A. Performing all duties provided by law (Michigan Election Law, Act 116 of 1954, as amended) and such other duties not prohibited by law as will benefit the general welfare of the Republicans of Otsego County;

B. Promoting the platform of the Republican Party and to increase membership in the OCRC;

C. Conducting the political affairs and business of the OCRC, including but not limited to:

1. Working for the election of the Republican Party’s nominees in Otsego County, Michigan; and,

2. Working in cooperation with other Republican national, state, district, county, and local Republican organizations; and,

D. Adopting and amending bylaws by which OCRC shall be governed.

Article II. Membership

Section 2.1 General Membership

Members shall be qualified voters residing in Otsego County, except as provided by law.

A resident of Otsego County may become a member of the OCRC by completing an application for membership and paying dues to the OCRC Chair or Treasurer. Dues shall be paid via check or by using the link on the OCRC website.

A member may vote at OCRC business meetings, become part of the Executive Committee, OCRC, and become an OCRC Officer by being a Paid Member in Good Standing. (See Article 3, Section 3.3 of these bylaws)

Annual dues are good for the calendar year beginning January 1^st through December 31^st of each year. Members in Good Standing must have the dues of $25 paid no later than the close of business on March 1^st (or the next business day after March 1^st, if said calendar date falls on a weekend) of each calendar year.

The failure of a regular member to contribute to the OCRC by March 1^st of each calendar year shall automatically suspend all rights and privileges of such regular member until the contribution is made in that calendar year. Dues will increase to $50 if paid after the March 1^st deadline. Dues may not be paid during an active meeting for the purposes of participation in the active meeting.

Section 2.2 Elected Members

General membership requirements detailed in Article II, Section 2.1 shall apply to Elected Membership, except as detailed in Article III, Section 3.3.

Article III. Executive Committee

Section 3.1 Establishment

There shall be an Executive Committee of the OCRP, which shall be established as provided by law (MCL 168.599) and State Republican Committee rules. The Executive Committee shall elect the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of the Executive Committee, and shall fill any vacancies occurring in these offices.

Section 3.2 Duties

The duties of the Executive Committee shall consist of establishing general policy for and conducting the affairs of the OCRC in accordance with Article 1, Section 2 of these bylaws. The Executive Committee shall work toward ensuring each precinct in the county is represented by the number of precinct delegates to which it is entitled.

In addition, the Executive Committee may encourage, recognize, and aid in the establishment of those organizations within Otsego County that will enhance the activities of the Republican Committee.

Section 3.3 Membership

In accordance with MCL 168.599 as amended, membership to the Executive Committee shall be determined as follows: In even-numbered years, delegates to the Fall County Convention shall convene at the call of the County Chairperson within thirty (30) days following the November election to select a number of persons equal to the number of county offices and state legislative offices for which candidates were nominated at the last two (2) preceding fall primary elections, who together with the persons most recently nominated by the OCRC for each to those offices shall constitute the Executive Committee.

Delegate-Elected Members: Delegates to the Fall County Convention shall caucus and select the Delegate-Elected Members to the Executive Committee. All Delegate-Elected Members must be registered voters who reside in Otsego County. There are currently fifteen (15) Delegate-Elected Members of the Executive Committee.

Delegate At Large Members: The Delegate At Large Members shall consist of those persons nominated by the Republican Committee for county offices and state legislative office in Otsego County at the last two (2) preceding primary elections. When a new nomination is made for such an office, the new member shall replace the former Delegate At Large Member as a member of the Executive Committee. There are currently fifteen (15) persons who, by virtue of their nomination in the last two (2) preceding primary elections, are automatically members of the Executive Committee:

1 – State Representative

9 – County Commissioners

1 – County Clerk

1 – County Treasurer

1 – County Prosecuting Attorney

1 – County Sheriff

1 – County Surveyor

Ex-Officio Members: Ex-Officio Members shall be persons who reside in Otsego County and who formerly held the following positions: County Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and Youth Vice Chairperson. Also includes members of the Republican State Committee, State Committee officers, Republican Congressmen, Congressional District chairpersons, and the Chairperson of the various committees appointed by the County Chairperson. Ex-officio members shall have a voice, but not a vote.

