Bylaws

1. NAME

The name of the organization shall be:

The Harvey Milk Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Democratic Club.

1. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Harvey Milk Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Democratic Club shall work within the Democratic Party and elsewhere to bring the issue of Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender rights to the forefront of political campaigns, shall lobby for legislation which upholds the rights of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgendered and other people, and shall encourage and support the election and appointment of out Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender people to public office. We shall participate in organizing San Francisco's large Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Tr ansgender community into a powerful political voice, which will demand nothing less of candidates, than full public support for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender rights.

We shall work to form coalitions on problems of joint concern with racial and ethnic minorities and others who understand the interconnectedness of all struggles for equality; to build a close alliance with the feminist movement, with which we recognize a special kinship in goals; and to further economic and social justice for all people. We shall expect politicians to take progressive stands on economic issues, on the rights of women, workers, and minorities, on protection of the environment, and on international affairs.

III. MEMBERSHIP, DUES, VOTING

1. Any person who subscribes to the Statement of Purpose, and pays dues to be determined by the membership, may be a member, but only persons meeting the requirements of sections B and C may vote on election endorsements and club officers.
2. Membership shall be renewable annually on the first day of the month in which a member joins the club. The date of joining shall be the date the President or Treasurer receives both the new membership dues and the signed Statement of Purpose. If mailed, the date of joining shall be the date the envelope containing both the new membership dues and the signed Statement of Purpose is postmarked. Members shall renew within one month of expiration of their dues, otherwise they will no longer be entitled to vote on club matters, receive mailings of club activities or the newsletter. If dues are not paid within six months, the member shall be dropped from the membership list, and must join as a new member to resume membership privileges. Members who renew may vote on any matter before the club once that year's dues are paid.

C. Voting privileges for election endorsements and on club officers become effective at the third regularly scheduled general membership meeting and the third-regularly scheduled meeting of the same committee after:

1. membership dues are received, which shall not have been paid for by a person who has already or concurrently paid for three or more memberships that month
2. a statement of purpose, as specified in Article II, is received, with a signature affixed attesting that the member has read and subscribes to said statement. (For purposes of Article III, Section C, a regular general meeting will be deemed to have taken place once a month on the regularly scheduled day, whether or not such a meeting was actually convened.)

IV. OFFICERS

1. The Harvey Milk Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Democratic Club shall hold elections in January of each year for the following officers: President, Vice-President for Internal Affairs, Vice-President for Political Affairs, Recorder, Correspondent, Treasurer, Eboard—Outreach (2 positions), Eboard—Internal, Eboard—Political, Eboard—Events and Fundraising, and Eboard—Organizing. During their term of office, officers may not receive monetary or in-kind compensation for professional services rendered as political consultants holding management or decision making positions in a campaign in those candidate or proposition races where an endorsement vote is taken. The duties of each officer shall be those designated in Robert's Rules of Order, last revised edition. The Treasurer shall also be responsible for receipt of dues and for presenting monthly financial statements and written quarterly reports to membership. Each officer shall serve for one year until the next January election, or until a successor is elected.
2. Nominations of officers shall be opened at the regular meeting of the membership in December of each year. Additional names may be placed in nomination at the January meeting prior to voting. Newly elected officers shall take office immediately upon election.
3. In event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice-President for Internal Affairs shall succeed to the presidency until an election for president can be held. Such election shall be held at the next membership meeting, not to exceed one month's time, provided the membership has advance written notice of the pending election. Vacancies in the offices of Vice-President of Internal Affairs, Vice-President for Political Affairs, Recorder, Correspondent, and Treasurer may be filled at any regular membership meeting, if such advance notice is given.
4. Should any member move for the dismissal of an officer of the club, and a second made, that motion shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting for the review of all members and shall be voted on at the next meeting (See Article VI, Section F, subsection 2). Dismissal of any officer shall require a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members voting.

V. COMMITTEES

The following committees are established to ensure effective operation and open lines of communication between the membership and the executive committee:

A. Executive Committee

1. The Executive Committee shall consist of all elected officers and caucus chairs and the immediate past President. Each officer shall have one vote. Each committee or caucus shall have one vote which shall be split among the committee or caucus chairs if the committee or caucus has more than one chair, and more than one chair is present. Any committee or caucus that has not met for two months shall be considered disbanded and the chairs shall no longer be members of the Executive Committee nor have voting privileges on the Executive Committee.
2. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to plan the agenda of the general membership meeting, including special speakers and topics of interest to club members; to ac t on behalf of the club on routine matters, and in emergency situations; and to oversee the standing and functioning ad hoc committees of the club and to ensure they function on a timely basis.
3. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be a majority of its members.
4. Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be set by the general membership, and the dates and times shall be published in the club newsletter. Meetings shall be open to all club members, but voting shall be limited to members of the Executive Committee.

