WISCONSIN ORGANIZATION OF MOTHERS OF TWINS CLUBS
BY-LAWS
(Revised October 2004)
ARTICLE I NAME
Section 1 The name of the organization shall be the WISCONSIN ORGANIZATION OF
MOTHERS OF TWINS CLUBS.
Section 2 The motto is: “Doubly Blessed by God.”
Section 3 The official emblem shall be used for official activities and public releases.
Section 4 The adopted name of the newsletter is: “Wisconsin Twin News.”
ARTICLE II PURPOSE AND AIM
Section 1 To join together member clubs throughout the state, for the purpose of exchanging educational information pertaining to the rearing, development and encouragement of individuality of twins; as may be forthcoming from parents, doctors, educators or other appropriate sources.
Section 2
(A) To assist in medical research.
(B) To promote and help organize new clubs.
(C) To make available to the public any material in our library concerning twins.
(D) To strengthen the bond of fellowship between Mothers of Twins.
(E) To promote philanthropy throughout Member Clubs.
(F) The Wisconsin Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs is to be non-commercial, non-profit and non-discriminatory of race, color or creed.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Section 1
(A) Membership in this organization shall consist of clubs through the state of Wisconsin.
(B) All members therein must be the mothers of, or have guardianship of, multiple birth children.
(C) Member clubs must consist of at least (3) members therein, with the following offices: President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
(D) Out-of-state exceptions may be made, subject to their request and W.O.M.O.T.C. approval.
Section 2
(A) Member Clubs must accept the By-Laws and Standing Rules and Official Procedure Manual of the State Organization.
(B) A Member Club may be expelled, by a majority vote of the Executive Board, from the State Organization for conduct detrimental to the best interest of the State Organization.
Section 3 (10/03)
(A) Individual Affiliate Membership shall be eligible to any interested individual,
such as a parent of multiples, grandparent, health professional, educator, counselor, child care provider, etc.
(1) Remittance of non refundable annual dues of $12 within the USA
(B) Affiliate Membership Benefits
(1) Receive subscription to Wisconsin Twin News
(2) Receive research reports and surveys
(3) Have access through the Executive Board referrals to
organizational support services and research library
(4) Receive member price on publications and products
(5) Receive member rate to attend organization functions.
(C) Affiliate members have no voting privileges, and are not eligible to serve in
elected offices or positions of the Wisconsin Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs.
(D) An affiliate member may be expelled, by a majority vote of the Executive Board, from the State Organization for conduct detrimental to the best interest of the State Organization.
(E) No affiliate member may benefit financially from membership or use membership for personal or business gain.
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS
Section 1
(A) Officers shall consist of the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
(B) There shall be no more than three (3) Officers or Committee Chairpersons from each member club. (10/97)
(1) In the event it becomes impossible to fill all officers and appointments without violating this limit, the limit may be suspended by a 2/3 majority vote of those meeting. (10/97)
(C) Immediate Past President shall serve on the Executive Board in an advisory capacity for one year and has the option to remain as Advisor if the President remains in office a second term.
(D) The Officers and elected Standing Committee Chairpersons shall be elected annually and shall hold office for one (1) year with a term limited by two (2) successive years; one (1) year must elapse before she may hold the same office again. (10/02)
(E) Membership for at least six (6) months shall be required for eligibility to serve as a State Officer. The candidate for the office of President shall have served a minimum of two (2) years on the Executive Board with voting privileges, one of which is the current year. (10/02)
(F) Vacancies, except that of President, occurring during the term shall be filled by the Executive Board.
(G) In the event the Office of President becomes vacant, the First Vice-President shall become President. The First Vice-President position shall then be filled according to Article IV, Section 1-F
Section 2
(A) All Officers and Committee Chairpersons are required to attend all Executive Board Meetings.
(B) Absences will be excused at the discretion of the President.
ARTICLE V NON-PERFORMING OFFICERS
Section 1
(A) In the event an elected or appointed Officer, Chairperson, or Committee Member is unable to fulfill or continue her duties, the President must receive written notice of the intent to resign.
(B) An elected or appointed Officer, Chairperson, or Committee Member may be replaced for willful neglect of duties by a 2/3 majority vote of the Executive Board.
(C) Vacancies may be filled according to procedures stated in Article IV, Section 1-F.
ARTICLE VI EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1
(A) Shall consist of Officers, Standing Committee Chairpersons, and the Advisor. (10/02)
(B) In the event the immediate Past President is unable to serve, the President shall appoint a Past President to serve as Advisor.
(C) No Officer or Committee Chairperson may hold more than one position on the Executive Board.
Section 2
(A) Meetings are to be held upon the call of the President to manage the affairs and funds of the Organization.
(B) A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Executive Board, provided there are at least three (3) State Officers present. (10/95)
ARTICLE VII STANDING COMMITTEE
Section 1 Standing Committee shall consist of:
(1) Editor
(2) Publisher
(3) Historian/ Chaplain
(4) Parliamentarian
(5) Credentials Chairperson
(6) Ways and Means Chairperson
(7) Nominating Committee Chairperson
(8) Philanthropic Chairperson
(9) Web Page Coordinator (10/02)
Section 2 The Editor, Historian/ Chaplain, and the Publisher shall be appointed by the newly elected Officers, only if the Nominating Committee is unable to fill the slate.
