Log Cabin Republicans Huntsville Bylaws

Article I: Name & Jurisdiction

1. The organization shall be known as the Log Cabin Republicans Huntsville ("Chapter") and will operate as the local chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans in Huntsville, Alabama.
2. The Chapter will make reasonable efforts to recruit, support, and conduct activities throughout Alabama to maximize participation among conservative LGBT individuals and their allies.
3. Should membership grow in other cities within Alabama, the Chapter will assist in establishing new chapters in those areas.

Article II: Purpose & Values

1. The Chapter advocates for the rights and equal treatment of LGBT individuals.
2. The Chapter aims to engage and mobilize LGBT individuals and their allies around Republican and center-right values and policies.
3. The Chapter supports center-right values, including maximizing freedoms, limiting government overreach, minimizing tax burdens, reducing federal spending, promoting American entrepreneurship, supporting a strong national defense, and implementing effective immigration policies.
4. The Chapter supports candidates, lawmakers, policies, and laws that align with these values.
5. The Chapter will educate, promote, and advocate for these values.
6. The Chapter will foster community among members, officials, other organizations, and allies.

Article III: Board of Directors

1. The Chapter's operations, strategies, messaging, meetings, and other functions will be managed by a Board of Directors ("Board"), elected by the Chapter's members.

2. Board members must be elected from the paid membership and maintain good standing throughout their term.

3. The Board will establish rules and procedures for communications, meetings, fund usage, endorsements, and other relevant activities.

4. The Board will consist of seven (7) elected positions with specific titles and duties, which may be adjusted as needed for the Chapter's continued functioning.

5. The Board will include a permanent President, Treasurer, and Secretary for corporate filing purposes; these positions may carry additional operational titles.

6. The duties of the four (4) additional seats may be altered by a simple majority vote of the Board to suit the strategies of the elected board during that year.

7. The Board seats are as follows:

   1. Executive Director (ED)

      • Acts as the "President" for filing purposes.
      • Leads the Chapter and Board, sets direction and expectations, and serves as the executive representative.
      • Collaborates with the Board to set annual strategy and goals.
      • Nominates a Deputy Director (DD) and fills board vacancies.
      • Initiates removal procedures for board members and expulsion of members.
      • Schedules and conducts regular board meetings and special meetings as needed.
      • Establishes committees and appoints non-voting advisors as necessary.

   2. Deputy Director (DD)

      • Acts as the "Vice President" for filing purposes.
      • Serves as a non-voting position held by a sitting board member, nominated by the ED and requiring four (4) affirmative votes.
      • Assists the ED and represents the Chapter in the ED's absence.
      • Assumes full duties of the ED if the ED is removed or on leave.

   3. Director of Finance (DoF)

      • Acts as the "Treasurer" for filing purposes.
      • Manages financial accounts, proposes spending rules, maintains financial documents, coordinates fundraising, and ensures tax compliance.

   4. Director of Administration (DoA)

      • Acts as the "Secretary" for filing purposes.
      • Proposes and supports meeting procedures, maintains records, and handles administrative filings.

   5. Director of Communications (DoC)

      • Manages websites and social media accounts.
      • Communicates Chapter information, handles member and public inquiries, and coordinates media statements.

   6. Director of Events (DoE)

      • Plans and executes events to engage members and allies.
      • Coordinates with external parties for successful events and seeks cost-effective solutions.

   7. Director of Policy (DoP)

      • Leads civic engagement efforts.
      • Proposes policies and legislation, crafts policy statements, and maintains relationships with officials.

   8. Director of Membership (DoM)

      • Maintains updated membership rolls and reports monthly.
      • Engages with members for renewals and growth, coordinates fundraising, and ensures membership verification for elections.

8. Board members are required to attend scheduled board meetings unless excused by the ED; excessive absences may lead to removal.

9. Board members must support and attend regular meetings and events; consistent absence or lack of support may be grounds for removal.

10. The Board may establish official committees from paid members for endorsements or other business, with procedures for their creation and dissolution at the Board’s discretion.

11. Board members are expected to act as stewards and representatives of the organization and support its values.

Article IV: Board Member Vacancies & Removals

1. The ED will notify a board member of removal intentions at a board meeting, which may be a special session called for this purpose. Notice will include the reason for removal.

2. Grounds for removal include:

   • Actions contrary to the Chapter’s values.
   • Abhorrent beliefs or statements.
   • Behavior negatively impacting the Chapter’s work.
   • Illegal misconduct.
   • Harassment or abusive behavior.
   • Misuse of funds or property.
   • Misuse or release of confidential information.
   • Subterfuge or sabotage.

