Democratic Women of Nevada County

Constitution and Bylaws

I. Name
The name of the organization shall be Democratic Women of Nevada County (hereinafter referred to as DWNC).

II. Purpose

DWNC’s main mission is to inform, empower and encourage women, non-binary and transgender participation in the political process as well as assure the social welfare, civic engagement, and public education on issues affecting women.

A.    As a 501 © (4) we advocate for issues, sponsor educational events, lobby for policies that benefit women in our community while maintaining tax-exempt status.

III. Affiliation

A. DWNC is affiliated with and chartered by the Nevada County Democratic Central Committee (hereinafter called the NCDCC).

B. As a chartered and affiliated club of the NCDCC, the DWNC shall comply with Bylaws of the NCDCC and the California Democratic Party (hereinafter called the CDP), as they apply to fully chartered local affiliates.

IV. Membership Requirements

A. Qualifications: Any individual qualifies for DWNC membership if:

1. The individual is a registered Democrat; or
2. The individual is ineligible to vote (due to age, non-residency, or other legal
impediment), but pledges to register as a Democrat when eligibility is attained; and
3. The individual supports the purpose of the DWNC as stated in Article II of these Bylaws.

B. Club membership shall be comprised of:

1. Active membership: Women who are registered Democrats; and
2. Non-voting associate membership:

a. Minors who express interest in the Democratic Party and support its goals.

b. Men who are registered Democrats.
c. Individuals who are ineligible to vote (as defined in Article IV, Section A-2), but pledge to register as a Democrat when eligibility is attained.

C. A member is considered to be in good standing when dues are paid.

D. Any member who registers as a member of another political party shall be removed from the DWNC membership roster.

V. Dues

A. Dues are payable upon application for membership and thereafter annually on January 1.

B. The amount of dues for active and associate members will be determined by the membership.

C. Annual dues for new active or associate DWNC members shall be prorated on a semiannual basis.

D. A member who does not pay dues by the first meeting in March shall be removed from the DWNC’s active membership roster.

E. Payment of dues shall not be obligatory to anyone for whom it constitutes an economic hardship after due consideration and approval by the Executive Board.

VI. Meetings

A. Regular meeting

1. DWNC shall hold regular monthly meetings on such day as the membership may determine with the exception of July. The July meeting will be suspended, and DWNC members will be encouraged to participate in community activities.
2. Regular meetings shall not be canceled more than three (3) times within any calendar year.

B. Special meetings

1. Special meetings may be called by the president at any time using any notification method specified in Article VI, Section C of these Bylaws.
2. In the absence of the president, any two officers may call a special meeting using any notification method specified in Article VI, Section C of these Bylaws.

C. Notice of Meeting

1. Notice of regular or special meetings shall be given at least 24 hours in advance to all active members, in any manner as follows:

a. Notice in writing by e-mail or text
b. Telephone message

2. Notice of the meeting shall be deemed sufficient by any manner specified above if such notice includes the date, time and place of the meeting and is calculated to be received at least 24 hours before the meeting.

VII. Rules for Meetings

A. DWNC shall use the newly revised Rosenberg’s Rules of Order to govern parliamentary procedure at all official meetings, except as specifically noted in these Bylaws.

B. A quorum for any official meeting of DWNC shall be fifteen percent (15%) of the total membership.

C. Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, DWNC may adopt events, pass resolutions unrelated to endorsements, and conduct regular business with a vote of fifty percent plus one (50% + 1) of the members present at any meeting.

D. DWNC may suspend specific portions of these Bylaws and/or Rosenberg’s Rules of Order for purpose of emergency business by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the membership present at a meeting. The motion to suspend shall call out the particular section of the Bylaws proposed to be suspended.

E. Amendments to Bylaws

1. Proposed amendments shall be sent to every member in good standing by one of the methods specified in Article IV, Section C at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken.
2. Club Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting at any meeting.

