ByLaws - Revised 2020

ARTICLE 1

The Name of our Club: THE ITALIAN POLITICAL INDEPENDENT CLUB OF KENSINGTON, CONN., INC. Organized March 20, 1908, Incorporated November 22, 1912.

All mention of “the club” throughout this document will mean THE ITALIAN POLITICAL INDEPENDENT CLUB OF KENSINGTON, CONN.

ARTICLE 2 - Mission Statement

The Club is organized, as a political organization, to take an active part in the affairs of our town, state, and nation and to promote citizenship and good fellowship among the people of the town.

ARTICLE 3 - Membership

To become a member of this Club, the applicant must be of an age which complies with the legal drinking age under Connecticut General Statues Section 30-1 et seq., or its successor.

ARTICLE 4 - Obtaining Membership

Any person who wishes to join the Club must apply as follows:

1.     Secure an application from a member who is in good standing.

2.     The proposed member must sign and submit the application to the Financial Secretary.

3.     The membership fee will be collected by the Financial Secretary at their initial review meeting.

4.     The Financial Secretary will submit all completed applications to the Board of Directors as they are received at each monthly board meeting and the Board of Directors will determine who will be invited to the next monthly Board of Directors Meeting.

5.     The Financial Secretary will determine if the application can be processed in compliance with the eligibility cap.  No less than sixty-five percent (65%) of the members of the Club shall be Italian or of Italian extraction.

6.     The proposed candidate for membership must attend a meeting with the Financial Secretary and or Assistant Financial Secretary prior to a membership monthly meeting. At this meeting the Financial Secretary and or Assistant Financial Secretary will review the proposed candidate’s application and decide if the proposed candidate’s name will be presented at the monthly membership meeting. Once presented at the monthly membership meeting, the proposed members name and sponsoring member’s name will be posted on the Club bulletin board for thirty (30) days.

7.     After thirty (30) days, the proposed member’s name will be submitted to the membership for approval.

8.     To gain approval the applicant must be approved by a majority vote of the members attending the next monthly meeting.

ARTICLE 5 – Initiation Fees and Yearly Dues

Initiation fees and yearly dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors and voted on by the membership at a regular or special meeting.  Annual dues are required to be paid in full by January 1 of each year, unless the member is otherwise exempt as specified by the rules and regulations of the Club. Failure to pay by March 1st shall result in the member being automatically terminated.

The President and Financial Secretary will review any member’s request for late payment of dues.

ARTICLE 6 – Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall consist of the following thirteen (13) individual members. No member shall be allowed to hold more than one (1) position at the same time.

1.     President

2.     Vice President

3.     Recording Secretary

4.     Financial Secretary

5.     Assistant Financial Secretary

6.     Treasurer

7.     Assistant Treasurer

8.     Six Directors

Functions of the Board of Directors:

1.     The Board of Directors shall have the responsibility and authority to prescribe and enforce all rules and regulations regarding the operation of the Club except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws. Any member may present a grievance or complaint to the Board of Directors in writing.  Any member may seek assistance from a Board of Director in producing a grievance or complaint if they are unable to do so in writing themselves. 

2.     Any member of the Board of Directors who fails to attend three Board meetings in a row, without giving a valid reason, will be removed from office by the Board of Directors.

3.     The President of the Club has the authority to appoint another member to take the Board member’s place for the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE 7 – Meeting Agenda

The following shall be the order of business at all meetings:

1.     Call the meeting to order, pledge of allegiance, moment of silence for sick and deceased members

2.     Reading of the minutes from the previous meeting

3.     Approval of applicants for membership

4.     Admission of new members

5.     Financial Secretary’s Report

6.     Treasurer’s Report

7.     Trustees Reports

8.     Good and Welfare of the Club

9.     Communications

10.  Committee Reports

11.  Old Business

12.  New Business

13.  Call the meeting adjourn

ARTICLE 8 - President's Duties

It is the duty of the President to:

1.     Preside at all meetings, whether regular or special, and to conduct all meetings in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.

