Three Pillars of the Democratic Education Alliance

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ARTICLE I - NAME  

The name of this organization shall be the San Diego Democratic Education Alliance, hereafter referred to as the Club.  

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE  

The purpose of this Club shall be to foster democratic ideals by stimulating active interest in the Democratic  Party, to support the party platform, contribute to party leadership and responsibility, to provide a constructive  role for volunteers in Democratic politics, to promote an activist base among education professionals, to support quality candidates for local school boards and education advocates to local office, to push to prioritize education in Party platforms, and to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in education and curricula.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP  

SECTION 1 - ELIGIBILITY  

Anyone registered as a Democrat or who is ineligible to vote (due to age, non-residency or other legal impediment) but pledges to register as a Democrat when eligible, and supports the purpose of the Club as stated in Article II above shall be eligible for membership in this club.  

Section 2 - GOOD STANDING  

Democrats and pledged Democrats, who have returned their annual membership form and whose annual dues are currently paid, or waived, shall be considered  a member in good standing. Any member whose actions are judged to be prejudicial or detrimental to the Club  by the Executive Board may be expelled from membership by a two-thirds vote at any general meeting, at  which a quorum exists, with proper notification.  

SECTION 3 - DUES  

Dues shall initially be set at $10 for membership and reviewed mid-year and recommended by the Executive Board, for approval by the membership, to go into effect for the next membership year. Dues are payable upon joining the Club, and annually at the beginning of every Club calendar year thereafter. Payment of dues shall not be obligatory to anyone for whom it constitutes an economic hardship. This option must be available on membership forms.

SECTION 4 - VOTING  

Voting on general club business is open to any member in good standing. However, voting eligibility for all scenarios described in Article V, Section 4 requires a member in good standing to have attended at least three (3) prior meetings within the last 12 months, not including the meeting in which a vote takes place. No proxy voting or absentee voting shall be permitted. 

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS  

SECTION 1 - ELECTED OFFICERS  

Elected officers of this Club shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Chair. All officers must be members in good standing and eligible to vote based on past attendance.  All Officers shall reside within the boundaries of San Diego County. Officers must also have either a professional or volunteer leadership background in education. Each shall be elected at the general meeting in January and hold office for one year.  An elected officer may be removed from office for such cause as: three (3) unexcused absences, losing membership eligibility, or non-performance of duties. Removal process shall be a majority vote by the Executive Board, followed by a two-thirds vote of the members at a General Meeting.

SECTION 2 - DUTIES  

A. President - The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Club. They shall preside over all  meetings of the Club and the executive board; make appointments to other positions as required; be an authorized check signer; and act as official spokesperson of the Club. In addition, the President should stimulate active interest in the political process, provide a constructive role for the active volunteer; contribute to effective leadership and individual responsibility; and promote harmony among the club membership, between other clubs, and within the San Diego County Democratic Party. The President is also responsible for attending (or sending a proxy to) all San Diego Democratic Party Council of Clubs meetings. While presiding over a meeting, the President may only vote in order to break a tie. 

B. Vice-Presidents (2) - The Vice Presidents shall serve at the direction of the President. They shall preside at  meetings if the President is unable to do so, or are requested by the President to do so. The Vice-President shall take over the duties of President in the absence of that officer, and is responsible for the annual audit. As such, the Vice-President may not be a check signer. Vice Presidents are responsible for supporting the President, creating internal and external communications, and keeping the social media and website up to date. 

C. Secretary - The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the general meetings, executive committee meetings,  conduct correspondence, maintain the Club’s records, and is responsible for internal communications.  

D. Treasurer -The Treasurer shall collect and deposit all dues and club funds; maintain an accurate record of club receipts and expenditures; sign all checks as authorized by the Executive Board; make the record of club receipts and expenditures available to any member when requested; provide a Treasurer’s report at Club meetings; provide an annual written report of club finances; and provide all financial records of the club to the auditor each year. In addition the Treasurer shall be responsible for filing FPPC/FEC financial reports on time as required.  

E. Membership Chair - The Membership Chair shall keep all membership records including meeting attendance. They will coordinate with the Treasurer to establish member voting eligibility based on dues payment, membership forms, and attendance. 

