THE MIDDLESEX AND WORCESTER DEMOCRATIC COALITION Bylaws (as approved, Jan. 18, 2001) ARTICLE I Name The name of this group shall be the MIDDLESEX AND WORCESTER DEMOCRATIC COALITION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (or MWDC).   ARTICLE II Purposes A coalition of local Democrats engaged in common endeavors to promote local, regional, state, and national Democratic Party candidates, issues, and Town, City, and Ward Committees. The coalition shall act in accordance with all regulations, rules, and bylaws of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.   ARTICLE III Membership 1. Membership shall consist of all registered Democrats residing in all precincts of the towns and cities of the Middlesex & Worcester State Senate District at the time these bylaws are first passed ("original member towns"). 2. Registered Democrats residing in towns or cities that subsequently become part of the District shall become members ("new member towns") when the new District becomes law.  3. Democrats from original member towns and from new member towns shall retain their eligibility for membership even if their towns or cities are no longer part of the District. 4. The voting members may elect into membership any other registered Democrat. 5. The voting members may elect into membership the registered Democrats of any otherwise ineligible town or city, so long as that town has common political interests. 6. The Chair of each local Democratic Town, City, and Ward Committees, or another person designated by the local Chair, shall be the representative of that committee.  In addition, each Town Committee may designate two other members as representatives. 7. Membership grandfathered under Section 3 or granted under Section 4 or 5 may be rescinded by vote of the MWDC. 8.  Voting members shall be any above eligible members who have attended at least one other meeting in the 365 days prior to the meeting in which a vote is taken.   ARTICLE IV Meetings 1. There shall be a minimum of four (4) general meetings per calendar year. Charter meetings (see Article IX) may be called as needed. 2. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Chair or by a majority of the Executive Committee, as described in Article V, Section 1. 3. A quorum for a general or charter meeting shall consist of at least seven (7) voting members. 4. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules. 5. All general and charter meetings shall be open to the public. 6. Each general meeting shall be announced at least seven (7) days prior to its occurrence, and each charter meeting at least fourteen (14) days prior to its occurrence.  In either case, voting members, officers and committee chairs, and the Town, City, and Ward Committees of member towns shall be notified.   ARTICLE V Officers 1. There shall be a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Affirmative Action and Outreach Advisor and other officers as determined by vote of the membership. 2. Officers shall be elected for a one-year term at the first meeting of the calendar year. 3. Subject to Article III, Section 8, all officers, including the Chair shall have full voting rights.    ARTICLE VI Duties of Officers 1. The Chair shall preside at all meetings.  The Chair shall name the Chairs of all Committees.  The Chair shall be a member ex officio of all committees. 2. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall perform all duties of the Chair. 3. The Secretary shall keep and report a true, accurate, and complete record of all proceedings of all general meetings.  The Secretary is responsible for maintaining a list of all voting members.  The Secretary shall issue notice of all general meetings (as described in Article IV, Section 6) and of all charter meeting (Article IV, Section 6, and Article IX, Section 2) and shall perform such other duties pertaining to the office as may be reasonably required by the Chair.  In the absence of the Secretary, the Chair shall appoint a Secretary pro-tem for the duration of the Secretary’s absence. 4. The Treasurer shall have care and custody of all funds of the Committee, shall receive all money, and deposit same as directed by the Committee.  The Treasurer shall make all disbursements under the supervision and direction of the Chair and shall keep accurate books of account and submit any financial reports as required by Massachusetts General Laws.  The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the Committee's money and any instruments that the Committee may, at any time, decide to execute.  The Treasurer shall make a financial report at every general meeting and shall submit an Annual Report to the membership. 5. The Affirmative Action and Outreach Advisor shall be responsible for developing strategies and activities to expand participation in the MWDC of the Party's Affirmative Action target groups.   ARTICLE VII Committees 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers and the Chairs of standing Committees. 2. Standing Committees may include but are not limited to: Program Committee:  This Committee may present guest speakers to the membership, arrange candidate forums for the membership, provide opportunities to discuss issues, or enable other membership education activities. Public Relations Committee:  This Committee will communicate the actions of the MWDC to the news media and provide information to the general public. 3. Ad hoc Committees may be created as necessary. 4. Committee members shall be appointed by the MWDC Chair and confirmed by the Executive Committee.   ARTICLE VIII Fiscal Year The Fiscal Year of the Middlesex and Worcester Democratic Coalition shall be the calendar year.  The Treasurer and all Committee Chairs shall provide annual reports at the first meeting of the calendar year.   ARTICLE IX Bylaw Amendments 1. These bylaws may be amended, changed, or repealed by a charter meeting. 2. The Secretary's announcement of a charter meeting shall state, in detail, which articles or sections are to be acted upon. 3. The affirmative vote of a majority of those voting members who are present at a charter meeting with a quorum and cast their vote is sufficient to amend, change, or repeal these bylaws. 4. Such amendments, when ratified, shall be incorporated into these bylaws. The Secretary shall forward a copy of the updated bylaws, as required, to the Office of the Secretary of State and to the State Democratic Committee.   ARTICLE X Severability If any section of these bylaws is found to be invalid, all other portions of the bylaws shall continue to be in full force and effect.