BYLAWS

MORRISTOWN – MORRIS TWP. REPUBLICAN CLUB 

Morris Township, New Jersey 

September 15, 2024 

ARTICLE I NAME 

The official name of this organization shall be: MORRISTOWN – MORRIS TWP. REPUBLICAN CLUB 

ARTICLE II MISSION 

Our Mission is to promote and support the principles of the Republican Party and to support Republican candidates on the national, state, county, and local levels.  We believe in empowering our members by promoting education, participation, and volunteerism to better serve our communities.  

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP 

Section 1.        Requirements for Membership 

Membership shall be available to all individuals who support the Republican Party and are registered Republicans of Morristown or Morris Township. 

Section 2.         Dues 

The annual dues for membership shall be follows: 

Young Republicans (under 24yrs) and seniors (65+) $45 annually. 

All Others $60  

Recommended by the Executive Committee to be approved at our first meeting. 

Section 3.         Payment of Dues and Fees 

Existing members: Dues shall become due and payable during January of each year. 

New members: Full dues shall be payable by new members joining in the months of January through October and will apply to the current membership year.  New members joining in November through December will be responsible for paying the next year’s membership rate and the membership will apply to the next calendar year. 

Officers may not hold office unless they are members in good standing. 

A member in good standing constitutes one who has paid the current year dues, supports the Republican Party and is a registered Republican. 

ARTICLE IV OFFICERS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

Section 1.         Officers 

The officers of this club shall be President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Publicity Officer, Sargent at Arms, Treasurer, and Four (4) members of the Board of Trustees. No person shall hold more than one office of the Club at any given time. 

Section 2.         Term of Office 

The officers shall be elected for a period of one (1) year or until their successors have been elected and qualified. No elected officer may serve more than two (2) consecutive full annual terms in the same office apart from the Treasurer. 

Section 3.         Board of Trustees 

The board of trustees shall consist of four (4) members. One member will be the immediate Past President of the club. One member will be a member of the Morristown Municipal Republican Committee. One member will be a member of the Morris Twp. Republican County Committee, and the last member will be elected by the club membership as the “Member – at – Large” for a one-year term. In the event the immediate Past President or Republican County Committee members cannot serve, that person’s replacement will be selected by the Executive Committee. 

Section 3a.       Duties 

The Board of Trustees shall be responsible for Recruiting and Nominating Club Officers 

The Board of Trustees shall submit a single slate of candidates for the elective offices at the October meeting. 

Section 4.         Executive Committee 

The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the Club and the Board of Trustees. 

Section 4a.       Duties 

The Executive Committee shall fill all vacancies in the elective offices that occur between elections apart from the President who shall be replaced by the 1st Vice President. 

The Executive Committee: 

  1. may make decisions on expenditures of funds not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) 
  1. shall prepare a calendar of the year’s activities and present it to the club membership 
  1. shall be responsible to replace any elected officer who does not carry out or is able to carry out the duties of his or her office 

Section 5.         Duties/Role of each Executive Committee Member 

The President shall: 

  1. provide leadership and strategic vision during active term 
  1. be member ex-officio of all committees except the Board of Trustees 
  1. chair all club meetings and Executive Committee meetings 
  1. be responsible for the proper functioning of all Committees and Boards 
  1. see to it that all elected officers are carrying out their duties 
  1. actively participate in fundraising events 

The First Vice President shall: 

  1. perform the duties of the President in his/her absence 
  1. greet at the door and with The Sergeant of Arms 
  1. be responsible for Club Programs, Activities 
  1. actively participate in fundraising events 

The Second Vice President shall: 

  1. perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President and the 1st Vice President 
  1. be responsible for and meeting speakers and venues 
  1. serve on the finance Committee 
  1. actively participate in fundraising events 

The Recording Secretary shall: 

  1. record and distribute the minutes of all regular meetings, special meetings and Executive board meetings. 
  1. maintain the minutes in an electronic file and/or binder and distribute minutes within 10 calendar days of the meeting to all Members. 
  1. actively participate in fundraising events 

The Publicity Officer shall: 

  1. be responsible for notifying paid club members of all meetings via email and posting on the Club website calendar 
  1. give club an online presence– such as; Meta, X, Instagram, and the MMTRC website 
  1. update the MMTRC website of any special events 
  1. handle club correspondence 
  1. maintain a list of contacts that can be used for various club activities, such as, meetings and fundraisers 
  1. actively participate in fundraising events 

Sergeant At Arms shall: 

  1. monitor registered republican status at door/ Security 
  1. register new member at the door and collect funds for deposit 
  1. provide member status updated to the Executive Committee 
  1. actively participate in fundraising events 

The Treasurer shall: 

  1. be the custodian of club funds 
  1. deposit funds in the bank designated by the Executive Committee 
  1. present a written statement of account at each meeting of the Executive Board 
  1. present a written statement of account at each regular club meeting 
  1. be responsible for providing the State of New Jersey (NJELEC) with all financial disclosure documents 
  1. keep a record of all contributions to the club over the last five (5) years which will be used by the Ways and Means Committee for mailing for Club’s fund raisers 
  1. keep a record of all disbursements made by the club including the invoice(s) that describe the expenditure and the check number, date and name/address of the payee. All expenditures must be made from the club depository. 
  1. keep an inventory of club assets 
  1. actively participate in fundraising events 

