By-Laws
The League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria
Serving the People of Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties in Illinois
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BY-LAWS: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF GREATER PEORIA, ILLINOIS
ARTICLE I - NAME Section 1. Name - The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria. 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 Illinois. ARTICLE II - PURPOSE AND POLICY Section 1. Purposes - The purposes of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues. Section 2. Political Policy - The League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria may take action on local governmental measures and policies in the public interest in conformity with the Principles of the League of Women Voters of the United States. It shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate. ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Eligibility - Any person who subscribes to the purposes and policy of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria shall be eligible for membership. Section 2. Types of Membership - The membership of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria shall be composed of voting members and associate members. (a) Voting members. Persons at least 16 years of age who join the League shall be voting members of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria, the League of Women Voters of Illinois, and the League of Women Voters of the United States. Those who have been members of the League for 50 years or more shall be life members excused from the payment of dues. (b) Associate members. All others who join the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria shall be associate members. ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS Section 1. Number, Manner of Selection and Term of Office - The Board of Directors of the League shall consist of the officers of the League, eight elected Directors, and not more than eight appointed Directors. Four Directors shall be elected by the general membership at each Annual Meeting and shall serve for a term of two years, or until their successors have been elected and qualified. The elected members shall appoint such additional Directors, not exceeding eight, as they deem necessary to carry on the work of the League. The terms of office of the appointed Directors shall be one year and shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual Meeting. The immediate past President shall serve the Board in a non-voting advisory capacity for one year. Section 2. Qualifications - No person shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to serve as an officer or Director of this organization unless they are a voting member of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria. Section 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 of any member without valid reason shall be deemed a resignation. Section 4. Powers and Duties - The Board of Directors shall have charge of the property and business of the organization, with full power and authority to manage and conduct the same, subject to the instructions of the general membership. The Board 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. The Board shall create and designate such special committees as it may deem necessary. Section 5. Meetings - There shall be at least six regular meetings of the Board of Directors annually. The president may call special meetings of the Board of Directors. Board members may participate in Board meetings electronically if equipment is available. A telephone or electronic poll for emergency situation would be included as a special meeting. Section 6. Executive Committee - The Board may appoint an executive committee consisting of the president, vice-presidents, secretary and treasurer. The executive committee shall exercise such power and authority as may be delegated to it by the Board on all actions taken by it between regular meetings of the board. ARTICLE V - OFFICERS Section 1. Enumeration and Election of Officers - The officers of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria 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 the Annual Meeting and shall take office immediately. The President and the Second Vice-President shall be elected in odd-numbered years. The First Vice-President, the Secretary and the Treasurer shall be elected in even-numbered years. Section 2. The President - The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the Board of Directors. The President may, in absence or disability of the Treasurer, sign or endorse checks, drafts, and notes, and 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 shall perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board. Section 3. The Vice-Presidents - The two Vice-Presidents, in the order of their rank, shall, in the event of absence, disability, 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 until the Annual Meeting. The Vice-Presidents shall perform such other duties as the President and the Board may designate. Section 4. The Secretary - The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the League and of all meetings of the Board of Directors. The 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 the office of Secretary. Section 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 the same only upon order of the Board. The Treasurer shall present statements to the Board at their regular meetings and an annual report to the Annual Meeting. The books of the Treasurer shall be audited annually. ARTICLE VI - FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION Section 1. Fiscal Year - The fiscal year of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria shall conform to that of the League of Women Voters of the United States. Section 2. Dues - Dues will be set at least at the sum of the per member payment (PMP) to the state and national League of Women Voters. Dues for two members at one address and sharing a common household will be one and one-half single member dues. Section 3. Budget - A budget for the ensuing year shall be submitted by the Board of Directors to the Annual Meeting for adoption. The budget shall include support for the work of the League as a whole. Section 4. Budget Committee - A budget Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at least three months prior to the Annual Meeting to prepare a budget for the ensuing year. The proposed budget shall be submitted to the Board of Directors two months before the Annual Meeting at which the membership is to make its decision on the budget. The Treasurer shall be an ex-officio member of the Budget committee but shall not be eligible to serve as Chairman. The budget, as approved by the Board, shall be sent to all members one month before the Annual meeting. ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS Section 1. Membership Meetings - There shall be at least four meetings each year. Time and place shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Section 2. Notice of all General Meetings, the Annual Meeting, and all consensus meetings shall be sent to the membership at least 10 days before the meeting date. All regular committee meetings should appear on the League calendar. Notice shall contain time, place, and topic(s) to be covered. Section 3. Annual Meeting - An Annual Meeting shall be held between April 1 and May 31, the exact date to be determined by the Board. The annual meeting shall: (a) Adopt a local program for the ensuing year. (b) Elect Officers and Directors, and members of the Nominating Committee. (c) Adopt budget. (d) Transact such other business as may properly come before it Section 4. Quorum - Twenty percent of the voting members shall constitute a quorum- which may include up to 5% by written proxy -at the Annual Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria. Written proxy may be voted only by one proxy per member in attendance. Voting members shall be those members of at least one month's standing. ARTICLE VIII - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS Section 1. Nominating Committee - The nominating Committee shall consist of five members, two of whom shall be members of the Board of Directors. The Chairman and two members, who shall not be members of the Board, shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. Nominations of these offices shall be made by the current Nominating Committee. The other members 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 and Directors may be sent to this committee by any voting member. Section 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 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 to the Annual Meeting. Immediately following the presentation of this report, nominations may be made from the floor by any voting member, providing the consent of the nominee shall have been secured. Section 3. Elections - The elections shall be by ballot except when there is only one nominee for each office, the election may be by voice vote. The majority vote of those qualified to vote and voting shall constitute an election. Section 4. Election Committee - After the nominations are closed, if the vote is taken by ballot, the presiding officer shall appoint an Election Committee, which shall have charge of all details of election. ARTICLE IX - PROGRAM Section 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. Section 2. Procedure - The Annual Meeting shall act upon the Program using the following procedures: (a) The Board of Directors shall consider the recommendations 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 a majority vote. (2) The Annual Meeting shall adopt the item by a two-thirds vote. (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. (2) Final action by the membership is taken at a succeeding meeting. Section 3. Member Action - Members may act in the name of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria only when authorized to do so by the currently serving president. ARTICLE X - NATIONAL CONVENTION, STATE CONVENTION AND COUNCIL Section 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 by the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria under the provisions of the By-Laws of the League of Women Voters of the United States. Section 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 Greater Peoria under provisions of the By-Laws of the League of Women Voters of Illinois. Section 3. State Council - The President or the President's proxy shall be the a delegate to the State Council under the provisions of the By-Laws of the League of Women Voters of Illinois. ARTICLE XI - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY Section 1. Parliamentary Authority - The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the organization in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these By-laws. ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS Section 1. Amendments - These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members at any regular meeting of the Organization, provided that the proposed amendments shall have been approved by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, and provided that the amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one month in advance of the meeting. Amended: May 1994, May 2001, September 2002, June 2005, May 2007, May 2016, August 2018 Reviewed: February2009; Amended May 2011 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF GREATER PEORIA DIVERSITY POLICY The League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria, in both its values and its practices, affirms its belief in and commitment to diversity and pluralism. The LWVGP recognizes perspectives are necessary for responsible and effective decision making in democratic organizations. The LWVGP affirms its commitment to removing barriers to participation in any League activity on the basis of age, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or national origin, and actively seeking to be inclusive. LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF GREATER PEORIA NON-PARTISAN POLICY 1. The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization. The League may take action on governmental measures and policies in the public interest. It shall not support or oppose any political party or candidate. 2. The Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria shall abide by the non-partisan policy that allows Board members, except the president, voter service chairman, finance chairman and other publicly sensitive positions, to support candidates. 3. A Board member may accept appointments to commissions, boards or committees where service would not be detrimental to League positions. 4. A Board member shall resign if he or she becomes a candidate for elective office in a governmental body and is elected or appointed to fill a vacancy for such office. 5. A final decision in each case shall be left to the judgment of the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria. Re-adopted: September 2002 ADDENDUM TO LWVGP NON-PARTISAN POLICY 1. Circulating/signing candidate petitions at a League meeting/function is not permissible. 2. The president is the spokesperson for the League in testifying before government panels or lobbying in the name of the League unless the Board designates another League member. 3. With the exception of the designated sensitive Board positions, Board members: (1) may attend or sponsor candidate fund-raisers, coffees, rallies, or press conferences; (2) need not resign from the Board if a family member is a candidate for office; (3) may work in a political campaign and make contributions to political campaigns. 4. Off-Board members with known political affiliation may register voters, be involved with screening questions for candidates' meetings and help with arrangements. Adopted: September 2002 Revised: September 2011, May 2016, August 2018 |