County Conventions - Eligible Voters: Precinct Delegates and Delegates At Large elected in the most recent August primary are eligible to vote at all County Conventions. Precinct Delegate vacancies filled on a permanent basis via election by Precinct Delegates and Delegates At Large will be considered duly elected and be eligible voters at all County Conventions, unless as provided otherwise by these bylaws, the Michigan Republican Party, or Statute.

Dues: Any member of the Executive Committee who fails to pay his/her annual dues in timely manner is considered to have resigned from the Executive Committee, and his/her position shall be filled as provided in Article III, Section 3.4(b).

Section 3.4 Vacancies

(a) Delegate At Large Member Vacancies:

If a vacancy occurs in the position of a Delegate At Large Member of the Executive Committee, the vacancy may only be filled by the person who is the new nominee for the office in question. A vacancy shall occur due to the following circumstances:

i. Resignation from the Executive Committee by the Delegate At Large Member.

ii. Death of the Delegate At Large Member.

iii. Delegate At Large Member no longer resides in Otsego County.

iv. Delegate At Large Member resigns or is recalled from elective office.

(b) Delegate-Elected Member Vacancies :

In the event of a vacancy, the remaining Delegate-Elected Members shall fill the vacancy as provided in this Article and by State Committee Rules. A vacancy shall occur due to the following circumstances:

i. The Delegate-Elected Member shall be considered resigned if they miss three (3) consecutive Executive Committee meetings or fail to pay their membership as provided in this Article III, Section 3.3, Dues.

ii. Death of the Delegate-Elected Member.

iii. Delegate-Elected Member no longer resides in Otsego County.

iv. Should a vacancy occur in a Delegate-Elected Member Executive Committee position, the remaining Delegate-Elected Members shall fill the vacancy at the next regular meeting of the Executive Committee after the vacancy occurs. The notice of the regular meeting must indicate that a vacancy is to be filled. A majority of the Delegate-Elected Members present in voting shall be necessary to elect the person to fill any vacancy in the position of a Delegate-Elected Member of the Executive Committee.

Article IV. Executive Committee Meetings

Section 4.1 Regular Meetings of the Executive Committee

Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held as frequently as necessary to carry out its duties, at times and places within Otsego County as determined by County Chairperson. The Executive Committee shall meet at least 6 times each calendar year. Additional meetings may be held as necessary as deemed necessary or as otherwise provided under Section 5.6 (Special Meetings of the Executive Committee below).

Section 4.2 Quorum

A quorum for all meetings of the Executive Committee shall consist of one-third of the current voting membership of the Executive Committee represented in person.

Section 4.3 Proxy

Voting by proxy shall not be permitted for any OCRC business.

Section 4.4 Special Meetings of the Executive Committee

Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the County Chairperson when (s)he shall deem it advisable, and shall be called when requested, in writing, by five (5) members of the Executive Committee.

Section 4.5 Notice

An agenda and preliminary notice of the subject matter to be considered at meetings of the Executive Committee shall be forwarded by the Secretary to each member of the Committee with notice of the time and place of the meeting not less than four (4) days prior to each meeting. Two (2) days notice shall be given of special meetings unless such notice is prevented by an emergency.

Section 4.6 Attendance

Any Delegate-Elected Member who shall fail to be present, at three (3) consecutive meetings of the Executive Committee shall be considered to have resigned from the Executive Committee and his/her position on the Executive Committee shall be filled as provided in Article III, Section 3.4(b).

Article V. County Committee

Section 5.1 Establishment

There shall be established a County Committee of the Otsego County Republican Committee. The members of which shall be approved by the Executive Committee as provided herein.

