Central Connecticut Women’s Forum ---------

BYLAWS

 Section I.            Name

The name of this organization shall be the Central Connecticut Women’s Forum, also referred to as CCWF. There will be a North and Central Chapter. The Central Chapter is the main chapter and any additonal chapters that form will follow in succession.

 Section II.            Purpose

The purposes of the organization are:

A.    To reinforce the positive perception and image of women as equal partners in the work force, both for themselves and for others.

B.    To serve as a support system for women and to provide a forum in which women may serve as resources to each other by sharing experiences and insight.

C.    To provide an educational vehicle for women.

D.    To provide an environment for business networking. 

Section III.            Membership

A.    Membership shall be open to women in the public or private sector, who are:          

1)     employed in an executive, managerial, technical, clerical, sales, or administrative position,

2)     self-employed, 

3)     Professionals,

4)     career volunteers.

B.    Members have the right to:

1)     attend all meetings,

2)     receive notices of meetings on a regular basis,

3)     vote at Annual Meeting, and on special issues brought before the membership by the Steering Committee,

4)     other Forum information and correspondence as deemed appropriate by the Steering Committee.

C.    Members are encouraged to:

1)     become active participants in the Forum, 

2)     become involved in areas beyond their discipline. 

D.    Membership shall cease if a member fails to pay her dues within 60 days of the due date. 

E.     Membership may be terminated by action of the Steering Committee, upon the advice of the Membership Committee, if a member fails to abide by the Bylaws of the organization. 

Section IV.            Dues

Membership dues shall be:

A.    FOR NEW MEMBERS ­ paid upon joining the Forum. 

B.    FOR CURRENT MEMBERS ­ due January 1st of each year.

C.    Determined at the Annual Meeting upon the report and recommendation of the Steering Committee. 

Section V.            Meetings (Annual, Regular, and Special)

A.    Annual Meeting 

1)     There shall be an Annual Meeting of the organization in June on a date to be determined by the Steering Committee. 

2)     Notice shall be given to the membership at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting. 

3)     Only members of the Central Connecticut Women’s Forum, whose dues are paid in full, shall have the right to vote at the Annual Meeting. 

4)     The business of the Annual Meeting shall be to:

a.      elect officers,

b.      receive committee reports, 

c.      approve the annual budget,

d.      set dues, 

e.      transact such other business as may properly come before it. 

f.       A quorom for the Annual Meeting shall consist of those members present and voting but never less than 10% of the membership.  All decisions shall be made by majority vote of the quorom, except as otherwise provided. 

B.    Regular Meetings 

The forum shall meet at least eleven times each year on dates determined by the Steering Committee. 

C.    Special Meetings 

The President may call a special membership meeting by notifying the membership at least ten (10) days in advance of the time, place and purpose of the meeting. 

Section VI.            Steering Committee

A.    Structure 

1)     The Steering Committee shall comprise the OFFICERS (see Section IX) and Chairs of any active SUB-COMMITTEES (see Section VII). 

2)     No member shall serve on the Steering Committee more than five full terms within any consecutive ten year period. 

3)     The Steering Committee shall meet at least six (6) times a year. 

4)     No profits shall proceed to any officer, committee chair, or member of the organization. 

5)     Final approval of all decisions rests with the Steering Committee. 

B.    Duties 

            The Steering Committee shall: 

1)     Handle necessary business between Annual Meetings. 

2)     Resolve differences between committees. 

3)     Recommend the annual budget and dues to the membership. 

4)     Hire, direct, and supervise the Coordinator. 

5)     Identify issues of interest and concern to the members. 

6)     Report on types of interest and recommend appropriate action to the membership. 

7)     Plan the agenda for the Annual Meeting. 

8)     In the event that an officer other than the President resigns, select an interim officer. 

Section VII.            Sub-Committees

A.    Sub-Committees may be created in the following areas:                    

                  Programs & Issues                     Finance

                  Special Projects                       Public Relations

                  Membership 

Other Sub-Committees may be created as deemed appropriate by the Steering Committee 

1)     Chairs shall be selected annually by Sub-Committee members at the committee meeting immediately prior to the Annual Meeting. 

2)     In the event that a Chair resigns during her term, the Sub-Committee shall elect an interim chair. 

3)     No individual shall serve more than two full consecutive terms as Chair of the same Sub-Committee. 

4)     All members who wish to serve on a Sub-Committee may do so. 

5)     Each Sub-Committee shall prepare a report  for the Annual Meeting. 

6)     Chairs of all Sub-Committees may attend all Steering Committee meetings. 

B.    Nominating Committee 

1)     There shall be a NOMINATING COMMITTEE which shall present a slate of candidates for office to the Annual Meeting.  Additional candidates for office may be submitted to the Nominating Committee at least seven days prior to the Annual Meeting for consideration at the Annual Meeting.  The additional candidates must be endorsed by at least five (5) members.  Additional candidates for office may be nominated from the floor at the Annual Meeting. 

2)     This committee shall have not less than two (2) nor more than five (5) members selected by the Steering Committee from the total membership prior to the Annual Meeting.  It shall elect its own chair. 

3)     The slate must be assembled thirty (30) days prior to the membership meeting, so that it can be published in the membership newsletter, or special member mailing. 

4)     Notice of the slate shall be sent to all members at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting. 

