CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE
 COALITION OF DEMOCRATIC AND PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS/ CENTRAL OHIO
 

PREAMBLE
The Coalition is a coordinating body composed of representatives of Democratic and Progressive clubs and other organizations.  The purpose of the Coalition is to advance a progressive public policy agenda.

ARTICLE 1  SCOPE OF POLICY AGENDA

Section 1.1     The Coalition will work to:
(a)  Build a more effective Democratic Party;
(b)  Elect Democratic candidates in general elections at the local, state and national level, and other progressive candidates where Democratic candidates are not endorsed/ nominated;
(c)   Protect civil and political liberties;
(d)   Defend the environment at the local, state, national and worldwide level;
(e)   Enhance social and education services that are essential for the maintenance of a decent and caring society; and
(f)   Defend the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.

ARTICLE 2  AUTONOMY OF MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS; ACTIVITIES OF THE COALITION

Section 2.1 The various organizations that choose to join the Coalition will retain full autonomy and control of their financial and other resources.  Member organizations will collaborate with each other towards the achievement of commonly agreed-upon goals.  No individual group will be compelled to contribute financial or other resources to Coalition activities with which it disagrees.

Among the specific activities that may be undertaken by the Coalition are the following:
(a)  Enhancing the effectiveness of individual political activists and candidates by studying and recommending appropriate campaign techniques and the crafting of “messages;”
(b) Facilitating the recruitment of guest speakers from the Central Ohio area and nationwide;
(c)  Pooling efforts towards the publication of online or hard-copy newsletters (although the decision to include any given article is entirely at the discretion of the individual club publishing the newsletter);
(d) Maintaining a common website for the announcement of events sponsored by the Coalition and individual member organizations, and for other relevant communications;
(e)  Establishing and maintaining a database to enhance both vertical and horizontal communications among members;
(f)  Coordinating campaign activities (toward the objective of enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of individual member organizations and the effective deployment of human and financial resources);
(g) Maintaining a dialogue with the Ohio Democratic Party and relevant county Democratic parties toward the objectives of strengthening the Party and helping it to better represent and serve its local communities;

ARTICLE 3  INTERNAL BODIES AND OFFICE

Section RS OF THE COALITION
 3.1 The Coalition shall have the following internal bodies and officers:

 (a)  the Executive Committee;
 (b)  the Coordinator;
 (c)  the Deputy Coordinator;
 (d)  the Secretary; and
 (e)  the Communication Coordinator.

ARTICLE 4  MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS; VOTING MEMBERS

Section 4.1 Clubs and other organizations eligible for membership are those that agree with and support the principles outlined in the Preamble and this Constitution and By-laws.

Section 4.2 Member Organizations in Good Standing:  All clubs and other organizations that have at least twenty (20) members and have, at the time of any meeting of the Executive Committee, submitted to the Coalition Secretary (a) a hard copy list of at least twenty (20) of their members in good standing, and (b) a copy of their mission statement and/or by-laws, shall be considered Member Organizations in Good Standing (“Member Organizations”; a “Member Organization”).  Any issues regarding the membership status of a club or other organization shall be decided by the Executive Committee.

Section 4.3 Member Organizations in Good Standing (as defined in Section 4.2) are responsible for providing up-to-date hard-copy lists of their members in good standing to the Coalition’s Secretary for confidential corroboration.  Responsibility for communication between the Coalition and individual members of the Member Organizations shall be the shared responsibility of the Coalition’s Secretary, the Voting Members and the officers of the Member Organizations.

Section 4.4 Interim membership in the Coalition may be granted by the Executive Committee to a club or other organization in formation that wishes to join the Coalition.  Clubs and other organizations having interim membership in the Coalition may have one non-voting representative to the Executive Committee.  Interim member clubs and organizations of the Coalition may request organizational development support from the Executive Committee.

Section 4.5 Voting Members of the Executive Committee shall be composed of one (1) authorized representative who is a member in good standing from each member group, club, association or organization in good standing (collectively, “Member Organizations”) and those other members as provided by Section 5.2 hereof.  Voting Members shall maintain communications between the Coalition and the membership of their member organizations.  Voting Members shall serve on the Executive Committee and vote on matters coming before the Executive Committee.  Voting Members may be elected to serve as officers of the Coalition and may be selected by the Executive Committee to serve the Coalition in other roles.