5) Special meetings of the Executive Committee can be called at the President's request or upon the request of any four of its members. Reasonable attempts shall be made to notify each member of the Executive Committee of a special meeti ng.

B. Planning Committee

1. The Planning Committee shall be open to all members of the Club.
2. It shall be the duty of the Planning Committee to plan the agenda of the general membership meeting, including special speakers and topics of interest to club members; and to discuss issues and make recommendations to the club.

3) Meetings of the Planning Committee shall be set on a regular basis by the membership, and the dates and times shall be published in the newsletter.

C. Standing Committees

1) Political Action Committee

1. The chair of the Political Action Committee shall be the Club Vice President for Political Affairs.
2. It shall be the duty of the Political Action Committee to monitor the local, state and national political climates; to initiate club action on issues, to investigate and conduct impartial hearings on issues confronting the club, and to make recommendations to the general membership; to organize and conduct the endorsement process for all local non-partisan, Democratic primary and general elections, including candidates and propositions; and to coordinate voter registration efforts.

2) Membership Committee

1. It shall be the duty of the Membership Committee to keep membership records and to notify club members of upcoming dues; to conduct community outreach

designed to recruit new members; to plan social activities designed to acquaint new members with the club; and to provide committee chairs with the names of members and their areas of interest regarding club activities.

3) Fundraising Committee

1. It shall be the duty of the Fundraising Committee to plan and coordinate Fundraising activities designed to give the club a solid financial base, in order to ensure the club's ability to financially contribute to the campaigns of campaigns of endorsed candidates and issues.

4) Newsletter Committee

1. It shall be the duty of the Newsletter Committee to solicit, revie w and prepare for publication articles of interest to the club membership; to establish editorial policy in keeping with the philosophy and actions of club membership; to publish and distribute on a timely basis to ensure that the newsletter reaches the members at least five days advance of the general meeting.
2. Caucuses

Any group of 10 members with common goals and/or interest may form a caucus by submitting a written request for recognition to the general membership, including a statement of purpose and caucus organization. Recognition as a caucus shall be achieved by a majority vote of the general membership.  In addition, 1) To form a caucus, a list of the names of ten members must be given in writing to the eboard.   2) Caucuses should be reviewed annually. At the Eboard's discretion, caucuses may be required to requalify. When requalifying, the caucus should show a list of ten members and be reapproved by the club. The intention is that caucuses represent currently active organizational groups within the club.  3). Caucus chairs should be elected annually.  4). A caucus that has not had noticed meetings within the last six months may be asked to requalify. 5) The eboard can decide whether provisions for requalification have been met.

1. Actions by Committees and Caucuses

All actions by committees and caucuses require the approval of the club, or in an emergency, the Executive Committee. No committee or caucus may endorse candidates or propositions. No committee or caucus may use the club's name in support of candidates or issues without the approval of the club, or in an emergency, the Executive Committee

VI. MEETINGS

1. Regular meetings of the membership shall be held at least once a month on a date determined by the Executive Committee. Any motions of business may be in order, except as otherwise specified in these by-laws.
2. Special meetings of the club may be called by the President, or by a majority of the membership at a regular meeting, or upon written demand of ten percent of the membership roll.

1. Advance written notice shall be given to the membership for all meetings of the club, as well as for all Executive Committee meetings when feasible.
2. A quorum shall consist of ten percent of the membership of the club or 25 members, whichever is less, at all general membership meetings.
3. There shall be no proxy voting.
4. The following motions for a vote of the membership shall be in order only if the matter has been announced and published to the membership at least five (5) days prior to the voting meeting:
5. Annual election of club officers.
6. Motions for officer dismissal.
7. Motions amending the by-laws.
8. Votes on discipline against club members for violations of VII B, C, & D, and E.

G. The following motions for a vote of the membership shall be in order only if the matter has been announced at the previous meeting and published to the membership at least five (5) days in advance of the voting meeting:

1. Election of club officers to fill vacancies
2. Motions to rescind endorsements

H. No vote to endorse a candidate or proposition shall be allowed unless the membership, at a prior general membership meeting, has approved holding the endorsement vote on the date the vote will take place and notice of the endorsement vote is published to the membership at least five (5) days prior to the voting meeting.

