CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
of the
REPUBLICAN CLUB OF ORADELL, NEW JERSEY
Proposed for amendment October 24, 2008
| ARTICLE I | NAME | This organization shall be known as the REPUBLICAN CLUB OF ORADELL and is referred to herein and in the By-Laws as the ‘Club”. |
| ARTICLE II | OBJECT | The object of this organization shall be to identify and promote the principles and objectives of the Republican Party for the purpose of nominating and electing Republican candidates to office. |
| ARTICLE III | MEMBERSHIP | All voters of the Borough of Oradell who are registered as Republicans and who attest their belief in the principles of the Republican Party, shall be eligible for membership in the Club. |
| ARTICLE IV | OFFICERS | The Officers of the organization shall consist of: PresidentFirst Vice PresidentSecond Vice PresidentThird Vice PresidentRecording SecretaryCorresponding SecretaryTreasurerall of whom shall be elected at the Annual Meeting and shall serve for one year or until their respective successors shall have been duly elected, and their term of office shall begin upon their election at the Annual Meeting at which they are elected, all as may be provided by the By-Laws. |
| ARTICLE V | EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE/TRUSTEES | The Executive Committee shall consist of:(a) the Officers as defined in Article IV hereof;(b) the Republican Mayor of Oradell;(c) a member of the Council, selected from among itsRepublican members, by them, by the Annual Meeting of theClub and(d) the County Committee Municipal Chairman.Each member of the Executive Committee must be a Member in Good Standing, as defined in the By-Laws. The Executive Committee shall be the Trustees of the Club. |
| ARTICLE VI | PROPERTY | All property of the Club shall be vested in the Trustees. |
| ARTICLE VII | AMENDMENTS TOTHECONSTITUTION | Any proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be first submitted at a duly convened regular or special meeting of the Club in writing signed by not less than five (5) Members in Good Standing. However, the amendment shall not be moved for adoption until the meeting next succeeding the one at which it was presented. A copy of the proposed amendment shall be sent by mail to each member not less than ten (10) days in advance of the meeting at which such amendment shall come up for ratification. Provided a quorum is present at that meeting, a two-thirds vote of the Members in Good Standing present shall be required for the adoption of any amendment. |
| ARTICLE I | MEMBERS | |
| Section 1 | ADMISSION | Every applicant eligible for admission to membership in the Club shall be sponsored by at least one Member in Good Standing who shall present the name of the applicant, together with his or her dues for the current year, at a regular meeting of the Club. Such applicant shall not become a Member in Good Standing entitled to vote until the next regular meeting. Annual membership commences with the opening of the Annual Meeting and continues until the opening of the next Annual Meeting. |
| Section 2 | VOTING | Any Member in Good Standing shall be eligible to vote on any matter coming before the Club, except as otherwise provided elsewhere in the By-Laws. |
| Section 3 | GOOD STANDING | A “Member in Good Standing" shall be a person meeting the eligibility requirements of Article III of the Constitution who has been admitted to membership and who is current in payment of dues as provided in the By-Laws. |
| ARTICLE II | MEETINGS | |
| Section 1 | MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS | The term "meeting”, unless otherwise specified, shall mean a duly noticed meeting of the membership at which a quorum is present. The Annual Meeting shall be held on the fourth Thursday in January. The dates of the regular meetings shall be as provided by resolution adopted at the Annual Meeting. Unless otherwise so determined, regular meetings in addition to the Annual Meeting shall be held on the fourth Thursday in the months of February, March, April, May, September and October. The President must call for a special meeting upon the written request by ten (10) Members in Good Standing of the Club. Written notice of all meetings shall be mailed postage prepaid to the address of each Member in Good Standing ten (10) days prior to the date set for such meeting. Electronic mailings may be sent, in lieu of postal mailings, to those members providing email addresses. |
| Section2 | Quorum | Ten (10) Members in Good Standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any duly noticed meeting. |
| ARTICLE III | OFFICERS | |
| Section 1 | QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES | All Officers must be Members in Good Standing. The duties of all AND DUTIES Officers areas specified by these By-Laws. |
| Section 2 | PRESIDENT | The President shall chair all meetings of the membership and of the Executive Committee meetings, and shall carry out the usual functions attendant upon the office of President. The President shall appoint the chairman of all committees except those otherwise provided for in the By- Laws, shall be a member ex officio of all committees except the Nominating Committees and shall exercise general supervision of the affairs and activities of the Club. |
| Section 3 | FIRST VICE PRESIDENT | The First Vice President, in the event of the death, disqualification or resignation of the President, shall assume the office of President for the unexpired term, shall perform the duties of the President in the latter’s absence at meetings and shall chair the Program and Public Relations Committees. The First Vice President shall arrange the programs for the meetings, complete the arrangements for same and shall see that all Club activities are sufficiently advertised. |