Section 4.6   Substitute Voting Members:  If a Voting Member is unable to attend a regular or special meeting of the Executive Committee, it is his/her responsibility to arrange for another member of the Member Organization for which such individual serves as a Voting Member to serve as a Substitute Voting Member and to notify an Officer (as defined in Section 6.1 hereof) of the Coalition of the Substitute Voting Member’s identity prior to the Executive Committee meeting.  If no such notification is provided to an officer of the Coalition prior to the meeting, the right to vote at the meeting of the individual purporting to a Substitute Voting Member shall be within the discretion of the Officers of the Coalition who are present at the meeting.  If the purported Substitute Voting Member’s right to vote is denied by the Officers, the purported Substitute Voting Member may participate in discussions, but may not vote, at the Executive Committee meeting. 

Section 4.7 Removal:  Voting Members and Member Organizations may request the removal of a Member Organization from the Coalition by a petition signed by 50% of Voting Members.  Removal requires a vote of two-thirds of Voting Members present at the Executive Committee meeting at which the vote occurs.

ARTICLE 5  THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 5.1 The Executive Committee is that group of persons vested with the management of the business and affairs of the Coalition.

Section 5.2 The Executive Committee of the Coalition shall consist of each of the officers designated in Article 6 and one (1) Voting Member authorized to represent each of the Member Organizations, as well as those additional Voting Members and non-voting At-Large members selected as described below.  The Coordinator shall decide any questions respecting the purported authority of any individual to represent a Member Organization as its Voting Member.  If the Executive Committee appoints functional coordinators (or committee chairs) for any of the functions or committees described in Section 5.14 below, then such coordinators (or chairs) shall be seated as additional Voting Members of the Executive Committee.  If the Executive Committee appoints functional coordinators (or committee chairs) pursuant to Section 5.13 below, then such coordinators (or chairs) may be seated as additional Voting Members of the Executive Committee by a vote confirming same that is carried by a majority of those Executive Committee members voting.

Section 5.3 The Executive Committee may, in its discretion and with the purpose of advancing the objectives of the Coalition, designate at any meeting additional at-large non-voting members (“At-Large Members”) of the Executive Committee who shall have privileges to speak at meetings. 

Section 5.4 Removal:  Voting Members and Member Organizations may request the removal of a member of the Executive Committee “for cause” by a petition signed by 50% of Voting Members.  Removal requires a vote of two-thirds of Voting Members present at the meeting of the Executive Committee at which the vote occurs.  If a member of the Executive Committee is removed under this Section 5.4, such member shall also be deemed to be removed from any Coalition officer position, as well.

Section 5.5 Vacancies: Vacancies occurring for a Voting Member shall be filled by the Member Organization.  To ensure continuity, vacancies shall be filled at the earliest possible date.

Section 5.6 Quorum:  Fifty percent (50%) of the Voting Members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Executive Committee.

Section 5.7    Meetings:  Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held no less than monthly at a designated regular time and place that can accommodate the group.   Executive Committee members and Member Organizations shall be notified of the time and place of the regular meeting by electronic mail not less than seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting.  Member Organizations and Executive Committee Members shall be notified by electronic mail of the time and place of additional Executive Committee meetings no less than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the meeting.  Emergency meetings may be held with waiver of notice by all members of the Executive Committee and notice to Member Organizations.

Section 5.8 Special Meetings:  Upon the written request of ten (10) Voting Members in good standing, provided to each of the Secretary and the Coordinator, a special meeting shall be called by the Secretary, with at least five (5) days notice to the Voting Members.   The Secretary shall give notice of all Special Meetings by electronic mail to all Executive Committee members and Member Organizations.

Section 5.9 Members of the Executive Committee are responsible for accurately reporting the actions of the Executive Committee to their Member Organizations.

Section 5.10 Executive Committee meetings shall be open to all members in good standing of Member Organizations for observation only, contingent upon available space.  The Executive Committee may close a meeting by unanimous vote of the Committee.

Section 5.11 The Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator may invite guests and consultants to attend meetings of the Executive Committee on a non-voting basis.
 
Section 5.12 The Executive Committee may, by a majority vote of those attending a meeting of the Executive Committee, adopt written parliamentary regulations, procedural guidelines and policies regarding the conduct of business by the Executive Committee, including without limitation, the minutes of meetings and approval and publication thereof, use of e-mail lists,  and other subjects.

Section 5.13 The Executive Committee may, at any time, by a majority vote of those attending a meeting of the Executive Committee, create, appoint coordinators for, appoint the membership of, and terminate the existence of, any such functions, committees, task forces, and/or working groups to address such Coalition business as is specified in the resolution taking such action.  Such coordinators shall report to the Executive Committee and shall not take action on behalf of the Coalition without the authority of the Executive Committee.  The members of such committees may include such individuals as shall meet with the approval of the Executive Committee, regardless of Voting Member status.  It is specifically contemplated that the Executive Committee will seek to include among coordinators and committee members individuals who are members in good standing of Member Organizations, but may not be then serving as Voting Members.

