LWVCC Bylaws as of 04/15/2023
ARTICLE I
Name
Sec. 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country. 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 Michigan.
ARTICLE II
Purposes and Policies
Sec. 1. Purposes. The purposes of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country are:
1. To promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government.
2. To act on selected governmental issues.
Sec. 2. Policies. The policies of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country are:
1. Political Policy. The League of Women Voters shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.
2. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy. The League of Women Voters of the Copper Country is fully committed to ensuring compliance – in principle and in practice – with the League of Women Voters of Michigan’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy.
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 Copper Country shall be composed of voting members and associates.
a. 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; (4) ) those who are students are defined as individuals enrolled either as full or part-time with an accredited institution.
b. Associate Members. All others who join the League of Women Voters shall be associate members.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Sec. 1. Election, Qualification, and Term. The officers of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country shall be a President, a First Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer who shall be elected for terms of two years by the general membership at an Annual Meeting and shall take office immediately. The President, the Second Vice President, and the Secretary shall be elected in odd-numbered years. The First Vice President and the Treasurer shall be elected in even-numbered years. These officers shall hold office until the expiration of their two-year terms, or until their successors have been elected and qualified. If no one agrees to serve as president, a shared governance model shall be used to rotate the president’s responsibilities among the board members each month.
Sec. 2. The President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the Board of Directors unless the President shall designate another person to preside. The President or the President’s designee may, in the absence of the Treasurer, sign or endorse checks and notes. The President shall be, ex officio, a member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President shall have such usual powers of supervision and management as may pertain to the office of the President and perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board.
Sec. 3. The Vice Presidents. The two Vice Presidents, in the order of their rank, shall, in the event of absence, resignation, or death of the President, 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 Presidents shall perform such other duties as the President and Board may designate.
Sec. 4. The Secretary. The Secretary shall keep minutes of the annual meeting of the League and of all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall sign, with the President, all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the Board and shall perform such other duties as customarily pertain to the office.
Sec. 5. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of these moneys, shall deposit them in a bank designated by the Board of Directors, and shall disburse them only upon order of the Board. The Treasurer shall present statements to the Board at their regular meetings, an annual report to the Annual Meeting and a fiscal report to the State League and shall perform such other duties as customarily pertain to the office. The books of the Treasurer shall be audited annually by a qualified individual appointed by the Board of Directors.
Sec. 6. Shared Governance Model. When there is no nominee to serve as President, a board member shall be designated to be the point of contact for all communications (e.g., email, postal mail, webmail, etc.) on behalf of the Board, including receiving information from and reporting back to the LWVMI and LWVUS.
ARTICLE V
Board of Directors
Sec. 1. Election, Qualifications, and Term. The Board of Directors consists of the five officers of the League and two to five elected at-large directors. In addition, the Board may appoint not more than three appointed directors to replace directors who resign or as deemed necessary to carry out the League's work. The number of individuals serving on the Board will not exceed thirteen nor fall below three. Elected directors shall take office at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting at which they were elected. They shall serve for a term of two years, or until their successors have been elected and qualified while maintaining staggered terms among them. Appointed Directors shall serve until the next annual meeting, at which time they may be elected to a one-year or two-year staggered term as appropriate.
Sec. 2. Qualifications. All officers and directors of this organization must be voting members of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country.
Sec. 3. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors of an officer or director 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 a Board meeting of any member without a valid reason may be deemed a resignation.
Sec. 4. Powers and Duties. The Board of Directors shall manage and supervise the business, affairs, and activities of the organization, subject to the instructions of the general membership. It shall plan and direct the work necessary to carry out the Program as adopted by the National Convention, the State Convention, and the local Annual Meeting. The Board shall create and designate such special committees as it deems necessary, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these Bylaws.
Sec. 5. Meetings. At least seven regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held annually, at such time and place as the Board may determine. The President may call special meetings of the Board of Directions and shall call a special meeting on the written request of a quorum of members of the Board. The Board of Directors should receive a one-week notification of any special meeting.
Sec. 6. Quorum. A simple majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VI
Financial Administration
Sec. 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country shall be from July 1 through June 30 of each year.