F. A Discretionary Proxy allows an absent voting member in good standing to delegate their voting rights to another member or associate member.
The voter delegating their voting rights provides no direction to the proxy holder, allowing the proxy holder to cast votes at their discretion.to cast a ballot on their behalf.

VIII. Officers

A.    Eligibility Requirements for All DWNC Officers
All DWNC officers must have access to electronic communications including a computer , a printer, and the Wifi/Internet, and have the following Internet technology skills:

1.     Ability to send and receive email and text.

2.     Ability to create, load, download, and print documents in standard business applications.

3.     Ability and desire to learn new computer skills if necessary.

B.     Additional Requirements and Duties of DWNC Officers
All DWNC officers are members of the DWNC executive board. In addition, the President may appoint one or two DWNC members to be At-Large members of the executive board.

C. The officers of the DWNC shall be President, Vice President (President Successor), Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Director, and Operations Director.

D. All officers shall be elected by the membership.

E. Elections will be held every 2 years.

F. Vacancies in office shall be handled as follows:

1. In the event the President is unable to complete her term, the Vice President (President Successor)shall become President for the unexpired portion of the term.
2. Vacancies in offices other than President and Treasurer shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment.

G. Duties of officers

1. The President serves as the chief executive officer and primary leader of the membership. Responsibilities include:

a.     Ensure DWNC comply with the regulations of the NCDCC.

b.    Provide overall direction and leadership for DWNC activities and initiatives.

c.     Preside over DWNC meetings, ensuring they are organized and run efficiently.

d.    Represent DWNC at official functions, events, DCC meetings, and external organizations.

e.     Set goals and strategic vision in collaboration with other officers.

f.      Facilitate communication among officers to foster teamwork and resolve issues.

g.     Under the DWNC charter with the NCDCC its President is a representative to the NCDCC Committee as an Associate Member. If the President is already a member of the Central Committee or chooses not to serve, a different representative may be selected to serve their term

h.    Appoint standing and special committee chairs.

2. Vice President (President Successor) supports the President and acts as a key partner in management. Responsibilities include:

a.     Assist the President in leading DWNC and stepping in when the President is unavailable.

b.    Oversee DWNC committees, ensuring they operate effectively and align with DWNC goals.

c.     Oversee the Awards Luncheon for student scholarships

d.    Oversee the Eleanor Roosevelt Award

e.     Collaborate with officers to execute DWNC initiatives and address operational needs.

f.      Assist with the organization of meetings and events as needed.

3. The Secretary is responsible for maintaining accurate records and handling official correspondence. Responsibilities include:

a. Record, maintain and ensure timely distribution of minutes of all meetings. 

a.     Keep up-to-date records of DWNC activities, membership, and important documents.

b.     Manage DWNC mail correspondence, including responses to inquiries.

c.     Assist with the organization of meetings and events as needed.

4. The Treasurer oversees the financial management of the DWNC. Responsibilities include:

a.     Serve as Primary Bank Contact: Be a primary signatory on the financial account(s)  of DWNC in conjunction with the President.

b.     Manage the DWNC finances, including banking, receipts, and payments.

c.     Prepare and monitor the DWNC budget in collaboration with other officers.

d.     Track income and expenses, ensuring accurate and transparent financial records.

e.     Provide regular financial reports to the Executive Board and members, ensuring compliance with accounting financial policies and practices to assure proper tax filing.

f.      Hold the DWNC post office box key. Pick up mail, deliver all non-financial correspondence to the President.

g.     Track the number of members and associate members.

h.     Track the total amount of donations.

i.      Assist with the organization of meetings and events as needed.

     5. The Communications Director is responsible for managing all aspects of DWNC communication. Responsibilities include:

a.     Coordinate internal and external communications to keep members informed and engaged.

b.    Manage DWNC’s social media presence.

c.     Draft and distribute the monthly newsletter, announcements, and event invitations.

d.    Ensure clarity and consistency in DWNC messaging.

e.     Develop and manage DWNC marketing platforms.

f.      Assist in the development and maintenance of the DWNC social media outlets, including webpage, and Facebook.

g.     Assist with the organization of meetings and events as needed.

