Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVOR, or, as the League. This local League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVUS, and the League of Women Voters of Tennessee, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVTN.

Section 1. Purposes. The purposes of the LWVOR shall be to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and to act on selected governmental issues.

Section 2. Policy. The League shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.

Section 1. Eligibility. Any person who subscribes to the purposes and policies of the League shall be eligible for membership.

Section 2. Types of Membership. The membership of the LWVOR shall be composed of voting members and associate members who have paid their dues to the LWVOR.

a. Voting members of the LWVOR shall be U.S. citizens at least 18 years of age.
b. Associate members shall be all others who join the League.

Section 1. Enumeration and Election of Officers. The officers of the LWVOR shall be a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer who shall be elected for terms of two years at the Annual Meeting. All officers except the Treasurer shall take office at the beginning of the fiscal year. The Treasurer shall take office 20 days after the beginning of the fiscal year. The President, the First Vice-President, and the Treasurer shall be elected in odd-numbered years. The Second Vice-President and the Secretary shall be elected in even-numbered years. The office of President may be shared.

Section 2. The President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the Board of Directors; in the event of absence or disability of the Treasurer sign or endorse checks, drafts, and notes; be, ex officio, a member of all committees except the Nominating Committee; have such usual powers of supervision and management as may pertain to the office of President; and perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board.

Section 3. The Vice-Presidents. The two Vice-Presidents, in the order of their rank, in the event of absence, disability, or death of the president, possess all the powers and perform all the duties of that office, until such time as the Board of Directors shall elect one of its members to fill the vacancy. The Vice-Presidents shall perform such other duties as the President and Board may designate.

Section 4. The Secretary. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all business meetings, including all meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other functions as necessary.

Section 5. The Treasurer. The Treasurer, or a duly appointed assistant, shall collect and receive all monies due, shall be custodian of these monies, shall disburse the same according to the budget, and shall present periodic statements to the Board at its regular meetings and an annual report at the Annual Meeting. The books of the Treasurer shall be submitted for review within 30 days after the end of each Treasurer's term of office.

Section 6. The Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer. It shall have the power to plan and carry out other functions as directe by the Board.

Section 1. Selection, Qualifications, and Term. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers of the League, six (6) elected directors, and not more than six (6) directors appointed by the President. One-half of the elected Directors shall be elected by the voting membership at each Annual Meeting and shall serve for a term of two years or until their successors have been elected and qualified. The appointed Directors shall serve through the fiscal year. The position of Officer or Director may be shared, but the position shall have only one vote on the Board.

Section 2. Qualifications. Any person elected or appointed as an Officer or Director of the League must be a voting member of the LWVOR.

Section 3. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors by reason of the resignation, death, or disqualification of an Officer or elected Director may be filled, until the next Annual Meeting, by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors. Three consecutive absences from a Board meeting of any member without a valid reason shall be deemed a resignation.

Section 4. Powers and Duties. The Board shall manage and supervise the business affairs and activities of the LWVOR subject to the instructions of members at the Annual Meeting. It shall accept responsibility for such other matters as the National or State Boards may from time to time delegate to it. It shall have the power to create such special committees as it deems necessary and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws.

Section 5. Meetings. There shall be regular meetings of the Board of Directors. The president may call special meetings of the Board of Directors and shall call a special meeting upon the written request of five (5) members of the Board.

Section 6. Quorum. One-third of the members of the board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the LWVOR shall commence on the first day of July of each year.

Section 2. Dues. Annual dues shall be payable by April 1. Any member who fails to pay dues within three (3) months after they become payable shall be dropped from the membership rolls. All membership dues shall be a figure that will meet the league's per member payment (PMP) to the LWVTN and LWVUS plus whatever figure the LWVOR Board recommends to carry out local Program. The dues figure will be set at Annual Meeting. Life members of the LWVUS and 50 year members of the League will be excused from paying annual dues. Members delinquent in paying their dues will be notified before their names are dropped from the rolls.

Section 3. Budget Committee. At least three (3) months prior to the Annual Meeting, a Budget Committee consisting of two (2) members from the general membership, the Treasurer, and a Chairman appointed by the President shall prepare a budget for the next year.

Section 4. Budget. The proposed budget shall be sent to all members one (1) month before the Annual Meeting. The budget for the ensuing year shall be presented to the League Board for review by the May Board meeting. This budget shall be submitted by the Chair of the Budget Committee or his/her appointee to members at the Annual meeting for consideration of adoption. The proposed budget shall provide support for the work of the League as a whole.