Sec. 2. Dues. Annual dues shall be payable on the first day of April or at the Annual Meeting each year. Any changes to the amount for future years are determined by the Board of Directors on the recommendation of the Budget Committee and approved by a majority vote of those members present and voting at the Annual Meeting. In special circumstances, a reduced rate may be granted at the discretion of a committee composed of the President, the Membership Chair, and the Treasurer. If a person joins the League in a month other than April, the dues will be prorated for that year only. When two members reside at the same address in a common household, they shall pay a household rate.
Sec. 3. Budget. A budget for the fiscal year shall be submitted by the Board of Directors to the Annual Meeting, and adopted by a majority vote of those members present and voting. The budget shall include support for the work 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 fiscal year. The proposed budget shall be sent to all members one month prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer shall be, ex officio, a member of the Budget Committee but shall not be eligible to serve as chair.
Sec. 5. Distribution of Funds on Dissolution. In the event of the dissolution of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country all moneys and securities which may at the time be owned by, or under the control of, the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country shall be paid to the League of Women Voters of Michigan after the Board of Directors has paid or made provision for the payment of all liabilities of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country. All other property of whatsoever nature, whether real, personal, or mixed which may at the time be owned by, or under the control of, the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country shall be disposed of to such person, organization, or corporation for such public, charitable, or educational uses and purposes as the Board of Directors in its absolute discretion may designate.
ARTICLE VII
Meetings
Sec. 1. Annual Meeting. An Annual Meeting shall be held between March 15 and May 15 of each year, the date and place to be determined by the Board of Directors.
The Annual Meeting shall
a)adopt a local program for the ensuing year,
b)elect officers, directors, and members of the Nominating Committee,
c)adopt a budget for the fiscal year, and
d)transact such other business as may properly come before it.
Sec. 2. Quorum. Twenty percent of the voting members shall constitute a quorum at the annual meeting of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country.
ARTICLE VIII
Nominations and Elections
Sec. 1. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of three to five members who shall serve for a period of one year. The chair shall be elected by the membership at the Annual Meeting. Nominations for this committee shall be made by the current Nominating Committee. Any vacancy on the Nominating Committee shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors. Suggestions for nominations for officers and directors may be sent to this Committee by any voting member.
Sec. 2. Report of the Nominating Committee and Nominations from the Floor. The report of the Nominating Committee of its nominations for officers, directors, and the chair and two members of the succeeding Nominating Committee shall be sent to all members one month prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. The report of the Nominating Committee shall be presented at the Annual Meeting. Immediately following the presentation of this report, nominations may be made from the floor by any voting member provided that the consent of the nominee has been obtained.
Sec. 3. Election. At the Annual Meeting, the election shall be by ballot, except that if there is only one nominee for each office, the election shall be by voice vote. A majority vote of those members present and voting shall constitute an election. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.
ARTICLE IX
Program
Sec. 1. Authorization. The governmental Principles adopted by the LWVUS National Convention and supported by the League constitute the authorization for the adoption of the Program.
Sec. 2. Program. The Program of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country shall consist of (a) action to implement the principles, (b) those governmental issues chosen for concerted study and/or action, and (c) those positions on local governmental issues to which the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country has given sustained attention and on which it may continue to act.
Sec. 3. Action by the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting shall act upon the Program using the following procedures.
a) The Board of Directors shall consider the recommendations made by the 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 prior to the date of the Annual Meeting.
c) A majority vote of those members present and voting at the Annual Meeting shall be required for adoption of each subject 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 of those members present and voting.
e) Changes in the Program, in the case of altered conditions, may be made provided that: (1) Information concerning the proposed changes has been sent to all members at least two weeks prior to a general membership meeting at which the change is to be discussed, and (2) final action by the membership is taken at a succeeding meeting.
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 and 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 number allotted to the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country 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 that Convention in the number allotted to the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country under the provisions of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Michigan.
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 those members present and voting at any Annual Meeting, provided that the proposed amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one month prior to the date of the Annual Meeting.
Accepted 10-05-59
Adopted 05-01-61
Rewritten 02-15-64
Amended 04-14-66
Amended 04-19-67
Amended 04-27-68
Amended 04-16-71
Amended 04-20-72
Amended 04-26-73
Amended 04-23-75
Amended 04-20-76
Amended 04-09-81
Amended 04-20-82
Amended 04-26-84
Amended 04-18-85
Amended 04-04-90
Amended 04-21-07
Amended 04-12-14
Amended 04/08/17
Amended 04/27/19
Amended 04/12/21
