BYLAWS OF THE
POLITICAL ACTION COUNCIL FOR EQALITY
ARTICLE I: NAME
The Name of the organization shall be the Political Action Council for Equality, hereinafter referred to as “PACE”.
ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES
The objectives and purposes of PACE are to enhance the quality of life for all citizens by working:
1. To establish a society free from discrimination against individuals based on race, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religious belief, or national origin;
2. To urge the government to provide adequate police protection, quality education, public health, assistance and protection for the individual freedoms and rights for all;
3. To encourage government to be more responsive to all citizens and to eliminate corruption; and;
4. To educate the public and candidates for public office regarding LGBT issues.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Eligibility
In order for an individual to become a member of PACE he or she must
a) be a resident of the United States;
b) be at least eighteen (18) years of age;
c) complete a membership application;
d) pay membership dues in full, as applicable;
e) not have had a previous PACE membership terminated for any reason other than elapsed dues; and
Section 2: Voting and Holding Office
Each member shall be entitled to one (1) vote at all Regular and Special PACE meetings, and shall be eligible to run for office.
Section 3: Honorary Members
There may also be those people who having given significantly and/or with merit to PACE who will be so designated Honorary Members by a vote of 3/4 of the members present at any Regular or Special Meeting of PACE. Honorary Members shall be entitled to one (1) vote at all Regular and Special PACE Meetings. Honorary Members are not eligible to run for office within PACE.
Section 4: Membership Application
In order for an individual to become a member of PACE he or she must complete a membership application, which will be reviewed by the Membership Focus Group and submitted, with recommendations, to the membership. The applicant will be informed of the decision, and may become a member by payment of membership dues.
Section 5: Dues
In order to remain in good standing, a member must pay nonrefundable annual dues in advance of the first day of January of each fiscal year in amounts to be fixed by the Executive Committee. Dues are in arrears as of February first of each fiscal year. The Executive Committee shall not increase or decrease membership dues more than ten percent (10%) without a majority vote of the membership at Regular or Special meetings or by email referendum. Notification of any changes in dues structure, fees, or assessments must be emailed at least ninety (90) days prior to the anticipated implementation. Furthermore the Executive Committee may determine and assign the payment of a reasonable late fee and reinstatement fee.
Section 6: Expulsion of Members
A member may be expelled from PACE, for any act or deed inappropriate for a PACE member, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those active members present at a Regular or Special Meeting, provided that the Executive Committee has recommended such an expulsion. The member shall be notified by email or hand delivery of the recommendation of the Executive Committee at least seven (7) days prior to the Regular or Special Meeting at which said expulsion shall be proposed. The membership dues of any member being expelled are not refundable.
ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS
Section 1: Regular Meetings
Regular Meetings of the PACE membership shall be held on the second Sunday of alternating months beginning in January, at an established meeting place. The Executive Committee, by a majority vote, may change the date of Regular Meetings, within the designated months, upon notice having been emailed to the general membership at least ten (10) days prior to said meeting. Notice of meetings is to include an agenda of those items to be discussed. Additional items may be added during a Regular Meeting.
Section 2: Special Meetings
Special Meetings of PACE may be called at any time by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, provided email notice is given to the membership of PACE, at least ten (10) days in advance of a Special Meeting. Such email notice shall contain an agenda of the matters to be considered, and only such matters shall be put to a vote.
Section 3: Quorum
A quorum shall consist of 20 percent of the membership.
Section 4: Proxy Voting
Proxies shall be allowed but no member shall be allowed to cast more than one (1) proxy. Proxy votes must be emailed to the Secretary prior to the meeting in which said proxy vote is valid.
ARTICLE V: EMAIL REFERENDUM
Section 1: Establishment
Email referenda may be drafted and submitted by the Executive Committee, by a Focus Group at the request of the Executive Committee, or by written petition of at least five percent (5%) of the voting members of PACE and sent to the Executive Committee.
Section 2: Notification of Membership
Emailed notice of the referendum, stating and describing all motions, procedures and deadlines for voting, shall be provided to all voting members at least ten (10) days prior to the referendum deadline.