Section 3 Nominating Committee Chairperson, Parliamentarian, Ways and Means Chairperson, Credentials Chairperson, Web Page Coordinator and Philanthropic Chairperson shall be appointed by the newly elected State President at, or prior to the first Executive Board meeting, with the approval of the Executive Board. (10/02)
Section 4 All appointments shall be for one (1) year terms, except for that of philanthropic Chairperson, which shall be a two (2) year appointment. (10/97)
Section 5
(A) Special Committee Chairpersons:
(1) Shall consist of the Convention Chairperson and any other Special Committee appointed by the Executive Board.
(2) Shall be non-voting members of the Executive Board.
(B) Special Committee Chairpersons with Vote:
(1) Shall be a Committee Chairperson appointed by the Executive Board, limited
to one (1) per year.
(2) Appointment shall be reviewed on an annual basis to determine if there is a continued need for this Committee.
(3) Shall be a temporary member of the Standing Committee.
ARTICLE VIII STATE CONVENTION
Section 1 Unless otherwise directed by the Executive Board, convention shall be held annually the second weekend in October. (10/97)
Section 2 Past presidents shall have a voice at the business meeting without having voting privileges.
Section 3 Voting Delegates shall consist of two (2) from each Member Club in good standing.
Section 4 Quorum shall consist of a majority of the voting body registered, provided there are at least three (3) State Officers present. (10/95)
Section 5 Convention Chairperson are to be appointed by the Hostess Club(s).
Section 6 The official Call to Convention shall be sent by the Convention Chairpersons to all Member Clubs at least sixty (60) days before Convention.
Section 7
(A) A Spring Meeting may be held annually for Member Clubs.
(B) The Chairperson is to be appointed by the Hostess Club.
ARTICLE IX NOMINATING AND ELECTIONS
Section 1
(A) Nominating Committee shall consist of: four (4) members, each representing a different club, and will be non-voting members of the Executive Board.
(B) A Nominating Committee Chairperson shall be appointed by the newly elected State President, with four (4) Committee members to be elected by the voting body at Convention.
(C) Committee shall present at least two (2) nominees for each office upon receipt of written qualifications.
(D) No member of the Nominating Committee shall be deprived of the right to be nominated. (10/95)
(E) Nominations may be made from the floor.
(F) If the Nominating Committee member is running for an elected office, she shall be excused from counting ballots. In the event of ¾ or more Nominating Committee members are running, the pages can be used as ballot counters.
Section 2
(A) Elections shall be made by ballot. In the event a candidate is unopposed on the slate, a voice vote may be used to elect.
(B) This five (5) member committee shall serve as Tellers at the Convention.
(C) Nominees for the Office of the President shall have served a minimum of two (2) years on the Executive Board with voting privileges, one of which is the current year. (10/02)
(D) Officers, non-appointed Standing Committee Cahirmen, and Nominating Committee shall be elected by a majority vote. (10/94)
(E) In the event there are more than two (2) candidates per office, plurality vote shall take effect.
(1) In the event of a tie vote, the voting body shall re-vote for those candidates that are tied.
(2) In the event of still another tie, the slate will be voided and
nominations will be re-opened.
(F) The voting body of the assembly shall consist of:
(1) Properly registered Delegates.
(2) Members of the Executive Board.
(G) An Executive Board Member may be an alternate of only one office.
ARTICLE X DUES
Section 1
(A) Annual Dues shall be $4.00 (10/97) per member as of August 1, (10/96) per club membership.
(1) Dues shall be paid for new club members joining after August 1 (10/96)
(2) Dues for new club members joining after August 1 (10/96) shall be $4.00 (10/97) per member and shall be accepted until June 1 (10/96)
(B) New Clubs not previously affiliated with the State Organization, joining after August 31 (10/96) and prior to June 1 (10/96) shall pay a $5.00 application fee and dues on a pro-rated basis of $ .35 per member times the number of months remaining until August 1. (10/97)
Section 2
(A) Fiscal year shall be November 1 through October 31.
(B) Dues will be considered delinquent after August 31, and the Member Club will be removed from active membership. (10/97)
(C) Clubs removed from active membership must pay the current annual dues per member as well as a late fee of $5.00 per month in order to be reinstated with the same original effective date. Clubs removed from active membership for more than two (2) years will be considered a new club with a new effective date and are entitled to all materials supplied to new Member Clubs. (10/02)
ARTICLE XI PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the authority where they do not conflict with the By-Laws.
ARTICLE XII AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended at any Convention by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, provided notice in writing is in the hands of each Member Club at least thirty (30) days prior to the Convention. The wording of the proposed amendments may be modified by the delegates at the Convention, but the original intent must remain the same.
ARTICLE XIII DISSOLUTION
In the event this Organization should dissolve, all current bills shall be paid, and any remaining assets shall be liquidated by evenly dividing among Member Clubs in good standing.
