Bylaws — Lincoln Dems

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Bylaws of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee is established under the authority of the General Laws of Massachusetts (Ch. 52, § 2) and the Charter of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Under this, we advocate for the ideals of the Democratic Party locally, statewide, and nationally.

Approved Feb. 3, 2007

Article I - NAME AND PURPOSE

This organization shall be known as the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (hereafter referred to as the Committee or the LDTC).
The LDTC is a grassroots organization which articulates Democratic values, informs the public on major policy issues, and helps elect capable, honest and winning Democratic candidates at all levels.
It also aims to foster and advance the goals of the Democratic Party and to do everything necessary to build and strengthen the Democratic Party in Massachusetts and within Lincoln. This Committee is organized and constituted under authority of and in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws of the Commonwealth and the Democratic State Party.

Article II - MEMBERSHIP

A The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee shall consist of no more than thirty-five registered Democrats in Lincoln who shall have been elected at the Presidential Primary for a period of 4 years, together with those elected to membership in the interim by the members of said Committee. Any duly elected member of the Committee who moves out of Lincoln, resigns or is no longer able to serve during the said four years shall be removed from the Committee roster at that time.

B Following the election of its members, the LDTC shall meet and organize, choose a Chairperson or Co-Chairs, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Affirmative Action and Outreach Advisor, and such other officers as it may decide to elect. The Committee may, by vote at any meeting, authorize the appointment of associate members.

C Any elected LDTC member who has served for 20 or more years becomes a Lifetime Member with all the privileges, rights and responsibilities of elected membership, including voting rights and the duties described in Article ill below. However, their names will be removed from the official on-going roster which is limited to 35 people.

Article Ill - DUTIES OF LDTC MEMBERS

Members are expected to:

A. Pay their annual dues, currently at $35. Our fiscal year runs from January 1 through December 31. Dues should be paid early in the new year, so as to support LDTC actions throughout the year. (In case of need, a discount or waiver may be requested from the Chair.)

B. Attend at least half of the meetings in any given calendar year

C. Participate in some of the LDTC's political actions. While these range from the lofty to the mundane, they are all important to an effective grassroots Party organization and hence must be shared fairly amongst all members.

Political actions include:
1. Evaluating Democratic candidates
2. Fund-raising to support selected candidates
3. Shaping stands on major policy issues
4. Organizing meetings
5. Serving as delegates/alternates to State Conventions
6. Serving on the Executive Committee
7. Tabling, phoning or canvassing in support of Democratic candidates
8. Writing, stuffing and mailing letters to undecided voters
9. Phoning Lincoln residents to get out the vote
I 0. Holding signs outside or observing inside the polls
11. Writing press releases and letters to the editor of the Lincoln Journal
12. Registering voters.

D. Agree to receive LDTC emails and respond via email.

E. Removal of Members

Members and officers are elected officials. They pledge to perform their duties diligently and honorably or resign. A member may be removed, by procedures guaranteeing adequate notice and due process and by a majority vote of the
entire membership of the committee of which he or she is a member, for:

I. Failure to attend at least half of the regularly scheduled committee meeting during any calendar year; or to participate in some LDTC political actions yearly.
2. Public support for or financial contribution to an opponent of a nominee of the Democratic Party, which nominee publicly supports the platform of the Democratic Party as adopted at the most recent State Democratic Convention
3. Unauthorized use of the Party name or resources
4. Conviction, after appeals are exhausted, of a criminal offense other than a misdemeanor.

A member must be given an opportunity to resign before notice of the hearing on the removal question is given to the Committee member. A member removed under this section shall have 30 days to appeal to the Judicial Council (State Committee), and the vacancy may not be filled in such a case until the Judicial Council makes its final decision.

Article IV - MEETINGS

A. Regular meetings of the Committee shall be held at least four times a year, usually once each quarter.

B. Order of Business

The order of business at meetings shall typically but not necessarily be as follows:

I. Calling the roll of officers and members and announcement of quorum (sign-in sheets may be used in lieu of roll call).
2. Reading the minutes of the previous meeting.
3. Treasurers Report
4. Reports of officers and committees.
5. Reading of communications addressed to the Committee.
6. Old or unfinished business.
7. New business.
8. State Committee Reports
9. Speaker
I 0. Adjournment.

