ARTICLE 1 - NAME

The name of the organization shall be Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club.

ARTICLE 2 - PURPOSE

The purposes of the organization shall be to:

A. Encourage the participation of Bay Area Residents in the political arena: in political races and local political issues

B. Encourage participation in state and national issues of concern to Bay Area residents, especially issues of concern to the Jewish Community.

ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERSHIP, DUES, VOTING (REVISED 3/16/1993)

A. Any person (1)who is a registered Democrat or a non-citizen who identifies as Democrat, and (2) who pays dues to be determined by this Club's Executive Board, may be a member, but only persons meeting the requirements of Sections 3B and 3C of this section may vote on matters pending before the Club.

B. Membership dues shall be payable at any time, but will run from January 1 to December 31 (as amended 1991). Membership shall be renewable within one month of expiration of dues.

C. Voting privileges for new membership become effective 30 days after payment of membership dues. Members who renew my vote on any matter before the Club once that year's dues are paid.

D. There will be two types of membership: Contributing and Sponsorship. A Sponsorship membership will cost $20 more than a Contributing membership. Students and seniors may pay $15 per year. The additional funds derived from Sponsorship memberships will be noted in a separate account and will be used for special Club activities. Contributing memberships will include voting privileges, participation in all Club events and Club mailings. A Sponsorship membership will include all the privileges of a Contributing membership plus recognition at special Club activities.

ARTICLE 4 - OFFICES

A. The Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club shall hold elections in May of each year for the following officers:

President, Vice-President for Political Affairs, Vice-President for Program Development, Vice President for Membership/Funding, Secretary, Treasurer and a Board of Directors.

B. The President shall provide direction to Club activities and chair club meetings.

C. The Vice-President for Political Affairs/ Action shall chair the Political Action Committee, and oversee the process of candidate and issue endorsement.

D. The Vice-President for Program Development shall plan the agenda of the general membership meetings and identify topics and issues in which the club may wish to get involved. S/he will chair the Program Development Committee.

E. The Vice-President for Membership/Funding shall chair the Membership/Funding Committee. S/he shall offer direction to the membership and funding process.

F. The Secretary shall be responsible for Club minutes, correspondence and the Club newsletter. The Secretary shall chair the Public Relations Committee.

G. The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining Club finances.

H. The Board of Directors shall consist of 15 additional members of the Club and all past Presidents of the Club. Each Board Member's duties and responsibilities will include:

(1) Attending membership meetings, Board meetings, and special events;
(2) Promoting membership;
(3) Helping with special events with organization and sale of tickets;
(4) Appearing and representing our Club at other Club's or candidate's events, and
(5) Providing guidance to the Club in all areas.

Each member of the board of Directors will be assigned to a Committee by the newly elected President. Each Board member will be expected to be an active member by attending committee meetings and performing committee assignments. Lack of participation as deemed by the Committee Chair shall be used as a consideration for removal from the Board of Directors.

I. The Executive Board will consist of all officers and Board of Directors of the Club. A quorum of the Executive shall be a majority of its members.

(1) The Executive Board shall have the power to hold meetings in executive session. An executive session may be called by any member of the Executive Board. Notice of this closed meeting shall be given to the Executive Board, if feasible;
(2) The Executive Board shall have the power to schedule business meetings to be attended by dues-paying members only, and
(3) Any person wishing to address the Executive Board shall advise the Club President in advance of the meeting.

ARTICLE 5 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND TERM OF OFFICE

A. The President shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of five members of the Executive Board no later than March 1. The nominating committee will consider all persons submitting applications for elected office before March 15. The nominating committee will select a slate of Officers and Board of Directors to be chosen from all members of the Club. This slate will be nominated and recommended to the membership at the first general membership meeting in April. Each person chosen for the slate will be notified at least 7 days before the first membership meeting in April. Notification of the names of nominating committee members will be sent to the membership no later than March 1.

B. To qualify to run for election for any elected office of this Club, including officers or Board of Directors, the person must have been a member of this Club for 90 days. To qualify to run for election for the Office of the President, the person must have served a minimum of one term as an Officer or member of the Board of Directors of this Club.

Nomination for elected offices, including Officers and Board of Directors, may be made by the nominating committee or by any Club member. Nominations by Club members shall be made at the time the nominating committee report is made at the general membership meeting in April. In order to have a name placed in nomination for any elected office of this Club by a Club member from the floor, the candidate must submit a petition in support of his/her candidacy signed by 10 members of this Club. Each member can sign a maximum of 3 petitions.