Member at Large Trustee shall: 

  1. be the voice of Club membership 
  1. actively participate in executive committee meetings 
  1. actively participate in fundraising events 

County Committee Trustee shall: 

  1. provide county committee activity updates to the Club 
  1. actively participate in executive committee meetings 
  1. actively participate in fundraising events 

Past President Trustee shall: 

  1. share past Club activities and history and serve as a resource to active President 
  1. actively participate in executive committee meetings 
  1. actively participate in fundraising events 

ARTICLE V NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS 

Section 1.         Nominating Committee 

The Board of Trustees shall present a single slate of candidates for elective office to the President at the October Executive Committee meeting 

Section 2.         Election 

The election of officers will take place at the November regular meeting or in the absence of a November meeting at the next regular meeting held. Nominations will be open to the floor. If there are any contested elective offices, elections shall be by closed ballot and duly elected officers shall take office at the first meeting in January. 

Section 3.         Voting Qualifications 

All persons must be members in good standing sixty (60) days prior to elections. 

Any Club member who has a direct or indirect conflict of interest in the subject being voted on is restricted from voting.  (Per State of New Jersey (NJELEC) Compliance Guidelines.) 

Highly sensitive subjects may include but not be limited to votes associated with: 

  • Campaign funding 
  • Club finance allocations 

Examples: 

Direct: Councilman in election year (or Spouse) voting on campaign funding for Councilman’s campaign.  

Indirect: Councilman in non-election year acting as campaign manager to a Council person in campaign year.  

ARTICLE VII MEETINGS 

Section 1.        Regular Meetings 

The regular meeting of the club shall be the Third Tuesday of the month promptly at 6:30 PM. Regular meetings shall be held in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, and December at a site selected by the President and Second Vice President. The regular meeting night may be changed by a majority vote of the Executive Board members or at the discretion of the President 

Section 2.       Special Meetings 

Special meetings shall be held at the request of the President. The Publicity Officer shall notify members of the meeting date and subject of the meeting at least three (3) days in advance. 

Section 3.       Executive Meetings 

Meeting of the Executive Committee shall be held at a time and place determined by the President. 

Section 4.         Quorum 

A quorum for the club shall be six (6) members including elected officers until membership exceeds one hundred (100), if or when that occurs, a quorum shall be 10% of paid membership in good standing. 

ARTICLE VIII SUB-COMMITTEES  

Section 1. 

The Executive Committee shall appoint all Sub-Committee Chairman. 

Section 2.  

The Standing Sub-Committees shall be as follows, but not limited to: 

  1. Finance Committee – Shall have charge of raising funds for Morristown / Morris Twp. 
  1. Campaign Committee – Shall aid all Republican candidates on the ballot for the General Election 
  1. Voter Committee – Shall have charge of voter registration drives, vote by mail drives and all other get-out-the-vote initiatives 

Section 3. 

Additional Committees can be adopted through Parliamentary Authority. 

ARTICLE IX         PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY 

Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall govern all proceedings except where inconsistent with the provision of the By-Laws. 

Any amendments of these By-Laws shall be proposed by either: 

  1. a petition by a majority of the voting members of the club 
  1. by recommendation of the Executive Committee 

The amendments shall be considered adopted when approved by vote of, two thirds (2/3) of the members present at the next regular meeting. 

ARTICLE X           POLICY 

Section 1. 

All members shall conduct themselves with respect, and civility.  Any person who is disrespectful to others or is detracting from the Club by their actions or behavior will receive a warning.  If the conduct continues, expulsion will be considered.  

Section 2. 

The club shall not endorse candidates in the primary election. 

Section 3. 

Anyone serving on the Morristown or Morris Township Council may not hold office in the club. 

Section 4. 

This club shall actively campaign for, and support nominated Republican candidates who are running; in local, county, state and national general elections. 

Section 5. 

  1. Any expenditure of funds exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) shall be made only by a majority of members in good standing who are present at a monthly meeting 
  1. All members of the Executive Board are authorized to make non-budgeted, discretionary expenditures of up to $50 with the authorization of the Treasurer or the President. All expenditures must be reported to the President within 30 days and submitted to the Treasurer with an invoice 

Section 6.  

In the event the Club should dissolve, the Club funds will be distributed to the Morristown Municipal Republican Committee, the Morris Twp. Republican County Committee not to exceed the allowable contribution limits, and the Club account will be closed.  All State of New Jersey (NJELEC) reporting requirements will be fulfilled.  The amount exceeding the contribution limits, if any, will be contributed to a local Republican election fund, as voted on by the majority of the Elected Officers of the Club. 

Section 7.        Effective Date 

By-Laws take effect at the first Club meeting following the acceptance of these By-Laws.