Oxford County Maine

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Oxford County Democratic Committee Bylaws

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Oxford County Democratic Committee

Article II: Purpose and Objectives

  1. The objective and purpose of this organization shall be:
  1. To promote the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party
  2. To encourage and maintain participation and unity of Democrats and potential candidates in Oxford County, in the State of Maine and in our nation through elections of duly nominated candidates; and by so doing, aid our government in the municipalities, county state and nation to function effectively as a true democracy and a government of all people,
  3. To provide leadership to and coordination with municipal and/or regional committees, the Maine State Democratic Committee and the Democratic National Committee
  4. To support the nominees elected in the Democratic Primary and to elect Democrats to office.

2. The OCDC shall be a non discriminatory organization and non profit.

3. The OCDC shall encourage regional subgroups to encourage participation.

4. The OCDC shall make a coordinated effort to work with neighboring county and municipal committees on behalf of candidates whose districts cross county lines.

Article III: Membership

  1. Each municipality shall be entitled to a minimum of three enrolled Democrats on the County Committee,one of whom shall be the municipal chair. Additional members maybe appointed by the County Chair. If possible, the County Committee members from each municipality shall be divided equally between men and women.

Article IV: Election of Members

  1. At each biennial caucus, municipal committees shall elect members of the County Committee. County Committee persons shall assume office as soon as elected by the municipal committees for two year terms. If the biennial caucus fails to elect its full quota of members, or if a vacancy occurs, County committee members may be appointed by the County Chair.
  2. In the event that there is no municipal committee, the County Chair may convene a meeting of Democrats in that municipality, by notice in a newspaper not less than three days nor more than ten days in advance, and the County Chair will chair the meeting until a municipal chair is elected.

Article V:  Duties of County Committee Members

  1. The duties of the County Committee Members shall be as follows:
  1. To attend meetings of the county committee and participate in the government and direction of the affairs and activities of the Democratic Party in Oxford County
  2. To work closely with municipal chairs in order to promote a grassroots Democratic organization
  3. To serve as a liaison between the municipal and county committees for the exchange of information concerning the activities and requirements of each
  4. To aid and cooperate with the campaigns of Democratic candidates and
  5. To assist in fundraising efforts for County Committee activities and Democratic campaigns

Article VI: Officers

  1. The Oxford County Democratic Committee officers are the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer
  2. Normally each officer shall personally perform, or delegate in an appropriate manner, all duties specified in these bylaws, and is responsible for the proper performance of any duties shared with other officers or otherwise delegated. Officers assume office immediately upon election and serve until the next regular election.

Article VII: Election of Officers

  1. A person seeking an office on the County Committee must be a registered Democrat who resides in Oxford County
  2. In January of each odd numbered year, the incumbent Chair shall call the biennial meeting for the election of officers. The Chair shall cause the call to be issued by written notice to all members of the County Committee, and such notice shall be sent to all members not less than seven (7) days prior to the meeting of the County Committee
  3. In the course of electing officers, the current Chair shall preside over the election;in the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall preside, or in the absence of both, the Secretary shall preside. If the chair is running for reelection, a temporary Chair shall be elected. After the election of officers, the newly elected officers shall assume their positions.
  4. The Secretary shall notify the Democratic State Committee, in writing of the newly elected officers.

Article VIII:Proxies

  1. No proxies shall be allowed.

Article IX: Representatives to State Committee

  1. Representatives to the State Committee
  1. Shall be elected in accordance to State Party Rules;
  2. Removal shall be in accordance to State Party Rules;
  3. Any vacancy shall be filled at a County Committee meeting duly called for that purpose.

        2. Alternate Member to the DSC

  1. An Alternate Member to the DSC shall be elected prior to the state convention.
  2. The Alternate Member to the DSC shall have all the rights of membership, not including the right to vote, excepts where any of their Elected Members of the DSC, or their county chair, is not present

       3. Representative to the State Committee on Rules

  1. A person seeking this position must be a duly elected member of the OCDC
  2. Election shall be held at a County Committee meeting called for that purpose as soon as possible after the state convention
  3. State Committee on Rules Representative shall serve a two – year term.

        4.       A. Resignations shall be submitted to the OCDC Chair

              B. A vacancy shall be filled promptly at County Committee meeting called for that  purpose with written notice seven days prior to the meeting

Article X: Contraction of and Payment of Bills

  1. No bills shall be contracted by any member of this County Committee unless authorized by the Executive Committee. All bills shall be itemized or accompanied by a statement that will reasonably show exactly what they are designed to cover.

Article XI: Executive Committee

  1. The Executive Committee shall consist of:

A.  Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, incumbent legislators, state committee members, a representative from Young Democrats who lives in Oxford County and a representative from each of the four sections of the county: River Valley, Bethel Area, Oxford Hills and Ossipee/Sacopee Valley.

  1. A person holding Executive Committee membership because of more than one capacity shall nevertheless have only one vote, and no other person shall be allowed to vote as a substitute or alternate for such Executive Committee member.
  2. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held as necessary, with prior notice made to all members of the Executive Committee at the call of the chair or of any three of its members. Three members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum at its meetings.
  3. The Executive Committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Chair and the County committee. The Executive Committee may make recommendations but shall have no power to bind the County committee to a final action, except as provided in #5 in this article
  4. In situations of an urgent nature requiring immediate attention the executive Committee may make a necessary decision at a duly called and constituted meeting. When necessary, voting by telephone or email is acceptable , provided an attempt is made to contact every member. A report on said action shall be made to the next meeting of the County Committee.
  5. The Executive Committee shall perform any other tasks as may be from time to time assigned by the County Committee.
  6. The Executive Committee shall keep minutes of all meetings and these records shall be open and available at the next County Committee meeting or upon request.