As per MCL 168.599 (4), a County Committee shall be elected as follows: After the officers of the Executive Committee have taken office, and within 45 days after January 1 of each odd numbered year, the Executive Committee shall select a county committee for the party, which committee shall consist of not less than 2 members from each township and 2 members from each ward of each city in the county, of shall consist of at least 2 members from each election precinct in the county, as the Executive Committee may determine.

Section 5.2 Membership and Term

The County Committee shall consist of dues paying members from Otsego County. Any member of the County Committee who fails to pay his/her annual dues in a by March 1^st is considered to have resigned from the County Committee, and his/her position on the County Committee shall be filled as provided in Article III, Section 3.4. The term of service of members of the County Committee shall continue for two (2) years and until the selection of their successors. The Executive Committee shall have the right to appoint officers of the County Committee who in its judgment are proper to carry out the purposes of the County Committee or to fill any vacancy in County Committee officer positions.

In addition, the following persons shall serve as members of the County Committee by virtue of the office they hold during their tenure of office, as long as they are residents of Otsego County and members in good standing with the Otsego Republican County Committee: elected County and Executive Committee officers, members of the Executive Committee, and Congressional District Committee officers.

Section 5.3 Vacancies

All vacancies in the membership of the County Committee after January 31 of the year following the Fall Convention shall be filled by election of the County Committee. The Executive Committee shall act as a nominating committee, and any member of the County Committee may make additional nominations.

Article VI. County Committee Meetings

Section 6.1 Regular Meetings of the County Committee

Regular meetings of the County Committee shall be held at least once a month each calendar year, at a time and place within Otsego County to be determined by the County Chairperson. The first meeting of the County Committee shall be held no later than March 31 in the year of its election.

Section 6.2 Quorum

A quorum for all meetings of the County Committee shall consist of one-fourth of the current County Committee membership.

Section 6.3 Proxy

No vote shall be cast by proxy.

Section 6.4 Notice

An agenda and preliminary notice of the subject matter to be considered at meetings of the County Committee shall be forwarded by the Secretary to each member of the Committee with notice of the time and place of the meeting not less than four (4) days prior to each meeting.

Section 6.5 Attendance

Any Delegate-Elected Member who shall fail to be present, either in person at three (3) consecutive meetings of the County Committee shall be considered to have resigned from the County Committee and his/her position on the County Committee shall be filled as provided in Article III, Section 3.4.

Article VII. Officers

Section 7.1 Designation

The officers of the Executive Committee and of the County Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as may be appointed by the Chairperson with the approval of the Executive Committee. The officers of the County Committee and the Executive Committee shall be the same persons.

Section 7.2 Election and Term

The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected by the Executive Committee within thirty (30) days following the Fall Convention held in even-numbered years. A Youth Vice Chairperson may be appointed by the Chairperson with the approval of the Executive Committee. Their term in office shall consist of two (2) years commencing January 1 of the odd-numbered years.

Section 7.3 Vacancies

If an officer shall resign or become ineligible to hold office, there shall be a vacancy in that office. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Chairperson, the powers and duties of the Chairperson shall immediately and automatically be assumed by the Vice Chairperson until a new Chairperson is elected. All vacancies in offices shall be filled by elections by the Executive Committee for the remainder of the term. Such elections shall be held not less than fifteen (15) nor more than forty-five (45) days after the vacancy occurs.

Article VIII. Duties of Office

Section 8.1 County Chairperson

The duties of the Chairperson shall consist of those provided by law, and also such other duties not prohibited by law as may be required by action of the County Committee or the Executive Committee, including but not limited to the following:

A. Shall set the agenda and preside at all meetings of the County Committee and the Executive Committee and shall be an ex-officio member of all other committees.

