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Tony Stamas
Kevin Elsenheimer
Bart Stupak
Jennifer Granholm
Carl Levin
Debbie Stabenow
Mich Republicans
Republican National Committee
Michigan 1st District

Otsego County GOP Bylaws

OTSEGO COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE

BYLAWS EFFECTIVE ON : 7:10 PM June 25, 2015

ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1 - Name:

This organization shall be known as the Otsego County Republican Committee (hereinafter referred to as “OCRC”).

Section 2 - Purpose:

The purpose and object of the OCRC shall consist of:
a. Performing all duties provided by law and such other duties not prohibited by law as will benefit the general welfare of the Republicans of Otsego County;
b. Conducting the political affairs and business of the OCRP;
c. Working in cooperation with other Republican national, state, district, county, and local Republican organizations; and,
d. Adopting bylaws by which OCRC shall be governed.

ARTICLE II – General Membership

Section 2.1: You may become a member of the OCRC by completing an application for membership and paying dues to the OCRC Treasurer.

Section 2.2: A member may vote at OCRC business meetings, become part of the Executive Committee, County Committee, and become an OCRC Officer by being a Paid Member in Good Standing.

Members in Good Standing must have the dues paid no later than the close of business on September 30th (or the next business day after September 30th, if said calendar date falls on a weekend) of each calendar year and shall remain a member in good standing until the close of the membership window of the following year i.e. September 30th (or the next business day after September 30th if said calendar date falls on a weekend). A candidate to be eligible for nomination and election to the OCRC Executive Committee, must be a Paid Member in Good Standing as indicated above. (See Article 3 Section 3 of these bylaws) Otsego County registered voters must be a Paid Member in Good Standing to be nominated or serve as an officer of the OCRC Executive Board.

Section 2.3: A voting member will become a non- voting member by not paying their annual dues. This shall only apply to persons who have previously paid $25.00 or more to the OCRC in the preceding 10 years.

ARTICLE III - THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1 - Establishment:

There shall be an Executive Committee of the OCRP, which shall be established as provided by law and State Republican Committee rules. The Executive Committee shall elect the original members of the County Committee, the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of the Executive and County Committees, and shall fill any vacancies occurring in these offices.

Section 2 - Duties:

The duties of the Executive Committee shall consist of establishing general policy for and conducting the affairs of the Otsego County Republican Committee and to perform such additional duties as may be required by law or by the County Committee.

In addition, the Executive Committee shall encourage, recognize, and aid in the establishment of those organizations within Otsego County that will enhance the activities of the Republican Committee.

Section 3 - Membership:

The membership of the Executive Committee shall consist of Delegate-Elected Members, Nominee Members, and Ex-officio Members.

In even-numbered years, delegates to the Fall County Convention shall convene at the call of the County Chairperson within thirty (30) days following the November election to select a number of persons equal to the number of county offices and state legislative offices for which candidates were nominated at the last two (2) preceding fall primary elections, who together with the persons most recently nominated by the Committee for each to those offices shall constitute the Executive Committee.

NOMINEE MEMBERS: The Nominee Members shall consist of those persons nominated by the Republican Committee for county offices and state legislative office in Otsego County at the last preceding primary election. When a new nomination is made for such an office, the new member shall replace the former Nominee Member as a member of the Executive Committee. If a vacancy occurs in the position of a Nominee Member of the Executive Committee, the vacancy may only be filled by the person who is the new nominee for the office in question.

DELEGATE-ELECTED MEMBERS: The convention at which Delegate-Elected Members shall be elected shall caucus and select the Delegate-Elected Members to the Executive Committee. All Delegate-Elected Members must be registered voters who reside in Otsego County. In the event of a vacancy, the remaining Delegate-Elected Members shall fill the vacancy as provided in this Article and by State Committee Rules.

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: The Ex-officio Members of the Executive Committee shall consist of persons who reside in Otsego County, and who hold the following positions within the Otsego Republican Committee: County Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Youth Vice Chairperson, members of the Republican State Committee, State Committee officers, Republican Congressmen, Congressional District chairpersons, and the Chairperson of the various committees appointed by the County Chairperson. Ex-officio members shall have a voice, but not a vote.

DUES: Any member of the Executive Committee who fails to pay his/her annual dues in timely manner is considered to have resigned from the Executive Committee, and his/her position shall be filled as provided in the Article II, Section 3.

ARTICLE IV – THE COUNTY COMMITTEE

Section 1 – Establishment:

There shall be established a County Committee of the Otsego County Republican Committee. The members of which shall be approved by the Executive Committee as provided herein.

After the officers of the Executive Committee have taken office, the Executive Committee shall appoint the members of the County Committee within forty-five (45) days after January 1 of each odd-numbered year.

