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Article IV
Steering Committee

Section 1. Number, Manner of Selection, Term of Office
The Steering Committee shall consist of the Treasurer of the League and a minimum of six other members elected at Annual Meeting for a two-year term. The total shall at no time be fewer than seven or more than fifteen. Each member may serve for two successive terms and be elected again only after at least a one-year absence. The Steering Committee may appoint members for a one-year term. All terms end at Annual Meeting.

Section 2. Qualifications
Only voting members of the League of Women Voters of Winchester shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to serve as officers of this organization or as members of the Steering Committee.

Section 3. Vacancies
Any vacancy on the Steering Committee may be filled until the next Annual Meeting by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Steering Committee. Three consecutive absences from a Steering Committee meeting of any member without a valid reason shall be deemed a resignation.

Section 4. Powers and Duties
The Steering Committee shall have charge of the property and business of the organization, with full powers and authority for its management and conduct, subject to the instructions of the membership given at a general meeting. The Steering Committee shall plan and direct the work necessary to carry out the program adopted by the National Convention, the State Convention, and the Annual Meeting. The Steering Committee shall select a public accountant and shall create and designate such subcommittees as it may deem necessary. No one shall speak for the League or take a public position in its name unless authorized by a vote of the Steering Committee.

Section 5. Quorum
A majority of the members of the Steering Committee shall constitute a quorum.

Section 6. Meetings
There shall be at least nine regular meetings of the Steering Committee annually. Any member of the Steering Committee may call a special meeting of the Committee upon the request of a majority of the Steering Committee.

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Article V
Withdrawal of Recognition and/or Dissolution

Section 1. Withdrawal of Recognition
Withdrawal of recognition shall occur only as provided in the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of the United States- Article VI, Sec. 1, Sec. 2, and Sec. 3.

Section 2. Dissolution
Voluntary dissolution of the Winchester League of Women Voters shall take place only by a 2/3 vote of the membership at large after published notification at least one month in advance of a scheduled general meeting or Annual Meeting. All funds in the name of the League of Women Voters of Winchester shall be payable to the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts upon the act to dissolve
as heretofore provided.
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Article VI
Officers

Section  1. Election of the Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be elected for a term of two years by the general membership at Annual Meeting and shall take office immediately.

Section  2.  Duties of the Treasurer

The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due, shall be the custodian of these monies, shall deposit them in a bank designated by the Steering Committee and disburse the same only upon order of the Steering Committee, and shall present statements to the Steering Committee at their regular meetings and an annual report at the Annual Meeting.

Every check over the amount of $500.00 should be co-signed by at least one other authorized signator.  A quorum of the Steering Committee shall designate a co-signator from among its members.

Section 3.   Duties of Elected Steering Committee Members

Any member of the Steering Committee may chair a meeting, any member may carry out the duties of a secretary, such as keeping minutes, notifying Steering Committee members, conducting correspondence, or co-signing documents when so authorized by the Steering Committee.

All members of the Steering Committee shall organize themselves in order to perform effectively the remaining duties required of the organization, such as making arrangements for Steering Committee and general meetings, voter service duties, membership tasks, public relations, planning local events, fundraising, maintaining communication with members, and maintaining contact with the State and National Leagues.

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Article VII
Financial Administration

Financial Administration

Section  1.  Calendar

a)    The fiscal year of the League of Women Voters of Winchester shall commence on the first day of July each year.

b)    The membership year shall be the calendar year.

Section  2. Dues

a)    Annual dues shall be determined at Annual Meeting by a majority vote of those in attendance.

b)    Dues shall be collected in advance of the membership year to which they will apply.

c)    A member whose dues are not paid by December 1 shall, after notification, be dropped from the membership no later than ten days before the membership list is due at the state or national office.

Section  3.  Budget

A budget for the ensuing year shall be submitted by the Steering Committee to the Annual Meeting for adoption. The budget shall include support for work of the local league as well as the state and national leagues.

Section 4.  Budget Committee

A budget committee shall be appointed by the Steering Committee at least two months prior to the Annual Meeting to prepare a budget for the ensuing year.  The Treasurer shall not be eligible to serve as chair of the budget committee.  The Steering Committee shall consider the proposed budget and recommend a budget, which shall be sent to the members at least two weeks before the Annual Meeting.

Section 5.  Audit or Review

The books of the treasurer shall be reviewed bi-annually by a public accountant and shall be available in the files of the League of Women Voters of Winchester, along with the audit reports.

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Article VIII
Meetings

Section  1. Eligibility

Meetings open to all members shall be held at least three times a year.

Section  2.  Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting shall be held before July 1 in each year.  Members shall (a) be asked to provide input for local programming (b) elect a treasurer and the Steering Committee, (c) adopt an adequate budget, (d) transact such other business as may properly come before it

Section  3.  Quorum

Fifteen percent of the members shall constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting.

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Article IX
Elections

Section 1. Notification

At least two weeks before the Annual Meeting, the Steering Committee shall present to the membership a slate of Steering Committee members, including when their terms shall end.

Section 2.  Elections

The election shall be held at Annual Meeting. A majority of those present and voting shall constitute an election, provided a quorum is present. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.

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Article X
Program

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 the Program.

Section  2.  Program

The Program of the League of Women Voters of Winchester shall consist of:

a)    Action to protect the right to vote of every citizen.

b)    Local governmental issues chosen for concerted study and action.

c)    Study or action on those items chosen by the state or national leagues.

Section  3.  Action by the Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting shall act upon the Program using the following procedures: 

a)    The Steering Committee shall consider the recommendations for local programming discussed at the Annual Meeting as well as state and national issues and shall formulate a proposed Program.

b)   A consensus of voting members present at the Annual Meeting shall be considered by the Steering Committee in its summer planning and adoption of subjects for local programs.

Section  4. Member Action

Members act in the name of the League of Women Voters only when authorized to do so by the Steering Committee. They may act only in conformity with, and not contrary to, a position taken by the Winchester League, the State League, or the National League.

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Article XI
National Convention, State Convention, and Council

Section  1.  National Convention

The Steering Committee, at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the national office, shall select delegates to that Convention in the number allotted by the League of Women Voters of the United States.

Section  2.  State Convention

The Steering Committee, at a meeting before the date on which the names of the delegates must be sent to the state office, shall select delegates to that Convention in the number allotted by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts.

Section  3.  State Council

The Steering Committee, at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the state office, shall select delegates to that Council in the number allotted by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts.

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Article XII
Parliamentary Authority

Section  1.  Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the most recent 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.

Article XIII
Amendments

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 the amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least two weeks in advance of the meeting.

Approved at the LWVW 2015 Annual Meeting, June 20, 2015