LWV Principles

· The League of Women Voters believes in representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States.

· The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of its citizens and requires that government bodies protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible.

· The League of Women Voters believes that every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; that every person should have access to free public education that provides equal opportunity for all; and that no person or group should suffer legal, economic or administrative discrimination.

· The League of Women Voters believes that efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.

· The League of Women Voters believes that responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people; that government should maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation, promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solution of economic and social problems that affect the general welfare; promote a sound economy and adopt domestic policies which facilitate the solution of international problems.

· The League of Women Voters believes that cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems, and that the development of international organization and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace.

Our Nonpartisan Policy

(rewritten May, l994)

The purposes of the League of Women Voters are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and to act on selected government issues.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization and shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.

There must never be any question of its interest in anything but the general good. It is essential that the members of the League of Women Voters of Darien understand and accept this policy and interpret it to the community.

The purpose of the nonpartisan policy statement is to prevent the public from interpreting the personal preferences of League members as official League position. It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to ensure that the League protects its nonpartisan policy. Therefore:

1. The Board positions of President, Voters Service Chair and local studies chairs are considered sensitive and require resignation if the office holder chooses to participate in a partisan political campaign, however quietly.

2. Any Board member who is a candidate for a partisan political office or who manages a campaign must resign from the Board during the duration of the campaign.

3. The Board may determine in individual circumstances whether the extent of a Board member’s current political activity requires action either for removal from a current Board position or for reinstatement to a former Board position.

Local Positions

HOUSING:

The LWV of Darien, recognizing that a well-planned, stable and desirable residential community should have diverse housing options, encourages action to promote housing for those whose needs are not currently being met.

Adopted 1986; amended and reaffirmed May, 1994; rewritten May, 1997; reaffirmed May, 2000.

LAND USE:

Parks and Beaches

1. The Darien League of Women Voters supports proper and adequately financed maintenance and care of Darien’s park grounds and equipment. We support the hiring of adequate personnel to administer and maintain Darien’s parks and beaches.

2. The League encourages imaginative development to increase public use of Darien’s existing parks. We support public recreational facilities for children.

3. The League believes that the Town should encourage the involvement of volunteer organizations in its park and recreation programs, but should not rely on them for maintenance.

4. The League believes that the Town should take advantage of any opportunity to acquire land for park land, open space and natural areas.

Adopted April, 1988; rewritten June, 1992.

TOWN GOVERNMENT

Ethics Legislation

The Darien League of Women Voters supports a code of ethics and a Board of ethics independent of the political process. The League supports disclosure by Town officials of real estate ownership (excluding place of residence) and business interests in Town. Such disclosure requirements should not apply to RTM members.

Adopted 1976; rewritten June, 1977 and April, 1991, revised June, 2002.

Bylaws for the League of Women Voters of Darien

(Amended May 16, 2003)

ARTICLE I

Sec. 1. The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of Darien. This local League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States and the League of Women Voters of Connecticut.

Article II Purposes and Policy

Sec. 1. Purposes: The purposes of the League of Women Voters of Darien are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and to act on selected governmental issues.

Sec. 2. Policy: The League of Women Voters of Darien shall not support or oppose any political party or candidate.

ARTICLE III Membership

Sec. 1. Eligibility: Any person who subscribes to the purposes and policy of the League shall be eligible for membership.

Sec. 2. Types of Membership:

(a) Voting members. Citizens at least 18 years of age who join the League shall be voting members of local Leagues, state Leagues and of the League of Women Voters of the United States;

(1) individuals who live within an area of a local League may join that League or any other local League;

(2) those who reside outside the area of any local League may join a local League or shall be state members-at-large

(3) those who make a lump-sum membership payment to the League of Women Voters shall be paid life members and those who have been members for 50 years or more shall be honorary life members excused from the payment of dues.

(4) Each member shall have one vote.

(b) Associate members. All others who join the League shall be associate members.

