BYLAWS OF THE
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SOUTH COUNTY
2025
Revised and accepted on 06/28/2025
ARTICLE I
Name
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The name of this organization shall be League of Women Voters South County, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVSC 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 of the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVRI.
ARTICLE II
Purposes and Policy
Sec. 1. Description & Purposes. The League is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The purposes of the LWVSC are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act at the discretion of the Executive Board on selected governmental issues in South County towns where members reside or by a request for League programs by the one of the following South County towns: Charlestown, Coventry, East Greenwich, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, New Shoreham, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, and Westerly.
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Sec. 2. Policies. The policies of the LWVSC are
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1. Political Policy. The League is nonpartisan and shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.
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2. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Discrimination or harassment of any kind will not be accepted within the League, including but not limited to race, socio-economic status, age, ability status, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, or marital status. The League is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging for all people. The League is an organization that respects and values the richness of our community and our members. The collective sum of our individual differences and life experiences represents not only our culture, but our reputation and the organization's mission and achievements as well.
Revised and accepted on 06/28/2025
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ARTICLE III
Membership
Sec. 1. Eligibility. Any person, age 16 or older, who subscribes to the purposes and policy of the League of Women Voters shall be eligible for membership.
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Sec. 2. Types of Membership.
A. Voting Members. All persons at least 16 years of age who have paid dues or are exempt, shall be voting members of local Leagues, state Leagues, and of the LWVUS; (1) those who live within an area of a local League may join that League or any other local League; (2) those who reside outside the area of any local League may join a local League or shall be state members-at-large; (3) those who have been members of the League for 50 years or more shall be life members excused from the payment of dues.
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ARTICLE IV
Officers
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Sec. 1. Election, Qualifications and Term. The officers of the LWVSC shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. They shall be voting members of the League and shall serve for a term of two years beginning in a federal non-election year or until their successors have been elected or appointed and qualified. All officers shall be elected at the annual meeting.
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Sec. 2. The President. The President shall have such powers of supervision and management as customarily pertain to the office; may sign or endorse checks, drafts and notes in the absence of the Treasurer; shall preside at all meetings of the organization or designate another person to do so. In the event of the absence, disability, resignation or death of the President, the Vice-President shall assume the office. If the Vice-President is unable to serve as President, the Executive Board shall fill the vacancy from among the members.
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Sec. 3. The Vice-President. The Vice-President shall perform such duties as the President and shall direct and chair at least one of the Standing committees.
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Sec. 4. The Secretary. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept minutes of the meetings of the membership and deliver them to the President for distribution with the agenda before the next membership meeting. The Secretary shall be the official keeper of the bylaws and work closely with the Communication Committee chair.
Sec. 5. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall perform such duties as customarily pertain to the office; file yearly required IRS Form 990-N; maintain deposits in authorized financial institutions; manage the official League Roster based on payment of dues; work closely with the Membership Committee chair; present the annual budget as prepared by the Executive Board; and arrange for an annual review of the books by a qualified member designated by the President to be performed in the month prior to submitting the budget to the annual meeting.
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ARTICLE V
Executive Board
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Sec. 1. Composition.
The Executive Board shall be composed of the elected officers of the LWVSC, the Standing Committee chairs who are appointed by the elected members of the executive board, the immediate Past President and whomever the President invites. Mid-term vacancies, other than the presidency, may be filled by vote of the remaining members of the board.
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Standing Committees.
Each committee chair shall be a member of the Board, upon approval of the Board.
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Communications Committee. The Communications Committee is composed of League volunteers, who shall be responsible for regular inter-League communication between the full membership and the Board, publicity and press releases for League community events, including League social media platforms, at all times working closely with the President and other standing committees. The chair of this committee shall be a member of the Board, upon approval of the Board.
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Fundraising Committee. The Fundraising Committee is composed of League volunteers, who shall establish a financial plan for fundraising as needed to meet the program goals, set by the Executive Board and approved at the annual meeting, working closely with the Treasurer and the current budget. The chair of this committee shall be a member of the Board, upon approval of the Board.
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Membership Committee. The Membership Committee is composed of League volunteers, who shall be responsible for providing prospective members and new members with current information about League membership, working closely with the Communications Committee to maintain an accurate email subscriber list. The chair of this committee shall be a member of the Board, upon the approval of the Board.
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Program Committee. The Program Committee is composed of League volunteers, who shall support, advise and carry out the logistics of League’s adopted focus, aligned with short and long-term goals of the LWVSC. The chair of this committee shall be a member of the Board upon approval of the Board.
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Voter Service Committee. The Voter Service Committee shall organize voter
registration/education events, candidate forums, voter guides, and any election activities of the League. The chair of this committee will serve as a member of the Board, upon approval of the Board.
