MENDOCINO COUNTY WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

Striving to secure the full and equal participation of women

in the legal profession in furtherance of a just society.

Title

This association shall be known as the “Mendocino County Women’s Bar Association (hereinafter Women’s Bar).”

Mission Statement

Our mission is to advance the interests of women members of the legal profession, to cultivate a feeling of goodwill among its members, to promote improvement in the administration of justice and to advance equality and social justice for all people.

We perform charitable work in our communities and we provide a forum for addressing the legal and social issues that impact women.

Membership

1. Active Member. Any member of the California State Bar Association, or admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California may become an active member of the association by paying the annual dues of the Association.

2. Inactive Member. Any person who has been admitted to practice law in the State of California, but who is on inactive status with the California State Bar Association, may be an associate member of this association by paying the annual dues but shall not be entitled to hold office in the association; they shall be entitled to attend any and all meetings of the association and to participate in any of its activities, including but not limited to voting in the election of officers of the association and endorsements.

3. Honorary Member. All sitting and retired Mendocino County Superior Court judges who are attorneys, but are not entitled to practice law by virtue of their office, shall be honorary members of the association without payment of dues and shall have the privileges of the association but shall not hold office nor vote on any matter. They may however contribute to the organization’s scholarship and/or contributions fund.

 Meetings

1. Meetings.

a. The membership shall have regular meetings at such time and place as may be from time-to-time noticed by the officers. Currently, a lunch meeting is held the first Friday of each month in Ukiah and a lunch meeting is held quarterly on the Mendocino coast.

b. A meeting of the membership, both coastal and inland, shall be held every other year on the first Friday in March at which officers shall be elected. Notice of the meeting shall be emailed to each member in good standing at least 10 days prior thereto.

2. Quorum. A majority of the active members in good standing in attendance at the monthly meetings, including those present via proxy, shall constitute a quorum to transact business of the Women’s Bar , except as provided below.

Dues

The annual dues of the association of $20 per year are due on or before January 31 of each year. The duties of the organization’s secretary and treasurer including providing annual notice to the membership of dues being due at least by the first of January of each year. The amount of said dues may be increased or decreased by a vote of the active members for the ensuing years at a meeting no later than November prior to the upcoming year.

Officers

 1. Composition. The association shall have a coastal president and an inland president and a secretary and a treasurer to perform said functions for both inland and coastal members. In addition, both inland and coastal groups shall have the option of electing a vice-president. All officers of the Women’s Bar  shall be active members.

2. Term. Each officer shall serve a two year term commencing biennially in March.

Endorsements

Whenever any Mendocino County-wide election is to be held for the office of superior court judge and/or district attorney, the membership may vote to endorse a candidate for a position. Such voting shall occur at a duly noticed meeting wherein a majority, including those present via proxy, of the active membership must be present. All the candidates seeking each position shall be given an opportunity to present their qualifications and respond to questions from all active and inactive members of the association. All present including those present via proxy, who have been members of the association for at least 90 days, including both active and inactive status, prior to such meeting, may vote to endorse a candidate. At the conclusion of the candidates’ presentations, a secret ballot of the membership shall be held wherein the active and inactive members shall state their preference for a particular candidate among those candidates seeking endorsement by the association or a preference to make no endorsements in a particular race. In order to receive an endorsement by the Women’s Bar , a candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast. If, subsequent to the tallying of ballots, no candidate has received a majority of votes, a run-off between the top two vote getters shall be immediately conducted. If the vote not to endorse is one of the top two vote getters, the run-off ballot shall include the name of the top vote getting candidate and the option not to endorse a candidate in that race.

Amendment

These by-laws may be amended at any duly noticed meeting by a vote of two-thirds of a quorum, including those present via proxy, of the membership of the association.

Adopted this 7th day of June, 2019.

Darcy Vaughn
_________
Secretary, Mendocino County
Women’s Bar Association