GHRC Bylaws
Amended and Adopted; April 2022
This
Adopted: 04/23/2022 Gig Harbor Republican Club Bylaws Page 1 of 10 Gig Harbor Republican Club Bylaws Adopted: 04/23/2022 Article I — Name The name of this not-for-profit organization shall be the Gig Harbor Republican Club. (GHRC) Article II — Objectives The Objectives of this organization are as follows: 1. To promote an informed electorate through education, programs, and activities. 2. To recruit, help develop, and promote qualified Republican men and women for Local, State, and National elective offices such as; Precinct Committee Officers, School Board Directors, City Council Members, County Council Members, State Legislators, and US Congress Members. 3. To increase the number of Republicans elected to public office at all levels. 4. To raise funds to assist Republican Candidates to win elections and to achieve the Gig Harbor Republican Club goals. 5. To promote public awareness of Republican ideals of limited government and individual liberties through community outreach and educational or issue-related forums. 6. To provide and plan forums for political candidates and elected officials to meet members of the community and discuss matters affecting government, our communities, our state, and our nation. 7. To support and encourage the development of Young Republican groups in the local High Schools and Colleges. 8. To engage with and build relationships within our local business and government communities. 9. To provide opportunities to serve America and the community through service projects and good will. 10. To maintain effective communication and cooperation between GHRC membership and all other Republican and conservative organizations.
Adopted: 04/23/2022 Gig Harbor Republican Club Bylaws Page 2 of 10 Article III — Membership 1. Eligibility: Any persons who have interest and believe in the objectives of the Gig Harbor Republican Club and the principles of the Republican Party may, upon payment of calendar year annual dues, become Members of the Gig Harbor Republican Club. 2. Application: Any individual who wishes to become a Member of the Gig Harbor Republican Club shall make application with any member of the Board of Directors (see Article V, Section 2). Upon application for membership, the applicant shall state that he/she agrees to be bound by the Bylaws of the Gig Harbor Republican Club, and agrees with the objectives stated in Article II above. 3. Dues: Annual and Lifetime Membership dues will be established by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Application for membership must be accompanied by payment of appropriate dues. Annual dues are to be paid by January 31st of each year. 4. Privileges: GHRC Members are permitted and encouraged to participate in all social and community activities of the Gig Harbor Republican Club. All Members in good standing shall be entitled to vote on GHRC business placed before the general membership. A Member in good standing (Active Member) is a Lifetime Member or a person whose annual dues are no more than two (2) months in arrears. Members in good standing in one year are automatically members in good standing the following year subject to payment of annual dues. 5. Classifications: a. Active Member: As defined above. b. Lifetime Member: Active Members who have paid for a Lifetime Membership in the GHRC. c. Associate Member: Persons from organizations who share our Republican ideals, principles, and objectives, who are paying members of another Republican Club, a student, or a Republican who holds public office. Associate Members have all rights of Active Members except for: making motions, voting, counting towards a quorum, or holding a GHRC office. 6. Suspension: Membership in the Gig Harbor Republican Club may be suspended by the Board of Directors upon receipt of written resignation from 
Adopted: 04/23/2022 Gig Harbor Republican Club Bylaws Page 3 of 10 the Member or if payment of the Member’s annual dues has not been received by March 31st of that year. 7. Reinstatement: A Member may be reinstated if dues are paid, a new application for membership is made by the Member, and a majority of the Board of Directors approves of reinstatement. A Lifetime Member may be reinstated if a new application for membership is made by the Member and a majority of the Board of Directors approves of reinstatement. 8. Names, Membership Lists, and E-Mail addresses: Will be kept confidential by the Board of Directors unless individual Members give permission for their data to be included in a Membership Directory. Membership Directories will only be released to Active Members. If permission is not granted by a Member, that Member’s data may only be released to others approved by the Board of Directors and only for purposes directly benefiting the GHRC or for conducting GHRC business. Those using GHRC names, membership lists, and e-mail addresses shall make every effort to ensure confidentiality by using “bcc” whenever sending e-mail to multiple recipients. 9. Denial of Membership: By a two-thirds (2/3) vote, the Board of Directors has the authority to deny any member’s application. Article IV — Meetings 1. Board of Director Meetings: Open to all Active, Lifetime, and Associate Members of the GHRC with the understanding that they are non-participants unless specifically called upon by an elected or appointed Board of Director Member. The vote of the Board of Directors, when called for at a meeting of the same, may be accomplished in person at said meeting or by telephonic or other electronic communication when arranged prior to the meeting. 2. General GHRC Meetings: Open to all Active, Lifetime, and Associate Members and their guests. 3. Election Meetings: Meetings to hold elections for GHRC Officers and GHRC goal setting for the next year are Open to all Active, Lifetime, and Associate Members and their guests. 4. Special Meetings or Events: Called by Board of Directors when deemed necessary. 
