Section 1. The Club governed under these Bylaws shall be known as the Kew Forest Republican Club, Inc. and shall be referred to in this document as such, or as the “Club.”
Section 2. The Board of Governors may adopt a different name for the Organization by a three-fourths majority vote if:
Section 3. The Board of Governors shall endeavor to prevent the association of the Club’s name with any campaign, political cause, or other organization except in the manner prescribed by these Bylaws.
Section 1. The objects of this Club shall be:
To promote and maintain the principles of the Republican Party; to foster within the Republican Party and make practical in service of the municipality, state and nation, the idealism characteristic of youth; to correct in our own party that tendency of all parties to make organization an end rather than a means; to develop sound principle and public spirit in party politics; to promote honest and fair electoral methods, to the end that the expression of the popular will by whatever party or body, shall be as free, untrammeled and equal as possible; to resist and expose political corruption; to advocate merit rather than partisan service as entitling to public office; to watch legislation and to encourage public attention to and efficiently criticize the conduct of government.
Section 1. Any citizen, national, or legal resident of the United States of voting age in New York State with a general preference for, or sympathy with, the principles of the Republican Party and a desire to promote the objects of the Club as outlined in these Bylaws shall be eligible for Membership in this Club. The President, or a majority vote of the Executive Committee, may admit with good cause, which shall be determined at the President’s discretion, Membership to an applicant who is not otherwise qualified.
Section 2. Membership in the Club may be that of General Member, Associate Member, or Honorary Member (collectively, the “Membership”). The Membership classes are defined as:
Section 3. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for approving all qualified applicants deemed to be of good character and benefit to advancing the objects of the Club. An application may also be rejected by a majority vote of the Executive Committee or Board of Governors. Should the Membership Committee duly approve the application, the applicant shall automatically become a member at the close of the first meeting they attend. Application for Club Membership shall set forth the name, age, residence, business address, telephone number, and email address of the applicant and such other particulars as the Membership Committee may prescribe. Every application shall be accompanied by the payment of one year’s dues and such other fees, including an initiation fee, that may be set by the Executive Committee or Board of Governors, except as otherwise provided. Should the Membership Committee reject the application, it shall refund dues paid upon application with such notice.
Section 4. The Board of Governors is hereby authorized to set forth the rights and privileges associated with any class of Membership, set additional categories of Membership within the classes previously established, and determine rates of Membership dues for such categories of Membership. The Board of Governors may initiate these changes at any time with notice provided to the Membership of changes to Membership dues or the creation of new Membership classes and categories. In addition, the Board of Governors may hold events limited to one or more classes of Membership while excluding any other class of Membership.
Section 5. The dues of members shall be payable on a date defined by the Board of Governors before the end of the fiscal year (“Membership Dues Date”). Within thirty calendar days after the Membership Dues Date, members whose dues are unpaid shall cease to be in Good Standing and shall be notified by the Recording Secretary. Such notice shall also inform the member that unless the dues are paid within thirty days from the notice’s date, the member’s name may be stricken from the roll of members. If dues remain unpaid thirty days after the notice’s date, the Board of Governors may strike the member’s name from the rolls. The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all names so stricken.
Section 6. If a Club member cannot pay dues because of financial hardship, the member may apply for a waiver of dues by corresponding with the Treasurer. The final decision will be at the discretion of the President.
Section 7. While absent on active duty, members serving in the military may be exempted from dues upon application to the Treasurer; they shall not be liable for dues when visiting New York City under orders.
Section 8. The Board of Governors may, at its discretion, exempt from the payment of dues any Member in Good Standing who has been elected or appointed to public office as a Republican where, in the opinion of the Board, the election or appointment to such office reflects particular honor upon the Club. However, in no event shall the exemption so granted extend beyond the respective member’s tenure in said office.
Section 9. The Executive Committee or Board of Governors may, by a majority vote, ban, suspend, or censure any member or non-member of the Club for any act or conduct which, in the sole discretion and opinion of the Board, is detrimental to the interests of the Club, including bad character. Members must receive written notice of the action taken by the Board of Governors within five days of the decision. Banning, suspension, or censure of a Past President requires a unanimous vote of the Board of Governors. Any member or non-member that is banned or suspended from the Club is prohibited from joining or re-joining the Club and attending Club events, effective immediately upon ban or suspension.
Section 10. Former Club members who were expelled may be reinstated by the Executive Committee or Board of Governors under such terms and conditions as shall be established in the discretion of the Executive Committee or Board of Governors, including the payment of a reinstatement fee.
Section 11. Members are defined as being in “Good Standing” if they have no outstanding dues, have not been expelled, suspended, or censured, and have attended at least two meetings in the previous twelve months.
Section 12. “Voting Members” and “Voting Membership” shall be defined as all General Members in Good Standing who are not also voting members of any other local Young Republican organization.
Section 13. Voting Privileges for Club members, including the Executive Committee, and the Board of Governors, may be suspended if they are delinquent in their financial obligations to the Club or its contracted agents.
Section 14. Resignation of Membership shall be made to the Recording Secretary in writing. No resignation shall be accepted until all indebtedness to the Club of the member resigning has been discharged. A resigning member shall not be entitled to receive any refund, prorated, or otherwise, of any Membership dues previously paid.
Section 15. The Club’s Membership list may not be divulged without a three-fourths vote of the Executive Committee.
Section 16. All Club Members and non-members, at any Club-affiliated event or while engaged in any Club-related activity (which includes any Club-related electronic communications), must comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, and the Club Bylaws, Code of Conduct, Sexual Harassment Policy, and all other Club standards, rules, policies, and event-specific instructions. Any violation of the aforementioned Bylaws, Code of Conduct, policies, laws, rules, standards, or instructions–as determined in the sole discretion and opinion of the Board–may result in the banning, suspension, or censure of such member or non-member per Section 9 of this Article.
