentary Authority. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order: Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws.
Article XII
AMENDMENTS
Sec. 1
Amendments. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at the Annual Meeting, provided the amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one month in advance of the meeting.
Article XIII
GIFTS AND BEQUESTS
Sec. 1
Gifts and Bequests. The Board of Directors shall be authorized to receive gifts and bequests on behalf of the League. All funds received shall be placed in separate gifts and bequests account(s). The gifts and bequests account(s) principal shall be maintained. All income shall be transferred to the general funds as accrued. The Treasurer shall select investments for gifts and bequest funds for a balance of maximum return and frequency of transfer to general funds.
Adopted April 26, 1994
Amended April 28, 1999
Amended April 26, 2006
Amended April 29, 2008
Amended April 28, 2009
Amended April 26, 2011
Amended April 22, 2014
Amended March 14, 2017 by Board of Directors to conform to amended Bylaws adopted at 2016
LWVUS National Convention.
League of Women Voters of Black Hawk & Bremer Counties
Help us make a Difference! Become Involved!
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan (does not support or oppose any candidates) political organization that concerns itself with the openness and fairness of the political process and works to increase understanding of public policy issues and influence legislation through education, dialogue, and advocacy. The League’s 98-year history of responsible involvement makes it an effective voice. By becoming active in the League, you have the opportunity to contribute to civil discourse and the betterment of our state and nation.