Section 3: Passage
Results of all email referenda shall be determined by a majority of the valid ballots returned except when a higher percentage is required by these Bylaws or by Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
Section 4: Results
Results of email referenda shall be disseminated to the membership within ten (10) days after the referenda deadline.
ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS
Section 1: Terms
The officers of PACE shall be the Facilitator, Facilitator-elect, Treasurer, Secretary and shall be elected to a one (1) year term. All officers shall hold office from January 1 until their duly elected successor takes office.
Section 2: Vacancy
A vacancy in an elective office shall be filled at the first Regular Meeting following the creation of said vacancy. Until a replacement is elected, an interim officer shall be appointed by the Facilitator. A vacancy in the position of Facilitator shall be filled by the Facilitator-elect.
Section 3: Eligibility
All Regular Members of PACE shall be eligible to run for office.
ARTICLE VII: POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1: Facilitator
The Facilitator shall be the chief executive officer of PACE, and as such, shall preside at all meetings of PACE and of the Executive Committee. The Facilitator shall appoint the Facilitators of all Standing and Ad Hoc Focus Groups, and any other positions he or she deems appropriate provided, however, that all appointments of the Facilitators of the Standing Focus Groups shall be subject to approval by majority vote of the membership. The Facilitator shall work with the Secretary in compiling an agenda for all Regular, Special or Executive Committee meetings.
Section 2: Facilitator-Elect
The Facilitator-elect shall succeed to the office of the Facilitator at the end of the Facilitator’s elected term in office or at the time of the Facilitator’s resignation and shall, in the absence of the Facilitator, perform the duties of the Facilitator. He/She shall also assist the Facilitator in the coordination of the Standing and Ad Hoc Focus Groups, as designated by the Facilitator.
Section 3: Treasurer
The Treasurer shall collect and distribute all PACE funds as directed by the Executive Committee; shall deposit such funds in a depository designated by the Executive Committee; shall keep accounts open to inspection; shall render accounts of all transactions and of the financial condition of PACE at each membership meeting; shall submit an annual written report at the January Regular Meeting; shall be bonded for the sum as may be required by the Executive Committee (the costs of such a bond to be borne by PACE); shall be a member of the Fund Raising Focus Group; and shall perform other duties as assigned by the Facilitator.
Section 4: Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for taking the minutes at all PACE Regular and Special meetings and Executive Committee meetings; shall submit a copy of the said minutes to the Executive Committee; shall be responsible for the emailing of all PACE announcements and notices; shall work with the Facilitator in compiling an agenda for all Regular, Special or Executive Committee meetings; and shall be responsible for performing other duties as designated by the Facilitator.
Section 5: Resignation
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Executive Committee or the Facilitator. Any such resignation shall take effect on the date of the receipt of such notice or at any later time therein specified, and unless otherwise specified, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
ARTICLE VIII: ELECTIONS
Section 1: Month of Election
The election of officers of PACE shall be held at the November Regular Meeting, and officers elected shall take office January 1.
Section 2: Nominating Focus Group
At the Regular Meeting in November, the Facilitator shall appoint a Facilitator of the Nominating Focus Group, and the membership shall also elect four (4) active members to serve on the Nominating Focus Group, bringing its total membership to five (5). By virtue of acceptance of the Nominating Focus Group membership all five (5) shall be ineligible to receive the nomination of the Nominating Focus Group for election to any office at the November meeting. The Nominating Focus Group shall submit a slate of their nominations at the November meeting of the membership. In the event of an officer vacancy, the Executive Committee shall serve as the Nominating Focus Group.
Section 3: Nominations Outside of the Nominating Focus Group
Any person wishing to run for office, in addition to those nominated by the Nominating Focus Group, shall so inform the Secretary, via email, by October 18. The Secretary shall include in the emailed November Regular Meeting Announcement the report of the Nominating Focus Group, as well as the name of any other member who seeks election. This meeting notice shall be emailed to all members no fewer than ten (10) days prior to the November Regular Meeting date.