F. Board Members At-Large – Additional Board Members may be elected to serve on the Executive Board as At-Large Members to perform functions unnamed above. 

SECTION 3 - ELECTIONS  

Executive Board elections shall be held annually at the January meeting. An Elections Chair shall be elected by the membership during the November meeting and shall preside over the Executive Board election in January. The Elections Chair must not be running for an Executive Board position, and the Elections Chair tenure ends at the close of the meeting in which the Executive Board is elected. At the election meeting in January, nominations will be taken from the floor. The election may be held by show of hands, or with a voice vote for uncontested offices. A secret ballot will be used for any contested offices. Those nominees who receive a majority vote (50%+1) shall be declared elected. If no person receives a majority of votes cast, a run-off shall be held between those two persons receiving the greatest number of votes. The person receiving the majority of the votes after all ballots are considered shall be declared elected.  

SECTION 4 - VACANCIES  

Should any officer resign or be removed, the Executive Board shall declare that office vacant and elect, by majority vote, a successor to that office to complete the unexpired term. Any such appointment shall, however, be ratified by the membership at the next general meeting. At that meeting, nominations to fill the vacancy shall also be accepted from the floor. A contested vote shall be by secret ballot with the nominee who receives a majority vote (50%+1) declared elected.  

SECTION 5 - APPOINTED OFFICERS  

The President shall appoint a Parliamentarian and any committee chairs as needed (other than Elections Chair). Appointed positions are not considered executive officers, though they may attend Executive Board meetings.

ARTICLE V- MEETINGS  

SECTION 1 - GENERAL MEETINGS  

There shall be twelve (12) meetings, monthly on the last Sunday of the month, allowing for meeting dates to be moved at the behest of the executive board, as needed with proper notice (per section 4) . Special general meetings shall be held at such times and places as specified by a majority of the Executive Board with three (3) days notice to membership.  

SECTION 2 - QUORUM  

A quorum at any general meeting shall be the number of executive officers times two (2) plus one (1) and made up of those whose membership is in good standing (as defined in Article III, Section 2) including a quorum of executive officers. A quorum of the Executive Board shall be a majority of its elected officers.  

SECTION 3 - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY  

The parliamentary authority is the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.  SECTION 4 - NOTICES  

At least two (2) weeks prior to a general meeting at which the following items will be discussed and voted  upon, meeting notices shall be emailed to each member of the club in good standing:  

Club elections and filling of vacancies 

Proposed amendments to bylaws 

Proposed resolutions 

Endorsements of candidates and/or ballot measures

Expulsion of member or officer for cause  

Such notice shall specify the time, place and date of the general meeting and describe the event. Notice will include phone calls if necessary for participation for those unable to access email.  

ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE BOARD  

SECTION 1 - FUNCTION  

The Executive Board shall approve all expenditures and carry out the club business between general meetings  in a manner consistent with actions taken at the general meetings, and perform any other duties provided for in  these bylaws. The President shall pre-approve any written correspondence on behalf of the club. The  President shall be the sole spokesperson of the club.  

SECTION 2 - MEMBERSHIP  

Membership of the Executive Board shall include all of the currently elected club officers.  

SECTION 3 - MEETINGS  

The President shall call a meeting, with advance notice, of the Executive Board as needed. Special meetings  may be called by a majority of the currently elected members of the Executive Board at any time. 

ARTICLE VII - STANDING COMMITTEES  

The standing committees for the club may include Political Action, Fund Raising, Programs, Special Events, Communications, Hospitality, and others as identified by the President and ratified by the Executive Board.  

ARTICLE VIII - CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS  

A. Only candidates who are registered Democrats are eligible for Club endorsement. Endorsements will be prioritized for education related races: TK-12 school boards, community college boards, county board of education, state superintendent, and education related measures and propositions. Additional endorsements will be considered only at the discretion of the executive board. 

B. All endorsements of candidates or resolutions concerning ballot measures or public issues must be  in accordance with the standards established by the California State Democratic Party and the San  Diego County Democratic Party. It is also the tradition and stated goal of the Club not to make  endorsements or to pass resolutions which will adversely affect the unity of the Democratic Party. Once the Party has endorsed, Club endorsements shall only be considered with a 2/3 majority.

