TAOS COUNTY FEDERATED REPUBLICAN WOMEN
BY-LAWS

Approved and Adopted on May 16, 2020

ARTICLE I

The name of this organization shall be the Taos County Federated Republican Women, hereafter referred to as “the Club.”  This organization is a member Club of the New Mexico Federation of Republican Women (NMFRW).

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVE – POLICY

Section 1.  Objectives

The objectives of this Club shall be to:

  1. promote an informed public through political education and activity;
  2. increase the effectiveness of Republican women in the cause of good government;
  3. facilitate cooperation among Republican women’s clubs;
  4. foster loyalty to the Republican Party and to promote its principles and candidates in all elections, including non-partisan elections;
  5. support objectives and policies of the Republican National and State committees, and
  6. promote work for the election of Republican Party nominees.

Section 2.  Policy

  • The Club shall refrain from supporting any candidate in a primary election contest.  This applies only to the Club and its officers, not its individual members.
  • The Club shall not officially endorse a split ticket or support or endorse a candidate running in an opposing party.
  • Members in this Club shall not publicly support candidates in an opposition party.
  • This Club shall not endorse any candidate for office in the Republican organization of the state, county, ward or precinct.
  • The Club shall abide by the By-laws of the National and State Federations of Republican Women and their By-laws shall supersede these By-laws.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

There shall be two classes of membership: Active and Associate.

Section 1. Eligibility

  1. Active Membership
    1. Active Membership in the Club shall be open to any Republican Woman registered in the Republican Party who upholds the objectives and policies of the Club and who pays the required annual dues. 
    2. Active membership shall not be held in more than one club at the same time. 
  2. Associate Membership
    1. Associate membership in the Club shall be open to any registered Republican woman who is a regular member of a Club and who wishes to support other Clubs upon payment of required annual dues.
    2. Associate membership is open to men who are registered in the Republican Party and who subscribe to the objectives and policies of the organization, and upon payment of the required annual dues. 
    3. Associate members may attend meetings but cannot make motions, have a voice or a vote, be an officer, or serve on committees.
    4. Associate members cannot serve as delegates or alternates nor may they be counted as active members for the purpose of determining the number of delegates to the NMFRW or NFRW conventions.

Section  2.  Club Qualifications

For qualification as a member of the Federation a Club shall have:

  1. An active membership of at least ten (10) women;
  2. Formed a permanent organization that holds meetings no less than five (5) times during a twelve (12) month period;
  3. Adopted bylaws which are not in conflict with those of NMRFW and the NFRW and which have been approved by the NM Federation Board of Directors;
  4. Submitted a copy of its bylaws and any subsequent approved amendments and/or revisions to the State Federation President, its Regional Director and to the NM Federation Bylaws Chairwoman;
  5. Elected their officers during the last quarter of each even numbered year.  These shall assume the duties of their respective office by January First (1st) of the following year;
  6. Submitted names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail address (where available) of its officers along with the number of active members in the Club to the Regional Director, the Treasurer and the NMFRW President;
  7. Paid the required per capita dues for each active member and the NFRW service charge, and
  8. the word “Republican” in its name.

Section 3.  Removal From and Reinstatement of Club Membership

The Club Executive Board shall have jurisdiction over the removal from and reinstatement of membership.  Two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present at the meeting is required for the following:

  • Removal – A member may be removed from membership for any of the following reasons:
    1. Failure to maintain qualifications for membership;
    2. For advocating a split party ticket or to support an opposition party candidate;
    3. For failure to support the Republican Party ticket;
    4. Failure to abide by the bylaws of the Club, the NMFRW and NFRW, and
    5. For the affiliation with any political organization which is not officially recognized as a part of NMFRW, NFRW or the Republican State or National Committee. 
  • Reinstatement – Should the person later wish to be reinstated to membership, the Executive Board, by a majority vote, has the option to grant or deny the request based on compliance with the NMFRW and NFRW.

ARTICLE IV – DUES-FISCAL YEAR

  1. Membership dues for active membership in the Club shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present and on record as paid members.
  2. Dues shall be in sufficient amount to cover the State and National Federation’s assessment per member, as well as local need. 
  3. Dues for associate membership shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00) per calendar year and is retained by the local Club.
  4. Dues (or assessment)) to the State and National Federations shall be paid to the New Mexico Federation of Republican Women and sent to the Treasurer of the State Federation as required.
  5. A list of members shall be sent to the NMFRW Treasurer, Membership Chairwoman and Membership Data Person.
  6. The Fiscal Year shall be January 1st through December 31st. 

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS AND QUORUMS

Section 1.  Meetings

  1. Meetings of this Club shall be held at least five (5) times each year.  The members shall decide the time and place.
  2. In the event a properly called meeting has to be cancelled due to circumstances beyond the control of TCFRW, then it shall be acceptable to hold said meeting by conference call, Skype or approved electronic means with seven days’ notice being given to the members of the Executive Board. This section does not apply to a meeting required by these bylaws that has not already been called.

Section 2.  Biennial Meeting

  1. The Biennial meeting, at which time the officers shall be elected, shall be held in November of each even numbered year.
  2. Installation of officers shall be any time prior to December thirty-first (31st). 

