REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I. NAME The name of the organization shall be the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County (RWAAC). This club is member of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women (MFRW) and the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW).
ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County shall be:
to broaden the understanding of Republican aims in government,
to increase the number of persons registered in the Republican party,
to increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government,
to promote the principles of the Republican Party;
to inform the public through political education and activity,
to work for Republican candidates in all elections, including non-partisan elections;
and to unite their efforts along party lines in order to elect Republican candidates.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Any registered Republican woman who believes in the philosophy of the Republican Party and supports the objectives and policies of this organization shall be eligible for primary membership.
Section 2. An individual member in good standing is one whose current dues are paid and who supports Article II of these bylaws and all MFRW policies.
Section 3. Associate Membership may be extended to any woman who is a member of another Republican Woman’s Club. Associate Membership may be extended to men who are registered Republicans upon payment of the required annual dues and who support the Republican Party’s candidates. Associate Members cannot hold office or vote on matters brought before the organization.
Section 4. Only registered Republican females of Anne Arundel County shall be eligible for office in this organization.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of this organization shall be a President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2. Duties of Officers
A. The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization and shall be its Chief Executive Officer. She shall appoint all Standing and Special Committee Chairwomen except that of the Nominating Committee and shall be an Ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. She shall serve as Ex-officio to the Board of Directors for one term after her term as President ends. The President shall submit an annual report to the membership. The President shall have the power to sign contracts as authorized by the Board of Directors.
B. The First Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in case of her absence or inability to act; and shall serve as Program Chairwomen and perform such other duties as the President may assign to her.
C. The Second Vice President shall perform duties as designated by the President and shall perform the duties of the President in case of the First Vice President absence or her inability to act.
D. The Secretary records and reports quorums for all meetings; records the Minutes of all meetings; prepares and maintains a permanent record book of all Minutes and other documents to be preserved for record, shall handle the correspondence of the organization be custodian of all records of the organization.
E. The Treasurer shall receive and be custodian of all funds of the organization and shall keep accurate records, receipts and vouchers for all income and disbursements and shall report in full at the Annual Meeting and at regular meetings; keep an up-to-date roster of the membership; records and reports membership information to MFRW, and annually shall publish a directory of the membership which shall be distributed to all dues paying members. The Treasurer shall submit the financial records to the Financial Review Committee for an annual review to be completed by the first meeting of the fiscal year, and upon any change in the office of the Treasurer. At the end of her term, all RWAAC books, papers and records of whatever kind, in her possession, shall be passed to the succeeding Treasurer.
Section 3. Terms of Office
Members of the Board of Directors serve for one term (2 years) which ends when the President’s term ends.
The terms of office shall be for a period of two years from the date of installation, or until the officer is removed for failure to fulfill her duties and/or responsibilities by a majority vote of the Executive Committee or until a successor is duly elected. No officer except the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.
Section 4. Officer’s Records
All Officers and Committee Chairs shall deliver all records, files and properties of this club to their successors.
Section 5. – REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OR MEMBERSHIP. Members of the Executive Committee or members of the club may be removed by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership for any of the following reasons after investigation by the Executive Committee:
A. Non-payment of dues;
B. Advocating for an opposition party candidate;
C. Supporting an opposition party ticket; or
D. Failure to uphold the policies and objectives of this club as stated in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers and immediate Past President. Four (4) members of this committee shall constitute a quorum. This committee shall make recommendations on appointments of Committee Chairwomen as requested by the President and shall handle any matters that come up between meetings of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Committee, Chairwomen of Standing Committees, and the immediate Past President as Ex-officio. Six (6) members shall constitute a quorum. This Board shall have authority to transact any necessary business between meetings, to fill vacancies that occur between elections, to make recommendations as to policies, and to advise the President. Transactions may be made via telephone, e-mail, letter, or in person.
ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing Committee Chairwomen shall be appointed by the President with the advice of the Executive Committee and shall serve for two (2) years. Elected officers may serve as Standing Committee Chairwomen. These Committees reflect NFRW and MFRW Standing Committees and shall be Bylaws, Communications, Finance, Membership, Political Activities, Programs
Section 2. Special Committees shall be appointed by the President as deemed necessary to accomplish the work of RWAAC and may include: Americanism, Awards and Achievements, Caring for America, Historian, Hospitality, Literacy
Section 3. The duties of the Standing Committees shall be those as set forth by the State and National Federations.
Section 4. Special Committees may be appointed or eliminated by the President as deemed advisable.
Section 5. All committees shall report to the organization at regular meetings as requested by the President.
Section 6. The Financial Review Committee: A committee of three primary members shall be appointed by the President in November of each year whose duty it shall be to review the Treasurer’s accounts at the close of the fiscal year and shall report to the Executive Committee and to the membership at the first meeting of the following fiscal year.
