Tulsa Area Libertarians Bylaws
Adopted during the monthly meeting at Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 15th, 2001ARTICLE ONE: ASSOCIATION NAME
Section 1.01. The name of the organization is the Tulsa Area Libertarians, hereinafter referred to as the "Association.” From time to time, the Association may refer to itself as “TAL".ARTICLE TWO: DURATION
Section 2.01. The duration of the Association shall be perpetual.ARTICLE THREE: AFFILIATION
Section 3.01. The Association is to become affiliated with the Libertarian Party of Oklahoma in accordance with ARTICLES THIRTEEN and FOURTEEN of the Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Oklahoma, hereinafter referred to as the “State Party.” Once such affiliation is completed, the language of this Article should be amended to properly reflect such affiliation.Section 3.02. In order that it may represent the State Party, the Association will endeavor to obtain a Charter from the State Executive Committee, in accordance with ARTICLE FOURTEEN of the Bylaws of the State Party.
ARTICLE FOUR: OBJECTIVES
Section 4.01. The objectives of the Association are to enable citizens of the Tulsa area to organize into a political Association and promote the Libertarian principles necessary to the existence of a free society by:(a) Publicizing the principles of libertarianism and securing ballot recognition and voter registration rights;
(b) Seeking out, developing, nominating, and campaigning for the election to public office of Libertarian candidates who pledge adherence to the Declaration of Principles of the Association, and supporting these Libertarians during their continuance in office;
(c) Extending cooperation to other organizations and groups when this furthers libertarian principles and objectives.
ARTICLE FIVE: MEMBERSHIP
Section 5.01. Membership in the Association shall consist of Registered Libertarians and Enrolled Libertarians. Registered Libertarians shall be those who are registered Oklahoma voters with the political affiliation of Libertarian, and whose rights and privileges regarding voting, voter registration, and being a candidate for public office are granted to them by the State of Oklahoma. Registration as a Libertarian voter with the State of Oklahoma is not sufficient for voting participation within the Association as an Officer, or Convention Delegate, such participation being reserved to Enrolled Libertarians. Enrolled Libertarians are those who have paid the dues as provided by the authority of the Tulsa Area Libertarians, and who have signed the Affirmation designated in Section 5.02. The dues may be paid annually, biennially or for life. Those Enrolled Members of the Association who are also registered voters must be registered as Libertarians (should the State of Oklahoma recognize the State Party) or as Independents (should the State Party not be recognized by the State of Oklahoma).Section 5.02. Affirmation of Principle - Enrolled members of the Association must sign in affirmation of the following statement: "I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals."
Section 5.03. Enrolled Members of the Association shall have the right to participate in official affairs and governance of the Association in accordance with these Bylaws. Such right shall be inviolate and the willful abridgment of such right by an officer or member of any committee of the Association shall be sufficient cause for removal of such officer or committee member. At any time a vote is taken, those eligible to vote shall do so in person. No proxy voting shall be allowed by the Association.
Section 5.04. Enrolled members of the Association who are residents of the State of Oklahoma or are registered to vote in the State of Oklahoma may attend any meeting of the Association. Any Enrolled members of the Association may be appointed by the membership or officers of the Association to any non-elective office. Any Enrolled members of the Association may serve as an elected officer of the Association.
ARTICLE SIX: OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Section 6.01. The officers of the Association shall be a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Election of the Chairman and Secretary shall be held at the regular Association meeting in January of each year. Election of the Vice-Chairman and Treasurer shall be held during the regular Association meeting in July of each year. The officers-elect will take office upon adjournment of the Association meeting and shall serve until the adjournment of the next election Association meeting and until their successors have been elected. Vacant offices shall be filled by special election at a regularly scheduled Association meeting.Section 6.02. No offices shall be combined. Only enrolled members of the Association who are residents of the State of Oklahoma or are registered to vote in the State of Oklahoma shall be eligible for election and/or appointment to any elective office of the Association. Any enrolled member of the Association in good standing may be appointed to any non-elective office, position and/or committee of the Association. The resignation of any officer shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Association, or lacking a Secretary, to the Treasurer of the Association. The resignation shall be forwarded to the remaining Association officers for action.
Section 6.03. The Chairman is the chief executive officer of the Association and shall coordinate the activities of the Association members in achieving the objectives and goals of the Association. The Chairman shall be responsible for the enforcement of these Bylaws and the carrying out of the directions and resolutions of the Association in accordance with these Bylaws. The Chairman shall assist in all National and State Libertarian Association campaigns and all activities, functions, and campaigns within the State, and shall serve as a member of all standing committees. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Association. The Chairman shall be the primary spokesperson, but may delegate this function to any other Association member in good standing. The Chairman shall insure that all state and federal laws pertaining to political organizations are complied with and make provision for legal services for the Association.
Section 6.04. The Vice-Chairman shall act as assistant to the Chairman and shall perform such duties as the Chairman shall assign, and perform the duties of the Chairman in the absence of the Chairman and/or until a successor Chairman is chosen by the membership of the Association. The Vice-Chairman shall serve on the following Standing Committees: Outreach and Public Relations.
Section 6.05. The Secretary shall be the recording officer at all Association meetings and shall maintain such records for future use and be responsible for all correspondence of the Association. The Secretary will also maintain the TAL Library and be responsible for the tracking of the books owned by TAL. The Secretary will also serve on the Membership Committee.
