The By-Laws

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be The Greater New Orleans Tea Party (GNOTP).

Article II. Organizational Purpose

The purpose of this organization is to educate and inform all Americans of the Founding Fathers principles of freedom, to advance public policy consistent with those values, and to engage with our elected officials in promotion of those principles.

Article III. Membership

1. Membership shall consist of regular, associate, and honorary members.
2. Regular membership shall be limited to members in good standing.
3. Associate membership shall be for any person who wishes to be part of the organization but is not in good standing. Associate members have all the rights of membership save regular and special meeting voting privileges and may not hold an officer or board seat.
4. Honorary membership is in name only and has no rights, privileges, responsibilities other than nominal affiliation with the organization. Bestowing honorary membership requires a 2/3 vote at any meeting of the membership.
5. The Board may terminate membership for conduct it deems in a manner detrimental to the organization or its purpose. Such action of the Board may be overruled by a 2/3 vote of the regular membership.

Article IV. Officers

1. The elected officers of the GNOTP shall be a President, a Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
2. The duties of the President shall be to preside at all meetings, appoint all Standing and Special Committees, and otherwise serve as the chief executive officer of the GNOTP.
3. The duties of the Vice President shall be to serve as assistant to the President, preside in the absence of the President, and serve as Membership and Recruitment Chairman.
4. The duties of the Second Vice President shall be to serve as assistant to the President and Vice President, and serve as Education Chairman.
5. The duties of the Secretary shall be to record the proceedings of the meetings and events, send the President a copy of the minutes, write letters as requested by the President, keep the membership roll alphabetically, and, make available the names and contact information of the officers.
6. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to have custody of all funds, present a budget for adoption, disburse funds as authorized by the GNOTP with checks being signed by the Treasurer or the President; keep an itemized account of all funds audited annually, present a monthly itemized report, and collect unit dues.
7. The term of each office shall be one year or until new officers are elected.

Article V. Meetings

1. Regular meetings of GNOTP shall be at least once every six months on a day and time set at least 20 days in advance.
2. Special meetings may be called by the President or any 2 board members. Notice to the membership may be by mail, email, fax, online posting on the website, or such other method as the Board shall deem appropriate at least 1 week prior to such meetings.
3. Quorum shall be a majority of members that RSVP that they will be attending the meeting.
4. Proxy votes are allowed on any unfinished business received by the secretary in an email prior to the beginning of any meeting in which the business is called up.
5. The members shall select Board members annually or at such other intervals as the membership shall provide.
6. Any action of the Board may be overruled by a 2/3 vote of the membership.

Article VI. The Board of Directors

1. The Board shall be comprised of all of the current officers of the organization and two elected Member-at-Large who will serve for six months or until new ones are elected.
2. The Board of Directors shall be charged with the general management of the GNOTP, subject to the provisions of its articles and By-Laws.
3. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be at least once every six months and at such time and place as the directors may determine. Notice may be personally, or by mail, telegram, fax, telephone, email or such other means as may be reasonable. Special meetings may be called by the President or on the written request of two directors.
4. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum of the Board sufficient to transact business.
5. In addition to the powers and authorities by the By-Laws expressly conferred upon it, the Board may exercise all such powers and do all such lawful acts and things as are not required by law, the Articles, or By-Laws to be exercised or performed by the voting members.

Article VII. Committees

1. Standing Committees, appointed by the President, shall be: Membership & Recruitment, Education, and Fundraising.
2. The duties of Membership & Recruitment Committee shall be to organize efforts to increase membership through membership drives and other promotional means, including but not limited to press releases, signage, flyers and business cards.
3. The duties of Education Committee shall be to conduct activities relating to the self-education of our members and the advancement thereof, including but not limited to discussing relevant literature on issues relating to organization’s affairs, recommending materials for members and periodic presentations of such topics at organizational meetings.
4. The duties of Fundraising Committee shall be to initiate ideas and coordinate efforts to raise funds to finance events and activities of the organization.
5. The President shall be ex-officio a member of all committees

Article VIII. Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised (RONR) shall govern GNOTP in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the bylaws.

Article IX. Amendments to the By-Laws

These Bylaws may be amended only by a two-thirds vote of the membership present and voting at any regularly called meeting of the GNOTP, provided that notice of the proposed amendment and a full copy thereof shall be forwarded to the members of the GNOTP at least ten (10) days before the meeting at which said amendment is to be presented for consideration and vote.

Article X. Limits on Liability

No member of the GNOTP shall be liable personally for any obligations of the GNOTP.