Glacier Country Young Republicans

CONSTITUTION OF THE GLACIER COUNTRY YOUNG REPUBLICANS (GCYR)

ARTICLE I.  ORGANIZATION

The Glacier Country Young Republicans (GCYR) is the chartered club and member organization of the Montana Young Republicans for the Flathead County.  The GCYR shall comply with all requirements of that charter and agrees to be bound by the Montana Young Republican Constitution and its bylaws.  The GCYR shall be designated as the “Montana Young Republicans” for purposes of the rules duly adopted by the Montana Republican Party.  The GCYR shall also be registered with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices as a political party committee.

ARTICLE II.  OBJECTIVES

The stated objectives of the GCYR are:

• to develop a movement of intelligent and productive Young Republicans whose objective is to build a social network for like minded conservatives;
• to influence the development of the Republican Party Platform through the Montana Young Republicans and the Montana Republican Party.
• to support the principles, objectives and platform of the Republican Party once approved and develop a strategy to communicate the message to the electorate; and
• through volunteer activities, to secure the election of Republican candidates.

The GCYR will not issue any endorsements in a primary election unless there is only one Republican candidate following expiration of the filing deadline.  This does not imply that officers, directors or members of the GCYR, cannot individually support candidates prior to the primary elections.

ARTICLE III.  MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Voting Membership.  Voting membership in the GCYR shall be open to all Montana residents ages 18 to 40 who live the Flathead County. Membership shall similarly be open to current registered Montana voters in those counties who are living out of the Flathead County for whatever reason.

SECTION 2. Associate Membership.  Associate Membership in the GCYR shall be open to all residents of Montana who fall outside of the requirements to be a voting member.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

SECTION 1. ELECTED OFFICERS.  The elected officers of the organization shall be the following: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

SECTION 2. APPOINTED OFFICERS.  In addition to the elected officers in the organization, six Directors may be nominated by the Chair in consultation with the Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.  The slate of directors will be approved by a simple majority of members present at the first GCYR following the annual meeting.

SECTION 3.  ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE.  Any at-large member of the GCYR, being between the ages of 18 and 40, inclusive, shall be eligible to hold office in the GCYR as long as the member is not already an officer of another Young Republican group within the state of Montana.

SECTION 4. TERM OF OFFICE.  The term of office for all positions in the GCYR will be two calendar years beginning with election at the annual meeting in even years and concluding following the successful election of their successors at the next even year annual meeting.

SECTION 4.  DUTIES OF ELECTED OFFICERS.

• Chair.  Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the Chair of the organization shall preside at all meetings and appoint all standing and ad hoc committees and committee chair, all of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the Chair of the organization or until the adjournment of the next annual meeting. The Chair shall be an ex-officio member of all committees and shall call meetings of the Executive Committee.
• Vice Chair.  The Vice Chair shall perform such duties as the Chair of the organization may designate and, in the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall preside over meetings.
• Secretary.  The Secretary shall make and keep a true record of the proceedings of all meetings of the organization, keep the records and conduct the correspondence of the organization.
• Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall be charged with collecting dues; maintaining accurate financial records; filing requisite forms and reports with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices’ Office; and submitting a report of the organization’s financial condition at the annual meeting of the organization or at any other such time the Chair or other Executive Committee member requests a report.

SECTION 4. DUTIES OF APPOINTED OFFICERS.

• Directors.  Directors shall serve on the Executive Committee with voting membership and provide leadership for decisions of the executive committee and lead subcommittees or programs at the request of the Chair.

SECTION 4.  ELECTION OF OFFICERS.  Eligible candidates for the positions; Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer shall be nominated and elected by the delegates at the annual meeting.

SECTION 5. VACANCIES IN OFFICE.  Any vacancy created in one of the above offices of the organization, except Chair, by resignation of the officer or by any other cause shall be filled by appointment of the Executive Committee of the organization within thirty (30) days following the vacancy.  A vacancy in the office of Chair shall be filled by the Vice Chair.  A vacancy in both offices shall be filled by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee within thirty (30) days.

SECTION 6.  REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.  For dereliction of duty, gross misconduct, dishonoring the GCYR or other appropriate causes, any officer may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee.

SECTION 7.  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.  The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, and may also consist of six Directors and three advisors.  To conduct business, the Executive Committee must have a quorum of a minimum of three voting members; of which one shall be the Chair or Vice-Chair of the GCYR.

ARTICLE VI.  MEETINGS

SECTION 1.  Annual Meeting.  The annual meeting of the organization shall be held at a time, place, and date to be determined by the Executive Committee.

SECTION 2.  Notice.  The Secretary shall give at least twenty (20) days written notice of the time and place of the annual meeting to all members of the GCYR.  This notice will be in electronic form and must be posted on the GCYR’s multimedia site(s).

SECTION 3. Elections.  The Executive Committee shall provide a list of nominees for the offices of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.  The delegates may also nominate candidates from the floor.  Candidates for office shall be elected by majority vote at the annual meeting of the organization.

SECTION 4. APPOINTMENTS.  The chair, in consultation with the Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasure will appoint three Associate Members to serve as advisors to the Executive Committee.

SECTION 4. Reports.  Official reports covering the previous year’s activities shall be presented by the officers at the annual meeting.

SECTION 5.  Proxies. There shall not be voting by proxy, substitution or absentee ballot, and all voting members shall be registered with the Secretary of the organization as a member of the GCYR.

SECTION 6.   Parliamentary Rules. Annual meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised (Latest Edition).  All other matters not specifically covered by this Constitution or the Bylaws shall be resolved by the Chair with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII.  AMENDMENTS

This Constitution, the GCYR Bylaws or any provision thereof may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates at the annual meeting where such proposed action has been announced in the call and notice of the meeting.  In the event that an amendment is proposed at the annual meeting, the membership may debate and vote on the amendment, but it will require a (3/4) vote of delegates present to pass.

ARTICLE VIII.  FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the GCYR shall be from January 1 until December 31 for all purposes including but not limited to payment of dues and charter fees.

ARTICLE IX.  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION 1.  MEMBERSHIP.  The Executive Committee shall consist of the following:  Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and may also consist of six directors and three advisors.  Advisors shall serve on the Executive Committee without voting membership and provide advice and counsel to the Executive Committee in its decision making processes.  The Advisor roles are bound by Associate Membership requirements.

SECTION 2.  NOTICE.  Notice shall be given to all Executive Committee members of any meeting at least five (5) days prior to the meeting.  Notice can be provided by email, telephone, or mail.

SECTION 3.  MEETINGS.  The Executive Committee shall meet at least four (4) times a year in person or through video conferencing or conference telephone calls or internet video or telephone conferencing. If the Chair fails to call a quarterly meeting for two consecutive quarters, the Vice Chair may call a meeting.  The act of the majority of the Executive Committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of the Executive Committee.