Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club

Section 1.01 The name of this association shall be the Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club.

Section 2.01 The Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club (hereafter designated as the Club) was formed for the purpose of ensuring that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community, and our straight allies, are fully and equally represented at all political levels. The Club is also committed to equality and human rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, age, race or religion. The Club is chartered under the auspices of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.

Section 3.01 Membership shall be open to all Democrats, those registered as such over the age of 18 and those minors under 18 or those who have not yet met residency qualifications or are in the process of naturalization who have stated an intention of registering as Democrats when eligible, regardless of LGBT or other sexual or gender identity, and who support the goals and purposes of the Club.

Section 3.02 Members shall have paid the yearly membership dues as stated in the Standing Rules appended to these Bylaws. A membership is valid for one (1) year from the date of payment of dues.

Section 3.03 A grace period of thirty (30) days will be granted following the expiration of membership during which a person may exercise all privileges of membership without interruption. After this grace period has expired, renewal of membership is no longer available and the member must follow the provisos of new membership.

Section 3.04 A member in good standing must have paid the current dues at least fourteen (14) days prior to being eligible to vote and will be eligible to vote after attending one previous meeting in the current dues cycle.

Section 4.01 The elected officers of the club shall be:

(a) President

(b) Executive Vice-President

(c) Vice President of Political Action

(d) Vice President of Membership

(e) Vice President of Communications

(f) Secretary

(g) Treasurer

(h) Member at Large (1)

Section 4.02 The Immediate Past President shall also be an officer.

Section 4.03 The President shall appoint a Parliamentarian to assist in running both general and Executive Board meetings.

Section 4.04 The above elected officers and the chair of the Banquet Committee shall serve as voting members of the Executive Board with the exception of the Immediate Past President and the Parliamentarian. Each member shall have one vote, except for the President, who shall act as the Chair of this committee and who shall vote in the event of a tie vote of the committee.

Section 4.05 The Executive Board shall conduct the business of the Club between General Meetings.

(a) The committees enumerated below will be chaired by an Executive Board Member as detailed in Article IV.

(b) The Member-At-Large will serve as the Vice Chair at any Executive Committee meeting.

(c) These committees are not obligated to hold regular meetings but must meet at least once in a calendar year.

(d) Draft minutes shall be filed with the Secretary no later than seven (7) days after the meeting.

(e) The President will serve as an Ex-Officio member of all Executive Committees.

(f) The Executive Committees are: Political Action, Membership, Technology, Events, Marketing and Fundraising

(a) Ad hoc committees shall be formed and the Chairs appointed by the President to meet temporary issues and concerns. The Chairpersons of these ad hoc committees will not have a vote on the Executive Board.

Section 6.01 President - The President shall be the principal executive officer and spokesperson of the club. Shall carry out the policies and be governed through the Bylaws of the Club. Shall do everything necessary to carry into effect the goals and purposes of this organization as voted upon by its membership. Shall be the sole executor, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board, of all binding agreements for the club. Shall create, appoint the Chairpersons and ask for volunteers for standing, ad hoc, and special committees necessary to the functioning of the club. Shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. Shall appoint assistant officers as may be required. Shall vote in case of a tie in the Executive Board. Shall be guardian of the membership list and responsible for its confidentiality and dispersion, with the permission of the Executive Board, and limited to members of the Executive Board.

Section 6.02 Executive Vice President – The Vice-President shall do everything necessary to assist the President in the performance of that office’s responsibilities. In the event of the absence or temporary disability of the President, shall exercise all powers of the President. The Executive Vice President shall serve on all appointed or associate positions given to the club though it’s Charter.

Section 6.03 Vice President of Membership – The Vice President of Membership shall maintain the records of members, payment of membership dues, and shall notify members when their memberships need renewal. The Vice President of Membership shall be responsible for maintaining and increasing club membership. The Vice President of Membership shall serve as the chair of the Membership and Events Committee.