Adopted: 04/23/2022 Gig Harbor Republican Club Bylaws Page 4 of 10 5. Quorum: A quorum for GHRC general meetings shall be 10% of currently Active Members. The GHRC Membership Committee Chair shall keep an accurate count of current Active Members and report this total to the President prior to the start of each GHRC meeting to confirm if a quorum is present. Article V — Board of Directors 1. Eligibility: All GHRC Officers and Members of the Board of Directors must be Members in good standing. 2. Designation: The Board of Directors shall consist of the GHRC Officers: President, Immediate Past President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms, along with the Standing and Special Committee Chairs. Board Members may exercise one (1) vote on matters that come before the Board of Directors. No Board of Directors Officer or Chair can hold more than two (2) Officer or Chair positions simultaneously. 3. Elected Board Directors: Shall consist of all GHRC Officers including: President, Immediate Past President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms. 4. Elections: Elections of GHRC Officers shall take place at the October General Meeting of the membership if the duration of the (2) year term is expiring or, in the event of a vacancy, at the next General Meeting following the Nominations Special Committee’s recommendations. Signed general proxies will be accepted for the election of GHRC Officers. Newly elected GHRC Officers will assume office at the next GHRC General Meeting or Board of Directors Meeting after their election, whichever comes first. The newly elected Officers will, upon assuming the beginning of their two (2) year term of office, appoint the Standing and Special Committee Chairs by majority vote. 5. Term of Office: All GHRC Officers serve a two (2) year term. The Standing Committee Chairs also serve a two (2) year term but may be re-appointed by the GHRC Officers at their discretion. 6. Duties: The business of the Gig Harbor Republican Club shall be transacted by the Board of Directors, who shall have complete control of GHRC business affairs, except as may be otherwise prescribed by these Bylaws and/or as specifically directed by a majority vote of the GHRC membership at a General Meeting of its Members. 
Adopted: 04/23/2022 Gig Harbor Republican Club Bylaws Page 5 of 10 Without limiting the general power and authority herein expressed, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to enforce such rules as required to further the objectives and purposes of the GHRC. The Board of Directors is authorized to perform or contract with a secondary party as necessary for the growth and well-being of the GHRC. The Board of Directors may enter into and carry out any contract as deemed necessary by them for the expedient accomplishment of any objectives and purposes set forth in these Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall at least two (2) months prior to a regularly scheduled election, or as needed to fill a vacancy, establish a Nominations Special Committee to nominate candidates for election to GHRC Offices, subject to established terms of Office. 7. Vetting and Endorsement: The Board of Directors is responsible for creating, implementing, and carrying out a vetting process for potential Republican candidates for public office who seek the Gig Harbor Republican Club’s endorsement. The process and criteria are to be at the discretion and advisement of the Board of Directors. 8. Quorum: The majority of the Board of Directors in total shall constitute a Quorum for the transaction of business at a Board of Directors Meeting. 9. Regular Meetings: Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held no fewer than eight (8) times a year at such place and time as may be determined by the Board of Directors. 10. Special Meetings: Special Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held when called by the President or by any two (2) members of the Board of Directors. No Special Meeting may be called with fewer than three (3) business days’ notice to each Member of the Board of Directors. 11. Suspension: The Board of Directors may suspend the voting rights of a Board Member during any period in which the Board Member is in default of any dues (per Article III, Section 4) or is found by majority vote of the Board of Directors to be in breach of these Bylaws. 12. Removal: If a Member of the Board of Directors has not participated in any activity related to the Gig Harbor Republican Club or its objectives for a period of three (3) consecutive months, said Board Member will be considered to 
Adopted: 04/23/2022 Gig Harbor Republican Club Bylaws Page 6 of 10 have submitted a letter of resignation from the Board of Directors unless the absence has been excused by the President. A Board Member may be removed from the Board of Directors by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has the right to censure or remove by majority vote* any GHRC Member from the GHRC if maintaining the Member would not be in the best interest of the GHRC. *Note: A Board Member cannot be removed from the GHRC by majority vote unless said Board Member has first been removed from the Board of Directors by a two-thirds (2/3) vote as stated above. 13. Vacancies: In the case of a vacancy of a GHRC Office through death, resignation, or removal of the Officer, or any other cause, a successor from a list of candidates provided by the Nominations Special Committee shall be elected (per Section 4 above) to fill the vacant position until the expiration of the term of said Officer. In the case of a vacancy in the Chair of a Standing or Special Committee, the GHRC Officers shall appoint a new Chair (per Section 4 above). 14. Records: It is the duty of the GHRC Secretary to keep a complete record of all GHRC business. 15. Budget and Goals: The Board of Directors will be responsible for establishing the GHRC annual budget and a stated set of GHRC goals. 16. Endorsements: Any and all Candidates for public office who agree with the Gig Harbor Republican Club's Objectives and the principles of the Republican Party, and who pass the vetting process of the GHRC and a majority vote of the Board of Directors, shall receive the Gig Harbor Republican Club's official endorsement. In the event more than one (1) Candidate has met all of the criteria of the vetting process, the Gig Harbor Republican Club may choose to co-endorse more than one (1) Candidate at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Article VI — Officers 1. Officers: Voting Officers of the GHRC shall include the President, Immediate Past President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms. 
