BYLAWS of the LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTWOOD/WALPOLE/DEDHAM, INC.
Amended June 2021
PREAMBLE
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
ARTICLE I
Sec. 1. Name: The name of this organization shall be League of Women Voters of Westwood/Walpole/Dedham, Inc., hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as the League. This local League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVUS and of the League of Women Voters of MA.
ARTICLE II
Purposes and Policy
Sec. 1. Purposes: The purposes of the League are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues.
Sec. 2. Policies
- Political Policy: The League shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy: The League is fully committed to ensure compliance - in principle and in practice - with LWVUS’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Sec. I. Eligibility: Any person who subscribes to the purposes and policy of the League of Women Voters shall be eligible for membership.
Sec.2. Types of Membership:
- Voting members: Persons at least 16 years of age who join the League shall be voting members of the local Leagues, state Leagues and of LWVUS; (1) those who live within an area of a local League may join that League or any other 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; (4) those who are students are defined as individuals enrolled either as full or part time with an accredited institution.
- Associate Members: All others who join the League shall be associate members.
ARTICLE IV
Steering Committee
Sec. 1. The Steering Committee of the League shall consist of voting members from each town who shall serve at the pleasure of the League. Vacancies may be filled by vote of the remaining members of the Steering Committee.
Sec. 2. Officers: The Steering Committee shall act as officers of the League. The Steering Committee shall designate which team members shall perform such duties as customarily pertain to the office of president and treasurer, including spokesperson for the League, signing and endorsing checks and drafts, maintaining deposits in authorized financial institutions and arranging for regular audits of the books.
Sec. 3. Powers: The Steering Committee shall manage and supervise the business, affairs, and activities of the League, subject to the instructions of the annual business meeting. It shall accept responsibility for such other matters as the national or state board may from time to time delegate to it. It shall have the power to create such special committees as it deems necessary and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws.
Sec. 4. Duties: As a condition of recognition by the state and national boards, the Steering Committee of the League shall designate one of its members to perform each of the following tasks:
- Preside over the Steering Committee, membership, and public meetings and to serve as spokesperson for the League.
- Handle any and all money matters for the League, including dues collection and renewal, unless otherwise assigned to the state or national league, preparing financial statements, and, with the assistance of the remaining members of the Steering Committee preparing a budget and plans to raise funds for the League.
- Create and maintain a website with input from the remaining members of the Steering Committee or any appropriate off-board committee.
- Maintain regular contact with members, including new members, to notify members of meetings, recruit members to serve on standing and ad hoc committees and for other activities of the League.
- Create, with input from the remaining members of the Steering Committee a community-based program, using member volunteers and community partners that may include observing local government, advocating on a local issue, or studying the local community and local government.
Sec. 5 Meetings: At least 4 regular meetings of the Steering Committee shall be held annually. The Steering Committee may designate one member or the members may share the responsibility for preparing an agenda for each such meeting, with input from the remaining members of the Steering Committee or any appropriate off-board committee and for insuring that the minutes are kept of all meetings of the Steering Committee and of the annual business meeting.
Sec.6. Quorum: A majority of the members of the Steering Committee of the League shall constitute a quorum. Any one or more members of the team may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or similar equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
ARTICLE V
Membership Meetings
Sec. 1. Membership Meetings: There shall be at least four (4) meetings of the membership and/or public each year. The Steering Committee shall determine the time and place of the meetings. These four (4) meetings shall include an annual business meeting at which a budget and bylaws are approved. Special meetings of the membership may be called by the Steering Committee when deemed appropriate.
Sec. 2. Annual Meeting: Annual Meeting shall be held after National and State Convention/Council. The time and place shall be determined by the Steering Committee.
Sec. 2. Quorum: 20% of the voting members shall constitute a quorum at all business meetings of the League provided that written notice of the meeting is sent to the membership at least one week in advance.
ARTICLE VI
Principles and Program
Sec 1. Principles: The Principles are concepts of government adopted by the national convention and supported by the League as a whole. They are the authorization for the adoption of national, state, and local program.
Sec. 2. Program: The program of the League shall consist of action to implement the Principles and those governmental issues chosen by the annual business meeting for concerted study and action, provided that, as a condition of recognition by the state and national boards, the League shall act only on existing local positions or state or national positions. The Steering Committee shall recommend to the membership, at the annual business meeting, a program of work focused on the local communities. Program of work, as used in these bylaws, may be in the form of observing local governments, advocating on a local issue, or educating the membership and the communities on the structure and services of local government. The annual business meeting may adopt the Steering Committee recommended program or any similar program of work provided that any program of work adopted by the League shall focus on the local communities.
Sec. 3. Program Action: Members may act in the name of the League only when authorized to do so by the Steering Committee. They act only in conformity with, and not contrary to, a position taken by the League, the LWV of MA or the LWVUS.
ARTICLE VII
Financial Administration
Sec.1. Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of the League shall commence on the first of June of each year.
Sec. 2. Dues: Annual dues shall be payable on the first day of June of each year. Any member joining after January 1 shall pay one half of the dues for that year. Any member who fails to pay dues within four months after they become payable shall be removed from the membership rolls, except that other arrangements for the payment of dues may be made at the discretion of the Steering Committee.
Sec.3. Budget: An annual budget shall be prepared by the Steering Committee and shall be published to the membership no less than one month prior to the annual business meeting. The budget, as presented, may be amended at the Annual Meeting and shall be adopted at the annual business meeting by a majority vote.
Sec.4. Distribution of Funds on Dissolution: In the event of the dissolution of the League all moneys and securities which may at the time be owned by or under the control of the League shall be paid to the LWVMA, after the state and national per member payments and other obligations have been met. All other property of whatsoever nature, whether real, personal, or mixed that may at the time be owned by or under the control of the League shall be disposed of to such person, organization, or corporation for such public, charitable or educational use and purpose as the Steering Committee in its absolute discretion may designate.
ARTICLE VIII
Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and not inconsistent with these bylaws.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members at the annual business meeting, provided that the proposed amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one month in advance of the meeting.
Adopted 1958
Amended May 1974
Amended May 1978
Amended June 2007
Amended August 2015
Amended June, 2021