2.     Must maintain order at all times

3.     May vote in elections, and in case of a tie in votes on any subject discussed by the membership, may cast their vote to determine the majority

4.     Vigorously enforce the By-Laws of the Club

ARTICLE 9 - Vice President's Duties

It is the duty of the Vice President to:

1.     Preside at all meetings, whether regular or special

2.     Assist the President in the fulfillment of their duties

3.     In case of the President’s absence, substitute for the President in accordance with the provisions of Article 8

ARTICLE 10 - Recording Secretary's Duties

It is the duty of the Recording Secretary to:

1.     Be present at all meetings, whether regular or special

2.     Prepare the minutes of all meetings, recording accurately all that transpires.

3.     Send all letters, notices, circulars and correspondence pertaining to the welfare of the Club by email and or by US Mail.

4.     Post a record of the minutes of each monthly membership meeting on the club bulletin board within seven (7) days after the monthly membership meeting, for a period of 30 days, omitting all financial information.

ARTICLE 11 - Financial Secretary's and Assistant Financial Secretary’s Duties

The Financial Secretary and Assistant Financial Secretary shall perform the following duties:

1.     Be present at all meetings, whether regular or special

2.     Collect all monies due to the Club

3.     Prepare a written report for all meetings pursuant to Article 7

4.     Allocate monies to the Treasurer as needed for the operation of the Club

5.     Maintain the Club membership pursuant to Article 4

6.     Prepare and distribute membership cards

7.     Prepare the list of delinquent members and report such list to the Board of Directors at the March Board of Directors meeting.

8.     Keep a membership book with names and photos of all members at the bar available per request to the membership.

ARTICLE 12 - Treasurer's and Assistant Treasurer’s Duties

The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall be present at all meetings and shall perform the following duties:

1.     Maintain and manage the Club checking account

2.     Collect and deposit monies received through the daily and weekly operation of the Club Bar.

3.     Scrutinize all bills

4.     Prepare and present a written report at all monthly Board of Directors and Membership meetings.

5.     The Treasurer shall have on hand, at all times, the sum of fifty ($50.00) dollars for immediate needs of the Club.

ARTICLE 13 - Trustee's Duties

The Trustees elected pursuant to Article 29 must be members in good standing. It shall be the duty of the Trustees to verify all bar transactions and inventories on a monthly basis. They shall render a written monthly report to the Club Secretary as well as reporting to the membership on bar activities.

ARTICLE 14 - Permittee

The Board of Directors will be responsible for the hiring and the termination of the Permittee. The Board of Directors will designate one person from the Board to be its spokesperson. All communications between the Permittee and the Board of Directors will take place by the Board designee. The designee shall be known to the membership.

Any bartender hired by the Permittee must also have the approval of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 15 - Deceased members

Upon the death of a member, a tribute, marked with the name of the Club, shall be sent. The deceased member shall be remembered with a moment of silence at the next regular meeting following their passing. The deceased members name and year of death will be installed on the Club Deceased Members Plaque.

ARTICLE 16 - Meetings

The Club shall hold ten monthly meetings per year, excluding the months of July and August, on a day and time selected in advance by the membership at the regular monthly meeting in December of each year. However, the President may call a special meeting for the transaction of urgent business whenever necessary. When calling such special meeting, the President must make known the subject of the meeting by giving the members reasonable advance notice.

ARTICLE 17 – Voting at meetings

Five (5%) percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum and no decision taken at a regular or special meeting shall be considered valid unless a quorum is present.

ARTICLE 18 – Election Process

Nominations for officers and directors will be held at the October meeting each year. Any member wishing to be on the ballot must either submit a letter of intent to the Recording Secretary or be present the night of the nominations. Any nomination for an office of a member who is not present or has not submitted a letter of intent to the Recording Secretary will not be accepted.

At the November member’s meeting, all candidates will present to the body why they should be considered for the position they are running for.  There should be no hand outs requesting votes prior to the election on club property. 

Elections will be held at the regular monthly meeting in December of each year. Each member will receive a ballot listing each position along with the candidate’s name(s) and photo.

Election will be by ballot vote, and the results will be entered in the Recording Secretary’s minutes.

The newly elected officers and directors shall take office on January 1st of the coming year, making certain at that time, they receive all the necessary records and supplies belonging to the Club from the retiring officers.

