Progressive Cheverly
Cheverly, Maryland
Unanimously Adopted June 2, 2005 and Amended April 5, 2007
ARTICLE 1 - NAME
The name of this organization shall be "Progressive Cheverly," hereinafter referred to as "the Club."
ARTICLE 2 - PURPOSE
The purpose of this Club is reflected in its "Mission and Statement of Principles Document, " which is incorporated into these Bylaws by this reference.
ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERSHIP
The membership of this Club is open to all individuals who share the values and purposes outlined in our Mission and Statement of Principles Document. There are three categories of membership.
Member: To be a Member an individual must have paid their current Club dues obligation. Members may participate in Club decision-making.
Member in Good Standing: To be a "Member of Good Standing," an individual must have paid their current Club dues obligation and must have attended at least three Club events in the past twelve months. “Events” shall include General Meetings, committee meetings, Club socials and similar gatherings organized by and for the welfare of the Club. Members in Good Standing have the privileges of Members. In addition, only Members in Good Standing may vote in Club elections, approve the budget, amend these Bylaws or hold office, as prescribed elsewhere in these Bylaws.
Friend of Progressive Cheverly: Receives communications about Progressive Cheverly activities and may attend meetings, but cannot participate in Club decisionmaking.
Dues are due in full upon application for membership; are renewed in full every January; are set by majority vote at the January General Body Meeting; and are non-refundable once paid.
ARTICLE 4 - MEETINGS
The Club shall meet regularly on the first Thursday of each month unless circumstances force a change. All Meetings (General and Special) shall require a ten day notice from a Co-Chair to the membership. Agendas for General and Special meetings shall be provided to all Members at least five days in advance of such meetings, however, the Co-Chairs shall retain discretion to amend the agenda after its publication. Notice, including agendas, may be given in person, by telephone, or by any electronic means regularly used by the Club. Committees can only meet if (1) such meeting was announced at the preceding General Meeting; (2) notice of such meeting was provided to both Co-Chairs at least three days in advance of the meeting; or (3) such meeting was announced to all Members at least three days in advance of such meeting.
Special meetings of the Club may be called at any time by a Co-Chair. At such a meeting no business shall be transacted except as shall have been specified by the call of the meeting.
A quorum of at least ten members must be present at a Club Meeting (General or Special) in order to conduct "Normal Business." Votes pertaining to Normal Business shall be the majority of members present at the Meeting. A quorum of at least 10 Members in Good Standing must be present at a Club Meeting in order to elect officers or to adopt or amend the budget.
A quorum of at least twenty members, including at least ten Members in Good Standing, must be present at a Club Meeting (General or Special) in order to conduct "Extraordinary Business." Actions pertaining to Extraordinary Business shall require two-thirds (2/3) affirmative votes of Members in Good Standing present at the Meeting. Where the handling of certain specific “Extraordinary Business” is addressed elsewhere in these Bylaws, those sections shall supercede this section. “Normal Business” shall be defined as the transaction of business related to the regular functioning of the Club, including the taking of policy positions, but shall not be construed to include discussion or other informal activities.
Club members may petition for a special meeting by collecting the signatures of 25% of all Members in Good Standing. Such signatures may be collected in writing or through electronic mail. Such a petition must be presented in writing to both Co-Chairs, who then must call the special meeting for the specific petitioned purpose within ten calendar days.
At the Club's General Meetings, members are responsible for the approval of the Minutes of the Club's preceding General Meeting.
The Club's General Meeting in October shall have time set aside for the election of Club officers.
The Club's General Meeting in December shall have time set aside for consideration of the Club's budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1st.
ARTICLE 5 - OFFICERS
The officers of this Club shall be two Co-Chairs, a Treasurer and a Secretary. Only Members in Good Standing are eligible to serve as officers.
Officers shall be elected by all Members in Good Standing at the General Meeting scheduled in October subject to the rules outlined under the Elections Article elsewhere in these Bylaws. The Elections Committee shall consider and recommend to the membership ways in which Members in Good Standing may vote in Club elections electronically.
The officers of the Club shall be elected to their respective offices for a term of one year, effective upon their election at the October General Meeting.
Co-Chair
The Co-Chairs shall conduct General Meetings of the Club, or designate a member to serve in that function in case of absence; co-sign with the Treasurer all expenditures exceeding $50 from the Club's account; ensure the presence of a Secretary or acting Secretary at all General and special meetings to keep accurate meeting records; direct the Executive Committee; serve as public spokespersons for the organization; and sign all correspondence concerning official position statements of the Club and other executive functions required of the Club.
Unless otherwise noted, where signature of a Co-Chair is required for Club business, signature of a single Co-Chair shall be sufficient.
