Article I. Name

 

The name of this organization is the United Black Democratic Coalition of Nevada (UBDC).

 

Article II. Purpose

 

The purpose/mission of the UBDC

 

The United Black Coalition of Nevada will continually engage the Black citizens of Nevada for the purposes of supporting the democratic party, democrat leadership, democrat candidates, democrat elected officials and democrat officers. The United Black Democratic Coalition of Nevada and/ it's officers may endorse candidates in primary elections and will support  all democratic party candidates in the general elections.

 

Engage in seeking and retaining members of said community, fundraising endeavors, canvassing, phone banking, voter’s registration, voter education, and Get Out The Vote campaigning.

 

Actively serve as a channel to communicate interests, concerns, and issues facing the black community of Nevada, nationwide, and internationally to elected officials, decision makers, democrat leadership, officers, candidates, and elected officials to strengthen understanding and  alliance with the Black constituents. 

 

Article III. Members

 

Any democrat 18 years of age or older or 17 years of age intending to register as a democrat is eligible for membership. Members must attend at least 2 meeting per year and pay annual dues. Dues are $20/yr due by January 31st each yr or within 3 months of joining whichever comes first.  

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UBDC has the right to accept membership, remove members, and reject membership.

 

Unruly, disrespectful, disruptive, vandalism, or violent behavior at meetings or UBDC events is grounds for membership termination and possible legal action.

 

Members are to conduct themselves with dignity and integrity when attending UBDC meetings and events or any democrat event, gathering, or meeting. Any harassment, intimation, stalking, or violence will not be tolerated. Anyone who feels that they have been violated must submit the grievance in writing to the Executive board with any evidence and a written statement. Members named in the grievance will be notified and a resolution will be made by the executive board within 15-30 days, including but not limited to a warning or membership termination. UBDC is not law enforcement and members that feel they need law enforcement is to seek advice of law enforcement or an attorney.

 

Article IV. Executive Board and Ambassadors

 

Section 1. The elected officers of the party shall be the Presidential Chair, Vice Presidential Chair, Second-Vice Presidential Chair, Secretary, and the Treasurer. These officers shall constitute the Executive Board serving a term of 4 years or until voluntarily vacated or terminated.

 

The Presidential Chair, Vice Presidential Chair, and Second Presidential-Vice Chair will be elected by majority member vote. The Secretary and Treasurer will be appointed by the Chair. There will be 8 Community At Large Ambassadors. The Chair will appoint 2 Community At Large Ambassadors. The Vice Presidential Chair and Second Presidential-Vice Chair will each appoint 3 Community At Large Ambassadors.

 

Section 2. All officers or ambassadors of the UBDC must be registered Democrats or register as democrat within 30 days of appointment or election and shall remain registered as democrat while holding a position on the Executive Board or Ambassadorship appointment. Changing party affiliation will be reason for removal from the Executive Board or Ambassadorship.

 

Section 3. The officers shall be elected to serve a term of 4 (four) years. There are no term limits.

 

Section 4. Duties of the Executive Board

 

A. Oversight of the UBDC to ensure proper maintenance, promotion, and functioning.

 

B. Manage any other paid staff, volunteers, and expenses related to the operation of UBDC

 

C. Define the duties of all Community At Large Ambassadors.

 

D. The Presidential Chair and Treasurer have check signing authority. All expenses must be approved by the Presidential Chair and Vice Presidential Chair and accounted for with proper documentation. All monies raised, donated, or collected must be reported and documented.

 

E. Maintain the fiscal health of the UBDC.

 

F. Develop and implement an annual operating budget.

 

G. Be active participants in party fundraising, supporting the efforts of the Clark County Democrat Party, NV State Democrat Party, and UBDC.

 

 

 

Section 5. The Executive Board shall meet in executive sessions to discuss business related to UBDC. Meetings shall be at least 1 time per month. However, meetings can be scheduled on an as needed basis if a special meeting is needed. These meetings are closed to the public. The secretary shall record any final action resulting from an executive session in the minutes.