Section 2 – Membership and Term:

The County Committee shall consist of dues paying members from Otsego County. The amount of annual dues and the selection of County Committee members shall be determined at the sole discretion of the Executive Committee. Any member of the County Committee who fails to pay his/her annual dues in a timely manner is considered to have resigned from the County Committee, and his/her position on the County Committee shall be filled as provided in Article III, Section 3. The term of service of members of the County Committee shall continue for two (2) years and until the selection of their successors. The Executive Committee shall have the right to appoint officers of the County Committee who in its judgment are proper to carry out
the purposes of the County Committee or to fill any vacancy in County Committee officer positions.

In addition, the following persons shall serve as members of the County Committee by virtue of the office they hold during their tenure of office, as long as they are residents of Otsego County and members in good standing with the Otsego Republican County Committee: elected County and Executive Committee officers, members of the Executive Committee, and Congressional District Committee officers.

 
Section 3 – Vacancies:

All vacancies in the membership of the County Committee after January 31 of the year following the Fall Convention shall be filled by election of the County Committee. The Executive Committee shall act as a nominating committee, and any member of the County Committee may make additional nominations.

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Section 1 – Regular meetings of the County Committee:

Regular meetings of the County Committee shall be held at least four times each calendar year, at a time and place within Otsego County to be determined by a majority vote of the County Committee. The first meeting of the County Committee shall be held no later than March 31 in the year of its election.

Section 2 – Quorum for County Committee:

A quorum for all meetings of the County Committee shall consist of one-fourth of the current County Committee membership.

Section 3 – Regular Meetings of the Executive Committee:

Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held as frequently as necessary to carry out its duties, at times and places within Otsego County as determined by majority vote of the executive committee. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every other year for the purpose of electing leadership (officers) positions. Additional meetings may be held as necessary as deemed necessary or as otherwise provided under Section 6 (Special Meetings of the Executive Committee below).

Section 4 – Quorum:

A quorum for all meetings of the Executive Committee shall consist of one-third of the current voting membership of the Executive Committee represented in person.

Section 5 – Proxy:

No vote shall be cast by proxy.

Section 6 – Special Meetings of the Executive Committee:

Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the County Chairperson when (s)he shall deem it advisable, and shall be called when requested, by five (5) members of the Executive Committee, or ten (10) members of the County Committee, or when provided for by the action of the County Committee.

Section 7 – Notice:

An agenda and preliminary notice of the subject matter to be considered at meetings of the County and Executive Committees shall be forwarded by the Secretary to each member of the Committee with notice of the time and place of the meeting not less than four (4) days prior to each meeting. Two (2) days notice shall be given of special meetings unless such notice is prevented by an emergency.

Section 8 – Attendance:

Any Delegate-Elected Member who shall fail to be present, either in person at three (3) consecutive meetings of the Executive Committee shall be considered to have resigned from the Executive Committee and his/her position on the Executive Committee shall be filled as provided in Article III, Section 3.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS

Section 1 – Designation:

The officers of the Executive Committee and of the County Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as may be appointed by the Chairperson with the approval of the Executive Committee. The officers of the County Committee and the Executive Committee shall be the same persons.

Section 2 – Election and Term:

The Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected by the Executive Committee within thirty (30) days following the Fall Convention held in even-numbered years. A Youth Vice Chairperson may be appointed by the Chairperson with the approval of the Executive Committee. Their term in office shall consist of two (2) years commencing January 1 of the odd-numbered years.

Section 3 – Vacancies:

If an officer shall resign or become ineligible to hold office, there shall be a vacancy in that office. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Chairperson, the powers and duties of the Chairperson shall immediately and automatically be assumed by the Vice Chairperson until a new Chairperson is elected. All vacancies in offices shall be filled by elections by the Executive Committee for the remainder of the term. Such elections shall be held not less than fifteen
(15) nor more than forty-five (45) days after the vacancy occurs.

ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF OFFICE

Section 1 – County Chairperson:

The duties of the Chairperson shall consist of those provided by law, and also such other duties not prohibited by law as may be required by action of the County Committee or the Executive Committee, including but not limited to the following:

The Chairperson shall:

a. Preside at all meetings of the County Committee and the Executive Committee and shall be an ex-officio member of all other committees;
b. Appoint the chairpersons and members of all committees and may remove them, all subject to the approval of the Executive Committee; and,
c. Be responsible for directing the administration of the headquarters and staff;
d. Be responsible for managing the day-to-day affairs of the Committee;
e. Coordinate the activities of the Republican Committee organization within the county;
f. Submit reports to the Executive Committee and the County Committee as may be required by action of the Committees;
g. Keep the Committees informed of Republican Committee programs and activities; and

The Chairperson may:

a. May hire or fire full- or part-time personnel for positions if approved by the Executive Committee;
h. May assign to other officers and committees such duties as may be necessary.