ARTICLE IV Officers (also known as the Executive Committee)

Sec. 1. Enumeration and Election of Officers: The Officers of the League of Women Voters of Darien shall be: President or Co-Presidents, two Vice Presidents, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, all or whom shall be elected for the term of two years by the general membership at an Annual Meeting and take office immediately.

The President or Co-Presidents, one Vice President and the Treasurer shall be elected in the odd numbered years. The other Vice President and the Secretary shall be elected in the even numbered years.

Sec. 2. The President or Co-Presidents: The President or Co-Presidents shall preside at all meetings of the Organization and of the Board of Directors. She/he may, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, sign or endorse checks, drafts and notes. She/he shall be, ex-officio, a member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee. She/he shall have such usual powers of supervision and management as may pertain to the office of the President or Co-Presidents, and perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board.

Sec. 3. The Vice Presidents. The two Vice Presidents shall, in the event of the temporary absence of the President, possess all the powers and perform all the duties of that office. The two Vice Presidents shall, in the event of the resignation, disability or death of the President or Co-Presidents, possess all the powers and perform all the duties of that office until such time as the Board of Directors shall elect one of its members to fill the vacancy.

Sec. 4. The Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all business meetings of the League and of all meetings of the Board of Directors. She/he shall sign, with the President or Co-Presidents, all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the Board and shall perform such other functions as may be incident to the office.

Sec. 5. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due. She/he shall be the custodian of these moneys, shall deposit them in a bank designated by the Board of Directors, and shall disburse the same only upon order of the Board. She/he shall present statements to the Board at their regular meetings and an Annual Report to the members at the Annual Meeting. The books of the Treasurer shall be audited annually, after the close of the fiscal year. This may be done by a special committee of three (3) members appointed by the Board.

Sec. 6. Executive Committee. There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the President or Co-Presidents, the two Vice Presidents, the Secretary and the Treasurer, with the power to transact non-policy business when it is not feasible to call a Board Meeting. Any action taken by this Committee must be reported at the next Board Meeting.

ARTICLE V Board of Directors

Sec. 1. Number, Manner of Selection and Term of Office. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Committee, the six (6) elected Directors and not more than six (6) appointed directors.

One half of the elected directors shall be elected by the general membership at each Annual Meeting and shall serve for a term of two years.

The appointed Directors, not exceeding six, shall be selected by the elected members of the Board of Directors.

The terms of office of the appointed Directors shall be one year and shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual Meeting.

Sec. 2. Qualifications. No person shall be elected or appointed or shall continue to serve as an officer of Director of this organization unless she/he is a voting member of the League of Women Voters of Darien.

Sec. 3. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors by reason of the resignation, death, or disqualification of any officer or elected member is to be filled for the unexpired portion of the term of office by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors.

Sec. 4. Powers and Duties. The Board of Directors shall have full charge of the property and business of the organization, with full power and authority to manage and conduct same, subject to the instructions of the general membership. It shall plan and direct the work necessary to carry the program as adopted by the Annual Meeting, the State Convention, and the National Convention. The Board shall create and designate such special committees as it may deem necessary.

Sec. 5. Meetings. There shall be at least nine regular meetings of the Board of Directors annually. The President or Co-Presidents may call special meetings of the Board of Directors and shall call a special meeting upon the written request of five members of the Board.

Sec. 6. Quorum. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VI Financial Administration

Sec. 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the League of Women Voters of Darien shall commence on the first day of June of each year.

Sec. 2. (a) Regular Membership. Dues shall be payable annually on the first of June. Any member who fails to pay his/her dues within four months of June 1 shall be dropped from the rolls. The dues amount shall be recommended by the Board and voted on at the Annual Meeting.

(b) Household Membership. When two members reside at a common address in a common household, they shall pay dues equal to approximately one and one-half (11/2) times the determined dues.

Sec. 3. Budget. A budget for the ensuing year shall be submitted by the Board of Directors to the members at the Annual Meeting for adoption. The budget shall include support for the work of the League as a whole.