ArticleXII: The Duties of Chair

      1.The duties of the Chair shall be:

  1. To serve as the general executive officer and spokesperson of the County Committee
  2. To serve as a member of the Democrat State Committee and will have an alternate separate from other Democrat State Committee members. The alternate will be appointed by the Chair and affirmed by the committee.
  3. To preside at all meetings of the County Committee and the Executive Committee
  4. To follow directives from the State Democratic Party regarding caucuses, the state convention, and other activities,
  5. To be an ex-officio non-voting member of each and every committee
  6. To establish special or ad hoc committees as needed to address the interests and concerns of the County Committee
  7. To attend all Democratic State committee and Caucus of County Chairs meetings.
  8. To serve as a liaison between the county and state Committee for the exchange of information concerning the activities and requirements of each
  9. Manintain close communication with elected Democratic officials in Oxford County
  10. To see that an active publicity /media effort is maintained
  11. To perform other duties that the County Committee may assign

Article XIII: The Duties of the Vice Chair shall be:

  1. To perform all the duties of the chair in his/her absence
  2. To serve as the acting Chair if the chair becomes vacant, until an election for Chair is held
  3. When assigned by the Chair, to attend committee meetings or functions of the OCDC where the County Chair’s attendance is required, expected, or beneficial
  4. To maintain liaison with municipal committees in their region
  5. To perform other duties that the County Committee may assign

Article XIV: Duties of the Secretary

  1. The duties of the Secretary shall be:
  1. To keep a complete and accurate record of all committee meetings
  2. To maintain a current list of all members and officers of the county and municipal committees of Oxford County
  3. To notify the Democratic State Committee of any changes in elected officials and
  4. To perform any duties that the County Committee may from time to time assign.

Article XVI: Duties of the Treasurer

  1. The duties of the Treasurer shall be:
  1. To disperse funds of the County committee at the direction of the Committee
  2. To keep a full and accurate record of all receipts and disbursements
  3. To deposit all County Committee funds in the name of the Oxford County Democratic Committee in a recognized bank or credit union
  4. To provide a report of the transactions and financial conditions of the county Committee at every regularly called County Committee meeting
  5. To comply on a timely basis with all legal requirements relating to the receipt and disbursement of finds and
  6. To perform other duties that the County Committee may assign

Article XVII: Ad Hoc Committees

  1. The County Chair shall appoint ad hoc committees as needed for a specified purpose in a particular situation.
  2. The County Chair shall state the need of action with explanation as to what needs to be resolved, and a stated time for the resolution to be completed.
  3. The Chair of each committee shall see that a report of each meeting is prepared to be shared by email or other means, including a report at the next County meeting.

Article XVIII: Resignations

  1. Any County Committee member, Standing or Special Committee Chair, or officer may resign at any time.  Such resignation shall be made in writing, and shall take effect at the time specified, or if no time is specified, then it shall take effect upon receipt by the chair or Secretary, who shall record such resignation. The acceptance of a resignation by the vote of the County Committee shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Article XIX: Filling of Vacancies

  1. Any vacancies of Standing Committee Chairs and/or officers of the Oxford County Committee shall be filled at a County Committee meeting duly called for that purpose. The Secretary shall notify the Democratic State Committee of any changes.
  2. Any vacancy of a committee member shall be filled by the Democratic Municipal Committee from the municipality from which the resignee was elected.

Article XX: Amendments

  1. These By laws may be altered or amended only by a two -thirds vote of those members specifically called for that purpose, publicized in the local media at least seven (7) days prior to that meeting. The exact wording o the proposed amendment or amendments will be available upon request.

Article XXI: Officer and Member Removal

  1. Any County Committee member may be removed by the member’s municipal committee because of inaction or impropriety. Removal shall require a two -thirds (⅔) vote by the municipal committee members present at a meeting called for that purpose sent at least seven days prior to said meeting.
  2. Any member of the Executive  Committee of the County Committee may be removed because of inaction or impropriety by a two thirds (⅔ ) vote of the County Committee members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose sent to all County Committee members at least seven (7) days prior to said meeting.
  3. Any representative to the Democratic State Committee or State Committee on Rules may be removed because of inaction or impropriety by a two thirds(⅔) vote ot the County Committee members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose by notice sent to all County Committee members at least seven (7) days to said meeting.

Article XXII: Powers and duties:

  1.  The Oxford County Democratic Committee is the supreme governing body of the Oxford County Democrats, when the Oxford County Democratic caucus of the State Convention is not in session.
  2. Meetings:Meetings of the County Committee shall occur 6 times per year unless otherwise agreed to by the Committee. Meetings will rotate among the 4 regions (River Valley, Oxford Hills, Bethel Area, and Sacopee/Ossipee) as much as practical.
  3. Quorum: Five (5) members present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Action to adjourn shall be effective if adopted by a majority of the members present regardless of the number present.

      3. Notice of all meetings shall be sent at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting and or     notice of the meetings shall be released to local media, and shall include information concerning   date, time place and agenda

       4. Any concerns which arise and are not covered within these by-laws shall be deferred to the Maine Democratic Rules. If not covered there, the concerns shall then be further deferred to the state Party Committee on Rules for guidance and interpretation.

       5. Unless otherwise agreed to, all meetings shall be conducted according to the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.