WISCONSIN ORGANIZATION OF MOTHERS OF TWINS CLUBS
STANDING RULES
(Revised October 2004)
1. Clubs planning to extend a Convention Invitation must present their bid to the voting body at the Annual Convention two (2) years prior to the Convention. Clubs planning to extend a Spring Meeting invitation must present their bid to the voting body at the Annual Convention at least one and a half (1 ½) years prior to the Spring Meeting. After their bid has been accepted, the Club may request a loan from the executive Board, up to $200.00 for Convention and $100.00 for Spring Meeting, which shall be re-paid within thirty (30) days of the close of their Convention or Spring Meeting.
2. All mothers or guardians of multiple births are welcome to attend a Convnetion. Only Delegates and Executive Board members holding validated credentials are entitled to vote, and must be registered.
3. All remaining Convention funds shall revert to the State Organization after the Convention monies have been accounted for by the Convention Chairman.
4. Convention and Spring Meeting registration fees are to be set by respective Chairpersons, with the approval of the Executive Board.
5. Only active members of the State Organization may serve as Officers or Committee Members.
6. The President shall appoint Special Committee(s) as needed, which shall terminate after completing their assignment and reporting to the Executive Board.
7. Nominees, for Officers and Standing Committees must be in attendance at the Convention business meeting to be eligible for election, unless proper Nomination papers have been previously accepted and approved. (10/03)
8. Member Clubs should submit the names of possible candidates, resumes of qualifications, and written consent of the candidate, with signatures of local elected officers to the Nominating Committee Chairperson, sixty (60) days prior to Convention.
9. Individual subscriptions to the State Newsletter may be obtained for a fee of $10.00 per year, sent to the Treasurer. (10/97)
10. Newsletter will be sent as follows:
(A) Two (2) copies each to the State President, Historian/ Chaplain, and Editor.
(B) One (1) copy to all other Executive Board members.
(C) One (1) copy to each paid member of WOMOTC Member Clubs. (10/97)
(D) One (1) copy to each Past President, who is not currently a member of WOMOTC. (10/00)
11. Member Clubs in good standing must have dues paid before August 31. (10/97)
12. The Past President shall present a gift of appreciation to the Convention Chairman and Co-Chairman and the Outgoing Officers from the State Treasury. (10/96)
13. State Officers shall be presented with a Convention picture, paid for from Convention funds. A complete set of Convention pictures from Convention funds shall be provided for the Historian’s book. Member Clubs may purchase reprints.
14. The State President may approve necessary spending for the Publisher for the newsletter postage and printing, and spending up to $150.00 for Advisor for outgoing Officers and Convention Chairperson’s gifts. More allocation of funds must be voted on by the Executive Board. A balance of $100.00 shall remain in the treasury at all times, at the discretion of the President. (10/01)
15. Sales by the W.O.M.O.T.C. Ways and Means Chairperson, the W.O.M.O.T.C. Philanthropic Chairperson, W.O.M.O.T.C. Member Clubs, and other State MOTC Organization, and the National MOTC Organization, and only these, shall be permitted at State events, upon payment of a $2.50 fee for ½ table, and $5.00 fee for a whole selling table. The fee shall be waived for clubs committed to hostessing a State event, provided the proceeds go to the State event fund. The fee shall be waived for the W.O.M.O.T.C. Philanthropic Chairperson, provided the funds fo to the W.O.M.O.T.C. Philanthropic fund. The fees shall be waived for the W.O.M.O.T.C. Ways and Means table. Fees shall be sent to the State event treasurer thirty (30 days prior to the State event. (10/97)
16. Raffles will be allowed at the State events by Member Clubs committed to hostessing State events, provided the profits are used for deferring cost of said events. The W.O.M.O.T.C. Philanthropic Chairperson will be allowed to hold a raffle at State event, provided the proceeds go to the W.O.M.O.T.C. Philanthropic fund. The W.O.M.O.T.C. Ways and Means Chairperson will be allowed to hold a raffle at W.O.M.O.T.C. State events, provided the proceeds go tot the W.O.M.O.T.C. Treasury. These raffles must conform to Wisconsin State Laws.
17. Campaigning for elected Office or Chairmanship will not be permitted, campaigning for a Convention bid is permitted. No resumes are to be read at the Convention Business meeting.
18. State Member Clubs and Representatives addresses will be listed in the State Newsletter annually.
19. Executive Board meetings shall be opened to non-Executive Board members, and a copy of the Executive Board minutes are to be prepared and mailed to all Member Clubs.
20. State Representatives and interested State Members are encouraged to attend Executive Board meetings and may enter into timed discussions, but may not have voting privileges. Thirty (30) days notice to the President is required for any “New Business” to be introduced.
21. A minimum of one-half (1/2) page ad for the W.O.M.O.T.C., with the approval of the Executive Board will be placed in the National Convention booklet.
22. W.O.M.O.T.C. Past presidents may register for State Events at the registration rate set fot members, regardless of their current membership status.
23. Registration and noon luncheon fees shall be paid by W.O.M.O.T.C. for the current President and the immediate Past President, or the designated alternates, when attending neighboring State Conventions.
24. Standing Rules can be changed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at Convention without previous notice to Member Clubs.