Sec. 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of the Perrysburg Area, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws by its full name or as LWV of the Perrysburg Area.

 

Sec. 1. Purposes. The purposes of the League of Women Voters of the Perrysburg Area shall be to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues.

Sec. 2. Policies. The Policies of the League of Women Voters are:

1. Political Policy. The League of Women Voters of the Perrysburg Area shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.
2. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy. The League is fully committed to ensure compliance- in principle and in practice- with League of Women Voters of the United States’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy. 

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. 

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 at-large members; (3) those who have been members of the League for 50 years or more shall be life members excused from payment of dues; (4) those who are students are defined as individuals enrolled either as full or part time with an accredited institution.

b.  All others who enroll in the League shall be associate members. 

Sec. 1. Enumeration and Election of Officers. The officers of the League of Women Voters of the Perrysburg Area shall be a President, a Vice President, Program, a Vice President, Membership, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary and a Treasurer. All officers, except the Treasurer, shall take office immediately following the annual meeting. The treasurer shall take office on the first day of the fiscal year following the annual meeting.

a.  The President, Vice President Program and Corresponding Secretary shall be elected for two-year terms in odd numbered years.

b.  The Vice President Membership, Recording Secretary and the Treasurer shall be elected for two-year terms in even numbered years.

c.  Any two of the above offices may be combined and held by one member.

d.  Two members may hold any one of the above offices jointly.

 

Sec. 2. President. The president shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the Board of Directors. The President may, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, sign or endorse checks, drafts and notes, and shall always sign checks written to the Treasurer. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee and shall have the usual power of supervision and management, as may pertain to the office of the President, and perform such duties as the board may designate.

Sec. 3. Vice Presidents. There shall be two Vice Presidents:

a.  The Vice President, Program, is responsible for coordinating all areas of program, local, state and national. The Program Vice President shall be an ex officio member of all program committees.

b.  The Vice President, Membership, is responsible for coordinating all areas of membership recruiting and servicing.

c.  In the event of the absence, disability, resignation or death of the President the Board of Directors shall select one of its members or officers to fill the vacancy. The Vice Presidents shall perform such other duties as the President and Board may designate.

Sec. 4. Secretaries. There shall be two secretaries.

a.  The Recording Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any business meeting of the membership. The Recording Secretary shall notify all officers and Directors of their election and shall sign, with the President, all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the Board and shall perform such other functions as may be incident to her office.

b.  The Corresponding Secretary shall help the President with all correspondence and shall perform such other functions as may be incident to her office.

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 a bank designated by the Board of Directors, and shall disburse the same only upon order of the Board. The Treasurer shall not sign checks written to her/himself. The Treasurer shall present statements to the Board at its regular meetings, an annual report to the membership and shall notify members when dues are payable.

Sec. 6. Executive Committee. All officers shall serve on the Executive Committee, which shall meet at the discretion of the President. 

Sec. 1. Number, Manner of Selection and Term of Office. The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers of the League, six elected Directors and not more than six appointed Directors. Three Directors shall be elected by the general membership at each Annual Meeting and shall serve for a term of two years beginning June 1, or immediately after the election whichever is later, or until their successors have been elected. The elected members shall appoint such additional Directors, not exceeding six, as they deem necessary to carry on the work of the LWV of the Perrysburg Area. The terms of office of the appointed Directors shall be one year and shall expire May 31st.

 

Sec. 2. Qualifications. Any person who serves as an officer or director of this organization shall be a voting member of the League of Women Voters of the Perrysburg Area.

 

Sec. 3. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors by reason of resignation, death, or disqualification of an officer or elected member 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 without a valid reason shall be deemed a resignation.

 

a.  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 program as adopted by the National Convention, the State Convention and the Annual Meeting. Authorization for any single expenditure over one hundred ($100) must be granted by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The Board shall create and designate such special committees as it may deem necessary.

b.  In executing the duties of their office, board members are expected to carry out applicable laws and regulations as well as league bylaws, mission, policies, principles, positions, standards, and procedures.  Board members who do not shall be counseled.  If violations persist, they may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors.

 

a.  Program Committee shall be chaired by the Program Vice President.

b.  Membership Service Committee shall be chaired by the Membership Vice President.

c.  Each committee may be expanded to include members in good standing of the League of Women Voters of the Perrysburg Area who are not members of the Board.

 

Sec. 6. Meetings. There shall be at least nine regular meetings of the Board of Directors annually. The President may call special meetings of the Board of Directors and shall call a special meeting upon the written request of five members of the Board.