Section 3.  Special Meetings

  1. Special meetings may be called by the President, by a majority vote of the Executive Board, or by member petition of one-third of active members.
  2. Only the subject matter in the call may be taken up in a special meeting. 

Section 4.  Quorum

Three (3) active members present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VI – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND CONVENTION DELEGATES

Section 1.  Nominations and Election of Officers

  1. The Executive Board shall appoint a nomination Committee, consisting of a chairperson and two members, all in good standing, by the first meeting in September of the Biennial year (even-numbered year).
  2. It shall be the duty of the committee to nominate one candidate for each office to be filled at the November Biennial meeting and announce those names to the membership at the meeting prior to the elections.
  3. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the November Biennial meeting with the approval of the nominee.
  4. The offices to be filled are President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
  5. They must be members in Good Standing in the Club.
  6. Elected officers shall serve for terms of two years, or until their successors are elected.

Section 2.  Election of Convention Delegates

  1. Election of delegates and alternates to the New Mexico Federation of Republican Women’s Biennial Convention shall be held as prescribed by the NMFRW Bylaws (Article V, Section 2). 

ARTICLE VII – OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

Section 1.  All Officers

  1. Are required to attend Club meetings.
  2. It will be grounds for removal from office for any Officer to miss more than two (2) meetings per calendar year due to unexcused absence.
  3. Must remain in good standing throughout their term of office.

Section 2.  President

The Club President shall:

  1. Preside at all meetings of the Club and Executive Board, may call special meetings and perform any further duties as may be assigned to her by the Executive Board of which usually pertain to the office;
  2. Appoint chairpersons of all Committees;
  3. Be an ex-officio member of all Committees except the Nominating Committee;
  4. Represent the Club at all times or designate another officer to represent her;
  5. Serve as the organization’s representative on the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Taos County, or she may appoint another active member for this duty, and
  6. Have the authority to co-sign checks.

Section 3. Vice President

The Club Vice President shall:

  1. Perform the duties of the President in her absence or inability to serve.Coordinate activities of the Committee chairpersons.
  2. Perform such other duties as may be assigned to her by the President or Executive Board.

Section 4.  Secretary

The Club Secretary shall:

  1. Keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the Club and the Executive Board;
  2. Send a copy of the minutes to the President no later than five (5) days before the next meeting;
  3. Maintain an up-to-date file of all officers, Committees and membership of the Club.
  4. Act as custodian of all records and other materials pertaining to the office;
  5. Notify the Club President if she is unable to attend any meeting, and
  6. May have the authority to co-sign checks.

Section 5.  Treasurer

The Club Treasurer shall:

  1. Be custodian of all funds and financial records of the Club;
  2. Keep an account of all money received and spent and give a full report at each regular meeting;
  3. Collect all funds and give receipts as required;
  4. Send yearly reminders to members for dues payable;
  5. Notify members when their dues are delinquent;
  6. Keep an accurate list of all active members;
  7. Send all Club dues and reports on the required date to the NMFRW and the NFRW, as required;
  8. Disburse funds when bills are due and shall sign checks with the President or one other officer;
  9. Provide information for an annual audit to be conducted in January of each year by a committee appointed by the Executive Board;
  10. Make written reports of the receipts and disbursements at all meetings and any additional reports as directed by the President, and
  11. The Treasurer shall be an ex-officio member of the Finance Committee.

Section 7.  Parliamentarian

The Club Parliamentarian shall:

  1. Be appointed by the President;
  2. Attend all meetings of the Club and Executive Board, and
  3. When requested, advise the President, Executive Board, Committees and members on parliamentary procedure.

ARTICLE VII – OFFICERS RECORDS

  1. All officers except the Treasurer shall deliver to her successor, all records, files and properties of the Club within two (2) weeks after retiring from office.
  2. The Treasurer, after an audit, shall deliver to her successor all funds, securities, files and records in her keeping within thirty (30) days after retiring from office. 

ARTICLE IX – EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1.  Membership

  1. Shall be composed of the elected officers and the immediate past President;
  2. Shall meet on dates fixed by it or upon call of the President;
  3. Be the governing body of the Club which makes recommendations and temporary approval of business requiring interim action;
  4. Three members shall constitute a quorum;
  5. Fill vacancies in elective positions except for the office of President, in which case, the Vice-President shall serve as President until the next election. A vacancy occurring in the office of Treasurer will require an audit by a committee appointed by the Executive Board.
  6. Have jurisdiction over removal from and reinstatement of membership.
  7. Approve the federally insured bank where Chapter funds are to be deposited. 

ARTICLE X – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1.  Parliamentary Authority

Roberts Rules of Order, newly revised or the latest edition thereof, shall govern this Club where applicable and not in conflict with the national or state FRW By-laws. 

ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  Amendments to Bylaws

Amendments to these Bylaws may be made by a two-thirds vote of the active members at any meeting, provided the amendments have been presented in writing to the membership ten (10) days prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE XII – STANDING RULES

Section 1.  Standing Committees:

  1. Membership
  2. Finance
  3. By-Laws
  4. Americanism
  5. Caring for America
  6. Publicity
  7. Program
  8. Literacy (MELP)
  9. Chaplain
  10. Calling

The committees shall outline programs and plans of action in their respective fields and coordinate those with the approval of the Club.