B. Shall appoint the chairpersons and members of all committees and may remove them, all subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

C. Shall be responsible for directing the administration of the headquarters and staff, if any.

D. Shall be responsible for managing the day-to-day affairs of the Committee.

E. Shall coordinate the activities of the Republican Committee organizations within the county.

F. Shall submit reports to the Executive Committee and the County Committee as may be required by action of the Committees.

G. May hire or fire full or part-time personnel for/from positions approved by the Executive Committee.

H. Shall act as spokesperson for the OCRC and may delegate such responsibilities if desired.

I. Shall keep the Committees informed of Republican Committee programs and activities.

J. May assign to other officers and committees such duties as may be necessary.

K. Shall be a signatory on all OCRC designated bank accounts.

L. Shall have the authority to contact the County Clerk should a candidate who is not nominated nor been approved as a Republican candidate by the OCRC appear on the ballot as a Republican.

Section 8.2 Vice Chairperson

A. Shall preside at meetings of the County Committee and the Executive Committee in the absence of, or at the request of, the Chairperson.

B. Shall perform such other duties as directed by the Chairperson and/or the Executive Committee or the County Committee; and

C. In the event the Chairperson is unable to act, the powers and duties of the Chairperson shall be assumed by the Vice Chairperson until such inability is removed or until the Chairperson shall again take up the duties of the office.

D. Shall be a member of the Communications Committee.

Section 8.3 Secretary

A. The Secretary shall perform all the duties normally incident to the office of Secretary, and in particular shall keep a permanent record of the minutes and attendance at all meetings of the Executive and County Committees.

B. Shall make these records available for inspection and copying by any member of the Committees.

C. Shall furnish a copy of the minutes of the most recent meeting to any member of the Committees who requests the same.

D. Shall ensure that all notices are duly given as required by law and by these Bylaws.

E. Shall be a member of the Membership Committee and maintain a database of membership to the County Party.

F. Should the Secretary be unable to attend a meeting; the Secretary must find a temporary Secretary for that meeting with the approval from the Chairperson; should circumstances not allow for time to find a temporary Secretary, the Chairperson shall appoint or ask for a volunteer at said meeting.

G. The Secretary shall have the responsibility to maintain records of the past and current meeting minutes, and pass these minutes on to the next succeeding Secretary for purposes of a perpetual record.

Section 8.4 Treasurer

A. Shall have the care and custody of all monies paid to the OCRC and shall deposit the same in the name of the OCRC in a bank designated by the Executive Committee and shall pay all duly authorized bills.

B. Shall serve as Chairperson of the Finance Committee and shall be responsible for the proper and timely filing of all financial reports required by law.

C. Bills may be authorized for payment by officers of the Executive Committee.

D. Shall keep, or cause to be kept, an accurate account, in permanent records, of all receipts and disbursement of funds of the Committee using proper and orderly methods of keeping records.

E. Shall, upon reasonable request, allow inspection by any member of the County Committee and shall render statements of the revenues, expenditures and outstanding obligations, and cash balance of the OCRC to the Executive Committee and County Committee at each regular meeting.

F. At the close of each calendar year, the Treasurer shall submit an annual statement and report as of December 31 of each year setting forth the financial condition of the OCRC and summarizing its income and expenditures.

G. Shall forward the reports to the officers by the first day of March of the year following and shall present a copy of the report to the Executive and County Committees at their next regular meetings.

H. Shall be responsible for sending out Annual Dues notices by December 1^st covering the upcoming calendar year.

I. Should the Treasurer be unable to attend a meeting, the Treasurer shall notify the Chairperson of the absence and shall provide a basic report of OCRC finances for the Chairperson to report at the meeting. Should circumstances not allow for time to provide the Chairperson a report prior to the meeting, the Treasurer shall provide the report as soon as possible.

J. Shall submit a quarterly report to the membership committee and to the chairmen consisting of a roster of all current dues paying members and a list of all current elected officials in the county and townships who ran in the last election on the Republican ballot who are in arrears.

