REPORT - Proposed By-Law Changes

CURRENT BYLAWS OF
THE STRONGSVILLE REPUBLICAN CLUB
AS OF MARCH 31, 2025

Download PDF Version (Current Bylaws Dated May 2015)

Article I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be "Strongsville Republican Club”

Article II - OBJECTIVE
The Strongsville Republican Club shall promote participation in citywide and countywide political action and conservative representation. It will endeavor to utilize the full strength of conservative-minded individuals for the benefit of Strongsville Republicans. It will inform the members on the issues and candidates affecting Strongsville. It will be dedicated to informing voters of issues important to the community and to promoting candidates who will work for good government.

Article III - POLICY
The Strongsville Republican Club shall closely align itself with the Platform of the Republican National Committee.
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Article IV - MEMBERSHIP
Any person over the age of fourteen years old who professes and supports the views and goals of the Republican Party and is, or professes to become a registered Republican voter shall be granted membership upon payment of the annual dues. Membership may only be rejected for a person by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board and and ratification by a two-thirds vote of the members eligible to vote at the next general club meeting. In order to be eligible to vote in any vote taken by the organization, members must have attended three regular meetings as determined by sign-in sheets during the twelve months preceding the meeting in which the vote occurs.

Article V – MEMBERSHIP FEES
Dues will be established by the Executive Board each year and are payable each year in January. Dues for new members joining after July 1 will be discounted 50%.

Article VI - MEETINGS
Meetings will be held each month (except for any recesses) or on the call of the elected president. Meeting notices will be posted at least 10 days prior to the meeting date. A quorum is established when at least 10% of members who are eligible to vote are present. Any vote on an issue brought forward at a meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of members present except where noted otherwise in these bylaws. The agenda and format for all meetings shall be set by the President or his/her designate.

Article VII – ENDORSEMENTS
The Strongsville Republican Club may endorse a candidate for public office once the official filing deadline for that office has past. To be eligible for endorsement, a candidate must have officially declared his/her candidacy for public office, profess and support the views and goals of the Republican Party and be a current paid member of the club. The candidate must also be, or profess to become, a registered Republican voter. A vote for endorsement may be called by any member eligible to vote at a meeting of the club. A decision by the club to endorse a candidate requires a simple majority of the members eligible to vote at a club meeting where a quorum is present. To overturn an endorsement previously approved by a vote of the club, a two-thirds vote of the members eligible to vote at a club meeting where a quorum is present is required.

Article VIII - OFFICERS
The officers shall be President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. All officers shall be elected, by majority vote, at the first meeting held on or after the first day of February . The term of office will begin immediately following the vote for office. Officers will be elected for a one-year term. Any officer may be removed by a two thirds-majority vote at a general meeting where a quorum is present provided the general membership is notified 30 days in advance of a vote to remove said officer. A vacancy in any office created either by resignation or by removal shall be filled by appointment of the President and ratification by a majority of of the membership at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Should the Presidency be vacated either by resignation or by removal, the Vice President shall be automatically appointed as President. The appointment in either of these two scenarios will be for the remainder of the unexpired term of the officer.

Article IX - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
The President shall preside at all meetings, regular, special, and executive; shall appoint all necessary committees, both standing and special; and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. The Vice-Presidents shall perform the duties of the President whenever the President is absent or otherwise unable to serve, and shall assist in any duties as requested by the President. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of proceedings of all meetings, attend to correspondence if requested, and act as custodian of all records and files. The Treasurer shall keep detailed and up-to-date records of all monies received and disbursed, and submit a report at each meeting.

Article X - EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board shall be composed of all elected officers of the Strongsville Republican Club, the Strongsville Ward Leader, the most recent President of the club having not been removed from office and up to two members that may be appointed by the President and ratified by a majority of the Officers. All Executive Board members must be voting members of the Club. Any member that holds more than one position on the Executive Board will only have one eligible vote on the Executive Board. The Board shall consider all important business involving activities and the expenditures of funds, and shall report its recommendations to the club for vote. A simple majority of eligible votes is required for the Executive Board to take any action.

Article XI - EXPENDITURES
Expenditures of up to $200 may be expended by approval of the president and one other officers of the club. Expenditures in excess of $200 requires approval of the President and a majority of the eligible votes of the Executive Board. All funds of the club shall be deposited to the credit of the club in banks, trust companies, or other depositories that the Executive Board selects.