C. A motion to endorse a candidate or take a position on a Proposition or public issue must receive the  vote of sixty percent (60%) of the Club members in good standing who are present and voting. All endorsements will use a ranked choice voting system. If no candidate or Proposition reaches the 60% threshold, the Club may make a motion off the floor to rank any or all candidates “qualified.” (This rating must also clear the threshold of 60%.) The Club may also rate a candidate as “unacceptable” with a vote of 75% or more.

ARTICLE IX – CLUB REPRESENTATIVES  

SECTION 1. California Democratic Party (CDP)  

In order to be eligible to participate in CDP pre-endorsing conferences, the Club’s President, Secretary, or  Treasurer will ratify the roster of Democratic members in good standing by July 1 of each odd-numbered year  identifying the legislative districts and representatives for each district and submit it to the CDP and SDCDP.  Representatives should be equally apportioned between men and women to the extent possible.  

SECTION 2. San Diego County Democratic Party (SDCDP) Associate Member  

Under the club’s charter with the SDCDP, its President is a representative to the SDCDP Central Committee  as an Associate Member. If the President is already a Central Committee member or chooses not to serve, a  different representative may be selected by the Executive Board to serve their term according to the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of this Article. An Associate Member application, for the President or any other representative, must be submitted to the SDCDP within 30 days of his or her selection by the club.  

SECTION 3. Selection  

Club representatives to the CDP and SDCDP – and any other official representatives, delegates, and  alternates from the club to conferences, caucuses, councils, conventions, and other meetings – shall be  selected by a vote of eligible members at a duly noticed club meeting or, if that cannot occur at a regular or special meeting, by designation of the Executive Board.  

SECTION 4. Adherence to Club Positions  

Club representatives described in this Article, when participating in voting and discussion in that capacity, shall  adhere to and represent the club’s official positions on endorsements and other matters wherever applicable,  and shall agree to do so prior to their selection. Failure to do so will result in removal as Associate of the Club.  

SECTION 5. Other SDCDP Representatives  

A. The Executive Board will designate a GO Team Liaison. 

B. The Executive Board will designate a SDCDP Voter Registration Liaison.  

ARTICLE X - AFFILIATION  

The club shall affiliate as an associate member of the County Democratic Central Committee and pay the  current annual chartering fee.  

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS  

These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote at a general meeting after such amendment has been  presented at the preceding general meeting and notice has been provided as specified in Article V, Section 4  of these bylaws.  

Temporary suspension of the bylaws may be made by a two-thirds (2/3) vote by present

members in good standing at a general body meeting. A motion to suspend must identify the

Article and Section being suspended and may not suspend more than one Article. This Section

may not be suspended.

ARTICLE XII – EXPENDITURES, CONTRACTS, AND CONSULTANTS

A. Expenditures under fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be subject to prior approval of the

President.

B. Expenditures of fifty dollars ($50.00) or more, but under three hundred dollars

($300.00), shall be subject to prior approval by a majority of the Executive Board.

C. Expenditures in excess of three hundred dollars (300.00) shall be subject to prior

approval by a majority of the members present and voting at a duly noticed general

business meeting.

D. All expenditures must be reported to the membership at the next regularly scheduled

general business meeting.

E. The Democratic Education Alliance may hire a consultant to perform various duties on behalf of the

club including, but not limited to bookkeeping, communications, fundraising, lobbying, or

treasury reporting.

F. Contracts valued under three hundred dollars ($300.00) or more per year shall be

subject to prior approval by a majority of the Executive Board.

G. Contracts valued at three hundred dollars ($300.00) or more per year shall be subject to

prior approval by a majority of the membership present and voting at a duly noticed

general business meeting.

H. The Club Treasurer and/or President must sign all contracts on behalf of the Club.

ARTICLE XIII - ADOPTION  

These bylaws shall become effective immediately upon their adoption and shall be the governing rules of the  club.  

ADOPTED 25th FEBRUARY, 2024

Kate Bishop, President