K. Shall furnish to his/her successor all funds, accounts, and other property pertaining to the affairs of the Treasurer upon leaving office.

Section 8.5 Youth Vice Chairperson

The Youth Vice Chairperson shall be responsible for organizing Teenage Republican Club chapters and College Republican clubs; and shall carry out such duties as shall be assigned by the Chairperson.

Section 8.6 Records

All records and materials received or prepared by the officers or employees of the OCRC in discharge of their duties shall be the property of the OCRC and will be held confidential; and each such officer or employee at the conclusion of his or her term of service shall deliver all such records and materials to his or her successor.

Article IX. Standing Committees

The OCRC shall have standing committees which shall study and advise the Chairperson and the OCRC with respect to all matters within their jurisdiction and shall perform such other duties as the Chairperson may direct.

The Chairperson shall determine which standing committees will be implemented and appoint the membership of each standing committee at the first meeting of the OCRC in each calendar year. The Chairperson may make subsequent changes in the membership of the standing committees, but every member of the OCRC must serve on at least one standing committee.

Section 9.1 Finance Committee

There shall be a Finance Committee, which shall consist of the Treasurer, who shall serve as the chairperson, the County Chairperson, and up to four (4) persons to be appointed by the County Chairperson with the approval of the Executive Committee. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for developing and implementing the fundraising program of the Executive Committee.

The Finance Committee shall prepare a proposed budget to submit to the Executive Committee for review and approval or modification. The Finance Committee shall meet at least quarterly and shall regularly report to the Executive Committee the current status of the financial policies and programs of the Executive Committee.

The Finance Committee shall recommend such changes and alterations in the budget as are necessary when actual revenues and revised revenue projections are not adequate to support budgeted expenditures. Such recommendation shall be presented to the Executive Committee for acceptance or modification at the next Executive Committee meeting.

All events and/or actions of the OCRC which require an expenditure shall be presented first to the Finance Committee for budgetary consideration.

Section 9.2 Membership Committee

The Membership Committee shall develop and implement a membership program to maintain and increase the number of dues paying members in the OCRC. The Membership Committee shall meet at least quarterly and shall regularly report to the Executive Committee the current status of the policies and programs of the Membership Committee.

Section 9.3 Campaign Committee

The Campaign Committee has the power to review a candidate’s qualifications to call themselves a Republican and/or seek nomination as a Republican, and to report such findings to the Chair for appropriate action. The Campaign Committee shall assist nominated and qualified candidates for election to public office, on the Republican ticket and shall develop programs to secure the election of those candidates. Programs may include, but not limited to, door knocking, call centers, staffing a headquarters, delivering yard signs, and planning Meet & Greet events. The Campaign Committee shall meet at least quarterly and shall regularly report to the Executive Committee the current status of the policies and programs of the Campaign Committee.

Section 9.4 Communications Committee

The Communications Committee shall be responsible for proposing all mass communications by the OCRC. This shall include newsletters, print advertising, and broadcast advertising. All proposed communications must be presented to the Finance Committee for cost evaluation prior to approval by the Executive Committee.

Section 9.5 Youth Republicans Committee

The Youth Republicans Committee shall develop and implement programs for securing greater participation in Party activities by young people.

Section 9.6 Other Committees

The County Chairperson may appoint other ad hoc committees, or sub-committees of standing committees, as may be necessary to carry out the administrative duties and goals of the organization. Examples of such committees are: Events, Convention, Election Integrity, and Educational Oversight, etc. The Chairperson(s) of these committees shall be determined by the County Chairperson.

Article X. Removal

Section 10.1

A voting officer or member of the OCRC shall forfeit Committee membership and any Committee office upon being absent without excuse by the Chairperson from three (3) consecutive regular Committee meetings for which proper notice was given.

Section 10.2

Voting officers and members of the OCRC are subject to removal from the Committee by a majority vote of the OCRC, provided that proper notice of the meeting and agenda was given.