1)    Oversees the check-in of members and guests at events.

6. The Operations Manager ensures the smooth execution of DWNC events and day-to-day functions. Responsibilities include:

a.     System Setup & Management

1)    Set up and manage systems for meetings, events, ticketing, and activities.

2)    Administer and maintain platforms including Email (Brevo), Google Workspace, Squarespace, domain hosting, Facebook, website, and Zeffy.

b.    Social Media & Cross-Promotion

1)    Coordinate and maintain social media channels.

2)    Manage cross-promotional opportunities and partnerships across platforms.

c.     Membership Management

1)    Maintain and update the membership database.

2)    Create and manage audience segments for communications and events.

d. Information Technology Oversight

1)    Oversee and manage IT systems and infrastructure related to DWNC operations.

2)    Generate and distribute applicable reports to the Executive Board.

H. Any officer of DWNC may be removed from office for consistent failure to perform the

duties of that office. An elected officer may be removed from office by resolution of a two-thirds (⅔) vote of the voting members at a General Meeting for cause, which may include missing three unexcused consecutive meetings or non- performance of duties. The membership and the officer must be notified fourteen (14) days in advance of the meeting of the proposed action against the officer.

I Authority of Officers to Act Without Membership Vote

To facilitate efficient management of the DWNC affairs and ensure timely decision-making, the Officers of DWNC are hereby empowered, subject to the limitations set forth herein, to make and implement certain decisions on behalf of the organization without requiring a vote of the general membership.

The Officers may take actions and make decisions regarding the day-to-day operations and administration of DWNC, including but not limited to financial transactions within budgeted limits, execution of contracts, and management of routine organizational matters.

Decisions that do not substantially affect the mission, bylaws, or overall membership rights of the DWNC may be made by a majority vote of the Officers.

The Officers shall not, without a vote of the membership, make decisions that:

a.     Change the organization’s mission, purpose, or dissolve the organization.

b.    Any decision that would materially impact the rights or obligations of the general membership.

c.     All decisions made by the Officers under this section shall be reported to the membership at the next regular meeting or through other customary communication channels.

d.    Records of such decisions shall be maintained in the organization’s official minutes.

e.     The membership reserves the right to review, overturn, or amend any decision made by the Officers under this section, provided such action is taken according to the procedures established in these bylaws.

This provision is intended to balance the need for efficient organizational management with the rights and responsibilities of the general membership.

IX. Nominations and Elections

A. Only members in good standing shall be eligible for office.
B. A nominating committee shall be comprised of the current Vice President (President Successor) and at least two other members.
C. The Nominations Committee shall prepare a slate of officer candidates to be announced at the November meeting of odd numbered years.
D. Following the reading of the Nominating Committee slate, other nominations can be taken from the floor.
E. The election and installment of officers will take place at the January meeting.

X. Standing Committees

A. The standing committees of DWNC may be, but are not limited to Outreach, Publicity, DWNC History, Newsletter and Fundraising.

1. Chairpersons shall be appointed for one (1) year, and may be reappointed.

2. Only members in good standing shall be eligible to be chair of a standing committee.

Approved: March 12, 1994

Amended: July 2, 1994

Amended: November 5, 1994

Amended: January 6, 1996

Amended: March 2, 2002

Amended: February 1, 2003

Amended: April 2, 2005 (Article XII)

Amended: September 2, 2006 (Article XII)

Revised: September 5, 2009

Amended: March 7, 2015

Amended March 1, 2025 (Article I -Name changed)

Amended September 6, 2025 (Article II, IV)

Amended February 7, 2026 (Article IV)
Amended March 7, 2026 (Article II, V. E added, VI.C.1.b, VII.D, VII. G added,  VIII, IX,