Section 4: Contested Races
Voting in all contested races shall be by secret ballot. Proxies shall be allowed but no member shall be allowed to cast more than one (1) proxy. Fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of the votes cast shall constitute a majority for election. If a majority is not obtained on the first ballot, the two (2) candidates receiving the most votes shall be the candidates in a run off election.
Section 5: Tellers
The Facilitator shall appoint at least three (3) tellers who shall dispense, collect, and tabulate the vote.
ARTICLE IX: THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1: Membership
The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of PACE and the Facilitator of each Standing Focus Group. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the management of PACE activities, subject to the approval of the membership.
Section 2: Meetings
The Executive Committee meetings shall be open to the membership and held a minimum of every 60 days alternating with the Regular Membership Meetings at such times and places as the Facilitator shall decide, and each Executive Committee member shall receive at least three (3) days email notice and agenda from the Facilitator, unless said notice is waived by the majority of the Executive Committee members. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3: Authority
The acts of a majority of the Executive Committee members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Executive Committee, except where otherwise provided by law or by these Bylaws.
Section 5: Protected Action and Communication
There shall be no liability on the part of and no action for damages against any member of the Executive Committee, or its agents or employees, or any member of any Focus Group appointed or designated, for any action undertaken or performed by such people within the scope of the duties, powers, and functions of the Executive Committee or such Focus Groups as provided for in the Bylaws when such people are acting without malice and in the responsible belief that the action taken by them is warranted; or any person, focus group, association, organization, firm or corporation providing information to the Executive Committee, its agents or employees, or to a focus group designated by the Executive Committee, whether a witness or otherwise. Such person, focus group, association, organization, firm or corporation providing such information without malice and in the reasonable belief that such information is accurate shall not be held, by reason of having provided such information, to be liable in damages under any law of the State of Louisiana
or any political subdivision thereof.
ARTICLE X: STANDING FOCUS GROUPS
Section 1: Identification
The Standing Focus Groups shall be as follows: Political Organization, Community Influence, Public Relations, Fundraising, Membership, Education and Social.
Section 2: Appointment of Facilitators
The Facilitator of PACE shall appoint the Facilitator of each of the Standing Focus Groups whose talents or special interests would be of special value to the work of PACE, subject to the approval of the membership.
Section 3: Appointment of Members
The Facilitator of each Standing Focus Groups shall appoint at least two (2) members to their respective Focus Group whose talents or special interests would be of special value to the work of PACE, for a one year term.
Section 3: Removal of Member
A Focus Group Facilitator, or a member of one of the Standing Focus Groups may be removed by a majority of the members of the Executive Committee, at a regularly scheduled Executive Committee meeting, or by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the general membership present at a Regular or Special PACE meeting.
Section 4: Specific Responsibilities
A. Political Organization: will make contact and establish relationships with elected political representatives of Northwest Louisiana at all levels (school board, city council, parish commissioners, and state representatives and senators); will obtain information from the Education Focus Group to inform these representatives on our issues; and, prior to elections will send out surveys to candidates and will conduct interviews with candidates to determine their positions on our issues.
B. Community Influence: will make contact and establish relationships with the clergy and local civic clubs; will obtain information from the Education Focus Group to develop programs to educate and inform these entities.
C. Public Relations: will make contact and establish relationships with the local media (newspapers, radio and television stations); will work closely with the Education Focus Group to offer and be prepared to serve as a source for local stories on our issues; will periodically submit to the media information on current stories and issues of interest; and shall draft and disseminate Public Service Announcements, when appropriate.
D. Fundraising: will solicit contributions from potential donors; will plan activities to raise funds; will work with existing groups or events to secure funds.
E. Membership: will promote membership in PACE, review and recommend membership applications to the Executive Committee.
F. Education: will compile information on GLBT issues and make this information available to the other Focus Groups; will prepare fact sheets and talking points to be used by the membership and focus groups; will conduct workshops to educate members on topics of current interests.
G. Social: will plan regular socials and notify the members of these events via email; will plan a Pride event to be held during or near Pride week (last week of June) each year.
