By-Laws of The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn

[Adopted May 3, 2007; Reviewed April 28, 2011; Amended April 26, 2012;

Amended April 25, 2013; Amended April 23, 2015; Amended April 26, 2018; Amended May 2, 2019; Amended April 27, 2020; Amended April 27, 2023]

ARTICLE I

Name

The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn (LWVGE or League). LWVGE is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS), of the League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL), of the League of Women Voters Lake Michigan Region Inter-League Organization (LWVLMR), and of the League of Women Voters Upper Mississippi River Region Inter-League Organization (LWVUMRR).

ARTICLE II

Purposes and Policies

Section 1. Purposes. The purposes of the LWVUS are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues.

Section 2. Policies. The policies of the LWVUS are:

Political Policy. The League shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy. The League is fully committed to ensure compliance - in principle and in practice - with LWVUS' Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy.

ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1. Eligibility. Any person who subscribes to the purposes and policy of the LWVUS shall be eligible for membership.

Section 2. Types of Membership.

a. Voting Members. Persons at least 16 years of age who join the League shall be Voting Members of local Leagues, state Leagues and of the LWVUS as follows:

(1) Those who live within an area of a local League may join that League or any other local League;

(2) Those who reside outside the area of any local League may join a local League or shall be a member around the state;

(3) Those who have been members of the League for 50 years or more shall be Life Members and excused from the payment of dues;

(4) Those who are students are defined as individuals enrolled either full or part time with an accredited institution.

b. Associate Members. All others who join the League shall be Associate Members.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 1. Election, Qualifications, and Term. The officers of the LWVGE shall be a president or co-presidents, two vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, two voter service officers, and a membership officer, each of whom shall be elected for terms of two years by the general membership at the Annual Meeting and take office at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting. The president or co-presidents, one vice president, the secretary, and one voter service officer shall be elected in the odd-numbered years. One vice president, the treasurer, one voter service officer, and the membership officer shall be elected in the even-numbered years. No person shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to serve as an officer of this organization unless the person is a voting member of the LWVGE.

Section 2. The President or Co-Presidents. The president or co-presidents shall have such powers of supervision and management as customarily pertain to the office; shall be the public spokesperson(s) for League positions; shall preside at all meetings of the organization and the board or designate another person to do so; shall be an ex officio member of all committees except the nominating committee; may sign or endorse checks, drafts, and notes in the absence of the treasurer; and shall perform such other duties as the board may direct. In the event of the absence, disability, resignation or death of the president, one of the vice presidents shall assume the office. If no vice president is able to serve as president, the board shall fill the vacancy from among the elected directors.

Section 3. The Vice Presidents. The vice presidents shall perform such duties as the president or co-presidents and the board shall direct. One shall serve as vice president for program and one shall serve as vice president for communications.

Section 4. The Secretary. The secretary shall keep minutes of the meetings of the board. The secretary shall notify all officers and directors of their election and shall sign with the president or co-presidents all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the board, and shall perform such other duties as the president or co-presidents and the board shall direct.

Section 5. The Treasurer. The treasurer shall perform such duties as customarily pertain to the office and, at the direction of the board, maintain deposits in authorized financial institutions. The treasurer shall present statements to the board at their regular meetings and an annual report to the Annual Meeting.

Section 6. The Voter Service Officer. The voter service officer shall provide information and perform other functions relating to voter service.

Section 7. The Membership Officer. The membership officer shall provide information on membership to the board, maintain the LWVGE database of members, submit membership information to LWVIL and LWVUS, and perform other functions relating to membership, including spearheading the annual membership drive. The membership officer will serve on the nominating committee.

Section 8. Executive Committee. In the event that a decision must be made when it is impractical to convene the board of directors, the president or co-presidents, the two vice-presidents, the secretary and treasurer shall constitute the executive committee and shall be empowered to make such a decision by majority vote. Notice of any executive committee decision shall be communicated to the remainder of the board as soon as practical and no later than the next meeting of the board.

ARTICLE V

Board of Directors

Section 1. Number, Manner of Selection, and Term of Office. The board of directors shall consist of the officers of the LWVGE, eight elected directors, and not more than four directors appointed by the elected members of the board. Four directors shall be elected by the general membership at each Annual Meeting and shall serve for a term of two years or until their successors have been elected and qualified. Appointed directors shall serve for one year, until the close of the next Annual Meeting. No elected officer or director shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same position.

Section 2. Qualifications. No person shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to serve as a director of this organization unless the person is a voting member of the LWVGE.

Section 3. Vacancies. Vacancies may be filled by vote of the members of the board, unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws.

Section 4. Powers. The board shall manage and supervise the business, affairs, and activities of the LWVGE subject to the instructions of the Annual Meeting. The board shall act by majority vote when a quorum is present. It shall select delegates to the national convention and the state convention and council. It shall accept responsibility for such other matters as the national or state board may from time-to-time delegate to it. It shall have the power to create such special committees and to join organizations and coalitions, as it deems necessary. It shall perform such other duties as are specified in these Bylaws.

Section 5. Meetings. At least nine regular meetings of the board shall be held annually. The president or co-presidents may call Special Meetings and shall call a Special Meeting upon the written request of five members of the board. More than three consecutive unexcused absences from regular board meetings shall constitute a resignation.

Section 6. Quorum. A majority of the members of the board of directors of the LWVGE shall constitute a quorum. Any one or more members of the board may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting. Notice for such a meeting shall include information about the form of communications. For this section, “members of the board of directors” is defined as members holding positions listed in Section 1 of the Article.

ARTICLE VI

Meetings

Section 1. Membership Meetings. There shall be at least six meetings of the membership each year. The time and place and whether open to the public shall be determined by the board.