C. Quorum

One third of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quonim for the transaction of business.

D. Calling a Meeting Without Consent of the Chairperson

1. In the event of a refusal of the Chairperson of the Committee to call a meeting of the Committee, a majority of the Executive Committee may, in writing, order the Secretary of said Committee to call a meeting of the committee.
2. Said Executive Committee shall have the power to act upon all matters pertaining to the Committee arising between the meetings of said Committee.
3. Seven members of the Committee can request a meeting by a petition in writing to the Secretary and the Secretary shall call such meeting within two weeks.

Article V -OFFICERS

A. The officers of this organization shall consist of a Chairperson (or Co-Chairs), Vice Chairperson (one or more), Secretary, Treasurer and Affirmative Action and Outreach Advisor. These officers shall be elected at the Committee
organizational meeting and shall serve for a term of two years, at the end of which new elections for officers shall be held.

B. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the officers of the Committee and other members at large.

C. If any of the above officers leave Lincoln, resign or are no longer able to serve, their places shall be filled at the next regular meeting of the Committee. A statement of such changes in the officers of the Committee shall be sent
immediately by the Secretary of the Committee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to the Secretary of the Democratic State Committee and to the Town Clerk.

D. CHAIRPERSON(S)

The Chairperson or Co-Chairs shall, in addition to the duties required by law, preside at all meetings of the Committee and shall have general charge and supervision of all Committee activities. He/She shall have the power to appoint all standing committees and such other special committees as are created from time to time. He/She shall have the power to call all special meetings of the Town Committee and all regular meetings at such time or times as may seem to her/him to be advisable, subject only to the vote of the Committee in fixing the number of regular meetings to be held during the course of the year.

E. VICE CHAIRPERSON
The Vice Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Town Committee in the absence of the Chairperson. She/He shall perform all duties and have the powers of the Chairperson in the case of her/his temporary absence.

F. SECRETARY (this position may be rotated among Executive Committee members)

The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the Town Committee and shall email each member of each meeting of the Committee at least seven days prior to the date of the meeting. The Secretary shall, within ten days after the organization of the Committee, file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Secretary of the Democratic State Committee and the Town Clerk, a list of the officers and members of the Committee; and shall immediately file with the same officials a statement of the changes in the organization or membership of the Committee thereafter.

G. TREASURER
The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds belonging to the Committee and shall pay all orders subject to the approval of the Chairperson and shall procure and file vouchers for all such payment. No expenditures of funds of the Committee shall be made by the Treasurer outside the regular activities or expense thereof except upon the approval of at least two members of the Executive Committee. She/He shall submit a report of the financial condition and transactions of the Committee at most regular meetings. A detailed report shall be provided at least annually. Additionally, the Treasurer will file reports with the appropriate state and local offices with regard to fundraising.

H. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND OUTREACH ADVISOR
The Affirmative Action and Outreach Advisor shall develop strategies and activities to expand participation in the Committee of the Party's Affirmative Action target groups.

Article VI -CHANGES IN THE BYLAWS

If needed, there may be a Bylaws Committee appointed by the Chairperson from the duly elected members of the LDTC. The Chairperson shall designate the Chairperson of the Bylaws Committee.

A. These Bylaws may be amended or repealed by majority vote of Committee members present at any regularly called meeting of the elected members of the Committee. The proposed change must be in writing and signed by the elected member proposing it. Also it must be submitted to the Chairperson at least 14 days before the meeting at which such proposal is to be considered. The proposed Bylaw change shall be sent to all Committee members with the announcement of the meeting at least 7 days in advance. Bylaw change proposals which contradict the provisions of the Massachusetts Democratic Sate Party Charter cannot be considered.

B. Any proposed changes in the Bylaws shall be referred forthwith by the Chairperson to the Bylaws Committee, if one exists, which shall make a report with its recommendations at the same meeting of the full Committee, if possible, but no later than the following meeting.

C. Unless and until amended or repealed by the elected members of the Committee, these Bylaws shall continue in effect from year to year and no formal motion shall be necessary at any meeting of the Committee in order that they continue in force.