Article XII - COMMITTEES AND APPOINTMENTS
Standing committees and appointments may be created or dissolved at the pleasure of the President with the concurrence of the majority of the Officers.

Article XIII - AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds vote of members present and eligible to vote at any regular meeting, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given at least 30 days prior to that meeting.

Article XIV - RULES OF ORDER
Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall be the Parliamentary Authority for all matters not specifically covered by the Bylaws of this club.

Article XV – UNRESOLVABLE DISPUTES
The Club President or his/her designate shall adjudicate any disputes that cannot be resolved.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO STRONGSVILLE GOP BYLAWS
PRESENTED MARCH 31, 2025

Download PDF Version (Summary of Proposed Substantive Changes 3/31/25)

Executive Board Structure

• Current Board (9 total): President, 1st VP, 2nd VP, Treasurer, Secretary, Chairman Emeritus, Ward Leader, (2) Directors selected by the President
• Proposed Board: [ balances the power of the President, the people, and the membership ]
  • Voters (5): Ward Leader + 4 precinct committeemen elected from each of the wards
  • Membership (5): 1st VP, 2nd VP, Treasurer, Secretary, Chairman Emeritus
  • President (5-6): President + a Director for every 50 members of the club
• Committees:
  • Committee chairs can be appointed by the President at-will, without Executive Board consent
  • Committee chairs do not have voting rights on the Executive Board, but can concurrently hold any position that does have voting rights (EX: Director, 1st VP)

Official Meetings

• A minimum of four “official meetings” will be held each year where members can vote on motions, endorsements, censure, etc.
• Official Meetings must be called with appropriate notice. The less notice given, the higher the quorum required: >10 days notice → 10%; >5 days notice → 25%; <5 days notice → no votes allowed
• Membership is able to call official meetings (usually only the President can call meetings)
  • By petition of 25% of members, the President will set a reasonable meeting date, time, & location within 7 days of receipt of the petition. Agenda is set by membership.

Censure

• Two-Step Process:
  • (1) Intent to Censure: approved by majority vote of members at a meeting, must include message sent by SGOP to the politician/person/group we intend to censure
  • (2) Censure: President shall call meeting 2+ weeks from message being sent, making reasonable accommodations for that politician/person/group to attend
    • Requires a 2/3 vote to censure
• Sanctions will be limited to a specific duration:
  • Elected Officials: until the end of their term
  • Candidates: until their general election
  • Persons/Groups: until the next Presidential election

Endorsements

• No changes to endorsements for primary elections.
• General Election Endorsement Changes:
  • All candidates listed on the ballot as Republicans are automatically endorsed by the SGOP, but their endorsement can be rescinded by a 2/3 majority of members

PROPOSED BYLAW CHANGES
STRIKE-THROUGH VERSION
PRESENTED MARCH 31, 2025

Download PDF Version (Proposed Bylaw Changes 3/31/25)

​BYLAWS OF THE
 ̶S̶T̶R̶O̶N̶G̶S̶V̶I̶L̶L̶E̶ ̶R̶E̶P̶U̶B̶L̶I̶C̶A̶N̶ ̶C̶L̶U̶B̶ [ BETTER OHIO PAC ]
STRONGSVILLE, OHIO

Article I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be [ the “Better Ohio PAC”, aka “Strongsville GOP”, aka ] "Strongsville Republican Club”.

Article II - OBJECTIVE

The Strongsville Republican Club [ Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP ] shall promote participation in citywide and countywide political action and conservative representation. It will endeavor to utilize the full strength of conservative-minded individuals for the benefit of Strongsville Republicans. It will inform the members on the issues and candidates affecting Strongsville. It will be dedicated to informing voters of issues important to the community and to promoting candidates who will work for good government.

Article III - POLICY

The Strongsville Republican Club [ Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP ] shall closely align itself with the Platform of the Republican National Committee.

Article IV - MEMBERSHIP

Any person over the age of fourteen years old who professes and supports the views and goals of the Republican Party and is, or professes to become[,] a registered Republican voter shall be granted membership upon payment of the annual dues.

Membership may only be rejected for a person by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board and ratification by a two-thirds vote of the members eligible to vote at the next general club meeting.

