BYLAWS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF

UNIVERSITY WOMEN – SAN FERNANDO VALLEY BRANCH

 

ARTICLE I.  NAME AND GOVERNANCE   

 

Section 1.   Name.  The name of this organization shall be the American Association of University Women — San Fernando Valley Branch, hereinafter called the branch. 

 

Section 2.  Governance. The bylaws of the American Association of University Women, hereinafter called AAUW, and the bylaws of the American Association of University Women of the State of California, Inc., hereinafter called the state, shall govern this branch in all practices.  The bylaws of this branch shall in no way conflict with the AAUW or state bylaws.

 

ARTICLE II.  PURPOSE 

 

The purpose of this branch shall be to further AAUW’s mission to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

 

ARTICLE III.  USE OF NAME   

 

Section 1.  Policies and Programs.   The policies and program of AAUW shall be binding on all members and no member shall use the name of AAUW to oppose such policies or program.  Established channels may be used to change a policy or program.

 

Section 2. Proper Use of Name and Logo. The name and logo of AAUW may be used only by individuals and groups acting in a lawful and ethical manner, consistent with AAUW policies and procedures. Use of the AAUW name and/or logo requires all AAUW-affiliated entities, and any other nonprofit entity allied with any of these AAUW entities, to comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations. This includes timely filing of tax documents with the appropriate government agencies and sending the signed AAUW Affiliate Agreement and current bylaws to be maintained at AAUW headquarters as required by the IRS. Sanctions for misuse of name, including loss of AAUW affiliation, may be imposed by the AAUW Board of Directors, especially in regard to any statement or action that misrepresents or jeopardizes the tax status of AAUW. 

 

Section 3.  Individual Freedom of Speech.  The freedom of speech of the individual member to speak a personal opinion in the member’s own name is not abridged.

 

Section 4.  Collaborations.  The branch, groups of its members, and/or other AAUW-affiliated entities may collaborate with one another for common AAUW purposes following procedures and policies established by the AAUW Board of Directors.

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV.  MEMBERSHIP AND DUES 

 

Section 1. Composition. The membership of AAUW shall consist of individual and partner members.

 

Section 2. Qualified Institutions. Qualified institutions are educational institutions that offer recognized associate, baccalaureate, or higher degrees and that have full regional accreditation or appropriate professional association approval.

 

Section 3. Basis of Membership.

a.   Individual Member.

(1) Eligibility. A graduate holding an associate or equivalent, baccalaureate, or higher degree from a qualified educational institution shall be eligible to receive admission to AAUW membership; such membership shall be granted upon payment of AAUW dues. The provisions set forth in this section are the sole requirement for eligibility and admissibility to membership. Refusal to admit an eligible graduate to branch membership shall result in loss of recognition of a branch.

(2) Determination of Admissibility to Membership. Any graduate who claims qualification for membership in AAUW and who has been refused admission to membership by an officer of a branch or of AAUW may present credentials to the AAUW Board of Directors for review. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be final.

(3) Saving Clause. No individual member shall lose membership due to any change in the status of the educational institution upon which qualification for membership was based.

(4) Categories of Membership.

(a) A national member is an individual who pays annual AAUW dues and who may or may not belong to a branch, state, or multistate organization or comparable AAUW-affiliated entity. A national member shall be entitled to vote and to serve on AAUW committees and the AAUW Board of Directors.  A national member of AAUW may become a member of the branch upon payment of branch and state dues.

(b) A state member is an individual who pays annual AAUW and AAUW CA dues and who may or may not belong to a branch.  A state member may become a branch member upon payment of branch dues.

(c) A branch member is a national member who has also paid state and branch dues. A branch member shall be entitled to vote, hold office, and participate in all branch activities and programs of each branch where membership is maintained.           

(5) Life Membership.

(a) Paid. An individual member may become a national life member upon a one-time payment of 20 years’ national AAUW dues based on the amount of AAUW dues the year the member elects to become a life member. Thereafter, the life member shall be exempt from the payment of AAUW dues.  Paid life members are not exempt from payment of state or branch dues.

(b) Fifty-Year Honorary. An individual member who has paid AAUW dues for 50 years shall become a national life member and shall thereafter be exempt from the payment of AAUW, state and branch dues.

(c) Privileges. A national life member of AAUW who maintains a membership in one or more California branches or comparable AAUW-affiliated entities on an annual basis shall be entitled to all state and branch rights and privileges. A national life member of AAUW who does not maintain branch or state membership shall be entitled to national member privileges only.

b.   Partner Member.

College/university partner members are qualified educational institutions, including two-year or community colleges, that pay annual dues to AAUW. Each college/university member shall appoint one or two representatives who shall each have the membership benefits of a national member and any other benefits that accrue to representatives of partner members.

 

Section 4. Student Affiliates. An undergraduate student enrolled in a qualified educational institution shall be eligible for student affiliation. Student affiliates shall be entitled to attend branch, state, and AAUW meetings and receive the publications distributed to all members of AAUW. Affiliates may not vote or hold office. Fees for student affiliates shall be established by the national, state and branch boards.