Section 5. Distribution of Funds on Dissolution. In the event of the dissolution of the LWVOR, all monies and securities which may at the time be owned by or under the control of the LWVOR shall be paid to the LWVTN after the state and national per member payments and other obligations have been met. All other property of whatsoever nature, whether real, personal, or mixed, which may at the time be owned or under the control of the LWVOR shall be disposed of to such person, organization or corporation for such public, charitable, or educational use and purposes as the Board in its absolute discretion may designate.

Section 1. Membership Meetings. There shall be at least two (2) general meetings, one of which may be the Annual Meeting, of the membership each year. The time and place shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The Board shall call a special general membership meeting upon the written request of 15% of the voting members.

Section 2. Annual Meeting. An Annual Meeting shall be held during the last quarter of the fiscal year, the exact date to be determined by the Board of Directors. At the Annual Meeting, members shall:

1. adopt a local Program for the ensuing year,
2. elect Officers and Directors and the Chair and two (2) members of the Nominating Committee,
3. adopt a budget, and
4. transact such other business as may properly come before it. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.

Section 3. Quorum. Fifteen (15) percent of the voting members shall constitute a quorum at general and annual meetings of the LWVOR. Written notice of the meeting shall be sent to the membership at least one (1) week in advance.

Section 1. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five (5) members, two (2) of whom shall be members of the Board of Directors. The Chair and two (2) members, who shall not be members of the Board, shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. The Board members shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy on the Nominating Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors. Suggestions for nominations for Officers and Directors may be sent to this committee by any voting member.

Section 2. Report of the Nominating Committee and Nominations from the Floor. The report of the Nominating Committee of its nominations for Officers, Directors, and elected members of the next Nominating Committee shall be sent to all members one (1) month before the date of the Annual Meeting. Immediately following the presentation of the Nominating Committee report at the Annual Meeting, nominations may be made from the floor by any voting member provided the consent of the nominee shall have been secured.

Section 3. Elections. The election shall be by ballot except that if there is only one nominee for an office it shall be by voice vote. A majority of those voting shall constitute an election. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.

Section 1. Authorization. The governmental principles adopted by the National Convention, and supported by the League as a whole, constitute the authorization for the adoption of National, State, and Local Programs.

Section 2. Program. The Program of the LWVOR shall consist of:

1. action to implement the governmental principles and
2. those governmental issues chosen by LWVOR for concerted study and action.

Section 3. The Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting members shall act upon the Local Program using the following procedure:

1. The Board of Directors shall consider the recommendations of the voting members two (2) months prior to the Annual Meeting and shall formulate a proposed Program.
2. The proposed Program shall be sent to the members one (1) month before the Annual Meeting.
3. At the Annual Meeting members shall adopt a Program by a majority vote. Program recommendations submitted to the Board at least two (2) months before the Annual Meeting but not proposed by the Board may be considered by the members at the Annual Meeting, provided that the Annual Meeting attendees shall order consideration by a majority vote and the Annual Meeting attendees shall adopt the item by a majority vote.
4. Changes in the Program, in the case of altered conditions, may be made provided that:
• (1) information concerning the proposed changes has been sent to all members at least two (2) weeks prior to a general membership meeting at which the change is to be discussed and
• (2) final action by the membership is taken at a succeeding meeting, attended by a quorum 15% of the members, not less than two (2) weeks later.

Section 4. Member Action. Members may act in the name of the LWVOR only when authorized to do so by the President(s), the Board, or the Executive Committee; they may act only in conformity with, and not contrary to, a position taken by the LWVOR, the LWVTN, or the LWVUS.

Section 1. National Convention. The Board of Directors, at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the National Office, shall select delegates to the Convention up to the number allotted the LWVOR under the provision of the bylaws of the LWVUS.

Section 2. State Convention. The Board of Directors, at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the State Office, shall select delegates to the Convention up to the number allotted the LWVOR under the provision of the bylaws of the LWVTN.

Section 3. State Council. The Boar of Directors at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the State Office shall select delegates to the Council up to the number allotted the LWVOR under the provisions of the bylaws of the LWVTN.

Section 1. Parliamentary Authority. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.

Section 1. Amendments. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present and voting at the Annual Meeting, provided copies of the amendments were made available to the membership at least one month in advance of the meeting. LWVOR proposed changes must be submitted to the LWVTN Board for consideration in time for its winter meeting.

4/24/01