3. If the ED is the member to be removed, the DD will schedule and present the case for removal.

4. At the meeting, the reason for removal will be presented, and each member will have an opportunity to comment.

5. A vote will be taken on whether to remove the member, with or without their presence.

6. The Board may also decide on further actions, such as stripping membership or issuing a formal reprimand.

7. The Board may reinstate removed individuals through the same procedures as removal.

8. Voting requires at least four (4) affirmative votes to approve, or six (6) votes if the ED is being removed.

9. If a board member becomes unavailable for an extended period, the ED may propose a temporary replacement, subject to a majority vote.

10. If the ED is unavailable, the DD will initiate a vote to temporarily remove the ED and assume their duties, with a temporary replacement proposed by majority vote.

11. Upon return from an extended absence, members resume their original positions, and temporary replacements end their service.

12. If a seat becomes permanently vacant, the ED will propose a replacement, requiring a majority vote for appointment.

13. If the ED’s seat is vacant, the DD may assume the role of ED and propose a replacement for their seat, requiring a majority vote.

14. The Board may continue functioning with open seats.

15. No board member will have more than one vote.

Article V: Quorums

1. A quorum must be established for official business and voting.
2. A board quorum requires at least six (6) board members present.
3. A committee quorum requires a majority of committee members present, rounded up to the nearest whole number, unless otherwise specified.
4. A membership quorum requires at least ten (10) percent of paid members present, rounded up; if a board quorum is present, the Board may override this requirement.
5. Voting thresholds:
   • For an odd number of members, a majority is half plus one.
   • For an even number of members, a majority is half.
6. For complex voting, the Board will establish procedures to narrow down candidates.
7. Voting thresholds are as specified unless other bylaws require different procedures.

Article VI: Membership

1. Membership is open to anyone residing in Alabama, not barred from the organization, regardless of sexual orientation.

2. The Board may reject membership for individuals or entities known for extreme ideas or behaviors.

3. The Board will define and adjust membership costs and benefits as needed.

4. Current members are entitled to one (1) vote per seat in elections; the Board may set a cutoff for processing dues before elections.

5. Members will have one (1) vote per stage in run-off elections.

6. The Board will maintain updated membership rolls to ensure election integrity.

7. Membership dues are non-refundable except in cases of rejection or processing errors.

8. Members may be rejected or stripped of membership for:

   • Actions contrary to Chapter values.
   • Abhorrent beliefs or statements.
   • Behavior impacting the Chapter negatively.
   • Illegal misconduct.
   • Harassment or abusive behavior.
   • Subterfuge or sabotage.

9. A majority vote of the Board is required for rejection or removal; a subsequent vote is needed for renewal consideration.

10. Membership dues are contributions per 501(c)(4) tax codes.

Article VII: Elections

1. Board elections will be held in November, with possible adjustments to October or December for special circumstances.
2. Nomination procedures and election notices will be sent to paid members via email at least three (3) weeks prior to the election date.
3. Elections will occur at a location accessible to most paid members.
4. Each paid member is entitled to one (1) vote per seat.
5. The Board will establish procedures for elections, including voting methods and absentee ballots.
6. Elected board members will assume office on January 1st and serve until December 31st, unless removed earlier.
7. Each of the seven (7) Board seats will be voted on independently.
8. Members may only run for and hold one seat.

Article VIII: Endorsements

1. The Chapter may endorse state or local candidates, referenda, or legislative measures.
2. In partisan elections, the Chapter may only endorse Republican candidates, withholding endorsements if candidates do not align with Chapter values.
3. In non-partisan elections, any candidate may be endorsed.
4. The Chapter is not obligated to make endorsements.
5. The Chapter will assess candidates and measures before making endorsements.
6. Endorsements and political activities will be limited to Alabama.
7. Coordination with other Log Cabin Republicans chapters in Alabama will be pursued for statewide endorsements.
8. The Chapter may support candidates or policies without formal endorsements.
9. Endorsements will align with Chapter values.
10. The Board will set procedures for determining endorsement worthiness.
11. Paid members may be involved in endorsement procedures, with a majority vote able to expedite endorsements if necessary.

Article IX: Dissolution

1. The Chapter is perpetual but may be dissolved by a 3/4 vote of the full Board or if it fails to hold more than one monthly meeting per year.
2. Upon dissolution, all Chapter assets, including financial accounts, records, and online credentials, will be transferred to the Log Cabin Republicans national office in Washington, D.C.

Article X: Amendments

1. Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the voting members present at a monthly meeting, provided that notice of the proposed amendment is given to the membership at least 30 days in advance.