 

Section 5. Dues.

a.   Amount.

(1) Changes in branch dues shall be determined at a meeting by two-thirds vote of those present and voting, provided notice has been given to the members two weeks prior to the meeting.

(2) Branch dues for college/university representatives shall be set by the board. State dues are    waived for college/university representatives.

b.   Payment. New members may join at any time.  Dues are payable upon joining. Pro-rated dues paid by new members for less than a full year is determined by national, state, and branch policy.

c.   Reciprocity. A current paid member of a branch or comparable AAUW-affiliated entity may transfer membership to another branch or comparable AAUW-affiliated entity without payment of additional dues.

 

Section 6. Severance of Membership. A member may be suspended or dropped from membership for any conduct that tends to injure AAUW or to adversely affect its reputation or that is contrary to or destructive of its mission according to these bylaws, with action taken following policies and procedures adopted by the AAUW Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V.  NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

                       

Section 1. Nominations

a.   There shall be a nominating committee of five members, elected in September as follows: the board shall elect two members and one alternate from the current board; the board member receiving the highest number of votes shall serve as chair of the nominating committee; the general membership shall elect three members and two alternates who have been members of the branch for at least two full fiscal years and shall not be current board members.

b.   The term of service on the nominating committee shall be for one year and are ineligible to serve again for two years.

c.  The names of the nominees for elected office shall be published and sent to every member at least 15 days prior to the annual branch meeting.

d.  Nominations may be made from the floor with the consent of the nominee.

 

Section 2. Elections

a.   Elections shall be held at the annual branch meeting.

b.   Elections shall be by ballot unless there is only one nominee for a given office, in which case the election may be by a voice vote.  Election shall be by a majority vote of those voting. When there are two or more candidates for any office and no candidate receives a majority, a second vote shall be taken and the candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be elected.

 

ARTICLE VI.  OFFICERS

 

Section 1.  Officers

a.   The elected officers for the branch shall be a president or official representative; a president-elect; vice presidents for program, membership, AAUW Funds, Legal Advocacy Fund; a treasurer and a secretary.  No member shall be eligible to hold an elected office unless she/he has been a member of the branch at least one full fiscal year.  All elected officers except the secretary shall have been previous members of the board of directors.

b.   The appointed officers shall be historian, parliamentarian, public policy chair, communications chair, finance chair, membership treasurer, AAUW Funds/LAF treasurer, corresponding secretary and such other officers as shall be deemed necessary to carry on the work of branch.   They shall be appointed by the president with the consent of the executive committee.  

c.   Officers shall serve for a term of one year or until their successors have been elected or appointed and assume office.  Term of office shall begin on July 1. The incoming president may call a meeting of the incoming officers prior to July 1.

d.   No officer shall hold more than one office at a time, and no elected officer shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

e.   All vacancies in office shall be filled for the unexpired term by the president with the approval of the board.  A vacancy in the office of president shall be filled for the unexpired term by the president-elect or, if there is no president elect, by the vice presidents in the order listed: program, membership, AAUW Funds.  In the case of a vacancy in the office of president-elect, the nominating committee shall present a candidate for election as soon as possible.

f.    Each office may be filled by an officer or co-officers

 

Section 2. Duties

a.  Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws, by the rules of policies and procedures adopted by the board of directors, and by the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.

b.  The president shall be the official spokesperson and representative for the branch, shall be responsible for submitting such reports and forms as required by AAUW and the state, shall be responsible for signing all contracts and other legal documents, and shall be responsible for the branch enrolling in the state insurance program.

c.   The president-elect shall perform the duties of the president in the absence or disability of the president, shall succeed the president at the next regular election of officers, and shall perform such other duties as the president and board shall direct.

d.   The vice presidents shall perform the duties of the president in the absence of the president and president-elect in the following order; program, membership, AAUW Funds, and Legal Advocacy Fund.  They shall serve as chairs of the respective committees.  They shall perform such other duties as the president and board shall direct.

e.  The treasurer shall be responsible for collecting, distributing and accounting for the funds of the branch; collect dues and properly remit them to AAUW and state by the specified deadlines; supervise the membership treasurer and the AAUW Funds/Legal Advocacy Fund treasurer; shall send monies for the AAUW Funds and the Legal Advocacy Fund by the specified deadlines and shall keep separate ledgers for each type of account.

f.   The secretary shall record and keep minutes of all noticed board, membership, executive committee and special meetings, and shall make the minutes available upon request.

 

 

ARTICLE VII.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.  Composition. The board of directors shall include the elected officers, the appointed officers, the chairs of the standing committees and such others as deemed necessary,

 

Section 2.  Administrative Responsibilities.  The board shall have the power to administer affairs of the branch and to carry out its programs and its policies, and shall accept responsibilities delegated by AAUW and the state.  It shall act for the branch between membership meetings. The board shall have fiscal responsibility as outlined in Article X, Financial Administration, Section 2.

 

Section 3.  Meetings.  Meetings of the board shall be held at least five times a year at a time and place agreed upon by the board.

