ARTICLE I. NAME OF ORGANIZATION

The name of the organization shall be Grassroots North Shore (GRNS).

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

SECTION 1.

GRNS is registered as an Unincorporated Association with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.

SECTION 2.

GRNS is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization that works to advocate, educate and inform for progressive change and solutions.  Contributions to Grassroots North Shore are not tax deductible.

SECTION 3.

No monies from dues or donations to the organization shall inure to the benefit of any member or individual, other organization, or political candidate.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1.   Eligibility

1. The single requirement for membership eligibility is that the individual favor a progressive ideology.
2. GRNS serves Milwaukee’s North Shore and Ozaukee County residents. Individuals from any geographic location may join.

SECTION 2.  Dues

Membership in GRNS is based on the annual payment of dues.  For the dues structure and amounts, refer to GRNS’ Policies and Procedures.

SECTION 3.  Categories of Involvement

1. Individuals/households that pay membership dues.
2. Advisory Members, who receive Steering Committee minutes.
3. Members of the Steering Committee.
4. Members of the Administrative Committee.
5. Supporters, who are non-dues paying individuals, that may participate in all activities except Voting.

SECTION 4.  Members must be in good standing to avail themselves of the benefits of membership.                                       

SECTION 5.  Resignations

1. Resignations shall be tendered to the Co-Chair(s) in writing.
2. Officer resignations shall be submitted to the Steering Committee in writing.
3. If a Member is being terminated for cause or disciplinary action, it shall be handled by a majority vote of the Steering Committee at a special meeting called for that purpose.

ARTICLE IV.  STEERING COMMITTEE

SECTION 1.

1. The Steering Committee shall be an elected group of individuals, comprised of 9 – 15 active members.
2. Their terms shall be for two years staggered, and have no limits.
3. This committee operates similarly to a Board of Directors.

SECTION 2.

The Steering Committee is responsible for overall policy and direction of the organization.  Authority will be delegated to Standing and Ad Hoc committees as appropriate. 

SECTION 3.

1. A Slate of Candidates is prepared by the Nominating Committee in November. The Slate is presented to the Steering Committee at the December meeting for suggested changes or approval.  If changes are recommended, they will be made and the slate re-presented to the Steering Committee at the January meeting.
2. Final approval shall be made by majority vote of Active Members at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE V.  ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION 1.  Purpose

The management of business shall be vested in an Administrative Committee, which shall be   comprised of the Co-Chair(s), Treasurer, Secretary and one (1) Active Member.

SECTION 2.  Membership

The Active Member shall be appointed by the Co-Chairs with notice to the Steering Committee.  The term of office shall be annual.

SECTION 3.  Responsibilities

Duties of the Administrative Committee shall be to assist the Co-Chairs with conducting the business of the association:  approval of expenditures over the amount stated in GRNS’ Policies and Procedures, and administrative matters that come before it.

ARTICLE VI.  ADVISORY MEMBERS

SECTION 1.

A group of indeterminate size shall comprise the Advisory Members.  In general, they are former officers and members of the Steering Committee.  Other persons with specific expertise may also be included.

SECTION 2. 

They shall have no specific term of office and no term limits.

SECTION 3.

Advisory members are appointed during the annual nominating process, but are not included in the slate of elected candidates.

SECTION 4.

Advisory members may attend Steering Committee meetings; however, they do not vote.

ARTICLE VII. OFFICERS 

SECTION 1.

The officers of this association shall be the Chair/Co-Chairs, Secretary, and Treasurer. All officers must be Active Members of the association.

1. The association may be led by either two (2) Co-Chairs or one (1) Chair.
2. Co-Chair terms are staggered.
3. The incumbent Co-Chair has the final say over who shall become their Co-Chair
4. Co-Chairs decide how they will divide responsibilities. They shall, however, provide back-up for each other.

SECTION 2.  Terms of Office

1. The term of office for Chair/Co-chairs shall be two (2) years. Other Officers are appointed.
2. The election of Officers shall be conducted annually, for those positions whose terms have ended.
3. Vacancies shall be filled by the Chair/Co-Chairs. Interim appointments shall be effective until the next regular election.