Sec. 4. Budget Committee. A Budget Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at least two months prior to the Annual Meeting to prepare a budget for the ensuing year. The proposed budget shall be sent to all members one month before the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer shall not be eligible to serve as chairman of the Budget Committee.

ARTICLE VII Meetings

Sec. 1. Membership Meetings. There shall be at least three meetings of the membership each year. Time and place shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

Sec. 2. Annual Meeting. An Annual Meeting shall be held prior to the end of the fiscal year, the exact date to be determined by the Board of Directors.

(a) The Annual Meeting shall:

(1) Adopt a local program for the coming year;

(2) Elect officers, directors, and members of the Nominating Committee;

(3) Adopt an adequate budget;

(4) Transact such other business as may come before it.

(b) One tenth of the membership shall constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Darien.

Sec. 3. Consensus or Concurrence Meetings. One-tenth of the membership shall constitute a basis for consensus or concurrence.

ARTICLE VIII Nominations and Elections

Sec. 1. Nominating Committee.

(a) The Nominating Committee shall consist of two non-Board members (which shall include the Chairman) and one Board member.

(b) The two non-Board members shall be elected at the Annual Meeting and the one Board member shall be appointed by the Board after the Annual Meeting.

Sec. 2. Report of the Nominating Committee and Nominations from the Floor. The report of the Nominating Committee of its nominations for Officers, elected Directors, and the three members of the Nominating Committee shall be sent to all members one month before the Annual Meeting. Immediately following the presentation of this report, additional nominations may be made by any voting member provided the consent of the nominee shall have been secured.

Sec. 3. Elections. The elections shall be held by ballot. When there is but one nominee for each office, the Secretary may be instructed to cast the ballot for the proposed slate. A majority of voting members present and voting shall constitute an election. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.

ARTICLE IX Program

Sec. 1. Authorization. The governmental principles adopted by the National Convention, and supported by the League as a whole, constitute the authorization for the adoption of Program.

Sec. 2. Program. The Program of the League of Women Voters of Darien shall consist of those governmental issues chosen for concerted study and action.

Sec. 3. Program Selection. The members at the Annual Meeting shall select the local governmental issues for concerted study and action using the following procedures:

(a) The Board of Directors shall consider the suggestions of the voting members two months prior to this Annual Meeting and shall formulate a Proposed Local Program.

(b) The Proposed Local Program shall be sent to all members one month before the Annual Meeting.

(c) The members present and voting at the Annual Meeting shall adopt items of the Proposed Local Program by a majority vote on each subject of this program presented to them.

(d) Suggestions for local Program submitted by voting members two months prior to the Annual Meeting but not recommended by the Board of Directors may be considered by the members at the Annual Meeting provided there is a majority vote. Adoption of the item shall require a three-fifths vote.

Sec. 4. Program Changes. Changes in the local Program, in the case of altered conditions, may be made provided that:

(a) information concerning the proposed changes has been sent to all members at least two weeks prior to a general membership meeting at which the change is to be discussed, and

(b) final action by the membership is taken at the succeeding meeting.

Sec. 5. Fast Action Study. In the event of the emergence of an important local issue between Annual Meetings, the Board may consider adoption of a mini-study. A three-fifths vote of the total Board is required to adopt this study.

Sec. 6. Historical Record. There shall be compiled from information now available an historical record of past items of local study and local program and this record shall be maintained to date in perpetuity.

Sec. 7. Member Action. Members may act in the name of the League of Women Voters only when authorized to do so by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE X National Convention, State Convention, and Council

Sec. 1. National Convention. The Board of Directors shall select delegates to the National Convention according to the provisions of the bylaws of the League of Women Voters of the United States.

Sec. 2. State Convention and Council. The Board of Directors shall select delegates to the State Convention and State Council according to the provisions of the bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut.

ARTICLE XI Parliamentary Authority

Sec. 1. Parliamentary Authority. The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.

ARTICLE XII Amendments

Sec. 1. Amendments. These bylaws may be amended by a three-fifths vote of the voting members present and voting at the Annual Meeting, provided the amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one month prior to the meeting.