Section 6.06. The Treasurer shall be custodian of all funds of the Association and shall disburse the same in accordance with decisions to spend such funds by the membership of the Association. The Treasurer shall keep a strict account of all receipts and disbursements, with the dates thereof, from whom received and to whom disbursed, and the purpose thereof. The accounts of the Treasurer shall be accessible during normal business hours to any Enrolled Member of the Association in good standing if that member so requests in writing on twenty-four (24) hours advance notice. The Treasurer shall report at such time or times as requested by the membership of the Association in such form as will provide all necessary information relative to the amount of receipts, disbursements, and cash balance, together with expenditures charged to each item of the budget and the unexpended balance of the budget items. The Treasurer shall serve as a member of the Finance Committee. At the end of the Treasurer's term of office, the Treasurer shall deliver to that person's successor all monies, property, books, and records of the Association maintained by that person or in that person's possession.
ARTICLE SEVEN: COMMITTEES
Section 7.01. Standing Committees. The following Standing Committees shall be established: Public Relations, Outreach and Membership. The chairpersons of these committees shall be responsible for organizing and facilitating the various tasks of each committee as set out below, devising and maintaining systems to accomplish those tasks, recruiting members and others to aid in accomplishing those tasks, presenting plans and budget requirements to the membership of the Association for approval and funding, holding regular meetings of their committees, and appointing subcommittees and overseeing their activities.Section 7.02. Public Relations Committee. The purpose of the Public Relations Committee is to organize and maintain communications between the Association and the public.
Specifically, these duties shall include organizing and maintaining systems for communicating with Media outlets, maintaining a database of those Media outlets, organizing the writing and editing of News Releases and Letters to the Editor, and in other ways attempting to create a positive public image of the Association.
Section 7.03. Outreach Committee. The purpose of the Outreach Committee is to organize and maintain systems for recruiting new members into the Association and making direct contact with potential members and voters. Specifically, these duties will include organizing Association information booths at state and county fairs and other public events, organizing an Association Speakers Bureau and arranging for speakers for schools or other groups, organizing student affiliates at schools and colleges, and developing training programs for candidates and speakers.
Section 7.04. Membership Committee. The purpose of the Membership Committee is to maintain the membership database, keep track of active TAL members, and notify members when their membership is about to expire. Other duties include sending any general coorespondence to the membership at large when directed by the Chairman.
ARTICLE EIGHT: OPEN ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
Section 8.01. All meetings of the Association, its officers, and any committees shall be open to the attendance of both the general public and any representative of the press. This shall not be construed to give any person the right to participate, unless they have fulfilled all other requirements for participation as set forth herein.ARTICLE NINE: PUBLIC STATEMENTS
Section 9.01. Association officials asked to comment on issues or events shall not be restrained or restricted from speaking their opinion with the disclaimer that their statements may not reflect the official opinion of the Association.ARTICLE TEN: FINANCIAL AND FISCAL AFFAIRS
Section 10.01. The Treasurer shall conduct the financial and fiscal affairs of the Association as he/she deems necessary or as required by law.Section 10.02. No person acting in his capacity as a member, official, or employee of the Association shall accept any money contribution or any other thing of value, except for labor services voluntarily donated, without tendering a receipt for the contribution showing the source and date of transfer. However, money received by the Association from mass collections of cash, or from anonymous sources, shall be accepted, provided the person taking possession of such monies shall execute an affidavit declaring that he has no knowledge of the identity of the contributor. Any member, official, or employee of the Association who shall be convicted of executing a false affidavit in this regard shall be immediately expelled from the Association, and/or removed from office, and/or their employment terminated. Any person expelled or terminated under this provision shall be barred from participation in Association affairs for a period set by the officers, not to exceed seven (7) years.
Section 10.03. Emergency Management of Association Funds.
The Chairman and Treasurer, jointly, shall have authority to immediately withdraw any and all Association funds from deposit in any financial institution, if, in their opinion, those funds are in jeopardy for any reason. In the event they shall disagree, the remaining Officers shall be consulted and their decision shall be final. In the event it becomes necessary to withdraw such funds, they shall immediately be converted to cash or precious metals at the best rate obtainable and in whichever form or portion shall be deemed prudent in an institution believed to be more secure in the opinion of the Chairman and the Treasurer. Whenever the Chairman and the Treasurer believe it necessary to invoke the emergency management authority provided herein, they shall immediately notify the remaining Officers and request that they, and as many members as may be able, accompany the Chairman and the Treasurer to witness all transactions involved, copy necessary documents and records, and monitor all actions taken by the two officers pursuant to this section of the Bylaws. The two officers shall be authorized to make such expenditures as are necessary to safeguard the funds or assets of the Association pursuant to this section. In no event shall funds or assets of the Association be transferred or conveyed from within the boundaries of the forty-eight (48) contiguous states of the United States.
ARTICLE ELEVEN: ADMINISTRATION
Section 11.01. The officers of the Association shall perform the administration of the Association as needed or as required by Oklahoma law.Section 11.02. No officer of the Association shall have the authority to bind the Association in any contract, lease, or agreement for a period which exceeds thirty-seven (37) months, except in matters relating to suits at law in which the Association is itself a party.
Section 11.03. Voter registration information and Membership information in whatever form or media shall be the property of the Association and the Executive Council shall adopt standing rules providing for its custody, security, and utilization.
ARTICLE TWELVE: AMENDMENTS
Section 12.01. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3)-majority vote of the members at any duly called meeting, except that this Section (i.e. Section 14.01.) shall require a three-fourths (3/4) majority to amend.Section 12.02. Amendments to these Bylaws shall become effective immediately upon adoption. The Association shall publish these Bylaws on its web site and shall make print copies available to any Association Member and to all interested persons provided, however, that non-members requesting the Bylaws may be required to pay for that copy.
Section 12.03. These Bylaws may only be amended by vote of the membership at an Association meeting.
Section 12.04. Proposed amendments to these Bylaws shall be considered at any Association meeting.
Section 12.05. No amendment to these Bylaws shall change the status of any person at a Association meeting, for the duration of that Association meeting. Also, no amendment, in any event, shall invalidate action properly taken under previous Bylaws.