Discussion of Draft By-Laws

[Julie Kane]

I'm opening this On-Line Discussion as a way for each of you to submit
question and comments to the entire group. Of course, this is not
meant to replace our face-to-face discussion on Sunday.

Please feel free to add any thoughts you might have to the discussion.

Best regards,
Julie

[Howard Henward]

This draft looks very good, assuming it is consistent with County and State
regulations. One question: Does the DVH nominate and appoint members to
serve as Town representatives at the County level? If not, how are these
representatives chosen?

Hank Henward

[Julie Kane]

Good question! The Committee members are selected in odd-numbered
years by a vote of all Democrats registered in Hillsdale at the
caucus. If someone is interested in running, he/she would circulate a
petition to that effect prior to the caucus.

Maybe someone else could help clarify the timing of the petitions and
how many signatures are needed to qualify.

Julie

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[Janet Lincoln]

The copy of the County by-laws I have says, "Committee members shall
be elected biennially for terms of two years at the primary election
in odd-numbered years."

Really glad to see some feedback on the by-laws, and hope more of you
will take advantage of the Google group discussion to give your
thoughts. And please come to the meeting this Sunday! The by-laws
committee (of which I'm a member) has worked hard to come up with a
good first pass, but now we need the input of all the DVH members to
ensure that the by-laws provide a good structure to propel the club
forward.

Janet

[Julie Kane]

Thanks, Janet, for the clarification. - Julie

[Julie Kane]

I am forwarding Cheryl's valuable comments to the group. Cheryl - If
you
would include DVHIL...@googlegroups.com in your distribution list,
it
would be a help to us all. - Julie

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-----Original Message-----
From: Cheryl Jones [mailto:cejo...@taconic.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 10:15 PM
To: cejo...@taconic.net
Subject: DVH By Laws

A few comments on the proposed By Laws: The Democratic Voters of
Hillsdale is a club with no legal affiliation to the Democratic
Party. It is distinct from the County Committee which is part of the
formal party structure and
governed by election law and which members are elected by petition, or
in the case of multiple petitioners, at the primary election of the
Democratic Party. We have four County Committeemen--two from each
election district. One seat in the lst election district went vacant
when no one ran for it last year. It was filled through election by
the other three County Committeemen.

The DVH club on the other hand is an unofficial group, sanctioned by
no law, and not sanctioned by the Democratic Party, there to support
whatever interests it chooses. The primary role of such political
clubs is to raise money to elect candidates. Since the primary role
is to raise money for the candidates, I do not believe that elected
party officials, such as committeemen or state reps, or elected town
officials should serve as officers of the DVH club. It may have made
sense in the past when we had only a handful of people who cared to
show up. But we now have enough good people interested in democrat
politics in Hillsdale that we don't need to pile on multiple party-
serving positions and concentrate the activity in the hands of just a
few. Besides, doing so can get a bit sticky regarding town vs. party
interests as we have experienced in the past. I say let the
governance of the club be formed by anyone who wants to run for office
in the club and is elected by the club's membership--other than those
who already hold elected office.

Therefore, Article III Paragraph 2 (a) which restricts President and
Vice President of the club to elected party or town officers should be
revised by striking the second sentence.

In addition, Article IV, Paragraph 1 (iv) regarding a meeting in July
in which the President of the club will solicit nominations from the
floor for recommendation to the upcoming caucus is wrong. The caucus
is called by the Town Chair of the County Committee by election law.
That is the primary role the Town Chair actually plays. Under election
law, only those registered democrats who physically attend the caucus
can participate and
any one at the caucus who is a registered democrat may nominate or
second a candidate.

If the club wants to support someone for election, fine, but neither
the club nor the club President has any power over who can get
nominated at the caucus. The club cannot play a "candidate screening"
role.

I may have other comments on these by-laws which I will bring to the
meeting on March 2nd if I am able to attend.

Cheryl E. Jones
75 Old Highway
Hillsdale, New York 12529
Phone: 518-325-5020
FAX: 518-325-6544

[Cheryl Jones]

Once again, the County Committeemen are elected by petition. If there are
multiple petitioners (which we have never had in Hillsdale to my knowledge),
then those names go on the ballot at the primary election. Otherwise, if
only two candidates in each district gather the requisite number of
signatures on a petition, they become the Committeemen. Cheryl

[Julie Kane]

Regarding Cheryl's comments about candidates for office, and speaking
for the by-laws committee, we felt that platform and candidate
development should be part of the concerns of the DVH. To that end,
we suggest a Standing Committee for that purpose and encourage a
particular time to address the question of who might be a viable
candidate for a particular office.

We feel that the ultimate choice of candidates is and should be the
responsibility of all enrolled Dems at the caucus, and we encourage
any nominations at that meeting.

I hope other by-laws committee members will chime in on this or any
other question. Please....

Julie

[Iona Lutey]

Hello,

The by-laws seem good to me and I agree with the following comment from Julie:

...that platform and candidate

development should be part of the concerns of the DVH.  To that end,
we suggest a Standing Committee for that purpose and encourage a
particular time to address the question of who might be a viable
candidate for a particular office.

Thanks for the hard work of the by-laws committee!

Iona Lutey

[Cheryl Jones]

Thank you. I think in addition to reviewing By Laws of the County Committee
and other town clubs, it would be in the interest of the by laws committee
to also review State Election Law. You should be careful to recognize the
limiting role that the club plays--it is not, and can't be made into via By
Laws, the definitive voice of the Democratic Party. It is the voice of its
membership. It has no official or legal role within the Democratic Party
and if it does develop candidates for office that is a good thing but it's
choice will not control what happens at any caucus. It isn't just a
question of feeling that the ultimate choice is and should be the
responsibility of all enrolled Dems at the caucus--it's the fact and the
law. Cheryl

-----Original Message-----
From: DVHil...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:DVHil...@googlegroups.com]On Behalf Of Julie Kane
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 8:25 AM
To: Democratic Voters of Hillsdale
Subject: Re: Discussion of Draft By-Laws