Republican Women of Hancock County

Article I. Name

Republican Women of Hancock County shall be the name of the organization representing the women of the Republican Party of Hancock County, West Virginia.

Article II. Purpose

Within the policies of the West Virginia Federation of Republican Women of Hancock County shall be the objectives:

a)      To be loyal to the Republican Party; and to promote its principles and its candidates.

b)      To encourage and to assist in the election of the Republican Party nominees. (No candidate may be endorsed prior to any primary election, nor shall any candidate be endorsed for President or Vice President until after the Republican National Convention)

c)      To promote an informed electorate through continuing political activities and elections.

d)      To foster cooperation among Republican women’s clubs.

e)      To enhance the role of women in contemporary politics.

Article III. Meetings

The following regulations shall apply to all meetings:

a)      All meetings will be conducted in a smoke free atmosphere.

b)      The five required meetings will be for the primary purpose of conducting business. Other meetings might be scheduled based upon the request of members in good standing and approved by the majority of the members present.

c)      Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday in the month of January, April, August, October, and December.

d)      The floor, being recognized by the President, will be given a limited amount of time to present their request.

Article IV. Membership

The following regulations shall apply to all membership:

a)  To be in good standing, a member must be a Republican, registered to vote in Hancock County, whose dues are current by March 1st of each year.                                                         

b)      A unit club is in good standing when both members’ dues and a club service fee are paid annually.

c)      A club must consist of at least ten members.

d)      A club must hold at least five meetings within a twelve month period

e)      A club must adopt By-laws that are not in conflict with those of West Virginia Federation of Republican Women, or the National Federation of Republican Women.

f)   New member dues must be paid within 2 weeks of joining RWHC.

Section I. Associate Membership. Registered Republican men may become eligible for membership upon payment of the required annual dues.  They may attend meetings, Participate in discussions, be involved in fund-raising and social activities, but may not make motions, serve on committees, hold any office, or have a vote.

Section II Associate Membership. Members of the RWHC who wish to support other unit clubs may be eligible upon payment of that club’s required annual dues.  They may attend that clubs meetings, but cannot serve on committees, hold office, make motions, or have a voice or a vote.  Members of the West Virginia clubs may be eligible for membership in RWHC upon payment of annual dues.

Article V. Removal

Removal of the Republican Women of Hancock County club from the State Federation may be based on the following:

a)      Non-payment of full membership dues and full payment of a    service charge.

b)      Failure to support the party, or to offer support to a candidate running on an opposing ticket.

c)      Failure to maintain a minimum of ten members

d)      Failure to hold five meetings within a twelve-month period.

The RWHC Executive Committee shall have jurisdiction over removal of members. A two-thirds vote of those present and voting is required.

The right to use the name of the removed club “Republican Women of Hancock County” shall revert to the state federation.

Article VI Dues and Services Fee

a)      The unit club shall pay annual dues per member to National, State, and Local-RWHC and the club service fee as required.

b)      Dues are payable upon becoming a member and by the beginning of January 1.

c)      The calendar year begins January 1 and ends December 31.

d)      The membership fee is due annually.

e)   The membership fee shall be determined be the RWHC board of Directors annually.

f)      The required service fee is to be sent to the WVFRW on January 1.

Article VII Officers and Their Duties

Elected or appointed officers must be registered Republicans and a member in good standing.

a)      Elected officers of Republican Women of Hancock County shall be President, Vice President(s), Secretary, and Treasurer.

b)      Officers shall serve for a term of not more than two years.

c)      No officer shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

d)      The term of office shall be from January 1 through December 51, two years hence, regardless of when installation takes place.

e)      Candidates may not simultaneously run for more than one office.

All records are to be turned over to the officers’ successors upon completion of their term.

                        Section I  President

                        Duties of the President shall be to:

a)      Prepare an agenda for all meetings

b)      Preside at all meetings

c)      Serve as ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

d)      Appoint all standing and special committee chairs except the Nominating Committee.

e)      Appoint a parliamentarian

f)        Appoint a liaison to the Hancock County Executive Committee.

g)      Instruct the Treasurer in the collections and disbursements of funds.

h)      Represent the RWHC at all State Federation meetings or appoint an alternate (in her absence).

i)        Submit the name and address of the RWHC delegate(s) to the State President at least two weeks prior to any convention.