VII. PROCEDURE

1. Robert's Rules of Order, last revised edition, shall govern procedure to the extent that they are not consistent with these by-laws or those of other bodies which the club may join. Consensus will be attempted at all meetings.
2. Members are expected to treat one another with respect and maintain civility during meetings. Every member shall have the right to expect that club meetings and functions shall be safe environments.
3. No member shall make a disparaging remark about any other member in a public forum or meeting of the club which is based on a member’s status or identity on the basis of age, class, ethnicity, race, disability, gender identity, sexual identity, national origin, or religion.
4. No member of the club shall destroy club property.
5. No member shall: 1) Threaten or carry out threats of bodily harm, 2) Harass members at a member's home, workplace, in a public forum, or through excessive voicemail and email contacts, 3) Threaten, embezzle, or extort club finances.

F. If any member violates provisions VII. C or D, any other member may file a complaint against them with the Executive Board, which shall recommend to the membership whether any action shall be taken. If a violation of Article VII, section B, C, D, or E, is alleged, the President shall notify the member against whom the complaint is charged, who shall be provided 5 days to respond to the allegations in writing If no response is received within 5 days, the elected officers shall determine, by a majority vote, whether a violation of these provisions exists. If a response is received, the Executive Board shall appoint a subcommittee to consider the evidence concerning the allegations and shall report back to the Executive Board their findings of fact. If the Executive Board finds that the charges against the member are true, it may recommend no action, probation, censure, or expulsion, in that order, according to the severity of the conduct charged and whether similar conduct by the member has occurred in the past. This recommendation shall be taken up by the general membership and voted upon at the next general meeting of the club following notice. The recommendation of the Executive Board shall require a vote by 2/3 of the members present to be sustained.

VIII. ENDORSEMENTS

1. No candidate for public or party office, nor ballot proposition, shall receive an endorsement from the club unless the membership has been notified as specified in Article VI, section H. Candidates or propositions, in order to be endorsed, must receive at least sixty percent of the votes cast. Multiple ballots shall be permitted.
2. To rescind an endorsement, a two-thirds affirmative vote of the total cast shall be required. (See Article VI, section G)

C. Candidates endorsed by the Club are expected to:

1. Use the name of the Harvey Milk Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Democratic Club and to include it with all candidate literature which lists organizational endorsements.
2. Refrain from giving financial support to slate cards or other campaign materials that endorse propositions seeking to deny rights to any person on the basis of age, class, ethnicity, race, disability, gender identity, sexual identity, national origin, or religion, or that oppose propositions seeking to secure basic rights for such groups. Candidates endorsed by the Club shall be reminded that the Club is a Democratic Club and that candidates are expected to refrain from giving financial support to any slate cards or other campaign materials that are produced or distributed by the Republican Party or Republican organizations.
3. Refrain from taking public positions in favor of legislation or policies denying rights to any person on the basis of age, class, ethnicity, race, disability, gender identity, sexual identity, national origin, or religion, or that oppose propositions seeking to secure basic rights for such groups. A list of such legislation and policies shall be compiled by the PAC and approved by the Club for distribution to candidates.
4. Refrain from hiring campaign consultants known to have worked on campaigns that have used tactics appealing to prejudice against any person on the basis of age, class, ethnicity, race, disability, gender identity, sexual identity, national origin, or religion. A list of such consultants shall be compiled by the PAC and approved by the club for distribution to candidates.

5) Refrain from engaging in tactics appealing to prejudice against any person on the basis of age, class, ethnicity, race, disability, gender identity, sexual identity, national origin, or religion.

1. Candidates who have violated Article VIII, section C, subsections 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 during a period of five years prior to the endorsement vote for the next election shall be ineligible for the Club's endorsement for that election. If a violation of Article VIII, section C, subsections 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 is alleged after the Club's has endorsed a candidate, the President shall notify the candidate who shall be provided 24 hours to respond to the allegations in writing. If no response is received within 24 hours, the elected officers shall determine, by a majority vote, whether a violation of these provisions exists. If it is determined that a candidate has violated these provisions, the endorsement shall be withdrawn, if given, and that candidate shall be ineligible to receive our endorsement for a period of five years. All candidates who receive the Club's endorsement shall be notified of these provisions.
2. Candidate or proposition campaigns may not use the club's name in any manner (i.e. “received most votes”) unless they have received the club's endorsement. If a candidate, having been apprised of this provision, violates it, he or she shall be ineligible to receive the club's endorsement the next time he or she runs for public office. All candidates who receive our endorsement shall be notified of this provision.

IX. AMENDMENTS

These by -laws may be amended by the following procedure:

1. Any member may move an amendment at any regular membership meeting.
2. If a motion to amend is seconded, the membership shall be notified as provided in Article VI, section F.

C. At the meeting to consider adoption, the proposed amendment must receive a two-thirds affirmative vote of members voting, to be incorporated into these by-laws.