 

Sec. 7. Quorum. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum of the Board.

 

Sec. 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the League of Women Voters of the Perrysburg Area will coincide with that of the LWVUS.

Sec. 2. Dues.

a.  The dues shall be determined by the membership at the Annual Meeting. Dues shall be payable on the first day of June of each year, beginning with 1982. Members joining after January 31 shall pay one-half the regular dues for the first year. Members whose dues are not paid by August 31 shall be dropped from membership. When two members reside at the same address in a common household, dues shall be one and one-half times the individual member payment.

b.  The LWVUS may authorize the payment of a designated part of each per member payment to the League of Women Voters Education Fund. 

c.  A state and local league shall be excused from making a per member payment for life members and students.

 

Sec. 3. Budget. The budget committee shall submit a proposed budget for the ensuing fiscal year to the Board of Directors at least three months prior to the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall send the proposed budget—as submitted or amended—to all members one month before the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer shall not be eligible to serve as chair of the budget committee.

 

Sec. 4. Dissolution.  Upon withdrawal of recognition, leagues shall follow local, state and federal law to close out. Any remaining funds shall be distributed to the state LWV, LWVUS or LWVEF as appropriate. Funds held by an ILO shall be prorated among the member leagues.

 

Sec. 1. Membership Meetings. There shall be at least three meetings of the membership each year and the Board of Directors shall determine the time and place.

 

Sec. 2. Annual Meeting. An annual Meeting shall be held between April 1 and May 31, the exact date to be determined by the Board of Directors. The Annual Meeting shall:

a.  Adopt a local program for the ensuing program year, June 1 through May 31.

b.  Elect officers, directors and members of the Nominating Committee.

c.  Adopt an adequate budget.

d.  Transact such other business as may properly come before it.

Sec. 3. Quorum. Twenty percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum at all membership meetings of the League of Women Voters of the Perrysburg Area.

Sec. 1. Nominating Committee. The nominating committee shall consist of three members, one of whom shall be members of the Board of Directors. The Chairman and one, who shall not be members of the Board, shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. The current Nominating Committee shall make nominations for these offices. The Board of Directors shall fill any vacancy on the Nominating Committee. Any voting member may send suggestions for the nominations for officers and directors for the Committee.

 

Sec. 2. Report of Nominating Committee and Nominations from the floor. The report of the Nominating Committee of its nominations for officers, directors and the members 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 at the Annual Meeting. Immediately following the presentation of this report, any voting member may make nominations from the floor provided consent of the nominee has been secured.

Sec. 3. Elections. The election shall be by ballot unless there is but one nominee for each office, in which case the Secretary may be instructed to cast an unanimous ballot for every nominee. A majority vote of those qualified to vote and voting shall constitute an election. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.

Sec. 1. Authorization. The governmental principles adopted by the National Convention and supported by the League as whole, constitute the authorization for the adoption of Program.

 

Sec. 2. Program. The program of the League of Women Voters of the Perrysburg Area shall consist of:

a.  Action to protect the right to vote of every citizen and to implement the principles of the League of Women Voters of the United States.

b.  Those local governmental issues chosen for concerted study and action plus the State and National Program.

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 recommendation sent in 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 before the Annual Meeting.

c.  A majority vote of voting members present and voting 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 the Program submitted by voting members two months prior to the Annual Meeting, but not recommended by the Board of Directors, may be considered by the Annual Meeting provided that:

     1)      The annual Meeting shall order consideration by majority vote.

     2)      The Annual Meeting shall adopt each item by a majority vote.

e.  Changes in the Program, in case of altered considerations, may be, provided that:

     1)      Information concerning the proposed program changes has been sent to all members at least two weeks prior to the 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 act in the name of the League of Women Voters only when authorized to do so by the proper Board of Directors.

 

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 the League of Women Voters of the Perrysburg Area 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 the Perrysburg Area under the provision of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Ohio.

Sec. 3. State Council. When a State Council is deemed necessary, 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 Council in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of the Perrysburg area under the provisions of the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Ohio.

The rules contained in the most recent Robert’s parliamentary procedure shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws.

Power of the Board of Directors. In the exercise of any of the powers herein conferred the officers and directors shall be free and wholly exonerated from liability on account of any honest error or judgment or by the reason of acts or things done, suffered or omitted in good faith and without willful default or neglect.

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present and voting at   a general membership meeting, provided that amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one month in advance of the meeting.

 

Amended May 25, 1999            Amended April 27, 2004         Amended February 7, 2007

Amended May 22, 2018            Amended June 8, 2021