In order to be eligible to vote in any vote taken by the organization, members must have attended three regular meetings as determined by sign-in sheets during the twelve months preceding the meeting in which the vote occurs.

Article V – MEMBERSHIP FEES

Dues will be established by the Executive Board each year and are payable each year in January [ throughout the calendar year. The Executive Board may prescribe early on-sale periods for the next calendar year’s membership at their discretion. ] Dues for new members joining after July 1 will be discounted 50% [ at the discretion of the executive board. ]

Article VI - MEETINGS

Meetings will be held each month (except for any recesses) or on the call of the elected president [ Chairman ].

[ Official meetings of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP must occur four (4) times each year and are the only meetings at which members can make motions, endorsements, censure, etc. Official meetings must be called with appropriate notice. If more than or equal to ten (10) days notice is provided, then only 10% of Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP members must be present to constitute a quorum. If more than or equal to five (5) and less than ten (10) days notice is provided for an official meeting, then 25% of Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP members must be present to constitute a quorum. If less than five (5) days notice is provided for an official meeting, then there can be no quorum and no votes or motions can be made at the meeting. ] Meeting notices will be posted at least 10 days prior to the meeting date. A quorum is established when at least 10% of members who are eligible to vote are present.

Any vote on an issue brought forward at a meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of members present except where noted otherwise in these bylaws. The agenda and format for all meetings shall be set by the Chairman or his/her designate, except as provided otherwise in these bylaws.

[ The members of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP may call official meetings by petitioning the Secretary with signatures of 25% of Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP members. Upon receipt by the Secretary, the Chairman must provide a reasonable meeting date, time, and location within seven (7) days of receipt of the petition by the Secretary. The agenda of this meeting is set by the membership. ]

Article VII – ENDORSEMENTS

The Strongsville Republican Club [ Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP ] may endorse a candidate for public office once the official filing deadline for that office has past. To be eligible for endorsement, a candidate must have officially declared his/her candidacy for public office, profess and support the views and goals of the Republican Party and be a current paid member of the club [ Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP. ] The candidate must also be, or profess to become, a registered Republican voter. A vote for endorsement [ motion to endorse a candidate ] may be called [ made ] by any member eligible to vote at a meeting of the [ Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP ] where a quorum is present. The motion to endorse a candidate must be seconded by another member eligible to vote and must pass by ] A decision by the club to endorse a candidate requires a simple majority of the members eligible to vote at a [ the ] club meeting where a quorum is present.

To overturn an endorsement previously approved by a vote of the club [ Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP ], a two-thirds vote of the members eligible to vote at a club meeting where a quorum is present is required.

[ Article VIII – CENSURE ]

[ Censure is available for any individual or organization for any offense or action that is contrary to the values or platform of Republican Party. A motion to censure an individual or organization may be made by any member eligible to vote at a meeting of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP where a quorum is present. The motion to censure must be seconded by another member eligible to vote and must pass by a two-thirds vote of the members eligible to vote at the meeting where a quorum is present.

Upon approval, the Executive Board of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP must notify its membership of the offense or action which warranted the censure motion and must communicate that same message to the censured individual or organization.

A censured individual or organization is barred from membership in the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP and is barred from eligibility for endorsement by the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP.

Censure may only be withdrawn if a motion to withdraw censure is made and passed in the same manner as prescribed above. ]

Article VIII [ IX ] - OFFICERS

The officers [elected by the membership of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP shall be Chairman, 1st Vice-Chairman, 2nd Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. ]

These officers shall be elected, by majority vote, at the first meeting held on or after the first day of February [ filing deadline for candidates competing in the Spring Primary of each calendar year. If there is a tie between two candidates, a coin will be flipped to decide the winner. If there is a tie between three or more candidates, then additional rounds of voting will commence until there is a winner or a tie between two candidates. ]

The term of office will begin immediately following the vote for said office. Officers will be elected for a term lasting until the following calendar year’s election of officers.

Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds majority vote at a general meeting where a quorum is present provided the general membership is notified 30 days in advance of a vote to remove said officer. A vacancy in any office created either by resignation or by removal shall be filled by appointment of the President [ Chairman ] and ratification by a majority of the membership at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Should the [ Chairmanship ] be vacated either by resignation or by removal, the 1st Vice President [ 1st Vice-Chairman ] shall be automatically appointed as President [ Chairman ]. The appointment in either of these two scenarios will be for the remainder of the unexpired term of the officer.