Section VIII.            Officers

A.    The elected officers of this organization shall be: 

                        President oversees both Chapters

                        Vice President ---Central

                        Vice President ---North

                        V.P. Publicity/Marketing--Central

                        V.P. Publicity/Marketing--North

                        V.P. Membership---Central

                        V.P. Membership--North

                        V.P. Programs and Issues--Central

                        V.P. Programs and Issues--North

                        V.P. Membership--Central

                        V.P. Mmebership--North

                        Secretary--Central

                        Secretary--North

                        Treasurer --attends to needs of both chapters

                        Webmaster--attends to needs of both chapters

The slate of officers shall be elected by a majority vote at the Annual Meeting for a term of two (2) years and shall take office immediately.  They shall have a diversity of skills and experience among them.  No officer shall serve more than two consecutive full terms in the same office.  Each officer shall be a member of the Forum. 

B.    The PRESIDENT shall 

1)     Be the executive officer of the Central Connecticut Women’s Forum and preside at all Steering Committee meetings, the Annual Meeting, and Special Membership meetings. 

2)     Be the official spokesperson for the Central Connecticut Women’s Forum. 

3)     Execute contracts and other instruments authorized by the Steering Committee. 

4)     Assume the responsibilities of a resigning officer until a replacement is appointed or elected. 

5)     Be an ex officio member of all committees without a vote, for four years. 

1)   The Central Chapter Vice President will succeed to the office of the President in the event of a vacancy.

2)   The North Chapter VP would succeed the Central Chapter VP in the event the Central Chapter VP can no longer serve.

3)   The Central Chapter position of VP supercedes the North Chapter or any subsequent new chapters that may arise as the membership needs to grow.

4)   Provide the communitiy with a means for identifying and contacting members for business and civic involvement.

5)   Be an ex officio member of all committees without a vote.

D.    The VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP (Central and North Chapters) shall 

1)   Be actively involved in the solicitation of candidates for membership to ensure the healthy continuation of the Forum. 

2)   Send a guest welcome letter or email to each new guest.

3)   Send a member welcome letter or email to each new member who joins.

3)     Review, assess, and recommend changes in membership criteria. 

4)     Provide the community with a means for identifying and contacting members for business and civic involvement. 

5)   Be an ex officio member of the Membership Committee with a vote.

E.    The VICE PRESIDENT PUBLICITY/MARKETING (Central and North Chapters) shall 

1)     Establish publicity guidelines and coordinate all publicity, including press releases, posters, and fliers. 

2)     Provide Forum information upon request from the media. 

3)     Coordinate all CCWF publications including the newsletter, program booklet, etc. 

F.     The VICE PRESIDENT PROGRAMS AND ISSUES (Central and North Chapters) shall 

1)     Choose meeting topics and engage speakers for monthly Forum meetings. 

2)     Develop meeting and workshop ideas, responding to needs of the membership. 

3)     Develop a list of meeting places. . 

4)     Coordinate seminars around topics of interest and concern to the members. 

5)     Maintain a list of speakers and topics which may be utilized by the Forum. 

6)     Be an ex officio member of the Programs and Issues Committee with a vote, for four years. 

G.     The SECRETARY shall 

1)     Take minutes at Steering Committee and Annual Membership meetings. 

2)     Be an ex officio member of the Public Relations Committee with a vote, for four years. 

H.    The TREASURER shall 

1)     Be responsible for all financial records and for the accounting of all monies collected and disbursed. 

2)     Render a treasurer’s report at each Steering Committee meeting and an annual financial statement to the membership. 

3)     Understand and be responsible for the Forum’s compliance with all state and federal laws concerning finances, including provision of required financial reports, to the CT Treasurer and Secretary of the State, including the filing of a Federal Income Tax Return when required by law. 

4)     Recommend the annual budget and dues to the Steering Committee. 

5)     Identify and pursue all sources of income including fundraising, contributions, and all other appropriate sources, as necessary. 

6)     Be an ex officio member of the Finance Committee with a vote, for four years.

1) Maintain and update CCWF Website as needed.

Section IX.            Coordinator of Central Connecticut Women’s Forum

A.    The Steering Committee shall hire, direct, and supervise the Coordinator. 

B.    RESPONSIBILITIES 

1)     Responsible for member notices, media information, reservations, payments, and preparation and registration for monthly meeting attendance. 

2)     Serve as administrative support and liaison to the Steering Committee. 

3)     Maintain computer records for membership list. 

4)     Receive and act upon membership applications. 

5)     Coordinate meeting room facility menu and meeting room changes. 

6)     Prepare, copy, and distribute programs. 

7)       Establish feedback received regarding any areas of CCWF.   

C.    COMPENSATION 

The Coordinator has twenty hours of each month to perform those functions, as well as any other assigned responsibilities as the need arises.  For this, she will be paid at the fair market rate consistent with services provided for her job functions per hour in addition to any out-of-pocket expenses.  Any work that requires her working beyond the twenty hours requires approval from the President.  This will, in effect, limit the amount of overtime responsibility for the Coordinator. 

D.    REVIEW 

The Coordinator’s position will be reviewed on a yearly basis.  That time period for review will be in January. 

Section X.            Rules of Procedure

Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the procedure of all meetings of the Forum. 

Section XI.            Amendment of Bylaws

These bylaws may be amended at a general Membership Meeting by a (2/3) majority of those present, provided that the notice of the proposed changes be given to members at least thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled meeting.  Amendments shall become effective immediately upon adoption. 

Section XII.            Dissolution

Upon dissolution of the Forum, the Steering Committee shall, after paying all liabilities, upon its own determining dispose of the assets exclusively for the purpose of the Forum or to an organization having similar objectives which qualifies as exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended. 

CCWF Bylaws (1985) rev. 1997 rev. 2007

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