Section 6.04 Vice President of Political Action - The Vice President of Political Action shall serve as the chair of the Political Action Committee hereafter referred to as the PAC. The PAC is responsible for coordination of such political activities as rallies, demonstrations, marches, candidate and issue evaluation forums, and distribution of any political literature distributed by the Club. The PAC is in charge of any voter registration efforts and/or significant GOTV efforts to increase voter turnout for Club endorsed candidates. The PAC is responsible for the Club’s endorsement process each election cycle, from updating the standard candidate questionnaire, to coordinating candidate interviews, to communicating our positions to candidates. Once the PAC Committee has interviewed candidates, the PAC shall make as recommendations endorsements of the Club to the Executive Board, which shall make a recommendation to the general membership.

Section 6.05 Vice President of Communications – The Vice President of Communications shall be in charge of all external communications. Shall be responsible for drafting press releases, reviewing web content and ensuring the club messaging is consistent and concise. Shall chair the Technology and Marketing Committees.

Section 6.06 Secretary- The Secretary shall record all minutes of the general membership meetings and Executive Board meetings. At the general membership meetings shall have available the minutes of the previous meeting. At the Executive Board meetings shall have available the minutes of the previous meeting. Shall have the minutes from the previous meeting available seven (7) days prior to the next scheduled meeting. Shall assist in maintaining all records of the Club, serve all required notices and maintain the membership roster and mailing lists along with necessary communication lists and will discharge such duties as pertain to this office. Shall see to the confidentiality and security of all records as they pertain to themembership of the club. The Secretary shall serve as the chair of the Rules and Bylaws Committee.

Section 6.07 Treasurer – The Treasurer shall receive membership dues, make disbursements and maintain the club financial records. Shall present the current fiscal status to the membership at the general meetings. Shall secure the endorsements of the President and Treasurer on all disbursements. Shall be responsible for the preparation of all Federal, State, County, and City financial reports, as required in relation to the political activities of the club. Shall be responsible for the confidentiality and security of all records as they pertain to the club. Shall serve as the Chair of the Fundraising Committee.

Section 6.08 Member-at-Large – One (1) member, in good standing shall be elected to serve. The Member-At-Large shall assist the board in all nessicary forms and will serve as the Vice – Chair at all committee meetings

Section 6.09 Parliamentarian – The Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the President and is a non-voting member of the Executive Board. The Parliamentarian shall advise the President, Acting President, or any member when asked, in meetings by interpreting the rules and bylaws of the Club and the most recently revised Robert’s Rules of Order to assure that appropriate parliamentary procedure is followed.

The HRBC shall be supervised by the HRBC Chairperson, appointed by the President, who shall also be a member of the committee. The HRCC shall produce the annual Human Rights Banquet. The Committee shall report to the Executive Board. Any budget items over $500 must be approved by the Executive Board prior to expenditure.

Section 7.01 The term of office for all officers and appointed chairpersons shall be one (1) year.

Section 7.02 Nomination Period: The nomination period for officers begins the day after the last general meeting of the calendar year and closes fourteen (14) days prior to the next general meeting.

Section 7.03 Should a position still be undeclared at the close of the nomination period, nominations for that undeclared position only shall be accepted from the floor at the next general meeting.

Section 7.04 The President shall appoint a member to fill any vacancies of any office to ensure the continuity of that office until the next general meeting. In the case of the Presidency, the Executive Vice-President shall act as President until such time as a general meeting can be held.

Section 7.05 All votes cast will be done by secret ballot

Section 7.06 An officer shall be considered elected if they receive a simple majority (50% plus 1) affirmative vote of those present and voting, including abstentions. Members in good standing must sign in on an appropriate sign-in sheet and only the number of signatures can be used to determine the percentage for an election.

Section 7.07 Runoffs will take place at the same meeting between the candidates who received the two highest numbers of votes. Should a deadlock still occur, a new election shall be called at the next general membership meeting.