[ The Chairman shall appoint one (1) Director for every fifty (50) members of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP. The number of Directors able to be appointed by the Chairman is calculated based on the highest number of members of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP from the previous calendar year. These Directors are officers of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP and retain the power to vote on all matters that come before the Executive Board. The Directors shall serve from the day of their appointment until the first meeting held on or after the filing deadline for candidates competing in the Spring Primary of each calendar year. ]

[ There shall be one officer for each of Strongsville’s Council Wards, said officer must be an RPCC Precinct Committeeman from the Ward and must have the support of the majority of the RPCC Precinct Committeemen from their respective Ward. This support must be demonstrated through a letter, signed by the majority of the RPCC Precinct Committeeman from the Ward, which is provided to and verified by the Secretary of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP. After provision and verification by the Secretary, the Precinct Committeeman seeking the officer position shall be deemed an officer of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP. ]

Article IX - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

The President [ Chairman ] shall preside at all meetings, regular, special, and executive; shall appoint all necessary committees, both standing and special; and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. The Vice-Presidents [ Vice-Chairmen ] shall perform the duties of the President [ Chairman ] whenever the President [ Chairman ] is absent or otherwise unable to serve, and shall assist in any duties as requested by the President [ Chairman ]. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of proceedings of all meetings, attend to correspondence if requested, and act as custodian of all records and files. The Treasurer shall keep detailed and up-to-date records of all monies received and disbursed, and submit a report at each meeting.

Article X[I] - EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board shall be composed of all elected officers of the Strongsville Republican Club [ Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP ], the Strongsville Ward Leader, the most recent President [ Chairman ] of the club [ Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP ] having not been removed from office and up to two members that may be appointed by the President and ratified by a majority of the Officers.

All Executive Board members must be voting members of the Club [ Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP ]. Any member that holds more than one position on the Executive Board will only have one eligible vote on the Executive Board. The Board shall [ conduct all business necessary to advance and promote the goals of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP and its members. ] After a vote by a simple majority of the officers, the Executive Board shall be entitled to take all actions, except those that encroach on the rights of the membership, are contrary to the values of the Republican Party, and/or are contrary to the spirit of good faith and fair dealing. consider all important business involving activities and the expenditures of funds, and shall report its recommendations to the club for vote. A simple majority of eligible votes is required for the Executive Board to take any action.

Article XI[I] - EXPENDITURES

Expenditures of up to $200 [500] may be expended by approval of the President [ Chairman ] and one other officers of the club Treasurer. Expenditures in excess of $200 [500] requires approval of the President and a majority of the eligible votes of the Executive Board. All funds of the club shall be deposited to the credit of the club in banks, trust companies, or other depositories that the Executive Board selects.

[ The Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP shall, at all times, attempt to collect funds in a matter that makes them eligible for deposit into a Better Ohio Political Action Committee bank account, trust company, or other depository. All funds that are ineligible for transfer to the Better Ohio PAC shall be deposited to the credit of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP in banks, trust companies, or other depositories that the Executive Board selects. ]

[ When the Chairman or Treasurer expends personal funds on behalf of the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP, and did so in accordance with the express or implied wishes of the Executive Board, then the Chairman or Treasurer shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP on the condition that they provide, in written communication, the latest date in which it would be acceptable to be reimbursed. The Executive Board should act in good faith to achieve reimbursement by the provided date, or no later than six months after the expenditure is made. ]

Article XII[I] - COMMITTEES AND APPOINTMENTS

Standing committees and appointments [ to said committees ] may be created or dissolved at the pleasure of the [ Chairman. ] with the concurrence of the majority of the Officers.

Article XIII[V] - AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds vote of members present and eligible to vote at any regular meeting, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given at least 30 days prior to that meeting.

Article XIV - RULES OF ORDER

Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall be the Parliamentary Authority for all matters not specifically covered by the Bylaws of this club [ the Better Ohio PAC aka Strongsville GOP. ]

Article XV[I] – UNRESOLVABLE DISPUTES

The Club President [ Chairman ] or his/her designate shall adjudicate any disputes that cannot be resolved.

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