A new member cannot become an elected or appointed official of the Club until they have completed at least one (1) year of good standing per their anniversary date.

ARTICLE 19 – Speaking at a meeting

At all the meetings, members shall have the right to the floor, but not until recognized by the President.

Upon being recognized by the President a member must stand and address their remarks to the chair.

When speaking, they shall express themselves briefly, clearly, and keep within the topic under discussion, avoiding personalities or unbecoming language in any controversy.

ARTICLE 20 - Discipline

Any member whose conduct while on Club premises is disruptive or abusive; i.e. cheating, fighting, stealing and drug use, shall be referred to the Board of Directors who will investigate the incident. The member shall be entitled to a hearing at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors or upon announcement of a special meeting by the President pursuant to Article 16.

ARTICLE 21 - Committees

The President shall appoint all necessary Committees pertaining to the general welfare of the Club, taking due consideration of those members wishing to volunteer for committee membership. The Committee shall report to the Board of Directors on the plans and progress of such Committee.

At the monthly member’s meetings, the President will request for volunteers to form a Committee pertaining to the general welfare of the club.

ARTICLE 22

This Club may be dissolved by an affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the entire membership of the Club at a special meeting called for this sole purpose and upon at least two (2) weeks’ written notice of said meeting to each member. The vote shall be by ballot.

In the event of dissolution, the assets of the Club shall be liquidated within a reasonable time and after payment of Club obligations, the proceeds thereof divided among all the members in good standing at the time of said vote to dissolve.

ARTICLE 23

All members of this Club shall be considered equal, and all shall be treated impartially.

ARTICLE 24

During the time in which a monthly membership meeting is in progress, all recreational and bar facilities will be closed.  Exception to this is for regularly scheduled Bocce League.

ARTICLE 25

Rules and regulations shall be proposed by the Board of Directors and approved by the general membership. The rules and regulations approved and adopted by the general membership of the Club shall only supplement and not supersede these By-Laws.

The written rules and regulations will be available at the bar.

ARTICLE 26 – Terms

The President shall be elected on Even years to serve a two (2) year term and may be re-elected any number of times.

The Vice President shall be elected on Odd years to serve a two (2) year term and may be re-elected any number of times.

Officers shall be elected to serve a one (1) year term and may be re-elected any number of times.

Board of Directors shall be elected to staggered terms with three (3) directors being elected every year to serve two (2) year terms.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the Board of Directors to a one-year term. The election shall take place at the first Director’s meeting in January.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors will run/coordinate the monthly Board of Directors meetings and serve as a liaison between the Permittee and the Board of Directors and assists the President.

ARTICLE 27

Any expenditures other than emergencies and those expenditures listed in Article 12 must be presented to the Board of Directors for presentation to the general membership under the following conditions:

1. Items up to $1,000.00 can be voted upon by a majority of the members present at a general membership meeting.

2. proposed expenditures of $1,000.01 to $4,999.99 shall be presented to the Board of Directors for the presentation to the general membership meeting and must be approved by the membership by two thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting at said meeting.

3. proposed expenditures of $5,000.00 and above, or matters concerning the overall well-being of the Club, must be presented to the Board of Directors in writing and the general membership will be notified by mail of the proposed expenditure, the reason for the expenditure and the date at which the proposal will be brought to a special membership meeting for approval. Approval must be by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting at said meeting.

ARTICLE 28

Any member may submit a By-Law change or revision to the Board of Directors. Upon receipt, the Board of Directors will review and submit their recommendation to the membership at the February membership meeting of the next year.

The Board of Directors will review any By-Law change or revision requests in May and November and will submit to the membership at those member meetings.

The Club By-Laws will be reviewed by a By-Laws committee every Ten (10) years.

No By-Law changes may be made without the approval from the Board of Directors and the General Membership that has been discussed at a General Membership Meeting.

ARTICLE 29

Any Club members spouse may be allowed to participate in all privileges of the Club without having to be considered a guest and are not required to sign the Club Guest Book per the requirements of the State of CT Liquor Commission Regulations Sec. 30-24.