The following bylaws were approved by the members in November 2004; amended November 2011; amended June 2015; amended April 2021.
ARTICLE I. NAME AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The name of this organization shall be the Democratic Women of the Desert. The Democratic Women of the Desert (“DWD”) is a chartered Democratic Club recognized by the Riverside County Democratic Party (“RCDP”) and the California Democratic Party (“CDP”).
ARTICLE II. MISSION STATEMENT
Democratic Women of the Desert is dedicated to promoting social, economic, and political policies that reflect the priorities of women. We do this by educating members on women’s issues; increasing members’ political awareness; increasing political participation of women on local, national, and international levels; actively recruiting women of all ages and those supportive of DWD’s mission to become DWD members; and by raising campaign contributions for candidates who support DWD’s mission.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section I. Member
Each member is a registered Democrat or is a person devoted to the principles of the Democratic Party but is ineligible to register to vote at this time. Any such ineligible person has expressed the intent to register as a Democrat immediately upon becoming eligible. Members in good standing are defined as eligible to vote by having paid dues or having dues waived.
A Regular Member is one who subscribes to the DWD Mission Statement in Article II, and pays membership dues, unless dues have been waived for economic hardship. Such persons have an option to participate as Associate Member (definition found in letter “e”) and have the opportunity to participate as a Regular Member with full voting rights once impediment has been removed.
Section II. Categories of Membership
Section III. Privileges of Membership
All members in good standing shall have the following membership privileges based upon their membership classification:
(i). To vote on all matters submitted to the vote of the DWD membership.
(ii). To serve on the Board as an Officer if all qualifications for office are met.
Section IV. Removal from DWD Membership
A member who is not or ceases to be registered as a Democrat shall be removed from Regular Membership of DWD.
(i). A voting member may move that any other member of DWD be removed for reasons set forth in this Section IV. The motion shall state in detail by written account the act(s) or omission(s) that warrants the removal of the member who is the subject of the motion. The written account shall be read aloud at the time the motion is made.
(ii). The motion to remove the member is automatically postponed until the next regular meeting of DWD and shall automatically be taken up for action as an item of old or unfinished business.
(iii). Notification to the cited member shall be made within seven days by mail and email. The notice shall advise the cited member of the names of the members who made and seconded the motion, the language of the motion; the date, time, location, and the amount of the allotted time for both sides to respond to the challenge.
(iv). In all removal situations, the burden of introducing evidence justifying removal shall be upon the person or persons urging the removal, who shall be required to prove the case for removal by clear and convincing evidence. Immediately thereafter, a vote shall be taken on the motion to remove the charged member from DWD. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present, and voting shall be required to pass such a motion.
(v). Removed member seeking to rejoin club may petition for readmission to club after the first-year anniversary date of removal by contacting club president. Petition for admission is subject to simple majority board approval.
Section V. Annual Dues
Annual dues are determined by the Board and approved by the membership. They are payable upon joining DWD. Membership renewal is based upon the anniversary date (month and day) of joining the club.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND THE BOARD
Section I. Officers
The Officers of DWD constitute the Executive Board and are elected to a two- year term by the membership. It shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary. The President and Vice President shall hold office from January Annual Meeting of the even years, concurrent with the Chairs, and the Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer shall hold office from January Annual Meeting of the odd years or until the successor is elected.
(i) Candidates for DWD Officers to be elected bi-annually shall be recommended by an Ad Hoc Nominating Committee appointed by the President. The Nominating Committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) members who are not Officers.
(ii) The Nominating Committee shall recommend one candidate for each elective office and give a report of the slate of candidates to the membership preceding the election meeting. Nominations may be made from the floor, with the consent of the nominee, at the regular annual meeting in January, before voting takes place. A member-in-good-standing for six months or more may offer themselves for self-nomination. Election is confirmed by simple majority of members voting and present or by acclamation.
Section II. THE BOARD
The Executive Board Members and the Committee Chairs constitute the DWD Board. The Board shall have no fewer than three (3).
Section III. STANDING and AD HOC COMMITTEES
Standing and Ad Hoc committees may be added to or deleted by the President with the advice and consent of the Board. The standing committees are membership, fundraising, program, communications, scholarship, and political action. Ad hoc committee chairs may be added or deleted as board members by the President with the advice and consent of the Board (e.g., endorsement, nomination)
Section IV. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS AND CHAIRS
Section V. REMOVAL, RECALL, AND RESIGNATION of OFFICERS, OR COMMITTEE CHAIRS
(i) In the event of death.
(ii) If the officeholder or chair submits a resignation, in writing, to the Recording Secretary or the President of DWD.
(iii) If the Board by a simple majority vote declares the office vacated after the officeholder or chair fails to be a member of DWD in good standing or has violated the terms of DWD membership (see Article III, Section IV and letters a. and b.) at any time during the officeholder or chair’s term of office.