C. Each officer shall be elected by a majority of the members voting in the may meeting. In the event that one person does not receive a majority on the first ballot, subsequent ballots shall be taken until a majority is reached.

D. Newly elected officers shall take office immediately upon election. Each officer shall serve for a one-year term. In the event that an office becomes vacant, the Executive Board shall elect a successor by majority vote, within 45 days after the vacancy occurs.

E. Failure to attend more than two consecutive Board meetings may constitute grounds for removal of a member of the Board of Directors by two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board members voting.

F. Except as otherwise provided, should any member move for the dismissal of an officer or Board member of the Club, and a second made, that motion shall be recorded into the minutes of the meeting and shall be voted on at the next monthly meeting as long as the matter has been published to the membership at least five days prior to the voting meeting. Dismissal of any officer shall require 60% of the vote of the members voting.

ARTICLE 6 - COMMITTEES

A. The Club shall establish the following standing committees:

(1) Political Action Committee

(A) The chair of the Political Action committee shall be the Club Vice-President of Political Action.

(B) It shall be the duty of the Political Action Committee to monitor the local, state, and national political climates; to identify issues on which the Club should take action, to investigate and conduct impartial hearings on issues confronting the Club, to identify and conduct the endorsement process for Executive Board consideration for local non-artisan, Democratic primary and general elections, including candidates, ballot measures and other issues.

(2) Program Development Committee

(A) The chair of the Program Development Committee shall be the Club Vice-President for Program Development.

(B) It shall be the duty of the program Development Committee to plan the agenda of the general membership meeting, including special speakers and topics of interest to Club members; and to identify and discuss issues and make recommendations to the Executive Board.

(3) Membership/Funding Committee

(A) The chair of the Membership/Funding Committee shall be the Club Vice President for Membership/ Funding. The Club Treasurer shall serve on this committee.

(B) It shall be the duty of the Membership/Funding committee to keep membership record and to notify club members of upcoming dues; to plan and coordinate social and fundraising activities designed to recruit new members and to give the Club a financial base.

ARTICLE 7 - ENDORSEMENTS

A. A motion for endorsement of a candidate, ballot proposal, or other issue, may be made at a general membership meeting or at an Executive Board meeting. The motion will be referred to the Endorsement Committee for its recommendation. Notice of a vote on each endorsement shall be published to the Endorsement Committee at least five days prior to the voting meeting.

B. The Endorsement Committee will consist of the entire Executive Board, including all officers and members of the Board of Directors. The Endorsement Committee will interview and consider candidates, ballot proposals, and other issues through oral interview and/or written materials, and make recommendations for endorsements to the general membership. A vote of 60% of the committee.

C. If the Executive Board considers endorsement of a candidate, ballot proposal, or other issue, and recommends that no endorsement be made, a motion for endorsement may be made at a general membership meeting. Notice of a vote on each endorsement shall be published in advance of the voting meeting pursuant to Article 8 F.

D. vote of 60% of the members voting shall be needed for a Club endorsement.

E. Only candidates who are registered Democrats will be considered for interview and endorsement.

F. The name of the Club may not be used by any member to support or oppose candidates and/or ballot measures without prior approval of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 8 - MEETINGS

A. Regular meetings of the membership shall be held at least once a month on a date determined by the Executive Committee. Any motions of business may be in order, except as otherwise specified in these By-Laws.

B. Special meetings of the Club may be called by the President, or by a majority vote of the Executive Board, or upon the written demand of ten percent of the membership roll.

C. Advance written notice shall be given to the membership for all meetings of the Club, as well as all Executive Committee meetings, when feasible.

D. There shall be no proxy voting.

E. The following motion for a vote of the membership shall be in order only if the matter has been announced at the previous meeting and published to the membership at least five days prior to the voting meeting: Annual election of Club Offices.

F. The following motions for a vote of the membership shall be in order only if the matter has been published to the membership in advance of the voting meeting:

(1) Motions amending the By-Laws;
(2) Motions of candidate or proposition endorsement;
(3) Motions to rescind endorsement, and
(4) Motions for officers or Board member dismissal by vote of the general membership.

ARTICLE 9 - AMENDMENTS

A. These By-Laws may be amended by the following procedure:
(1) Any member may move an amendment at any regular membership meeting.
(2) If a motion to amend is seconded, the membership shall be notified as provided in Article 8, section F(1).
(3) At the meeting to consider adoption, the proposed amendment must receive a two-thirds affirmative vote of members voting, to be incorporated into these By-Laws.