Bylaws Update - October 2025
1. Name & Governance
- Name change: FNP → FND (formally acknowledged in Article I).
- Legal framework: FND bylaws explicitly reference the Texas Business Organizations Code, making them formally aligned with nonprofit corporation governance requirements.
2. Membership
Eligibility:
- FNP: open to “progressive voters” who attend two meetings/year.
- FND: open to “Democratic voters” and based on paid dues (not meeting attendance).
Good standing:
- FNP: tied to meeting attendance and dues.
- FND: strictly tied to dues payment; must pay by March 31 or lose membership.
Voting rights:
- FNP: proxy voting allowed with written proxies.
- FND: allows absentee voting via email before January general meeting.
3. Meetings
- FNP club meetings were held monthly (except July).
- FND club meetings are “typically” monthly but may change at Board’s discretion - adds flexibility.
4. Board of Directors
- Terminology: FND replaced “Executive Board” with “Board of Directors."
- Added responsibilities to officer roles.
- Terms:
- FNP board election in February
- FND clarified that each election is a two-year term for all board members, and election moved to January club meeting.
- Vacancies: FND allows the Board to appoint a replacement without membership vote.
- Quorum: FND defines quorum as majority of Board.
5. Duties
- Board responsibilities expanded:
- FND allows written consent, by quorum, for actions outside a Board a meeting, including electronic approval.
- Vice President: Added responsibility to oversee Communications Committee and web/social updates.
- Secretary: moved responsibility for keeping the membership list to the Treasurer.
- Treasurer: Added new responsibilities including preparing an annual budget and reporting on members in good standing.
- Volunteer Coordinator: Adds optional partnership with Super Precinct liaison..
6. Committees
- FND adds a Communications Committee with detailed responsibilities (managing website, social media, digital assets, name badges, etc.).
- FND: adds the Super Precinct chair as a Board liaison.
7. Finance
- FNP required two signatures on checks.
- FND: Only President or Treasurer may sign checks or use the debit card (narrowed authority).
- Adds:
- Annual budget adoption in February.
- Clarified that any expense >$500 must have multiple quotes and Board approval.
- Ability to accept gifts/bequests with Board approval.
- Sets the fiscal year (Jan–Dec).
8. Rules
- Added Robert’s Rules of Order which applies to both general/club and Board meetings.
9. Conflict of Interest
- New Article X: adds a conflict-of-interest policy that requires disclosure and recusal for financial conflicts, with decisions documented in minutes.
10. Amendments to bylaws
- FNP required 21 days’ notice and a two-thirds majority vote.
- FND replaced 21 with seven calendar days’ notice and requires a simple majority vote to adopt amendments.