Section 2. Annual Meetings. The LWVGE Annual Meeting shall be held approximately one month prior to the LWVIL or the LWVUS convention, the exact date to be determined by the board. The Annual Meeting shall adopt a local program for the ensuing year, elect officers and directors, elect the chair and two members of the nominating committee; adopt an adequate budget; vote on proposed Bylaw’s amendments in the odd-numbered years; and transact such other business as may properly come before it. Action shall be taken by a majority vote when a quorum of members is present, unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.

Section 3. Quorum. Twenty percent of the voting members shall constitute a quorum at membership and Annual Meetings of the LWVGE, provided written notice of the meeting is sent to the membership at least one week in advance. At the discretion of the board, members may participate in a meeting by means of communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting. Notice for such a meeting shall include information about the form of communications system and the means of accessing the communication system.

ARTICLE VII

Nominations and Elections

Section 1. Nominating Committee. The nominating committee shall consist of five members. The chair and two members, who shall not be members of the board, shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. Immediately after the Annual Meeting, the board shall appoint two of its members to the committee, one of whom shall be the membership officer. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the board.

Section 2. Report of the Nominating Committee. The report of the current nominating committee, containing its nominations for officers, directors, chair and two members of the incoming nominating committee, shall be sent to the members one month before the Annual Meeting. The report of the nominating committee shall be presented at the Annual Meeting. Nominations may be made from the floor immediately thereafter provided the consent of the nominee has been obtained.

Section 3. Election. Election shall be by ballot, unless there is only one nominee for an office. Then it shall be a voice vote. A majority vote shall constitute an election.

ARTICLE VIII

Principles and Program

Section 1. Principles. The Principles are concepts of government adopted by the LWVUS national convention and supported by the League as a whole. The Principles provide the authorization for the LWVGE to adopt national, state, and local Programs. These Principles are to be published in the LWVGE Membership Directory.

Section 2. Program. The Program of the LWVGE shall consist of action to implement the Principles and those local governmental issues chosen at the LWVGE Annual Meeting for concerted study and/or action as follows:

(a) Voting members may make recommendations to the board at least two months before the LWVGE Annual Meeting.

(b) The board shall consider these recommendations and formulate a proposed program, which shall be sent to the members at least one month before the LWVGE Annual Meeting.

(c) The LWVGE Annual Meeting shall adopt a program by a majority vote. Program recommendations submitted to the board at least two months before the meeting, but not proposed by the board, may be considered by those at the LWVGE Annual Meeting provided that the Annual Meeting shall order consideration by a majority vote. The LWVGE Annual Meeting must adopt the item by a two-thirds vote.

Section 3. Changes in Program. Changes and/or additions in the Program, in the case of altered conditions, may be made provided that information concerning the proposed change/addition has been disseminated to all members at least two weeks before a general membership meeting, at which time the change/addition shall be discussed and voted upon. If a quorum (20% of voting members) is present, the change/addition must be adopted by a two-thirds vote. In the event a quorum is not present, the secretary shall promptly contact the membership, who then will have five days to vote on the proposed change/addition. The secretary shall record the votes of those responding. The change/addition must be approved by two-thirds of those voting, provided a quorum (20% of the voting members) is obtained.

Section 4. Program Action. Members may act in the name of LWVGE only when authorized to do so by the president or co-presidents. They may act only in conformity with, and not contrary to, a position taken by the LWVGE, the LWVIL, and the LWVUS.

ARTICLE IX

Financial Administration

Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the LWVGE shall be from May 1 through April 30 of each year.

Section 2. Dues. The board of directors shall set the LWVGE annual dues, subject to the approval of the members, at the LWVGE Annual Meeting. LWVGE annual dues shall at least cover the cost of all per member payments (PMPs) and shall be payable May 1. New members paying annual dues after the LWVUS membership deadline shall be exempt from the May 1 payment of dues. Each additional member living at the same address shall pay one half the annual dues. The amount of student membership dues shall be determined by the board of LWVGE.

Section 3. Budget Committee. The budget shall be prepared by a committee, which shall be appointed for that purpose at least three months before the Annual Meeting. The treasurer shall be, ex officio, a member of the budget committee but shall not be eligible to serve as chair. The proposed budget for the next fiscal year shall be sent to all members one month before the Annual Meeting.

Section 4. Financial Review. The books shall be reviewed each year by a committee of two or more people appointed by the executive committee. A report of the review shall be completed for the board by July 15 and presented by one or more members of the financial review committee at the next board meeting.

Section 5. Distribution of Funds on Dissolution. In the event of dissolution of the LWVGE, all money and securities owned by or under the control of the LWVGE shall be paid to the LWVIL after the state and national per member payments and other financial obligations have been met. All other property of whatsoever nature, whether real, personal, or mixed which may at the time be owned or under the control of the LWVGE shall be disposed of to such person, organization, or corporation for such public, charitable, or educational use and purposes as the board in its absolute discretion may designate.

ARTICLE X

Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the LWVGE in all cases to which they are applicable and consistent with these Bylaws.

ARTICLE XI

Bylaws Committee and Amendments and Publication

Section 1. Bylaws Committee. A Bylaws Committee shall be appointed by the president or co-presidents in the odd-numbered years three months prior to the Annual Meeting, to study the Bylaws and suggest amendments, if necessary, and to consider proposals suggested by any LWVGE members for changing the Bylaws.

Section 2. Amendments. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present and voting at the LWVGE Annual Meeting, provided that the amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one month in advance of the meeting.

Section 3. Publication. These Bylaws will be published in the LWVGE Annual Membership Book, as well as on the LWVGE website.