Section 7.08 Any officer or member may be removed from office or the Club with a two/thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of those present and voting, including abstentions, at any general meeting.

Section 7.09 Should an officer or Chairperson have three (3) unexcused absences from Executive Board or general membership meetings, the office or Chair position will be considered vacant and a special election for the officer held to fill the office.

Section 8.01 The most recently revised Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the running of meetings of the Club unless superseded by these Bylaws.

Section 8.02 General membership meetings shall be held at least bi-monthly each year with the membership being notified seven (7) days prior to each meeting by the appropriate communication. A quorum will be at least ten (10) members or ten percent (10%) of the total membership, whichever is greater.

Section 8.03 Executive Board meetings shall be held at least monthly at a preset day each month, with notification of the meeting provided by the appropriate communication, with a quorum being a simple majority of Executive Board members.

Section 8.04 Special meetings of the membership shall be called at the discretion of the President with notice to all members by appropriate communication. Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President with notice to all members of the Executive Board by appropriate communication at least seven days (7 days) notification.

Section 8.05 Any member may attend an Executive Board meeting with voice, but no vote.

Section 9.01 Endorsements of a Democratic candidate may be made in any election. An affirmative vote of 60% of those present and voting, including abstentions, will constitute an endorsement.

Section 9.02 In Primary Elections, all registered Democrats in each race will be sent a questionnaire, upon its return candidates will be scheduled for an interview and the PAC will make a recommendation at the next general meeting. If two Democratic candidates make it to the General Election, the Executive Board will decide if an endorsement should be made at which point the already submitted questionnaires will be reviewed and the Executive Board will make the endorsement with 60% affirmative vote.

Section 9.03 “No Endorsement” shall always be an option when no candidate receives 60% of the vote of those present and voting.

Section 9.04 Members in good standing must sign in on an appropriate sign-in sheet and only the number of signatures can be used to determine the percentage for an endorsement.

Section 9.05 All elections and endorsements shall be administered by secret ballot.

Section 9.06 Balloting begins at the call to order of the general meeting. In the event that the motion to consider an endorsement in a candidate race fails, the ballots submitted in advance shall be discarded. Ballots submitted in advance are considered only in the first round of balloting; they are not included in runoffs.

Section 9.07 No candidates, including candidates who are also club members, may be present for debate on the office for which that candidate is contending.

Section 9.08 Club funds may only be contributed to the campaigns of those candidates endorsed by the club.

Section 9.09 In partisan and non-partisan elections, only Democratic candidates may be endorsed. This rule is not subject to suspension.

Section 9.10 Only one candidate may be endorsed per seat.

(a) Friendly incumbent endorsements may be considered for all incumbents who have a supportive voting record on appropriate issues, as determined by the Executive Board. A friendly incumbent endorsement is intended to reward incumbents for their support and should be completed early so the candidate has a greater opportunity to use the Club’s endorsement to discourage challengers.

(b) A friendly incumbent endorsement does not require the completion of a questionnaire if they are running for re-election in the position they have been declared a friendly incumbent.

(c) The Executive Board may determine eligibility for a friendly incumbent endorsement for an incumbent who has no voting record by virtue of holding an administrative, executive or other non-legislative office.

(d) Friendly incumbent endorsements may be approved on a consent calendar. Any member may remove a candidate from the consent calendar for separate consideration.

(e) Where an incumbent does not receive a friendly incumbent endorsement, the office will be treated as open. All candidates for that position, including the incumbent, shall be required to follow the standard endorsement procedure.

Section 10.01 These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting at a general membership meeting provided that the amendment is included in the notice to members at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting. Any amendment shall be written by the Rules and Bylaws Committee for approval by the Executive Board.

Section 11.01 Upon dissolution of the Club, all property, funds, records, etc. will be given to the Los Angeles County Central Democratic Committee. Historic documents shall be placed in the ONE Archives at the University of Southern California.