 

Section 6. Special votes may be taken in the period between meetings, provided that:

 

A. Each member of the Executive Board has been presented with the same written motion.

 

B. Votes are taken either in person, in writing, by phone, or via electronic mail, or fax.

 

C. In the event of a tie or a member submits an undecided vote, the Presidential Chair shall make the final decision of which way to cast the undecided vote. A board member who has an undecided vote must submit a statement in writing and it is to include the motion being voted on, a declaration statement that their vote is undecided, and the undecided board member’s signature. 

 

D. An Executive Board member will report final action from executive session at the next member meeting.

 

Section 7. Any mid-term vacancy on the Executive Board or At Large Community Ambassadors shall be filled by appointment of the Executive board, except for the Presidential Chair and Vice Presidential Chair shall be elected by the majority vote by the members present at the next meeting following 180 days after the vacancy. Until the new election the duties will be performed in accordance to the rules of the executive board. Vice Presidential Chair will become Presidential Chair, 2nd Vice Presidential Chair will become Vice Presidential Chair, 2nd Vice Presidential Chair will be appointed by the Presidential Chair. 

 

Section 8. Removal of a Member of the Executive Board

 

A. Grounds for removal

 

1. Change in political party affiliation.

 

2. Non-attendance or non-excused absence from three (3) consecutive Executive Board meetings in a calendar year. Requests for an excused absence must be made and approved or rejected by the Executive Board.

 

3. Gross negligence or malfeasance.

 

4. Failure to carry out the duties of the office.

 

5. Active support and or public endorsement of opposition party candidates in a partisan election, where a Democrat is a candidate.

 

B. Process for removal

 

1. United Black Democrat Caucus of Nevada (UBDC) executive meeting shall be called for the specific purpose of determining whether to remove an Executive Board member. The member will receive written notice 7 days before the meeting. All evidence is to be presented and arguments for or against removal shall be made. A vote of Board members will determine whether to place the motion for removal before UBDC members at an emergency meeting or to place the decision for removal/termination effective immediately. If the executive board decides to place the motion to remove/terminate an executive board member before UBDC members, a meeting for such purpose will be called within 7 days and only the members in physical attendance and in good standing is eligible to vote and must have been a member for at least 3 months prior to voting.

 

2 If the Executive Board decides on a member meeting to remove an executive board member, a written notice of the UBDC meeting citing grounds for removal shall be sent to the members and the officer whose removal is sought. The officer whose removal is being sought has the right to speak and address the members before the vote is taken. Those seeking to remove said board member has the right to speak and address the members as to why the board member in question should be removed.

 

3. Once the majority vote has been counted and declared that the board member should be removed, the Presidential Chair will accept the decision and will make it officially declared that removal of said board member is effective immediately. In the event that the board member is not removable by majority vote, the Presidential Chair will accept and declare that the said board member will not be removed and the board member is free to continue his/her term or resign.

 In the event that immediate action is required to be taken to remove a member or board member the Presidential Chair reserves the right to immediately remove a board member or any member. The removal must be publicly announced. The removed party has the right to petition the board to have a request for reinstatement within 10 days after removal.  The reinstatement request must be heard and voted on in the very next meeting following the request. 

 

 

Article V. Officer Duties

 

Section 1. Presidential Chair of the UBDC

 

A. Be the chief executive officer of the UBDC and preside at all meetings of the UBDC and its Executive Board.

 

B. Be charged with the responsibility for implementing all policies of the UBDC.

 

C. Set meeting agendas and approve guest speakers.

 

D. Appoint the treasurer, secretary, 2 Community At Large Ambassador, and special committees.

 

E. Seek legal advice for the UBDC and, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, appoint such other professionals and consultants as may be required to act for the UBDC. Such appointments must be confirmed by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

 

F. Be an authorized spokesperson for the UBDC or designate a person from the Executive Board or Community At Large Ambassador to speak on behalf of the UBDC.

 

G.Be an ex-officio voting member of all committees of the UBDCSN, except the rules and bylaws committee and the financial review committee.

