Article I. Organization
Section 1.01 Name
The name of the organization shall be the Clark Fork Young Republicans. The organization shall be hereafter referred to as the CFYR or the Club.
Section 1.02 Affiliation
The CFYR shall be the recognized regional affiliate of the Montana Republican Young Professionals, and of the Young Republican National Federation, formally known as YRNF, INC – P.O. Box 15293 – Washington, D.C. 20003-0293, a non-profit organization recognized under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 1.03 Tax Status
Contributions to the CFYR are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income purposes. Activities of the Club may not be authorized by any candidate or committee.
Article II. Powers and Objectives
Under the direction of the CFYR leadership, the objectives of the Club shall be:
(a) To develop and maintain an area-wide Young Republican organization, encompassing Missoula, Ravalli, and Mineral counties of Montana;
(b) To bring young people into the Republican Party, to provide opportunity for them for political expression and recognition, to train them as political workers, and to provide a practical means to contribute to the development and betterment of the Republican Party.
(c) To support the principles, objectives, and platform of the Republican Party and through volunteer activities, to secure the election of all duly nominated Republican candidates who support those principles within the Clark Fork area;
(d) To direct, manage, supervise, and control its business, property, and funds and to do all other things necessary or convenient to carry out its objectives;
Article III. Membership
Section 3.01 Active
Any voter who is
- At least 18 years of age but not over 40 years of age;
- A resident (temporary or permanent) of Missoula, Ravalli, and Mineral counties;
- Declares him or herself a Republican and
- Attends three (3) regular or special meetings is eligible for membership.
Section 3.02 Honorary
Any person not meeting the requirements of Active Membership status may be an Honorary Member and shall have all the rights and privileges of active members except he/she may not vote or hold office.
Honorary members shall be those people so designated by a three-quarters vote of those members present at a regular Club meeting.
Section 3.03 Dues
Each member, Active or Honorary, shall submit to the Treasurer $10.00 in dues at their third attended meeting.
Section 3.04 Expulsion
The Active Membership may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present at a regular Club meeting, expel any active or honorary member for any act or conduct deemed unfriendly or hostile to the best interests of the Club, provided that the Executive Committee has reviewed such proposed action and has made a recommendation (by majority vote), and that such member has been notified by certified mail of the recommendation of the Executive Committee at least one (1) week prior to the meeting, and has the right to present his/her defense, either in person or through a representative.
Within 30 days after a voting decision to expel by the membership, such decision may be appealed to the Executive Committee of the Montana Republican Young Professionals. Such member may request that the recommendation of the Club Executive Committee be forwarded to the MRYP Executive Committee for re-consideration.
Article IV. Officers
Section 4.01 Designation
The officers of the Club shall be Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The immediate past Chair of the Club may also serve as an officer of the Executive Committee at the Committee’s election. All officers shall hold office from the meeting after their election until the next scheduled regular election. Officers shall serve without compensation and must be active members in good standing of the Club. Expulsion from the Club will constitute immediate removal as an officer.
Section 4.02 Vacancies
A vacancy in an elected office shall be filled by election of the Executive Committee until the next election. The Chair may forgo this process in favor of a special election by the voting membership.
Section 4.03 Expulsion
The membership may, by two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present at a regular meeting, expel from office any officer not performing enumerated duties, provided that the Executive Committee has reviewed such proposed action and has made a recommendation (by majority vote of those officers not subject to proposed action), and that such officer has been notified by certified mail of the recommendation of the Executive Committee at least one (1) week prior to the meeting, and has the right to present his/her defense, either in person or through a representative. Should the Executive Committee fail to provide a recommendation by stroke of deadlock or extraordinary circumstance, a simple majority of the membership may bring a recommendation to the entire body for a vote.
Article V. Powers and Duties of Officers
Section 5.01 Chair
The Chair shall preside over all regular meetings of the Club and Executive Committee, appoint regular committees, appoint a Parliamentarian at will, supervise the activities of the Club, pay out all Club funds under $150 without prior approval of the Executive Committee, and perform all other duties incidental to the office. Please refer to Section 6.01(c) for pay outs exceeding $150.
Section 5.02 Vice-Chair
The Vice-chair shall, in absence of the Chair, preside at regular meetings of the Club, and shall perform such other duties as designated by the Chair. Should the Chair resign or be expelled by the membership, the Vice-Chair shall continue as Acting Chair until the earliest of (a) the regularly scheduled election, or (b) a special election.
Section 5.03 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall collect all funds and deposit such funds in a depository as designated by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall file all required reports, and keep record of said reports, with the Montana Young Republican Professionals and any other required Legal Offices. The Treasurer shall report on the financial condition of the Club at regular meetings, including any discrepancies in the account based on withdrawals made by the Chair. The Treasurer shall keep accounts that are open at all times to inspection by the Executive Committee, and shall submit an annual written report prior to the annual election meeting, and a budget for each quarter that shall be approved by the Executive Committee by majority vote.