| Section 4 | SECOND VICE PRESIDENT | The Second Vice President shall perform the duties of the President at meetings in the absence of both the President and First Vice President, and chair the Membership Committee responsible for recruiting and securing new members and shall appoint three members to said committee, and, based on information provided by the Treasurer as to payment of dues, shall maintain the list of all Members in Good Standing. This list shall constitute the official membership list of the Club for all purposes including right to vote; this list shall be brought to all meetings and shall be open to inspection thereat by any Member in Good Standing. The Second Vice President shall cause a copy of said list to be supplied to the Corresponding Secretary at the close of each month if any changes have occurred during that month. The Second Vice President shall cause membership cards to be issued annually to all Members in Good Standing prior to the Annual Meeting and throughout the year as new members join. |
| Section 5 | THIRD VICE PRESIDENT | The Third Vice President shall serve as Finance Chairman of the Club and as such shall be responsible for preparation of an annual budget and all fund raising efforts. The annual budget shall be presented t the February meeting. |
| Section 6 | RECORDING SECRETARY | The Recording Secretary shall record and keep the record of all meetings and proceedings of the Club and of the Executive Committee, and of all other matters deemed necessary or advisable. |
| Section 7 | CORRESPONDING SECRETARY | The Corresponding Secretary shall attend to the sending of notices, correspondence, any required filing and other matters in connection with the office of Corresponding Secretary of the Club. Notices for annual Club dues for the succeeding year shall be sent by the Corresponding Secretary by November 10th. |
| Section 8 | TREASURER | The Treasurer shall collect and receive all dues and other assessments, shall have custody of the Club’s funds, shall keep regular accounts thereof and submit a report of the financial condition of the Club at each meeting of the Executive Committee and regular membership meeting, and shall deposit all monies belonging to the Club in the Club bank account designated by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall keep an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements. All checks drawn on funds of the Club shall require the signature of the Treasurer, who shall sign such checks only in accordance with the following:a) Ordinary expenses up to $50, no separate approval required;b) Any other payments up to $500, only after approval of a majority of the Executive Committee;c) Any payments of $500 or more, only after approval by a vote of the membership at a duly convened meeting with a quorum present. |
| Section 9 | RETIREMENT FROM OFFICE | All Officers, upon retiring from office, shall, at the close of the Annual Meeting, deliver to their respective successors all money, accounts, record books, papers or other property in their possession belonging to the Club. In the event of a mid-term resignation, all Club property in such Officer’s possession shall immediately be delivered to the President, or in the President’s absence, to the First Vice President. |
| Section 10 | TERM OF OFFICE | The regular term of office of all Officers shall commence upon their election at the Annual Meeting and shall continue until their respective successors are duly elected. |
| Section 11 | VACANCIES | Any vacancies shall be filled by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee, provided, however, that if the office of President is vacated, the position shall be assumed by the First Vice President for the unexpired term. |
| Section 12 | SUPPORT OF CLUB CANDIDATES | If an Officer actively supports a candidate other than an official candidate of the Republican Club of Oradell, such Officer shall immediately resign as such Officer or be subject to removal for good cause as provided in Article V, Section 2. |
| ARTICLE IV | ELECTIONS | |
| Section 1 | NOMINATION OF CLUB OFFICERS | The President, at the October meeting, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint five (5) members plus one alternate, all Members in Good Standing, to serve as a Nominating Committee for Club Officers. It shall be the duty of this Committee to nominate candidates for the offices to be filled at the Annual Meeting. The report of this Committee, specifying the names of its nominees, shall be sent by mail to the membership not less than ten (10) days before the Annual Meeting Other nominations may be made from the floor at the Annual Meeting by any Member in Good Standing. |
| Section 2 | ELECTION OF CLUB OFFICERS | The election of Officers shall take place at the Annual Meeting. Elections shall be by written ballot, or, if only one candidate is nominated for a position, by acclamation. Each Member in Good Standing who is present at the Annual Meeting and who presents his/her valid membership card shall be entitled to vote. |