ARTICLE VIII. MEETINGS
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of this organization shall be held in October.
Section 2. There shall be no less than six (6) meetings per year. 25% of the members shall contribute a quorum.
Section 3. Both general membership and Board of Directors meetings may be held virtually by any acceptable platform. Notice of meetings may be by mail, electronic means, or by telephone. A Board Meeting vote taken at via email is allowed if 100% of the Executive Committee is present.
Section 4. Special general meetings shall be held at the call of the President or upon request of one fifth (1/5) of the members of this organization. The purpose of the meetings is to be noted in the call.
Section 5. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in advanced of the scheduled general meetings.
Section 6. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or upon written request of one half (1/2) of the members of the Board of Directors. The purpose of the meeting is to be stated by request.
ARTICLE IX. DUES
Section 1. Dues shall be paid annually for the calendar year. Membership dues for regular membership shall include per capita dues of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women and the National Federation of Republican Women. Dues for Associate Members are a one-time annual payment as recommended by the Board. Associate member dues remain with the club. Associate members are not reported to MFRW or NFRW.
Section 2. The Fiscal Year of the organization shall be January 1st to December 31st. Dues payable on /or after October 1 will be credited to the following year.
ARTICLE X. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. A Nominating Committee of not less than three (3) members shall be elected at the June meeting prior to the Annual Meeting at which elections are to be held. The Nominating Committee shall report a slate of one candidate for each office at least (30) days prior to the Annual meeting in October. All nominees shall be primary members in good standing in the club and shall give written consent to serve, if elected.
Nominations from the floor shall be in order following the report of the Nominating Committee and just before the election.
Section 2. Elections shall be held at the Annual Meeting in odd numbered years. The new officers shall take office the first of January of the following year. Where there is only one candidate for an office, election may be made by a voice vote. A plurality vote shall elect. In the event additional nominations have been made at the Annual Meeting, voting shall be by ballot.
Section 3. An Elections Committee of no less than three (3) members shall be appointed by the President at the September meeting prior to the Annual Meeting at which elections are to be held. This Elections Committee shall provide all election materials and shall act as tellers at the Annual Meeting.
Section 4. Qualifications for Voting
The Treasurer’s list of members shall be used by the Elections Committee as a guide in issuing ballots to qualified voters. Only those members whose dues have been paid no later than thirty (30) days prior to the election shall be qualified to vote.
ARTICLE XI. POLICY
In accordance with the policies of the National Federation of Republican Women and the Maryland Federation of Republican Women, the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County shall not endorse any Republican candidate over another Republican candidate prior to any primary election. The exceptions are in those cases where the primary serves as the general election and where the deadline for filling has passed and the Republican candidate has no opposition. The Republican Women of Anne Arundel County shall not advocate a split party ticket or support a candidate running on an opposition ticket.
It is the policy of RWAAC to encourage its officers and members to run for party and public office.
Section 1. ENDORSEMENT POLICY
The Club as a whole and its President and Campaign Activities Chair shall not publicly endorse any candidate for public office in contested Republican primaries, runoff elections, and special elections, and/or non-partisan elections when more than one Republican is in the race. Individual members of this organization may work for the candidate of their choice in contested Republican primaries, but not in the name of the Club or Federation.
ARTICLE XII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly revised, shall govern all proceedings except where inconsistent with the provisions of the Bylaws of this organization. Amendments and revisions to these Bylaws should be mailed and/or emailed to members thirty (30) days prior to a regular meeting. An affirmative vote of two thirds (2/3) of the members present at that meeting is necessary to effect changes, assuming a quorum is present at that meeting.
ARTICLE XIII─ AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote at any regular (general) meeting of the club, provided that notice of the proposed amendment(s) shall have been sent to each member thirty days prior to the date of the general meeting.
ARTICLE XIV DISSOLUTION
Section 1. This club may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote at any regular or special meeting of the club, provided that notice of the dissolution has been submitted in writing at least thirty (30) days prior and has been sent to all members of the club. In the event of dissolution, the Executive Committee shall, after payment of all liabilities of the club, distribute any remaining assets, records and charter to the MFRW. No funds shall be distributed to any member or officer of the club. The right to use the name of a dissolved club shall revert to the MFRW.
Section2. In the event of dissolution of this organization, the assets, records and charter shall be turned over to the Maryland Federation of Republican Women.
Adopted: 1940
Adopted: 1969
Adopted: September 10, 1986
Adopted: February 10, 1988
Adopted: December 11, 1991
Adopted: September 8, 1993
Adopted: June 14, 1995
Adopted: September 8, 1999
Adopted: January 8, 2003
Adopted: October 12, 2005
Adopted: August 8, 2007
Adopted: September 9, 2019
Adopted October 11,2023