Section 5.14 Notwithstanding the permissive language of Section 5.13 hereof, the Executive Committee shall, at a minimum, appoint functional coordinators for the following Coalition functions:  Compliance; Grass Roots Media; Message Crafting; Program and Education; Ohio Democratic Party Liaison; and Franklin County Democratic Party Liaison.  Committees may be appointed to assist such functional coordinators on an as-needed basis.

ARTICLE 6  OFFICERS

Section 6.1 The Coalition shall have the following officers: Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator, Secretary, and Communication Coordinator.

Section 6.2 At the first meeting of the Executive Committee that occurs after March 1st during each calendar year, officers shall be elected by the Voting Members.  (In 2007, such elections shall take place at the first Executive Committee meeting that occurs after the amendment of this Constitution and By-Laws by the former Assembly of the Coalition.)  Voting Members may be elected to serve as officers.  Officers are not required to be selected from among the Voting Members.

Section 6.3 Officers will be elected for a two year term. No officer shall be eligible for more than two consecutive full terms in the same office, except that an officer may be elected to serve additional terms by the unanimous vote of the Executive Committee.  [The initial Coordinator and Treasurer shall be elected to two-year terms.  The initial Deputy Coordinator and Secretary shall be elected to one-year terms.]  [References in the preceding two sentences are to elections that occurred in March 2005.  The Treasurer position no longer exists and has been replaced by the Communication Coordinator.]

Section 6.4 Offices becoming vacant within a term shall be filled by election at the next Executive Committee meeting.

Section 6.5 The officers shall perform the duties specified in this Constitution and By-Laws and as designated by the Executive Committee.  Each officer shall serve as a Voting Member of the Executive Committee.

Section 6.6 The Coordinator shall function as the paramount leader and spokesperson of the Coalition to all outside parties. In addition, the Coordinator shall:

 (a)  Preside at all Executive Committee meetings.
(b) Be responsible for maintaining general relations with the press and the public.
(c) Work with the Executive Committee to develop proposals for programs and actions to be undertaken by the Coalition.

Section 6.7 The Deputy Coordinator shall:

 (a) Preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee if the Coordinator is not present.
(b)  Serve as ombudsman and facilitator of various organs and officers of the Coalition.
 (c) In the absence of the Coordinator, assume the duties of the Coordinator.
(d) In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of Coordinator, the Deputy Coordinator shall serve as Coordinator until a successor is elected.

Section 6.8 The Secretary shall:

(a) Keep the minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee and distribute approved minutes in a timely manner to all groups via electronic mail.
(b) Keep an accurate record of the names and addresses of all Member Organizations and Voting Members of the Coalition.
(c) Maintain and distribute to Member Organizations and Voting Members a calendar of events of activities sponsored by the Coalition and by Member Organizations by electronic mail and/or a Coalition website.
(d) Send notices of time and place of all meetings to members in good standing in accordance with membership list.
 (e) Assure that a place is arranged for meetings.

The Secretary may seek the appointment by the Executive Committee, by a majority vote of those attending a meeting of the Executive Committee, of one or more Assistant Secretaries to assist the Secretary in fulfilling the responsibilities set forth above.  Such Assistant Secretaries, who may or may not have the status of Voting Members of the Executive Committee, may be invited by the Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator to attend meetings of the Executive Committee on a non-voting basis.

Section 6.9 The Communication Coordinator shall:

(a) Work closely with the other officers to initiate and coordinate communications with the Member Organizations.
(b) Supervise the maintenance of the listserve and website of the Coalition. 

ARTICLE 7  PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 7.1 The rules of meetings of the Executive Committee shall be determined by the Executive Committee, shall never discriminate against any Voting Member, and shall provide opportunity for all Voting Members to speak within reasonable time limits.

Section 7.2 All votes cast by Voting Members shall be accomplished by verbal roll call using the certified list of Voting Members to call the roll, unless a vote of Yea/Nay is clearly distinguishable to all concerned.   Any Voting Member may call for a roll call for any vote in question.

ARTICLE 8  AMENDMENTS

Section 8.1 This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any meeting of the Executive Committee by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Voting Members present, provided that the proposed amendments have been sent to all Voting Members with the notice of the meeting of the Executive Committee.
05/09/2007  Columbus 10133514.4

 

[As amended at the Assembly meeting of May 3, 2007.]

 

Comments Off