Adopted: 04/23/2022 Gig Harbor Republican Club Bylaws Page 7 of 10 Elected public office holders or candidates for public office who may serve on the GHRC Board of Directors must recuse themselves from any and all votes pertaining to campaign donations. 2. Duties of the President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of the General Membership. The President shall, on behalf of the Gig Harbor Republican Club, execute all contracts, conveyances, and other written documents necessary or convenient in the transaction of the ordinary business of the GHRC. The President, or the Secretary when designated by the President, shall sign all documents authorized by the Board of Directors in the name of the GHRC. The President and Treasurer shall co-sign all checks in excess of five hundred ($500) dollars. The President shall generally perform such duties as ordinarily pertain to his/her office. 3. Duties of the Vice President: In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall perform the functions and duties of the President. The President or the Vice President may appoint any Board Member to run a General or Board of Directors Meeting. 4. Duties of the Secretary: The Secretary shall take charge of and maintain the records of the GHRC. Unless otherwise designated by the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall receive all correspondence directed to the GHRC. The Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the General Membership, give the required advance notice of all meetings, and perform such other duties that may pertain to the office of Secretary. 5. Duties of the Treasurer/Assistant Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds of the GHRC, keep a full and accurate record of all receipts and disbursements of the GHRC, and pay all GHRC bills in a timely manner. The Treasurer shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Gig Harbor Republican Club in such depository as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall render to the President, the Board of Directors, and the GHRC membership an account of all transactions whenever requested by the President or the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall file, in a timely manner, all reports as required by law. 
Adopted: 04/23/2022 Gig Harbor Republican Club Bylaws Page 8 of 10 The Assistant Treasurer shall perform all duties of the Treasurer in the absence of the Treasurer, or as needed/requested by the Treasurer or President. 6. Duties of the Sergeant at Arms: The Sergeant at Arms shall ensure that all meetings are governed by the latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order and these Bylaws. 7. Vacancies: A Vacancy in the office of President and/or Treasurer will be referred to the Nominations Special Committee who may include the current Vice-President and/or Assistant-Treasurer (should either of those Officer(s) choose to run for the higher office), among the list of candidates for nomination to the vacant President and/or Treasurer position respectively. Should the current Vice President and/or Assistant Treasurer wish to be nominated for the vacant President and/or Treasurer office, the Nominations Special Committee shall also present a list of candidates for the Vice President and/or Assistant Treasurer office(s) should either of those offices become vacant by the elevation of the current Officer(s) to the higher office. If either the current Vice President and/or Assistant Treasurer DO NOT wish to be nominated for the vacant President and/or Treasurer respectively, OR fail to be elected to the higher office, they shall remain in their current office and no election shall be held for the non-vacant Vice President and/or Assistant Treasurer position(s). Article VII — Committees 1. Standing Committees: The GHRC Board of Directors establishes the following Standing Committees in order to carry out the objectives of the Gig Harbor Republican Club. a. Membership b. Fundraising c. Programs d. Social/Events e. Community Outreach/Young Republicans f. Communications/Technology g. Legislative 
Adopted: 04/23/2022 Gig Harbor Republican Club Bylaws Page 9 of 10 h. Soldiers Fund i. Education 2. Special Committees: The Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint Special Committees as necessary to implement the objectives of the GHRC. 3. Each Standing and Special Committee Chair is a member of the Board of Directors and as such is responsible for reporting their committee's activities at each Board Meeting and/or at a General Meeting when requested by the President. 4. All committee Chairs and Members must be Active Members. Article VIII — Parliamentary Authority The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the GHRC in all cases where applicable and where they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and/or any special rules the Gig Harbor Republican Club may adopt. Article IX — Amendments These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the GHRC Active Members present and voting at any General Meeting provided that notice of any proposed amendment(s) have previously been reviewed by the Bylaws Special Committee. A notice of such amendment(s) accompanied by the recommendation of the Board of Directors shall be presented to the GHRC membership prior to voting (per Article X below). Article X — Notices All Notices pertaining to Gig Harbor Republican Club business shall be delivered by e-mail a minimum of five (5) calendar days in advance of any action or changes that may affect the GHRC membership, the GHRC Bylaws, or any Standing Rules adopted by the GHRC. 
Adopted: 04/23/2022 Gig Harbor Republican Club Bylaws Page 10 of 10 Article XI — Dissolution In the event the GHRC wishes to formally disband or dissolve: 1. The Board of Directors shall present a Resolution at a General Meeting stating the reason(s) for dissolution. 2. Resolution(s) will also be presented by the Board of Directors which state the manner in which GHRC assets will be disposed of and any other administrative details related to dissolution. 3. Th