Section 10.3

Reasons for removal include, but are not limited to, failure to obey these bylaws, or to fulfill the duties and responsibilities delegated by these bylaws; actions which are injurious to the OCRC; conflicts of interest which impede the ability of the OCRC to fulfill the Committee’s goals; a change in residence, in the case of Delegate-Elected members, to another county, and in the case of At Large members, to another area whose state legislative district does not include part of Otsego County.

Section 10.4

The removal of a member or officer from the OCRC or forfeiture of membership or office shall create a vacancy, which vacancy shall be filled or left vacant in accordance with these bylaws.

Article XI. Resolutions

Section 11.1 Notice

All resolutions shall be submitted to the County Chairperson at least five (5) days prior to the communication of notice of the meeting at which they are proposed to be introduced.

Section 11.2 Communication of Proposed Resolutions

The Chairperson shall provide a copy of each proposed resolution to each member of the Executive or County Committee with the notice of the meeting of the Committee.

Section 11.3 Policy

It is policy of the County Committee and of the Executive Committee not to endorse or support individual candidates in contested Republican primary elections, except as provided in Section 11.4.

Section 11.4 Endorsement in Contested Republican Primary

In the exceptional circumstances where an endorsement will benefit the Republican Committee in Otsego County, the Executive Committee may endorse, support, or disavow a particular candidate in a contested Republican primary election; provided that a resolution to endorse or disavow a particular candidate be adopted by two-thirds of the Executive Committee present and voting, and provided notice of the resolution is given as provided in this Article.

Section 11.5 Resources

The resources of the OCRC shall not be used to endorse or support individual candidates in contested elections unless the Executive Committee has endorsed the candidate as provided in Section 11.4; provided that Executive Committee resources may be made available on an equal access basis to all announced candidates in Republican primary elections where no candidate has been endorsed. Out-of-pocket costs shall be reimbursed to the Executive Committee by candidates using Executive Committee resources, and the use of such resources shall not interfere with the operation of headquarters, if any, nor the functioning of the Executive Committee.

Section 11.5 Conduct of Officers

It is the policy of the County Committee and the Executive Committee that the officers of the Committees in their official capacity shall not endorse partisan candidates in a contested primary election, except where the candidate has received Committee endorsement.

Article XII. Procedure

Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the County and Executive Committees in all cases where said rules are not in conflict with the bylaws of these Committees, nor in conflict with Michigan Election Law, Act 116 of 1954, as amended.

Article XIII. Dissolution

In the event of the dissolution of the OCRC under the auspices of the Executive Committee, all of its assets remaining after payment of all costs and expenses of such dissolution shall be distributed to the Republican benefactor or benefactors, as a majority of those members of the Executive Committee present and voting shall choose. None of the assets will be distributed to any member or officer of this organization.

Article XIV. Amendment of the Bylaws

These Bylaws may be amended by a majority of the total membership of the Executive Committee present and voting; provided that notice of any proposed amendment shall have been furnished with the meeting notice to each member of the Executive Committee. Amendments to the bylaws approved under this article shall take immediate effect.

Article XV. Adoption

These Bylaws shall be adopted when approved by a majority of the total membership of the Executive Committee present and voting at the meeting where they are presented. These Bylaws shall govern the conduct of the Executive Committee and its officers and committees upon adoption by the Executive Committee. When adopted, these Bylaws shall remain in force and effect during the term of the Executive Committee, which shall have adopted them, and until the first meeting of the committee selected to replace it.

Article XVI. Severability Clause

Should any provision of the bylaws be ruled unlawful or unconstitutional, the remaining bylaws shall remain in effect and are binding on the membership.

Otsego County Republicans

P.O. Box 3036
Gaylord, MI 49734

Otsego GOP is a group of Republicans dedicated to Prosperity and Freedom for its Community, State and Nation through the implementation of the policies inherent in its platform (RNC 2008) by candidates and elected Republicans that can move that agenda forward.

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