Section 5.04 Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes at all Club meetings and Executive Committee meetings and shall submit a copy of said minutes to the Board. The Secretary shall be responsible for any publications, development of public relations activities, mailing of all announcements and/or notices, maintenance of the Club membership database, keep track of attendance, and shall perform any other duties as assigned by the Chair.
Article VI. Committees
Section 6.01 Executive Committee
(a) Duties
The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the Club and Chairs of the Standing Committees, and shall be responsible for the management of all Club activities. The immediate past Chair, if asked to serve by the sitting Chair, shall be a non-voting (ex officio) member of the Executive Committee.
(b) Meetings
Executive Committee meetings shall be held at least once per month at such times and places as the Committee shall decide, and each Committee member shall receive at least three (3) days notice from the Chair unless said notice is waived by a majority of the Committee members. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
(c) Financial Approval and Reimbursement
(i) The Executive Committee shall approve all Club expenditures over $150 by majority vote.
(ii) The Chair and/or Treasurer may reimburse Club members who spend money for the purpose or benefit of the Club. Members must submit receipts within fifteen (15) days of original expenditure in order to be reimbursed and such reimbursement are subject to availability of funds. If the Chair and/or Treasurer expend money for the purpose or benefit of the Club, they shall not have the authority to reimburse themselves. The Chair shall sign all reimbursements to the Treasurer and the Treasurer shall sign all reimbursements to the Chair.
Section 6.02 Standing Committees
The Executive Committee shall establish regular standing committees to manage and perform the purpose and activities of the Club. The Chair of the Executive Committee shall appoint a Chair for each Standing Committee.
Each Standing Committee shall be comprised of at least three (3) active members, and the Chair shall report on the activities of the Standing Committee at each regular meeting and at the meetings of the Executive Committee.
Section 6.03 Special Committees
Upon resolution and recommendation of the members at large, the Club Chair may appoint limited Special Committees to manage and perform extraordinary and temporary duties related to a significant program, event or platform. The composition of the members of any Special Committee shall be undertaken in consultation with the Executive Committee.
Article VII. Meetings
Section 7.01 Regular
Regular meetings of the full Club shall be held at a mutually agreed-upon and convenient location unless otherwise directed by the Chair.
Section 7.02 Special
Special meetings of the Club shall be held at any time by the Chair, and written or electronic notice must be given to the membership of the Club at least one (1) week in advance of the special meeting. Such notice shall contain a summary of the matters to be considered and only such matters shall be discussed.
Section 7.03 Quorum
A quorum shall consist of at least ten (10) percent of the voting membership or a minimum of five (5) voting members.
Article VIII. Elections
Section 8.01 Annual Election of Officers
The election of Club Officers shall be held at a meeting annually in first week of September. Officers-elect shall take office at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Club.
Section 8.02 Election of Delegates
Delegates to the Montana Republican Young Professionals Convention shall be appointed by the Club Chair and approved by a majority of the Executive Committee at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Convention.
Article IX. Candidate Endorsement
Section 9.01 Endorsement
Neither the Club nor the Executive Committee as a whole, nor any officers, in their official capacities, shall in any way endorse or oppose the primary candidacy of any Republican. The membership may, by two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present at a regular meeting, endorse a candidate without a primary opponent, or a candidate in the general election.
Section 9.02 Violations
Violation of Section 9.01 shall constitute grounds for a vote of censure or removal from office following procedures noted in Article III above.
Section 9.03 Donations
Donations may be made on behalf of the Club to endorsed candidates (as defined in Section 9.01) in an amount not to exceed the maximum contribution allowed by law. Donations may also be made on behalf of the Club to any organization that promotes ideas and events, which are for the betterment of the Republican Party or the goals of the Club. In order for a donation to be voted on by the entire membership, a proposal must be made to the Executive Committee. Proposals must include the amount of the donation requested, the benefactor of such donation, and the rationale as to why the proposed benefactor deserves the Club’s support. By a majority vote the Executive Committee shall approve or decline the forwarding of the proposal to the active membership for a vote. The Executive Committee may approve a proposal subject to any amendments the Executive Committee may feel is necessary (such as, but not limited to, amount or timing of donation). All donations to candidates and organizations must be approved by the active membership by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a regular meeting. The fact that a donation proposal will be on a specific meeting’s agenda must be communicated to the entire active membership in all correspondence announcing that meeting. This includes all verbal, written, and electronic communications.
Article X. Parliamentary Authority
Section 10.01 Authority
The rules contained in “Robert’s Rules of Order Revised” shall govern all proceedings except when inconsistent with this Constitution. These rules may be suspended or limited to outline form by the Executive Committee when deemed appropriate for the expediency and speed of meetings.
Article XI. Amendments
Section 11.01 Submission
Any proposed amendment to this Constitution shall be submitted in writing to the Chair 10 days prior to or at a regular meeting, and distributed at least 5 days prior to the entire membership via written or electronic notice for review.
Section 11.02 Acceptance
At the next regular meeting following reading, the voting members present shall consider and vote on the proposed amendment. Acceptance of the proposed amendment shall constitute two-thirds (2/3) of those active voting members in favor.
Adopted:
August 9th, 2010.
Amended:
August 10th, 2010.