Section 2 – Vice Chairperson:

The Vice Chairperson shall:

a. Preside at meetings of the County Committee and the Executive Committee in the absence of, or at the request of, the Chairperson:
b. Perform such other duties as directed by the Chairperson and/or the Executive Committee or the County Committee; and
c. In the event the Chairperson is unable to act, the powers and duties of the Chairperson shall be assumed by the Vice Chairperson until such inability is removed or until the Chairperson shall again take up the duties of the office.

Section 3 – Youth Vice Chairperson:

The Youth Vice Chairperson shall:

a. Be responsible for organizing Teenage Republican Club chapters and College Republican Clubs; and
b. Carry out such other duties as shall be assigned by the Chairperson or the Executive Committee.

Section 4 – Secretary:

The Secretary shall:

a. Perform all the duties normally incident to the office of Secretary;
b. Shall keep a permanent record of minutes and attendance at all meetings of the Executive Committee and the County Committee;
c. Make these records available for inspection and copying by any member of the Committees;
d. Furnish a copy of the minutes of the most recent meeting to any member of the Committees who requests the same; and
e. Shall ensure that all notices are duly given as required by law and by these Bylaws.

Section 5 – Treasurer:

The Treasurer shall:

a. Have the care and custody of all monies paid to the County Committee and shall deposit the same in the name of the County Committee in a bank designated by the Executive Committee and shall pay all duly authorized bills;
b. Is responsible for the proper and timely filing of all financial reports required by law. Bills may be authorized for payment by officers of the Executive Committee;
c. Keep, or cause to be kept, an accurate account, in permanent records, of all receipts and disbursement of funds of the Committee using proper and orderly methods of keeping records;
d. Upon reasonable request, allow inspection by any member of the County Committee and shall render statements of the revenues, expenditures and outstanding obligations, and cash balance of the County Committee to the Executive Committee and County Committee at each regular meeting;
e. At the close of each calendar year, the Treasurer shall submit an annual statement and report as of December 31 of each year setting forth the financial condition of the County Committee and summarizing its income and expenditures;
f. Forward the reports to the officers by the first day of March of the year following and shall present a copy of the report to the Executive and County Committees at their next regular meetings;
g. Furnish to his/her successor all funds, accounts, and other property pertaining to the affairs of the Treasurer upon leaving office; and
h. Shall submit a quarterly report to the membership committee and to the chairmen consisting of a roster of all current dues paying members and a list of all current elected officials in the county and townships who ran in the last election on the Republican ballot who are in arrears.

ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES

Section 1 – Standing Committees:

The Chairperson may appoint committees as deemed necessary, for example: Membership Committee, Communications Committee, Finance Committee, and Campaign Committee.

ARTICLE IX – RESOLUTIONS

Section 1 – Notice:

All resolutions, with the exception of resolutions honoring an individual for special service to the Committee or community, shall be submitted to the County Chairperson at least five (5) days prior to the communication of notice of the meeting at which they are proposed to be introduced.

Section 2 – Communication of Proposed Resolutions:

The Chairperson shall provide a copy of each proposed resolution to each member of the Executive or County Committee with the notice of the meeting of the Committee.

Section 3 – Policy:

It is policy of the County Committee and of the Executive Committee not to endorse or support individual candidates in contested Republican primary elections, except as provided in Section 4.

Section 4 – Endorsement in Contested Republican Primary:

In the exceptional circumstances where an endorsement will benefit the Republican Committee in Otsego County, the Executive Committee may endorse, support, or disavow a particular candidate in a contested Republican primary election; provided that a resolution to endorse or disavow a particular candidate be adopted by two-thirds of the Executive Committee present and voting, and provided notice of the resolution is given as provided in this Article.

Section 5 – Conduct of Officers:

It is the policy of the County Committee and the Executive Committee that the officers of the Committees in their official capacity shall not endorse partisan candidates in a contested primary election, except where the candidate has received Committee endorsement.

ARTICLE X – PROCEDURE

Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the County and Executive Committees in all cases where said rules are not in conflict with the Bylaws of these Committees.

ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENT OF THE BYLAWS

These Bylaws may be amended by a majority of the total membership of the Executive Committee provided that notice of any proposed amendment shall have been furnished with at least ten (10) days notice to each member of the Committee. Amendments to the bylaws approved under this article shall take immediate effect.

ARTICLE XII – ADOPTION

The Original Bylaws were adopted when approved by the Executive Committee and County Committee present and voting in the first instance.

The Original Bylaws shall govern the conduct of the Executive Committee and its officers and committees upon adoption by the Executive Committee and until the County Committee shall adopt these Bylaws.

When adopted, the Original Bylaws remain in full force and effect during the term of the Executive Committee and County Committee, if constituted that adopted them until such time as they may be amended pursuant to Article XI.