as amended June 2003
On June 21, 1975, the International Women’s Year (1975) Task Force of Prince George’s County, Maryland, held an Awards Presentation at Watkins Regional Park. The one hundred sixty County citizens in attendance gave the Task Force Members a mandate to organize a coalition of women’s organizations, which would be of service to the women of the County.
The name of this organization shall be THE WOMEN’S ACTION COALITION OF PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, hereafter referred to as THE COALITION.
The purpose of THE COALITION shall be to unite the women’s organizations in Prince George’s County in order to improve and enhance the status of women in the County and to insure women full recognition and participation in educational, political, and economic activities.
Section 1. The membership shall consist of organizations and individuals in Prince George’s County that support THE COALITION purpose. There are two types of Members: Organizational and Individual.
Section 2. Applications for membership shall be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.
Section 3. Each member organization has one vote at meetings of THE COALITION.
Section 4. An individual member may vote at general membership meetings of THE COALITION only if serving as a member of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Actions taken by THE COALITION shall be binding on all officers, delegates, and individual members when they represent THE COALITION.
Section 6. Officers, delegates, and individual members may speak or act on behalf of THE COALITION only on issues addressed in the policy statements of THE COALITION.
Section 1. Dues shall be paid by all organizations and individuals upon acceptance of membership and thereafter annually on the anniversary date of the membership.
Section 2. Delegates of member organizations who have not paid dues by the anniversary date of their membership will not be eligible to vote until the dues have been paid.
Section 3. Dues shall be set by the Board of Directors and announced at the annual meeting.
Section 1. The Board of Directors (hereafter referred to as the Board) shall have general supervision of the affairs of THE COALITION between regular business meetings, fix the hour and place of the meetings, and determine THE COALITION’S activities, operations, and procedures. The Board shall make recommendations to THE COALITION and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these Bylaws. The Board shall be subject to the order of THE COALITION and none of its acts shall conflict with previous actions taken by THE COALITION.
Section 2. The officers of THE COALITION and up to five (5) additional members, who serve as chairs of standing committees, shall constitute the Board.
Section 3. The Board shall have a minimum of four (4) meetings annually, each to be held at least one week prior to the regular meeting of THE COALITION. The Board shall determine the time and place of these meetings.
Section 4. The President or one-fourth of the members of the Board may call a special meeting. The business to be transacted at any special meeting shall be limited to that mentioned in the written call. Except in cases of extreme emergencies, at least five (5) days written notice shall be given.
Section 5. The Board shall perform such duties as specified by these Bylaws.
Section 6. A majority of the membership of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers.
Section 2. The Executive Committee may act for the Board between meetings of the Board at times when such action is necessary. The Executive Committee shall report to the Board its work and actions at the next meeting.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the President or of any two officers.
Section 4. A majority of the membership of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 1. Officers and Board members should represent a broad spectrum of the membership.
Section 2. The elected officers shall be the President, Vice President for Programs, Vice President for Membership, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer, and shall have such duties as usually pertain to those offices.
Section 3. Officers shall serve a term of one year and shall be eligible for election to the same position for two consecutive terms only.
Section 4. Officers and Board members shall orient their successors to the duties and responsibilities connected with their positions.
Section 5. Officers and Board members shall submit to their successors files containing all materials pertinent to procedures, duties, and responsibilities of their positions.
Section 6. The Vice President for Membership and Treasurer shall submit an accurate and complete record of transactions and reports of income and expenditures at each meeting of THE COALITION.
Section 1. Elections shall be held annually.
Section 2. The President, with the approval of the Board, shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of at least three delegates by March 1.
Section 3. The President shall designate a nominating committee chair from the appointees.
Section 4. The nominating committee shall submit a slate of officers to the President and member organizations at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting.
Section 5. Candidates for election shall be selected from delegates and individual members of THE COALITION. No more than two individual members may serve on the Board at the same time. The President may not be an individual member, but instead, must represent a member organization.
Section 6. The elected officers shall be chosen by ballot.
Section 7. Their term of office shall begin on July 1 after the annual meeting at which they are elected.
Section 8. In case of resignation or death of the President, the Vice President for Programs shall accede to office and shall serve until the next election. In the case of a vacancy in one of the other elected positions, the Board shall appoint a person to complete the term.
Section 9. Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote on any question properly coming before any regular or special meeting of THE COALITION.
Section 10. An individual member not serving as a member of the Board may not vote at any regular or special meeting of THE COALITION.
Section 1. Regular meetings of all the membership of THE COALITION shall be held at least once each calendar quarter, unless otherwise ordered by THE COALITION. All meetings shall be open to the public.
Section 2. The regular second quarter meeting shall be known as the Annual Meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports from officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President, by the Board, or upon written request by one-fourth of the delegates of THE COALITION. The business to be transacted at any special meeting shall be limited to that mentioned in the call. Except in cases of extreme emergencies, at least five (5) days written notice shall be given.
Section 4. Thirty percent of the delegates and, in addition, two officers shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5. Each delegate shall have the right to make motions and to vote at any regular or special meeting of THE COALITION, in elections, and on motions. Abstention from voting constitutes acquiescence to the will of the majority.
Section 6. Each delegate and individual member shall have the right to participate in debate and to place items on the meeting agenda by one of the following procedures:
a. By written request to the President, with a statement of reasons, one week prior to the regular meeting, or
b. By petition of a majority of those present at a regular meeting.
Section 1. Each delegate shall have the following responsibilities:
a. To represent a member organization by attending all meetings and, in case of emergency, to notify the alternate delegate, who will temporarily assume the rights and responsibilities of the delegate.
b. To understand the member organization’s position on issues addressed by THE COALITION in its policy statements and on actions taken by THE COALITION.
c. To present information about THE COALITION activities to the member organization on a regular basis by such means as, but not limited to, newsletter articles, web site, e-mail, or reports at meetings.
d. To present concerns of the member organization to THE COALITION for action, advice and study.
Section 2: Each individual member shall have the following responsibilities:
a. To present individual concerns to THE COALITION for action, advice, and study.
b. To vote at meetings of the THE COALITION and the Board only when serving as a member of the Board.
Section 1. The Board shall establish standing committees as deemed necessary. A member of the Board shall chair each standing committee.
Section 2. The President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint chairs of standing committees no later than August 1.
Section 3. The Board shall appoint ad hoc committees as deemed necessary. Ad hoc committee chairs shall attend Board meetings when appropriate, but may not vote.
The rules of parliamentary practice contained in the current edition of ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED shall govern all proceedings of THE COALITION to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any other special rules which THE COALITION may adopt.
These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of THE COALITION by a two-thirds vote of THE COALITION, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing (one copy to each delegate and organization president) at the previous meeting, or sent at least one month prior to the meeting.
Amended: January 1978, April 1981, April 1985, February 2001, June 2003
last update 9/29/03