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Nominating Committee. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed from Board members by the President at the end of the first year of their two-year term to assure qualified leadership succession.
Sec. 2. Purpose. The Executive Board shall be called to meet by the President as needed for strategizing and planning purposes to build the membership and support the mission of the League, subject to the instructions of the annual meeting.
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Sec. 3. Quorum. A majority of the Executive Board members shall constitute a quorum. Any one or more members of the executive board may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other similar equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
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ARTICLE VI
Meetings
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Sec. 1. Membership Meetings. The Executive Board shall determine time, place, length of the calendar year for membership meetings and whether to be held in person or by streaming in real time. Special meetings of the members may be called by the President or upon written request of ten percent (10%) of the voting members. A member shall be considered present if physically present, or if connected by telephone or videoconference in a manner allowing all such connected persons and all those physically present to hear each other.
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Sec. 2. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting shall be held between May 1st and June 30th, the exact date, place, and time to be determined by the Executive Board. The annual meeting shall adopt a local program for the ensuing year; elect officers, adopt a budget and transact such other business as may properly come before it. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.
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Sec. 3. Quorum. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting members shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the LWVSC, provided written (including email) notice of the meeting is sent to the membership at least one week in advance.
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ARTICLE VII
Elections
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Sec. 1. Election. Election shall be by ballot, except that if there is only one nominee for an office, it shall be by voice vote. A majority vote shall constitute election. Officers shall be nominated at the meeting preceding the annual meeting.
Revised and accepted on 06/28/2025
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ARTICLE VIII
Principles and Program
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Sec. 1. Principles. The principles are concepts of government adopted by the national convention and supported by the League as a whole. They are the authorization for the adoption of national, state, and local program.
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Sec. 2. Program. The program of the LWVSC shall consist of action to implement the Principles and those governmental issues chosen by the annual meeting for concerted study and action as follows:
a. Voting members of the LWVSC, as defined by Article III Sec. 2:A, may make recommendations at the annual meeting.
b. The members present at the annual meeting shall consider these recommendations and formulate a proposed program.
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Sec. 3. Changes in Program. Changes in program, in the case of altered conditions, may be made by vote at a general membership meeting at which the changes are discussed. There must be a Quorum of members in attendance to have a vote.
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Sec. 4. Program Action. Members may act in the name of the LWVSC only when authorized to do so by the membership. They may act only in conformity with, and not contrary to, a position taken by the LWVSC, the LWVRI and the LWVUS.
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ARTICLE IX
Financial Administration
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Sec. 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the LWVSC shall commence on the first of July each year.
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Sec. 2. Dues. All members shall pay membership dues in accordance with LWVUS policy. Annual dues shall be payable on the anniversary date of the previous dues payment (when someone new joins or historical dues date for existing members). Members who fail to renew pay dues within the period specified by LWVUS will be removed from the roster and dropped from membership rolls.
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Sec. 3. Budget. The budget shall be prepared by the Treasurer and approved by the Executive Board before the annual meeting. The Treasurer shall present the budget for approval by membership at the annual meeting. The proposed budget shall be sent to the members at least one week before the annual meeting.
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Sec. 4. Distribution of Funds on Dissolution. In the event of the dissolution of the LWVSC, all monies and securities owned by LWVSC shall be paid to the LWVRI.
Revised and accepted on 06/28/2025
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ARTICLE X
Parliamentary Authority
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The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, newly revised, shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.
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ARTICLE XI
Nonpartisan Policy
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Sec. 1. Elected Office. An officer of LWVSC shall not run for, nor hold, any elective office at any level of government.
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Sec. 2. Political Party Office. An officer shall not serve in any official position in a political party at any level of government.
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Sec. 3. Political Campaigns. An officer shall not chair a political campaign or administer fundraising for a political campaign, chair a campaign event, be a spokesperson for a campaign of a candidate for an elected office at any level of government.
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ARTICLE XII
Amendments
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Sec. 1. Process. Any LWVSC member can propose an amendment to the bylaws, which may be amended by a majority vote of the voting members at the annual meeting.
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Sec. 2. Notice. Proposed amendments shall be presented at the monthly meeting preceding the annual meeting and must be submitted to the membership in writing at least one week in advance of the annual meeting.
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ARTICLE XIII
Indemnification
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Sec. 1. Please refer to League of Women Voters Rhode Island Bylaws, Section XIII
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Amended April 1981, Amended March 7, 2011, Amended June 14, 2017, Amended June 13, 2018, Amended June 12, 2019, Amended June 10, 2020, Amended June 9, 2021, Amended June 14, 2023, Amended June 12, 2024, Amended September 23, 2024, Amended June 28, 2025
League of Women Voters South County June 2025
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Charlestown, East Greenwich, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett,
North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, Westerly.
Directly to LWVSC