 

Section 4.  Special Meetings.  Special meetings may be called by the president or shall be called upon written request of three members of the board or six members of the branch.

 

Section 5.  Quorum.  The quorum for a meeting of the board shall be a majority of the voting members.  Co-officers shall be considered as one voting member of the board. 

 

Section 6.  Term Limits.  No person shall serve on the board of directors in any capacity for more than eight consecutive years.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII.  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

Section 1.  Composition.  The executive committee shall consist of the elected officers.

 

Section 2.  Duties.  The executive committee shall have the power to act for the board between meetings of the board and shall report to the board on all actions taken by it.  It shall perform such duties as may be delegated to it by the board.

 

Section 3.  Meetings.  Meetings of the executive committee shall be held on the call of the president or by written request of three of its members. 

 

Section 4.  Quorum.  The quorum of the executive committee shall be a majority of the voting members.  Co-officers shall be considered as one voting member of the executive committee. 

 

 

ARTICLE IX.  COMMITTEES

 

Section 1  Standing Committees.  Standing committees shall be program, membership, AAUW Funds, finance, public policy, Legal Advocacy Fund, bylaws, and communications.  Standing committee shall be appointed by the chair of the committee as specified by branch Policies and Procedures.

 

Section 2.  Special Committees.  Special committees may be appointed by the president with the consent of the board.

 

ARTICLE X.  FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION 

 

Section 1.  Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year shall correspond with that of AAUW:  July 1 through June 30.

 

Section 2.  Financial Policies. The board shall set and maintain policies and procedures to control financial records consistent with generally accepted accounting principles and federal, state, and local laws including an annual financial review.  No indebtedness in excess of three hundred dollars ($300.00) over that provided for in the budget shall be incurred by the branch except by a recommendation of the board of directors and a majority vote at a general meeting of the branch.

           

Section 3.  Budget. The finance committee shall submit the proposed annual budget at the September board meeting for approval before the board submits it to the membership at the September general meeting.

 

Section 4.  Insurance

a. The branch is required to participate in the state insurance programs in order to participate in state sponsored activities and projects. The branch must comply with all risk management requirements, state program directives and all other requirements as outlined in state policy and procedures.

b. The branch must obtain separate insurance coverage for activities and projects not covered under the state insurance coverage.

 

ARTICLE XI.  MEETINGS

 

Section 1.  Annual Meeting.  The branch shall hold an annual meeting to conduct the business of the branch, including but not limited to, electing officers, establishing dues, amending bylaws and receiving reports. This meeting shall be held between March 1 and May 31.  The exact date, time and place to be determined by the board.

 

Section 2.  Membership Meetings.  The branch shall hold at least five (5) meetings during the fiscal year.  The branch board shall determine the time and place for these meetings.

 

Section 3.  Special Meetings.  Special meetings may be called by the president or shall be called by the president at the written request of the board or ten members of the branch.

 

Section 4.  Quorum.  The quorum shall be ten (10) percent of the branch membership.

 

ARTICLE XII.  PROPERTY   

 

Section 1.  Property and Assets.   The title to all property, funds and assets of the branch is vested in the branch for the joint use of members and no member or group of members shall have any severable right to all or any part of such property.  Property and assets shall not be used for any purpose contrary to AAUW.

 

Section 2.  Dissolution of Branch.  In the event of the dissolution of the branch, all assets of the branch shall be transferred and delivered to AAUW or to an AAUW-affiliated entity designated by AAUW.

 

ARTICLE XIII.  LOSS OF RECOGNITION   

 

The provisions and conditions under which a branch may lose recognition are found in the AAUW bylaws. 

 

ARTICLE XIV.  PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY 

 

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this branch in all instances in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws or those of AAUW or the state.   

 

ARTICLE XV.  INDEMNIFICATION 

 

Every board or committee member may be indemnified by the branch against all expenses and liabilities, including counsel fees, reasonably incurred or imposed upon such board or committee members in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding to which the board or committee member may become involved by reason of being or having been a member of the board or committee, or any settlement thereof, unless adjudged therein to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of duties.  In the event of a settlement the indemnification herein shall apply only when the branch board approves such settlement and reimbursement as being in the best interest of the branch.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall be in addition to and not exclusive of all other rights to which the board or committee member is entitled.

 

ARTICLE XVI.  AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS   

 

Section 1. Mandated Amendments.  Amendments required by AAUW or the state to bring branch bylaws into conformity shall not require a vote of the branch members

 

Section 2.  Prior Approval.  All other proposed amendments to the branch bylaws shall be sent to the district representative on the state governance committee for approval before the call for the branch vote. 

 

Section 3.  Branch Vote.   Provisions of these bylaws not governed by the AAUW or state bylaws may be amended at a branch meeting by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting provided written notice shall have been sent to the members at least 14 days prior to the meeting.

 

Date Last Amended by Branch Vote:   February 21, 2004

Mandatory Amendments Made Since Then: 

October 11, 2004

November 5, 2005

October 31, 2009

June 16, 2012

February 15, 2014

January 16, 2016