                        Section II Vice President

Duties of the Vice President shall be to perform the President’s duties in her absence, in addition to all other duties as requested by the President.

Section III Secretary

Duties of the Secretary shall be to:

a)      Record and maintain minutes of all meetings.

b)      Serve as custodian of all records and papers except those pertaining to other officers or committees.

c)      Prepare and transmit full names and complete addresses of all members to the State Federation, working with the Treasurer.

d)      Prepare and distribute all correspondence as requested by the President.

e)      Complete any other duties as assigned by the President.

                        Section IV Treasurer

                        Duties of the Treasurer shall be to:

a)      Serve as custodian of all funds in the treasury of the RWHC.

b)      Disburse funds as directed by the President.

c)      Prepare and present at each meeting a verbal report of all money transactions since the previous meeting.

d)      Be responsible for collecting dues, both current and delinquent.

e)      Assist the Secretary to submit full names and complete addresses, and dues, of paying members to the state federation.

f)        Submit a service fee to WVFRW by January 1.

g)      Prepare books for audit upon completion of each term, or annually if requested to do so by the President.

                        In the event of dissolution of the RWHC and after all outstanding bills have been paid by the Treasurer and an audit has been completed by an off-board member, all assts are to be submitted to WVFRW.  No assets are to be given to any member or officer of this (RWHC) club.

Article VII Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is comprised of three members, and shall:

a)      Approve appointments of standing committee chairs named by the President.

b)      Designate delegates and alternates to attend state and/or national meetings.

Meetings may be called by the President or at the request of the majority of members of the club.

Article IX Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall have jurisdiction over membership applications and removal of members of the RWHC.  The Executive Committee shall also have the authority:

a)      To remove from office or duties on the Executive Committee any officer, committee chairman, vice chairman, or any appointee not supporting the by-laws or policies of the RWHC or the WVFRW.

b)      To approve the President’s recommendations of committee chairs.

c)      To fill vacancies in an elective office until the following meeting.

A quorum at any meeting of the Executive Committee shall be a majority of those present.

Article X Standing Committees

Standing committees shall include the following: By-laws, Membership, Campaigns—fund raising, Public Relations, Programs, Legislation, Historian, and Publicity.

The Chairman of these committees shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Committee.

a)      Duties of the Standing Committees: They shall prepare an agenda pertaining to the activities of their respective offices and present it for approval by the President and the Executive Committee.

b)      A quorum at any meeting of the committee shall be a majority of those present.

Article XI Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members elected by the membership.

a)      No member may serve on the Committee for more than two consecutive terms.

b)      The committee shall submit one nominee for each active office.  They shall consider all suggestions for nominees.

c)      Nominations may be made from the floor, after the Committee has presented its slate. (No one should be nominated unless consent has been given to serve.)

Article XII Election Committee

The Election Committee shall consist of not less than three members appointed by the President.

a)      Elections shall be by ballot, if only one candidate for an office is presented the election may be by voice.

b)      To be elected for office the candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast.

c)      Vacancies will be filled by the Executive Committee until the next meeting.

Article XIII Conventions

Convention members representing RWHC at the West Virginia Federation Republican Women or National Federation conventions:

a)      Must have dues paid at least thirty days prior to the convention.

b)      There may be one delegate or alternate for every ten dues paying members.

c)      The club must be in good standing in order to send representatives.

Article XIV Amendments

a)      Amendments to the By-laws may be made by a two-thirds majority of the membership.

b)      Proposed changes must be sent to all members at least thirty days prior to being voted on at regular meetings.

c)      The By-laws are to be submitted to the West Virginia Federation and will become effective upon approval and notification to the RWHC.

Article XV Rules

Roberts Rules of Order, most recent edition, shall govern the conduct of all meetings of the membership and the Board of Directors.

These By-laws were revised by the following members:  Mrs. Helen Mazzoni, Mrs. Betty Whelan, and Mrs. Bettye Mullins on December 12, 2006. 

The By-laws are being submitted by President Rebecca A. Wargo, December 2006.

Revisions approved by Betty Bailey, President, WVFRW to Rebecca A. Wargo, President, RWHC via letter March 2007

Accepted by RWHC membership April 2007 and Approved by RWHC membership June 2007.