Club Officers

Democratic Club of Leisure World

By-Laws

These bylaws were amended at the Club’s meeting on June 11, 2009, and then adopted as amended. Additional amendments were adopted at Club meetings on October 17, 2013, July 31, 2022 and February 13, 2025.

Article I – Name

        This organization shall be known as the Democratic Club of Leisure World, Maryland, hereinafter referred to as the “Club.”

Article II – Purpose

        The Club shall support the principles and the candidates of the Democratic Party at the County, State, and National levels. The Club will dedicate itself and employ its best efforts to promote, educate, and inform voters of Democratic Party principles and issues, and encourage voter participation in party affairs to promote and serve good government and enhance the grassroots and precinct organization at Leisure World, Montgomery County, Maryland.

Article III – Endorsements

        1. The Club shall not endorse candidates in the Democratic Party primaries,

        2. In general or special elections, the Club may endorse candidates for elected public office or take a position on public policy or political issues by a minimum of 10% of Club members present at a General Membership meeting, at a special meeting or a similar method of voting, such as via the internet. There shall be reasonable notification of the date, time, and place of a special meeting.

        3. Notification for all purposes in these Bylaws may include publication in The Leisure World News, posting on Leisure World Clubhouse bulletin boards, broadcast on the Leisure World closed circuit television system, by regular mail including post card notification, or by email and on the Club website. Notification shall be no less than 14 days in advance.

        4. The Board may endorse, on behalf of the Club, individuals for non-elected appointive offices.

Article IV – Membership

        1. Membership shall be open to all registered Democrats who support the party principles and the purpose of the Club.

        2. The Board may from time to time, confer “Honorary Membership”, with no voting rights, on those persons adjudged to have served the Democratic Partly with distinction. Honorary members do not pay dues.

        3. The payment of dues is a requirement of membership. The Board shall set the amount of annual dues. The membership year and the fiscal year shall start on January 1 and end on December 31.

     4. The Club shall not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability for admission to club membership or to hold office on the Board.

        5. To vote at a general membership meeting (for officers, bylaws, etc.) the voter must be a member in good standing for at least 15 days before the vote.  

Article V – Officers and Board

        1. Officers of the Club, all of whom shall be members of the Board, shall be: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and 3 Members at Large of the Board, all of whom shall be voting members of the Board. The Club encourages the immediate past President to attend Board meetings and be active in decision making.

        2. Any regular member of the Club in good standing is eligible for election to the Board.

        3. The term of office for each officer shall be 2 years, ending in each odd numbered year. In the event of a vacancy, the Board shall appoint a temporary replacement and an election shall be held at the next General Membership meeting. There shall be no term limits for officers of the Club.

        4. Should a Board member be absent for more than 3 meetings of the Board, without good cause, that position shall be declared vacant and that position shall be filled in accordance with Article V, section 3.

        5. A duly elected officer of the Club, after fair hearing before the Board in closed session, may be removed from office for good cause as determined by the Board. A vote for removal is dispositive.

Article VI – Duties of the Officers

        1. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Club and shall serve as chair of the Board. The President shall appoint the chairperson of all standing and ad hoc committees, with the exception of the Nominating & Election Committee, whose chair is elected by its members. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating & Election Committee.

        2. The First Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, assume the duties and responsibilities of the President. The First Vice President shall be responsible for general membership meeting programs and special events.

        3. The Second Vice President shall, in the absence of the President and First Vice President, assume the duties and responsibilities of the President. The Second Vice President shall serve on at least one standing committee.

        4. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall maintain all reports and correspondence of the Club. Should the Secretary vacate that office, all records, documents, and minutes shall be given to the President. The Secretary shall, on reasonable notice, make all records, documents, or minutes available to Club members on request. The Secretary shall serve on at least one standing committee.

        5. The Treasurer shall receive, deposit, and maintain all funds of the Club in appropriate accounts in financial institutions approved by the Board. The Treasurer shall submit a written report of all receipts and disbursements at each regular meeting of the Board. On reasonable notice, the Treasurer shall make all financial records available to any member of the Club upon request. The Treasurer shall disburse all Club funds according to the expenditure policy adopted by the Board. Bank reconciliations shall be prepared by the Treasurer and reviewed by the Board. The Treasurer shall chair the Budget & Finance Committee.

        6. The Members at Large of the Board shall assist in the affairs of the Club and make meaningful contributions at the request of the President for assistance in special program supervision of Club representation. Each Member at Large shall serve on at least one standing committee.

Article VII – Committees

The Board shall establish standing and ad hoc committees. Members of committees must be current members of the Club. The President shall appoint the chairperson of all standing and ad hoc committees, with the exception of the Nominating & Election Committee whose chair is elected by its members, and the Budget & Finance Committee whose chair shall be the Treasurer.

Article VIII – Nominations & Election Committee

        1. The President shall appoint 3 members of the Club to serve on the Nominations & Election Committee with the advice and consent of the Board.

        2. No member of the Board shall serve on the Nominations & Election Committee and no member of the Nominations & Election Committee shall be a candidate for Club office.

        3. The Nominations & Election Committee shall convene no later than March in each odd numbered year to interview, select, and nominate a slate of Club officers.

        4. The Nominations & Election Committee shall conduct and supervise the election of officers at the General Membership meeting in May of odd numbered years. Nominations from the floor will be accepted providing the nominee is present and consents to the nomination.

        5. Installation of officers will be held at the General Membership meeting in June, following the May election.

Article IX – Meetings

        1. All meetings of the Club are open to the general public for observation. Board meetings shall be open to the general membership according to the policy established in the Maryland Open Meetings Act.

        2. Members of the Club and/or visitors may speak at Board meetings at the discretion of the President. Members are encouraged to speak at General Membership meetings.

        3. Special meetings may be held on the call of the President or the Board, or when requested by petition of 5 members of the Board or 15 Club members. Club members shall be notified of any special meeting, including its date, time, location, and the reason the special meeting was called.

        4. General Membership meetings shall usually not be held during July and August. Meetings during those months shall be at the call of the President as special meetings.

        5. A quorum for all official Board business shall be a majority of the voting members of the Board. Decisions shall be made by majority vote of the Board members present.

        6. A quorum for voting and deciding issues at General Membership meetings shall be 50 members in good standing. To be adopted, votes must receive 51% of the members present.

Article X – Dissolution

        1. The club may be dissolved by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the general membership at a special meeting of the Club called for that purpose.

        2. In the event of dissolution, any money and property remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and obligations shall be transferred to and become the property of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee.

Article XI – Amendments

        1. Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be presented in writing to the Board.

        2. The proposed amendment(s) shall be sent to the membership of the Club at least 14 days prior to the meeting during which a discussion will be held and a vote taken on the proposed amendment(s).

        3. Any proposed amendment(s) must receive 51% of the vote of the members present.

Article XII – Rules of Procedure

        Questions, action, or procedures not covered in these bylaws shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.

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