| Section 3 | NOMINATIONS OF CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, COUNCIL AND COUNTY COMMITTEE | The President, at the October meeting, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint five (5) members plus one alternate, all Members in Good Standing, to serve as a Nominating Committee of Candidates for Mayor, Council and County Committee. The report of this Committee, specifying the names of its nominees, shall be sent by mail to the membership not less than ten (10) days before the March meeting. Other nominations may be made from the floor at the March meeting by Members in Good Standing. All nominees shall be Members in Good Standing or shall apply for same and pay the required dues before the opening of the March meeting.The nominees duly approved by the Club membership at the March meeting shall be the official candidates of the Republican Club of Oradell. |
| ARTICLE V | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | |
| Section 1 | COMPOSITION | The Executive Committee shall be established as provided in the Constitution. |
| Section2 | DUTIES | The Executive Committee shall have power to transact the general business of the Club between meetings and shall have such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned under these By-Laws or by resolution duly adopted by the membership at a duly convened meeting. At each regular or special meeting, the Executive Committee shall report to the membership any actions taken by it since the last meeting. The Executive Committee by a two-thirds vote of its entire membership may remove any Officer or member of the Executive Committee for good cause or for failure to perform the duties of such office. |
| Section 3 | MEETINGS | Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at such times and places as may be deemed necessary. Such Executive Committee meetings may be called by the President and shall be called by the President when requested by three (3) members of the Executive Committee. |
| Section 4 | QUORUM | A majority of the members serving on the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business. However, approvals of the Executive Committee specifically called for under these By-Laws shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire membership of the Executive Committee. In lieu of attendance at an Executive Committee meeting, such vote may be submitted in writing, signed by the member and filed with the Recording Secretary. For purposes of quorum and voting, each person serving on the Executive Committee shall count as one irrespective of whether such person is serving in more than one capacity specified in the Constitution. |
| ARTICLE VI | DUES | |
| Section 1 | DUES | The Executive Committee may change the annual dues by a two-thirds vote of its entire membership, provided that any change for the following year shall be adopted before and announced at the October meeting of the current year. Until so changed, the annual dues shall be Thirty Dollars ($30) per annum for the first member of a household and Fifteen Dollars ($15) for each additional resident of that household, defined as a spouse, and/or related family member residing in the same home, providing each meets the membership requirements as defined in the Constitution. All such additional members shall be identified by name at the time of dues payment. Invoices for dues shall be mailed to all members on or before November 10th of the current year, and shall be due and payable by December 31st of such year. |
| Section 2 | DELINQUENT DUES | A member who fails to pay dues by December 31st shall be ineligible to vote at the succeeding Annual Meeting. Members in Good Standing the previous year who fail to pay their dues by December 31st of that year shall be notified at least ten (10) days before the February meeting that unless such dues are paid before the close of the February meeting, such member shall not be eligible to vote on the nomination of Candidates for Mayor and Council and County Committee at the March meeting. |
| Section 3 | REINSTATEMENT | A member who fails to pay required dues before the close of the February meeting as provided in the preceding section may gain reinstatement as a Member in Good Standing by paying the dues at a subsequent meeting, but such reinstatement shall not be effective until the next meeting after the one at which said dues were received. Such dues paid other than at a meeting shall be deemed received at the meeting following such receipt, and therefore the reinstatement shall not be effective until the next meeting thereafter. |
| ARTICLE VII | FISCAL YEAR | |
| SECTION 1 | FISCAL YEAR | The fiscal year shall be from January 1st to December 31st. |
| ARTICLE VIII | ORDER OF BUSINESS | |
| SECTION 1 | ORDER OF BUSINESS | Robert’s Rules of Order, Current Revision, shall govern the parliamentary procedure of the Club insofar as the same are not inconsistent with the Constitution and By-Laws. |
| ARTICLE IX | AMENDMENTS | |
| SECTION 1 | AMENDMENTS | These By-Laws may be amended in the same manner as provided for the amendment of the Constitution. |
| ARTICLE X | DISSOLUTION | The Club may he dissolved by a vote, taken by ballot, at a regular or special meeting at which a quorum is present, provided said meeting shall have been duly noticed as provided in these By-Laws, which notice shall specifically state that Club dissolution is to be voted upon at the meeting, and provided further that such dissolution shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the Club’s Members in Good Standing. Upon such dissolution, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provision for payment of all the liabilities of the Club, deliver any remaining funds or other assets to the Bergen County Republican Organization. No other organization or individual connected with the Club shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of its assets. |