Co-Chairs shall allocate and coordinate their responsibilities to assure needed tasks are completed.
Co-Chairs shall ensure the privacy of the Club's membership information.
Co-Chairs shall ensure the Club's activities are in compliance with state and federal election/campaign finance laws.
In the temporary absence of the Treasurer, or if the office of Treasurer shall fall vacant, either Co-Chair is authorized to sign for any reasonable expenditure not exceeding $50.
Treasurer
The Treasurer is responsible for proper accounting of the Club's accounts, including collection of dues and shall, in concert with the Secretary, keep a Membership roster based on dues paid. The Treasurer shall provide the Secretary with Member additions/removals on a regular basis. The Treasurer is authorized to sign for any reasonable expenditure not exceeding $50. No expenditures exceeding $50 shall be paid from Club funds absent the co-signature of one Co-Chair and the duly-elected Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall maintain the Club's accounts on a fiscal year basis beginning January 1st and running through December 31st. The Treasurer is responsible for presenting a budget for the coming fiscal year at the December General Meeting. The Co-Chairs shall schedule a budget approval vote as part of the regular agenda of the January or February General meeting. Approval of the budget shall be by majority vote of the Members in Good Standing present.
The Treasurer shall collect the annual dues and all other monies and deposit same in an authorized bank account; keep records of all disbursements; keep a current record of all monies received; and pay all of the Club's obligations by check. The Treasurer or her designee shall provide a report on the Club's finances at each General Meeting.
Additions to or alterations of the budget during the fiscal year require a majority vote of Members in Good Standing present at a General Meeting.
The Club is prohibited from spending funds in excess of the balance of funds in the Club's accounts.
Secretary
The Secretary shall accurately record the proceedings of the Club's meetings. The Secretary is responsible for keeping a Members' Attendance Log for each Club event in order to determine a Member's Good Standing status. The Secretary, Co-Chair or Committee Chairman may designate a Member to produce an Attendance Log for a Club event and deliver that Log to the Secretary for recording purposes.
The Secretary, working in coordination with the Treasurer, shall maintain a membership roster containing a list of all Members with contact information.
Removal
An officer of the Club may be removed from office by two separate votes of two-thirds (2/3) majority of Members in Good Standing present at a Special Meeting and at the following monthly General Meeting. A motion to remove an officer is “extraordinary business” as defined elsewhere in these Bylaws. Voting for removal as a member of the Club may coincide with this procedure.
A Member of the Club may be removed by two separate votes of two-thirds (2/3) majority of Members in Good Standing present at consecutive monthly General Meetings.
Any officer or member proposed for removal shall have reasonable opportunity to object and speak against their removal.
Any removal vote, whether from office or from membership in the Club, shall be announced at least twenty days prior to the scheduled vote. Votes for removal from office or from membership shall be by secret ballot.
Vacancies
If an officer position becomes vacant during its term, the Executive Committee may nominate a Member in Good Standing to fill the vacant position. The election to fill a vacant office must be announced 10 days in advance as part of the official agenda of a General Meeting. Any Member in Good Standing present at the General Meeting may self-nominate or be nominated by another Member in Good Standing for election to the vacant position. Election to the vacant office requires the approval of a majority of Members in Good Standing present at the General Meeting.
ARTICLE 6 - COMMITTEES
The Club shall maintain as its Standing Committees the Outreach & Programs Committee; the General Assembly Committee; the Environmental Committee, the Organization Committee; and the Executive Committee. With the exception of the Executive Committee, other standing or ad-hoc committees shall be composed of volunteers from the Club membership. With the exception of the Executive Committee, Standing Committees shall select their own chairperson(s) from among the Members in Good Standing sitting on that Committee. Standing Committees shall set their own meeting schedules and agendas but shall report their proceedings and shall announce meeting times and locations at General Meetings and through other normal Club means of communication.
The Executive Committee shall be composed of Club Officers, chairpersons of the Standing Committees, and, at the discretion of the co-chairs, chairpersons of Ad-hoc Committees. Where a Standing or Ad-hoc Committee has Co-Chairs, one Co-Chair shall be designated by that Standing or Ad-hoc Committee to sit on the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall formulate the Club's budget; identify growth opportunities for the Club; recommend annual dues for approval by Club membership; recommend candidates to fill vacant officer positions; and make other Club policy recommendations.
The Co-Chairs shall appoint two Ad-hoc committees: the Elections Committee, to be appointed in June; and the Audit Committee, to be appointed in December.
The Elections Committee shall be composed of three Members in Good Standing. The Elections Committee shall coordinate elections for Club officers and conduct the vote of the membership at the September General Meeting. Candidates for office may not serve on the Elections Committee.
