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HAWKEYE AREA CHAPTER, IOWA CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

By-Laws

(Revised January 31 and December 5, 1999)


ARTICLE I: GOVERNING PRINCIPLES

  1. The Hawkeye Area Chapter of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union is an integral part of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union and shall at all times be governed by the rules and regulations of that organization.

  2. The purpose of the Hawkeye Area Chapter is to maintain and extend individual liberty and to further the objectives of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union as set forth in that organization’s articles of incorporation.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERS

All persons who are members in good standing of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union and who reside in the counties of Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Linn, Muscatine, and Washington, constitute the entire membership of this chapter.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

  1. Annual Meeting. An annual membership meeting shall be held in the spring of each year in such place and at such time as shall be determined by the board of directors.

  2. Meetings. Special membership meetings may be held upon a call of the president, by order of the board of directors, or upon request by petition of twenty of the members directed to the secretary.

  3. Notice. Notice of the time and place of a membership meeting shall be sent to each member by mail not less than one week before the meeting.

  4. Participation. All members shall be eligible to attend all meetings of the members, to participate in the meeting, and to vote at the meeting. Each member shall be entitled to one vote at a membership meeting. The vote must be in person.

  5. Quorum. At all meetings of the members, except those specified below, twenty-five members present shall constitute a quorum.


ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. General Powers. The affairs of the chapter shall be conducted by a Board of Directors of 10 members elected in the manner prescribed below. The Board may employ such personnel as it feels necessary to carry out the work of the chapter within limits of funds available.

  2. Eligibility. All members in good standing of the Hawkeye Area Chapter are eligible to serve on the board of directors.

  3. Nominations. At the last board meeting of each even-numbered calendar year, the President shall appoint a committee to nominate candidates for places on the board coming vacant the following year. The report of the nominating committee shall be presented to the board at its first meeting of the calendar year during which the vacancies will occur. At its discretion, the nominating committee may submit more nominees than the number of vacancies to be filled. Additional nominations may be made by petition of any five members, provided there is attached to the petition a signed statement expressing the nominee’s willingness to serve if elected, and provided the petition is filed with the board secretary in time to be presented with the report of the nominating committee.

  4. Affirmative Action. The Hawkeye Area Chapter of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union seeks a board of directors diverse in matters such as social class, gender, geography, occupation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and age.

  5. Elections. Directors shall be elected by mail balloting of the membership pursuant to such rules as the board may adopt. The election shall be held in time to allow the new directors take office on June 1.

  6. Terms of Office. All members of the board of directors shall be elected in odd-numbered years to serve two-year terms.

  7. Attendance. In the event of three consecutive unexcused absences during a twelve-month period by any member of the board, the seat shall be considered vacant and be filled temporarily by the board. An unexcused absence shall be understood as failure to notify the president or secretary.

  8. Vacancies. Vacancies on the board of directors shall be filled temporarily by appointment by the remaining directors. The vacancy shall be filled by the membership at the next election or membership meeting, under such rules as the board of directors may adopt.

  9. Non-Partisanship. No member of the board shall have the power to use the name of this chapter to endorse or oppose any candidate for any political office.


ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

  1. Officers. The officers of this chapter shall be a president (who shall serve as chair of the board of directors,) vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. The board may appoint other chapter members to perform specific tasks in the name of the chapter.

  2. Eligibility. The president and vice-president shall be members of the board. The board may choose a secretary and/or treasurer who is not a board member. All officers shall be members in good standing of the Hawkeye Area Chapter of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union.

  3. Executive Committee. The board of directors may, by a majority vote of the full board, elect an executive committee from their own number. Between meetings of the board, the executive committee shall exercise routine powers of the board, and shall report all actions taken to the next board meeting. The executive committee may fix its own rules of procedure and may act without the necessity of a formal meeting.

ARTICLE VI: BOARD MEETINGS.

  1. Board Meetings. The board of directors shall meet upon the call of the chair, or on the call of any three board members, no fewer than four times each year.

  2. Notice. The secretary shall give notice of each board meeting to each member of the board. Such notice shall state the time and place of the meeting, and shall be given personally or by telephone at least three days before the meeting, or mailed one week before the meeting.

  3. Quorum. 50% of the board shall constitute a quorum. Any action taken by a majority at a meeting with a quorum present shall be the action of the board, except as otherwise provided herein.


ARTICLE VII: ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE BOARD

  1. Removal of an Officer or Director. The Board shall have the right to remove any officer for stated cause by a two-thirds vote of the entire board of directors. A director may be removed by a two-thirds vote at a membership meeting. The quorum for a meeting which considers the removal of a director shall be 10% of the chapter membership.

  2. Policy Review. The policies of the board of directors may be may be reviewed at any membership meeting.


ARTICLE VIII: RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

Any chapter member may attend and participate in any board meeting, although only board members may vote. Any member may request notice, as described in Article VI, Paragraph 2, of any or all board meetings and/or a copy of any or all minutes of board meetings. Any member may request a copy of the current by-laws. In the biennial mail ballot for directors, each member shall be reminded of these rights.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors, by a majority vote of any membership meeting with a quorum of 10% of the chapter membership, or by a majority of those voting in a mail ballot of all chapter members.
 
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