SECTION 3.  Duties - Chair/Co-Chairs

The Chair/Co-Chairs shall preside at Steering and Administrative Committee meetings. They shall appoint committees, name chairpersons of Standing or Ad Hoc committees, and be an ex-officio member of all committees.

SECTION 4.  Duties - Treasurer

The Treasurer shall receive and maintain custody of all funds, pay all bills, collect monies due, keep full and accurate accounts, and present a Treasurer’s Report to the Steering Committee at each regular meeting.  Refer to GRNS’ Policies and Procedures to determine who shall sign checks.

SECTION 5.  Duties - Secretary

The Secretary shall attend and record Steering and Administrative Committee meetings.  All other committees are responsible for their own administrative functions. The Secretary shall send a copy of the Bylaws to all new Steering Committee members.

ARTICLE VIII. MEETINGS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE

SECTION 1.  Regular Meetings

1. Regular meetings of the Steering Committee shall be held monthly. The date, time, and place shall be as specified in the GRNS’ Policies and Procedures.
2. The Quorum for a regular meeting shall be five (5) of the Active Members. A simple majority of those present and voting shall be sufficient.
3. Meetings may be in-person or virtual.

SECTION 2.  Special Meetings

1. Special meetings may be called by the Chair/Co-Chairs, the Administrative Committee, or by request of two-thirds (2/3) of the Active Members of the Steering Committee.
2. Notification to those invited shall be given electronically seven (7) days before the meeting.
3. The Quorum shall be five (5) Active Members of the Steering Committee in attendance. A simple majority of those present and voting shall be sufficient.
4. Meetings may be in-person or virtual.

SECTION 3.  Annual Meeting

1. An annual meeting of members and supporters shall be called by the Steering Committee during the first quarter of the year.
2. This shall be a combination business/informational meeting, to include the approval of the slate of officers and Steering Committee candidates.
3. Only Active Members may vote.

SECTION 4.  Record of Proceedings

1. A record of all regular and special meetings of the Steering Committee shall be kept by the Secretary.
2. This record shall include a Treasurer’s Report and Committee Reports. All decisions, matters of a financial nature, and Motions/Seconds/Votes shall be documented.  It is not required that the full extent of discussions be included. 
3. This record shall be approved by the Steering Committee at their next regular meeting.
4. Once approved (and corrected, if applicable) the record shall be archived electronically.

ARTICLE IX. STANDING AND AD HOC COMMITTEES

SECTION 1.  Formation
The Chair/Co-Chairs may create or disband standing or ad hoc committees as needed.

SECTION 2.  Standing Committees  

 A detailed description of each committee is provided in the GRNS’ Policies and Procedures.

1. Communications
2. Endorsements
3. Events
4. Finance
5. Fund Raising
6. Issues
7. Membership
8. Nominating
9. PEC (Politics, Elections, Campaigns).

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1.

These articles may be amended, or new ones added, by a majority vote of the Steering Committee members present at any regular meeting of the association, or any special meeting called for that purpose.

SECTION 2.

Proposed amended articles or additions to the Bylaws must be introduced to the Steering Committee membership for review at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting at which they will be discussed and approved.  Distribution of this material will be electronic.

ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION

Grassroots North Shore may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the Steering Committee. If the Association is dissolved, after all bills have been paid and all receivables collected, all monies remaining at that time shall be donated to a nonprofit organization selected by the Administrative Committee.

ARTICLE XII.  PARLIAMENTARY

When information regarding a specific situation has not been included in these Bylaws, reference to Roberts’ Rules of Order as a guideline is recommended.  A less formal, pared down system of rules may be used.

We, the undersigned, are Co-Chairs of the Grassroots North Shore Steering Committee at this time, and we consent to, and hereby do, adopt the foregoing Bylaws, consisting of the five (5) preceding pages, as the Bylaws of this Unincorporated Association.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED by the Steering Committee on this 19th day of August, 2021.