Bylaws

Chippewa Valley Chapter

of the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin,

an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union

Bylaws Adopted November 1967

Revised December 1971

Revised December 1972

Revised January 1987

Revised October 1988

Revised September 2006

Revised September 2009

Revised October 2014

Revised November 2017


Article I Name

The name of this organization shall be the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, Chippewa Valley Chapter but it may also be referred to as the Chippewa Valley Civil Liberties Union or CVCLU.

Article II Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to help advance the ACLU’s mission of liberty and justice for all. In coordination with the ACLU of Wisconsin staff and board we will

  1. identify local civil liberties issues and work to resolve them,

  2. help advance the ACLU’s state and national work on civil liberties issues,

  3. help educate the public about civil liberties and the ACLU, and

  4. encourage people to join and support the ACLU.

Article III Non-Discrimination Statement

The Chippewa Valley Civil Liberties Union shall not discriminate in its programming or membership on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, sex, ancestry, national origin, age, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, disability, arrest or conviction record, or political affiliation.

Article IV Membership

Membership is established by becoming a member of the American Civil Liberties Union and residing in Chippewa, Dunn or Eau Claire County.

Article V Board of Directors

Section 1

The board of directors shall consist of at least nine (9) directors elected by the membership of the chapter for staggered three-year terms. A representative of any committee of the chapter may sit in an advisory, non-voting capacity with the board of directors.

Section 2

Student Representatives. There shall be two to three student members of the Board of Directors. Student Directors shall all have the rights and responsibilities of Directors. The Nominating Committee shall recommend the number of student members and nominate student members at the time of appointment for two year terms, subject to the approval of the Board.

Section 3

The board of directors shall be the administrative and operational body of the chapter.

Section 4

The board of directors shall meet at least four times a year at the call of the president or any three members of the board. Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Board of directors meetings are open to all members.

Section 5

The president, board of directors, or general membership shall establish such committees as are deemed appropriate to the work of the chapter.

Section 6

A director may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the membership called to consider recall of that director.

Section 7

A director who fails to attend three consecutive meetings without good reason may be dropped from membership on the board by a majority vote of the board.

Section 8

A vacancy on the board of directors occurring between elections because of death, resignation, or removal of a director, may be filled by the board of directors for the balance of the unexpired term.

Article VI Officers

Section 1

Officers of this chapter shall be a president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary, who shall be elected by the board of directors from its membership at the first meeting of the board following the election of new members to the board or as vacancies occur.

Officers shall serve two-year terms, with a limit of two consecutive terms. The officers shall hold office until the election of their respective successors.

Section 2

The duties and powers of the officers shall be:

(a) The president shall preside over all meetings of the chapter and the board of directors. The president shall be the chapter’s representative on the ACLU of Wisconsin board of directors, with all duties and privileges of that board, unless the president appoints someone else on the chapter board for this role. The president shall make an agenda and send notice of each meeting at least two days before the meeting.

(b) The vice-president shall preside over all meetings in the absence of the president and execute all other duties of the president whenever the president is unable to be present.

(c) The secretary shall keep a complete set of records of all chapter activities including the minutes of all board of directors and chapter meetings, committee reports, correspondence and chapter-related newspaper clippings. The secretary will distribute minutes after each meeting within two weeks via email to board members. After minutes are approved, a copy will be sent to the ACLU of Wisconsin and will be posted on the website.

(d) The treasurer shall keep a complete set of records on all income and disbursement of the chapter and shall give written report on them at all board of directors and chapter meetings. Said records shall be open to the membership at any reasonable time. The treasurer shall report a complete financial statement at the annual meeting of the membership. The treasurer shall make a chapter financial report annually to the state office.

Article VII Chapter Meetings

Section 1

Meetings of the chapter shall be called by the president, board of directors, or chapter membership.

Section 2

There shall be an annual membership meeting for the purpose of electing new members to the board of directors and to review the activities of the board. The members present shall constitute a quorum. Any appropriate matter presented by any member to the president not less than ten (10) days prior to that meeting shall be placed on the agenda for the meeting. Other new business not on the agenda may be placed on the agenda by a 2/3 vote of the members present.

Section 3

Notice of the chapter meetings shall be sent to the chapter members at least ten (10) days prior to any general membership meeting. Notice may be sent by postal or electronic mail. The notice of the annual meeting shall include the report of the nominating committee and a summary of chapter activities during the past year.

Section 4

Special meetings of the chapter may be called by a 2/3 vote of the board of directors or on the written request of 25 members. The purpose of the meeting must be stated in the call and no other business may take place at that meeting.

Article VIII Elections

Section 1

Any chapter member when the annual meeting is held shall be eligible to vote in the election held at the annual meeting and shall be eligible for election to the board of directors.

Section 2

The president shall appoint a nominating committee at least one month prior to the annual meeting of the general membership. This committee shall report to the membership in the annual membership meeting notice. Nominations may also be made from the floor. Directors shall be elected by secret ballot vote of the members present during the regular annual meeting of the chapter. The three (3) nominees receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected.

Article IX Dissolution

At a duly called meeting with at least two months advance notice to membership, the CVCLU may be dissolved by an affirmative vote of 2/3 members present. Upon dissolution the assets and interests of the CVCLU will be transferred to the ACLU-WI.

Article X Amendments

The by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present at any duly called meeting provided that notice of the proposed amendment is included in the meeting notice.

Article XI Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of “Robert’s Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedures” shall govern the Board of Directors on all questions to which they are applicable, to the extent that such rules are not inconsistent with these bylaws.