(iv) if the Board by simple majority declares the office vacated after a Board Member fails to attend three (3) regularly scheduled or properly noticed Board meetings in any given calendar year. Notice of the proposed removal must be given to the officeholder or chair at least by at least seven days in advance of the meeting at which the removal will be voted upon. Board member shall be given an allotted amount of time to reconcile or respond to challenge at meeting scheduled for removal vote. The results of such a vote shall be communicated in writing to the individual concerned.
It is the duty of all Board Members to attend all meetings of DWD and any Standing Committees to which they are appointed, and to assure that their attendance at all such meeting is recorded.
(v) If the officeholder or chair is removed from office by motion duly adopted by two-thirds (2/3) of those voting members present and voting at a duly called regular meeting of DWD.
Section VI. Nominations and Elections to CDP Endorsing Conference
(i) Club representatives shall be allocated as follows: one representative,
resident in the Assembly District(s) and duly registered as a member of the Democratic Party of California, for each 20 members in good standing registered to vote in the Assembly District(s) who were listed on the roster submitted to Riverside County Democratic Party and to the appropriate Regional Director of the CDP no later than July 1 of the year immediately prior to the endorsing process.
(ii) For purposes of this Section:
(1) Only members in good standing as of the July 1 deadline shall be
included on the roster.
(2) “Members in Good Standing” shall mean a member whose dues are
current or have been waived due to economic hardship and has been a member for at least six months.
(3) The status of such members may be certified by the Club’s President,
Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary or Treasurer.
(4) The Club’s representatives to any pre-endorsing conference shall be from the roster described above and the overall list of representatives to all conferences shall be equally apportioned between women and other than women, to the extent possible.
(iii) Said representatives shall be selected by majority vote of a Selection Committee comprised of the President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, a quorum being present. The Selection Committee shall not select one of its own members unless it first determines that no other viable option is available. If such determination is made, they shall inform the membership of their decision, and the reasons therefor, at the next General Membership meeting.
(iv) No later than October 1, of each odd number year, this Club shall inform its membership, of the process for selection as a Representative to the CDP Pre-Endorsing Conference, via both WEB Posting on its site and email or other member-chosen option for notification.
(v) In order for a member’s name to be submitted as one of this Club’s representatives to the CDP Pre-Endorsing Conferences, the member must submit a signed written declaration of intent to the Selection Committee declaring their intent to support this Club’s endorsed candidates at the Pre-Endorsing Conferences by voting for them thereat.
ARTICLE V. MEETINGS
Section I. Executive Board
Section II. Board
Section III. General Membership Meetings
Meetings. Meetings are scheduled the third Thursday of the month. Meeting day may be re-scheduled with proper notification. A minimum of six (6) meetings will be held each year, inclusive of an Annual Meeting held in January. DWD has an open meeting policy to all registered Democrats.
Section IV. Meeting Notices
Section V. Parliamentary Authority
Robert’s Rules of Order, Latest Revision, will govern the parliamentary rules
for all matters not provided by these By-laws.
ARTICLE VI. ENDORSEMENTS
Section I: Endorsement of Candidates
DWD will not endorse or support any candidate who is not a registered Democrat for a partisan or non-partisan office.
Inform any member of the Executive Board in writing by email of her/his request for the club’s endorsement. Upon notification of the request, Endorsement Chair will forward Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire to candidate. Candidate will forward completed questionnaire along with resume and other materials candidate considers relevant to her/his qualifications to Endorsement Chair. The Board and the Endorsement Commitee, may, in its discretion, interview candidates and/or invite the candidate to give a speech to the membership. This may be in the form of a candidate forum.
iii) Voting on any endorsement shall be by secret ballot when requested by any member eligible to vote.
Section II: Endorsement of State Ballot Propositions
Section III. Limitation of Guest Speakers
Since DWD may endorse only Democratic candidates, candidates from other political parties will not be permitted to be guest speakers at any meetings of the DWD during the period that these candidates are running for office.
ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting at a regular meeting of DWD, provided that copies of the proposed amendment(s) have been delivered to the members of DWD. Notice of the meeting at which the amendment(s) will be voted upon, shall occur no less than seven (7) days before the meeting.
ARTICLE VIII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section I. Conformance
In the event of any conflict between these Bylaws and those of the RCDP Committee, the CDP, or the Democratic National Committee, those of the higher governing body shall prevail; provided, however, that any such conflicts shall be brought to the attention of the President of DWD and provided that sufficient time, defined in agreement with DWD, is given to DWD to cure the Bylaws conflict to complete the rechartering process.
Section II. Gaps in Coverage
Should a matter arise that is not covered by these Bylaws but that is covered by any applicable bylaw of the RCDP, the CDP, or the Democratic National Committee, those of the higher governing body shall prevail. In the absence of any specific applicable Bylaws, Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall prevail.