 

H. Make regular written reports to the Executive Board on the state of the UBDC

 

I. Perform such other duties, as the UBDC or Executive Board shall delegate to the Presidential Chair.

 

J. Cast undecided votes in Executive Board Meetings.

 

K. Fundraising and community outreach events and efforts. Delegate fundraising and community outrage objectives and tasks to Executive Board members, Community At Large Ambassadors, and/or members.

 

 

 

Section 2. Presidential Vice Chair of the UBDC

 

A. In the absence of the chair, or in the event of a vacancy in that office or the disability of the incumbent, shall perform the duties of the chair.

 

B. Develop and maintain member policies and member information.

 

C. Perform such additional duties, as the presidential chair, the UBDC, or its Executive Board shall delegate to the first presidential vice chair.

 

D. Appoint 3 Community At Large Ambassadors. Report activities from all appointed Community At Large Ambassadors. Reported information to be shared with the Presidential  Chair and the executive board.

 

Section 3. Second Presidential Vice Chair of the UBDC

 

A. In the absence of the presidential vice chair, or in the event of a vacancy in that office or the disability of the incumbent shall perform the duties of the first vice presidential chair.

 

B. Perform such additional duties, as the chair, the UBDC or its Executive Board shall delegate to the second vice presidential chair.

 

C. Appoint 3 Community At Large Ambassadors. Report to the Vice Presidential Chair activities of the Community At Large Ambassadors. 

 

 

 

Section 4. Secretary of the UBDC

 

A. Record and prepare the minutes of all meetings of the UBDC, its Executive Board and make available to members.

 

B. Ensure the official roster of members of the UBDC is maintained and all information is updated.

 

C. Perform such additional duties as the chair, the UBDC, or its Executive Board shall delegate.

 

Section 5. Treasurer of the UBDC

 

A. Maintain the financial records of the UBDC and be responsible for the accurate and timely filing of all reports required by public disclosure or regulatory authorities.

 

B. Be the custodian of all funds and securities of the UBDC

 

C. Implement processes that ensure the deposit and disbursement of the funds of the UBDC pursuant to the current budget and policies and procedures adopted by the UBDC and/or its Executive Board.

 

D. Prepare and distribute a written financial report to the Executive Board prior to each meeting of the UBDC

 

E. Perform such other duties as the chair, the UBDC or its Executive Board may delegate.

 

F. Prepare annual financial disclosure statements to be given to the Clark County Democrat Party and/or NV State Democrat Party. 

 

Section 5. Community At Large Ambassadors

 

A There will be 8 Community At Large Members, which shall be appointed as follows: 2 by Presidential Chair 3 by Vice Presidential Chair and 3 by Second-Vice Presidential Chair.

 

B Community At Large Ambassadors are responsible for promoting the UBDC, signing up new members, and perform additional duties as requested by the Executive board.

 

Article VI

Endorsements

 

 

 

Section 1: Endorsement of a Democratic candidate for partisan or non-partisan office by UBDC Executive Board is  permitted due to the fact that the UBDC reserves the right to express which candidates will more closely align with issues and policies that are of most concerning to the Black constituency.

All Democrat Party candidates will be supported in the general election. 

 

Section 2: Nothing in this section shall prohibit any individual member of UBDC from endorsing a Democratic candidate for partisan or non-partisan office in his or her personal capacity.

 

Article VII

Section 1: Bylaws may also be adopted or amended by affirmative majority vote of those present and voting at a UBDC meeting, or by majority vote by the executive board, provided that it be proposed in writing by a member of the UBDC at least (30) sixty days prior to a scheduled meeting and be published in full in the notice of the meeting of the UBDC sent to each member.  Amending a proposed amendment to the Bylaws at a UBDC meeting shall require no notice and may be accomplished by a majority vote of those present and voting.

 

 

 

Section 2: Newly adopted or amended provisions of the Bylaws shall take effect immediately unless the adopting resolution provides for a different effective date.