The Audit Committee shall be composed of a Co-Chair and two other Members in Good Standing. The Audit Committee shall examine the financial records of the club to ensure balanced books and accurate recordation of transactions of the previous fiscal year. The Club's financial records may also be audited at any time upon a majority vote of the membership.
The Co-Chairs may establish other Ad-hoc Committees at their discretion for specific tasks.
ARTICLE 7 - ELECTIONS
The Elections Committee shall issue a Call for Candidates to the Membership for each officer position at least thirty days in advance of the October General Meeting and disseminate to the Membership a list of qualified candidates for Officer positions ten days prior to the October General Meeting. If any position is contested, secret ballots must be used.
Only Members in Good Standing may be elected to an officer position.
Only Members in Good Standing may vote in Club elections. A majority of Members in Good Standing present are needed to elect Club officers.
ARTICLE 8 - AMENDMENTS
The Club is committed to balancing the need and desire to amend these Bylaws from time to time with the need to continue the ordinary flow of Club business. Therefore, any Member in Good Standing may at any time propose an Amendment to these Bylaws, including the Mission and Statement of Principles, provided she/he has the co-sponsorship of at least two other Members in Good Standing. Such proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing, to include the names of the amendment’s author and co-sponsors, to the Secretary. The Secretary shall accept all such proposed amendments; shall maintain and compile all such proposed amendments; and shall at least once every six months distribute such proposed amendments to Club members for discussion and voting at the next General Meeting. Such distribution shall precede that General Meeting by at least ten days.
Amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Members in Good Standing present and voting, provided that a quorum of at least twenty Members in Good Standing are present.
ARTICLE 9 - RULES
Roberts Rules of Order, Revised shall govern the proceedings of the Club except when such rules are in conflict or inconsistent with the Bylaws of the Club. It is not the intent of these Bylaws that Roberts Rules shall be used in a manner to hinder the reasonable flow of discussion and decision-making.
ATTACHMENTS: MISSION AND PRINCIPLES
3/6/2005
Our mission is to promote economic fairness, social justice, basic human rights, civil liberties, a sustainable environment, a tolerant society and world peace through a more informed political dialogue and active participation in civil society and the democratic political process.
TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS:
1) We recognize that each of us has the ability and the responsibility to create the society reflected in our principles.
2) We will look for effective solutions regardless of labels and origins.
3) Our membership and leadership will reflect our community’s diversity.
4) Recognizing that change requires the united action of many, we will reach out to other organizations and groups working toward common goals.
5) We will work to cultivate the next generation of progressive-minded citizens and leaders.
As we endeavor to change our society and address the many challenges we face, the principles below guide our work.
PRINCIPLES
1. Fair and Sustainable Economy and Livable Communities
We believe that…
1) As an educated society living in the richest country in the world, our society must provide the means for all of its members to have access to decent, affordable housing; adequate food and clothing; affordable, quality health care; and quality public education at all levels.
2) Our society and economy work better when workers have the right to a living wage, to organize and bargain collectively, to reasonably strike without the threat of reprisals or replacement, and to have safe and healthy working conditions, pensions and benefits.
3) Cultivating artistic and scientific discovery, creativity, and innovation strengthens and enriches our nation.
4) A fair tax system requires those individuals and businesses most able to pay to contribute the most to society’s protection and maintenance.
5) Our society must provide economic security to those facing unemployment, disability, injury, sickness, and old age.
6) All members of society should feel safe at home and in their neighborhoods.
7) An ecologically sound economy must meet society’s material needs through sustainable use of nontoxic and renewable energy, materials and processes.
8) Society must conserve, restore and protect its natural resources and prevent further degradation of the environment.
2. Democracy and Social Justice
We believe that…
1) Democracy must drive our organizations and institutions at all levels.
2) Democratically elected government is essential to provide for the common good.
3) Government must be efficiently run, fiscally responsible and operationally transparent.
4) Individuals have a responsibility to exercise their political and economic rights in a manner that does not abuse the rights of others.
5) Discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, age, class, religious beliefs or unbelief, sexual orientation, disability, health status, and national origin or citizenship has no place in our society.
6) Corporations have a responsibility not only to shareholders but to all stakeholders, including the communities in which they operate and the workers they employ.
7) Access to power must be independent of wealth.
8) The democratic promise of our society, and the power to change our country, will be fulfilled only through maximum participation in the democratic political process.
9) The criminal justice system must be humane, with emphasis on rehabilitation rather than retribution, and must fairly punish offenders for their behavior, regardless of their race, gender, gender identity, income, or class.
10) Drug addiction, alcoholism, and mental illness must be treated as issues of public health.