Section 5: Expenditures
No Standing Focus Group will incur any indebtedness, or obligate PACE for any expenditure nor make any expenditure unless expressly authorized by the Executive Committee and/or Membership.
ARTICLE XI: AD HOC FOCUS GROUPS
Section 1: Establishment
Ad Hoc Focus Groups may be established from time to time by the PACE Facilitator, as he/she deems appropriate.
Section 2: Facilitator and Members
The Facilitator shall appoint the Facilitator and all members of Ad Hoc Focus Groups, excepting the Nominating Focus Group, and shall have the ability to dismiss the Facilitator and members, as he deems appropriate, excepting once again, the Nominating Focus Group.
Section 3: Expenditures
No Ad Hoc Focus Group will incur any indebtedness, or obligate PACE for any expenditure nor make any expenditure unless expressly authorized by the Executive Committee and/or Membership.
ARTICLE XII: CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS AND GIFTS
Section 1: Authorization
The Executive Committee may authorize any officer or officers of PACE, in addition to the officers so authorized by these Bylaws, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of PACE, and such authority may be general or may be confined to specific instances.
Section 2: Signatures
All checks, drafts, or orders for payment of money, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of PACE shall be signed by two (2) such officers of PACE, and in such a manner as shall from time to time be determined by a resolution of the Executive Committee. In the absence of such a determination by the Executive Committee, such instrument shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Facilitator.
Section 3: Deposits
All funds of PACE shall be deposited in a timely manner to the credit of PACE in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Executive Committee may select.
Section 4: Contributions Receipts
The Executive Committee may accept on behalf of PACE any contribution, gift, or bequest, for any purpose of PACE, provided that such contributions do not violate the laws of the State of Louisiana or the United States.
Section 4: Independent Audit
An independent audit of the PACE financial records may be ordered by a majority vote of the Executive Committee or the membership at any Regular or Special Meeting. The cost of the audit is to be borne by PACE. Should an independent audit be required by a funding source or governmental authority, said audit shall be performed without an amendment to these Bylaws.
ARTICLE XIII: BOOKS AND RECORDS
PACE shall keep correct and complete books and records of accounts. It shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of its general membership meetings, Executive Committee meetings, and all other Standing and Ad Hoc Focus Groups authorized by these Bylaws, and shall keep these records at a principle office.
ARTICLE XIV: FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of PACE shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December in each calendar year.
ARTICLE XV: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern PACE in all cases to which they are applicable and consistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the PACE Membership may adopt.
ARTICLE XVI: MEMBERSHIP LISTS AND E-GROUP
Section 1: Distribution
The mailing list, email list and membership list of PACE shall not be given or loaned to any other organization or to any person for any reason.
Section 2: E-Group
PACE shall establish a website so named www.loveandletlove.org. The cost of said website shall be the responsibility of PACE. The Executive Committee must approve, by a majority vote, all information accessible by the general public.
a) Public Information
The PACE website shall contain, in an open forum and accessible by the general public, the following information:
1) Name of the Organization
2) Mission Statement
3) Names and Email Address of the Executive Committee
4) Membership Application
5) Directory of Public Officials
6) Links to Related Sites
b) Member Restricted Information
The PACE website shall contain, at a minimum, in a “Membership Restricted” area the following information:
1) Minutes of Meetings
2) Discussions of Membership information
3) Meeting Announcements and Agenda
4) Directory of Members (Names and Email addresses)
5) Email Referenda
c) PACE shall utilize the services of an E-Group service (e.g. Yahoo) for the management of membership discussions/information and the dissemination of information available to the public.
ARTICLE XVII: NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
PACE shall not discriminate in matters of membership on the basis of race, age, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religious belief, or national origin.
ARTICLE XVIII: AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended or repealed by approval of two-thirds (2/3) majority of the voting members of PACE, eligible and voting during a Regular or Special Meeting of the membership, with thirty (30) days prior notice, or by following the guidelines under ARTICLE V. Any proposed amendment to these Bylaws shall be submitted via email to the Secretary. The Secretary shall forward, via email, any proposed amendments to the membership.
ADOPTED: October 10, 2005
AMENDED: [DATE]
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