Section l.  Individuals eligible to be admitted to membership are those holding an associate or equivalent, baccalaureate or higher degree from a qualified educational institution, a degree from a foreign institution recognized by the International Federation of University Women (IFUW), or a foreign degree acceptable as a basis for admission by graduate schools at regionally accredited universities of the U.S.A.,  and who have paid dues (Association + state + branch dues) on or before July 1 annually.  The provisions set forth in this section are the sole requirements of eligibility and admissibility for membership.  Refusal to admit an eligible graduate to branch membership shall result in loss of recognition of a branch.  The branch member shall be entitled to vote, hold office and participate in all branch activities and programs and receive the publications distributed to all members.

Section 2.  Paid life members of the Association, as defined in Association Charter and Bylaws, Article IV, Section 3a(5)(a), who are branch members are required to pay annual state and branch dues.

 Section 3.  Any branch member who has paid Association dues for fifty (50) years shall become a Fifty Year Honor Life Member, and shall thereafter be exempt from payment of Association, state and branch dues.

Section 4.  An undergraduate student enrolled in a qualified educational institution shall be eligible for student affiliation with the branch upon payment of fees established by the Association, state and branch boards of directors.  Student affiliates may attend branch, state and Association meetings and receive the publications distributed to all members.  Affiliates may not vote nor hold office.

Section 5.  A member whose dues remain unpaid after July 31 shall be dropped from membership.

Section l.  The fiscal year shall correspond with that of the Association and shall begin on July 1.

Section 2.  Each member shall pay Association, state and branch dues and will receive all three publications.  The  branch dues shall be fixed by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting at a branch meeting upon recommendation of the branch board of directors, provided written notice has been given to all the members two weeks prior to the meeting.

Section 3.  Dues are payable on or before July 1.  After notification of nonpayment, a member still in arrears after July 31 shall be dropped.

Section 4.  Payment of additional dues shall be waived for a transferring member whose current dues have been paid to another branch.

Section 5.  A member of one of the national organizations or federations of IFUW whose current dues have been paid and who is spending a period of a year or less in the U.S.A. may attend branch meetings without vote.

Section 6.  Dues of new members may be paid at any time.  The Association portion of dues paid by new members between January 1 and March 15 shall be one half the annual Association dues.  Branch dues shall be prorated in the same manner.  State dues are not prorated.

Section 7.  The finance committee shall submit the proposed annual budget at the September board meeting for approval before the board submits it to the membership at the September general meeting.

 Section 8.  The branch shall set and maintain policies and procedures to control financial records consistent with generally accepted accounting principles and federal, state, and local laws.

Section 9.  No indebtedness in excess of three hundred dollars ($300.00) over that provided for in the budget shall be incurred by the branch except by a recommendation of the board of directors and a majority vote at a general meeting of the branch.

Section 10.  Insurance

a.  The branch is required to participate in the state insurance programs to be in good standing with recognition and voting privileges at the state convention and to participate in state sponsored activities and projects.  The branch must comply with all risk management requirements, state program directives and all other requirements as outlined in AAUW California policy and procedures.

b.  The branch must obtain separate insurance coverage for activities and projects not covered under the state insurance coverage.

Section l.  There shall be officers to fulfill the functions of administration, program, membership, public policy, finance, Educational Foundation, and communications.

Section 2.  The elected officers shall be a president or official representative; a president-elect; vice-presidents for program, membership, and Educational Foundation, Legal Advocacy Fund, a treasurer; and a secretary.  These offices may be shared by more than one person.

      No member shall be eligible to hold an elected office unless she/he has been a member of this branch at least one full fiscal year.  All the elected officers except the secretary shall have been previous members of the board of directors.

Section 3.  The appointed officers shall be an historian, parliamentarian, public policy chair, communications chair, finance chair, membership treasurer, EF/LAF treasurer, corresponding secretary and such other officers as shall be deemed necessary to carry on the work of the branch.  These officers shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the executive committee.

Section 4.  All officers shall take office on July 1.  All officers shall serve for a term of one year or until their successors are elected and assume office.

Section 5.  No member shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 6.  The incoming president may call a meeting of the incoming officers prior to July 1.

Section 7.  A vacancy in office, except that of president and president-elect, shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the president with the approval of the board of directors.

      A vacancy in the office of president shall be filled for the unexpired term by the president-elect or, if there is no president-elect, by the vice-presidents in the order listed:  program, membership, Educational Foundation.

      In the case of a vacancy in the office of president-elect, the nominating committee shall present a candidate for election as soon as possible.

Section l..  Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws, branch policies, and procedures and by the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

Section 2.  The president shall:

      a.  Be the official representative of the branch in the activities of the Association.

      b.  Be responsible for submitting such reports and forms as required by the Association and state;

      c.  Be responsible for signing all contracts and other legal documents;

      d.  Be responsible for the branch enrolling in the state insurance programs so that the branch will be in good standing each year with recognition and voting privileges at the state convention.

Section 3.  The president-elect shall:

      a.  Perform the duties of the president in the absence or disability of the president;

      b.  Succeed the president at the next regular election of officers;

      c.  Perform such other duties as the president and board shall direct.

Section 4.  The vice-presidents shall:

      a.  Perform the duties of the president in the absence of the president and president-elect in the following order:  program vice-president, membership vice-president, and Educational Foundation vice-president;

      b.  Serve as chairs of their respective committees;

      c.  Perform such other duties as the president and board shall direct.

Section 5.  The treasurer shall:

      a.  Be responsible for collecting, distributing, and accounting for the funds of the branch;

      b.  Collect dues and properly remit them to the Association and state by the specified deadlines;

      c.  Supervise the membership treasurer and the Educational Foundation/Legal Advocacy Fund  treasurer.

      d.  Shall send monies for the Educational Foundation and the Legal Advocacy Fund by the specified deadlines and shall keep separate ledgers for each type of account.

Section 6.  The secretary shall:

      a.  Record and keep minutes of the meetings of the branch, board of directors, and executive committee;

      b.  Perform such other duties as the president and board shall direct.

Section 1.  A nominating committee of five members shall be elected in September.  The board shall elect two members and one alternate from the current board.  The board member receiving the highest number of votes shall serve as chair of the nominating committee.  The general membership shall elect three members and two alternates who have been members of the branch for at least two full fiscal years and shall not be current board members.

Section 2.  Committee members shall serve for one year and are ineligible to serve again for two years.