11) Individuals must have the right to make health decisions without governmental interference.
12) All immigrants and refugees are entitled to basic rights, regardless of immigration status.
3. Real Security and Peace
We believe that…
1) Americans must join with other nations to strengthen global institutions that protect the vulnerable, promote self-government, and improve the health and welfare of all people.
2) Our nation’s security depends on working together with other nations, practicing diplomacy, respecting national differences, promoting peace rather than war, and addressing root causes of violence and conflict such as poverty, inequality and lack of political freedom.
3) Our nation must maintain an effective and efficient military to defend and maintain peace and should only send our soldiers into harm’s way as a last resort after full diplomatic options have been exhausted.
4) Our men and women in the military, who risk their lives for their country, deserve fair treatment and the full benefits promised to them by our government.
5) Our nation has a responsibility to emulate democratic principles in its relations with other nations. To do this it is fundamental that our foreign policy is based on human rights, protecting workers’ rights and protecting the global environment.
Our Statement of Mission and Principles:
PROGRESSIVE CHEVERLY: MISSION AND PRINCIPLES
3/6/2005
Our mission is to promote economic fairness, social justice, basic human rights, civil liberties, a sustainable environment, a tolerant society and world peace through a more informed political dialogue and active participation in civil society and the democratic political process.
To achieve our goals:
1) We recognize that each of us has the ability and the responsibility to create the society reflected in our principles.
2) We will look for effective solutions regardless of labels and origins.
3) Our membership and leadership will reflect our community’s diversity.
4) Recognizing that change requires the united action of many, we will reach out to other organizations and groups working toward common goals.
5) We will work to cultivate the next generation of progressive-minded citizens and leaders.
As we endeavor to change our society and address the many challenges we face, the principles below guide our work.
PRINCIPLES
1. Fair and Sustainable Economy and Livable Communities
We believe that…
a) As an educated society living in the richest country in the world, our society must provide the means for all of its members to have access to decent, affordable housing; adequate food and clothing; affordable, quality health care; and quality public education at all levels.
b) Our society and economy work better when workers have the right to a living wage, to organize and bargain collectively, to reasonably strike without the threat of reprisals or replacement, and to have safe and healthy working conditions, pensions and benefits.
c) Cultivating artistic and scientific discovery, creativity, and innovation strengthens and enriches our nation.
d) A fair tax system requires those individuals and businesses most able to pay to contribute the most to society’s protection and maintenance.
e) Our society must provide economic security to those facing unemployment, disability, injury, sickness, and old age.
f) All members of society should feel safe at home and in their neighborhoods.
g) An ecologically sound economy must meet society’s material needs through sustainable use of nontoxic and renewable energy, materials and processes.
h) Society must conserve, restore and protect its natural resources and prevent further degradation of the environment.
2. Democracy and Social Justice
We believe that…
a) Democracy must drive our organizations and institutions at all levels.
b) Democratically elected government is essential to provide for the common good.
c) Government must be efficiently run, fiscally responsible and operationally transparent.
d) Individuals have a responsibility to exercise their political and economic rights in a manner that does not abuse the rights of others.
e) Discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, age, class, religious beliefs or unbelief, sexual orientation, disability, health status, and national origin or citizenship has no place in our society.
f) Corporations have a responsibility not only to shareholders but to all stakeholders, including the communities in which they operate and the workers they employ.
g) Access to power must be independent of wealth.
h) The democratic promise of our society, and the power to change our country, will be fulfilled only through maximum participation in the democratic political process.
i) The criminal justice system must be humane, with emphasis on rehabilitation rather than retribution, and must fairly punish offenders for their behavior, regardless of their race, gender, gender identity, income, or class.
j) Drug addiction, alcoholism, and mental illness must be treated as issues of public health.
k) Individuals must have the right to make health decisions without governmental interference.
l) All immigrants and refugees are entitled to basic rights, regardless of immigration status.
3. Real Security and Peace
We believe that…
a) Americans must join with other nations to strengthen global institutions that protect the vulnerable, promote self-government, and improve the health and welfare of all people.
b) Our nation’s security depends on working together with other nations, practicing diplomacy, respecting national differences, promoting peace rather than war, and addressing root causes of violence and conflict such as poverty, inequality and lack of political freedom.
c) Our nation must maintain an effective and efficient military to defend and maintain peace and should only send our soldiers into harm’s way as a last resort after full diplomatic options have been exhausted.
d) Our men and women in the military, who risk their lives for their country, deserve fair treatment and the full benefits promised to them by our government.
e) Our nation has a responsibility to emulate democratic principles in its relations with other nations. To do this it is fundamental that our foreign policy is based on human rights, protecting workers’ rights and protecting the global environment.