Bylaws

Section 2 The territorial limits of the Minnesota Dakotas District of Key Club International will be confined to the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The boundaries will be the same as the Minnesota Dakotas District of Kiwanis International.

Section 3 The form of
organization, ideals, and purpose of the Minnesota-Dakotas District of Key Club International will be similar to those of the Minnesota-Dakotas District of Kiwanis International. The Minnesota-Dakotas District of key Club International will operate under the responsibility and control of the Minnesota-Dakotas District of Kiwanis International.

Section 4 The Minnesota Dakotas District of Key Club International will hereby be referred to as the Minnesota Dakotas Key Club District. The Minnesota Dakotas Key Club District Administrator will hereby be referred to as the District Administrator. The Minnesota Dakotas Key Club District Board of Trustees will hereby be referred to as the District Board of Trustees. The Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District Governor will hereby be referred to as the District Governor. The Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District Secretary will hereby be referred to as the District Secretary. The Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster will hereby be referred to as the District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster. The Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District Lieutenant Governors will hereby be referred to as Lieutenant Governors. The Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District Convention will hereby be referred to as the District Convention. TOP

Article II
OBJECTS

Section 1 The
objects of the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District will be:

To promote the Object of Key Club International to coordinate the projects of member clubs

To strengthen and extend the Key Club movement

To increase the fellowship and cooperative effort of the clubs within the District

To promote participation of the clubs within the District in the general objectives, programs, and policies of the District and of Key Club International

To accept and promote the Constitutional Objects of Kiwanis International TOP

Article III

DIVISIONS

Section 1 The Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District will have the same boundaries as the Minnesota-Dakotas District of Kiwanis International and will be divided into divisions as approved by the sponsoring Minnesota-Dakotas District of Kiwanis International. The boundaries of each division will set with the approval of the District Administrator and the Kiwanis Executive board. TOP

Article IV
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 The membership of the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District will consist of Kiwanis sponsored Key Clubs with an official charter within the territorial limits that have been accepted by the Board of Trustees of Key Club International.

Section 2 Any Key Club of the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District that fails to conform to the Constitution and Bylaws as adopted and amended may have its charter suspended or revoked by action of the Board of Trustees of Key Club International.

Section 3 Any Key Club of the Minnesota-Dakotas District more than ninety (90) days in arrears for any indebtedness to Key Club International or the District will be considered not in good standing.

Section 4 Any Key Club of the Minnesota-Dakotas District still in debt to the District or Key Club International at the time of the District Convention will be denied admittance to the Convention. If a person has not paid dues to either Key Club International or the District, then she or he will neither be able to attend any District gathering nor receive any award or recognition on the District level.

Section 5 Any Key Club of the Minnesota-Dakotas District not considered in good standing with Key Club International will be considered not in good standing with the District.

Section 6 The District Governor will report the name of any Key Club of the Minnesota-Dakotas District considered not in good standing to the District at each meeting thereof. She or he shall direct the Secretary to send notice that said club is considered not in good standing with the reasons therefore to the president of said club, to the administration of the affiliated high school, to the president of the sponsoring Kiwanis Club, and to the Administrator of Key Club International. TOP

Article V OFFICERS

Section 1 The officers of the Minnesota-Dakotas District will be a District Governor, a Lieutenant Governor for each division thereof, a District Secretary, and a District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster.

Section 2 Each District officer will be an active member in good standing in a local club of the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District. Each Lieutenant Governor will be a member of a Key Club in the division for which he or she is in charge. No member will graduate before the next District Convention. No member who has not fulfilled all requirements specified in these Bylaws will be elected to office.

Section 3 All Minnesota-Dakotas District officers will be elected at the annual District Convention, with the exception of the District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster. They will begin their duties immediately following induction and will serve for one (1) year or until their successors are duly elected.

Section 4 The duties of the officers will be as follows:

(a) The District Governor will be the executive officer of the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District and will preside at all convention and at all meetings of the District Board of Trustees. The District Governor shall be an ex-officio member of all standing and special committees. It will be the duty of the District Governor to attend any Convention or Key Club International.

(b) The Lieutenant Governor will be the executive officer of his or her division and will preside over all division conferences and meetings. The Lieutenant Governor will carry out the programs and policies of the District Governor and of Key Club International in his or her division. The Lieutenant Governor will perform all assigned responsibilities as a member of the District Board of Trustees.

(c) The District Secretary will be under the supervision of the District Administrator or and person so designated by the District Administrator. The District Secretary will keep all records of the District Convention and of the meetings of the Key Club District Board of Trustees. The District Secretary will submit to the proper officials all communications received from Key Club International. He or she will cooperate with the District Governor in forwarding all official reports required by Key Club International. The District Secretary will perform other such duties as may be assigned by the District Governor and the Key Club District Administrator.

(d) The District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster will be responsible for the publication of the official bulletin in a manner prescribed by and under the direction of the District Board of Trustees. He or she will also be responsible for maintaining the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club Internet web page and chairing the District Board of Trustees Committee on Public Relations.

(e) All officers, with the exception of the District Administrator and District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster, will be elected at the annual District Convention. Each Lieutenant Governor shall be elected no later than the last day of the District Convention provided members from at least two (2) of the division’s Key Clubs are in attendance. Each club shall be entitled to two (2) voting delegates. If the aforementioned club representation is not achieved, the selection of the Lieutenant Governor shall be responsible f the outgoing District Board of Trustees who will seek the advice of the club presidents within the respective division. The Key Club District Administrator will be appointed by the Governor-Elect of the Minnesota-Dakotas Kiwanis District. The incoming Key Club District Governor and District Administrator will appoint the incoming District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster. This appointment must be approved by the incoming Key Club Board of Trustees. TOP

Article VI

DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Section 1 The District Board of Trustees will consist of the District Governor, the Lieutenant Governors, the District Secretary, the District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster, and the District Administrator.

Section 2 The management and control of affairs of the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District not otherwise provided for in the Bylaws shall be vested in the District Board of Trustees, subject to the direction of the District Administrator and the approval of the sponsoring Minnesota-Dakotas Kiwanis District Board and the Board of Trustees of Key Club International.

Section 3 All official actions of the District Board of Trustees between the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District Convention must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the quorum of the District Board of Trustees. A quorum constitutes two-thirds (2/3) of the District Board of Trustees.

Section 4 In the absence of the District Governor from a meeting, the District Board of Trustees will designate on of their members, with the exception of the District Administrator, to act as chairperson. The District Secretary will preside over the voting.

Section 5 Within thirty (30) days after any special or regular meeting of the District Board of Trustees, the District Secretary shall make a report of the proceedings of the meeting comprising a complete synopsis of all action taken. He or she shall transmit a copy thereof to the Key Club International Office, to each member of the District Board of Trustees, and to the key Club International Board representative. This report will be made available to all District Key Club and Kiwanis Club members. This synopsis may be printed in the District Key Club Bulletin or special bulletin for the edification for the local Key Club officers and members.

Section 6 The removal and replacement processes for the District Secretary, District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster, and a Lieutenant Governor are as follows:

(a) Whenever it appears to the District Governor that and Lieutenant Governor, District Secretary, or any District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster is failing to perform the duties of his or her office, the District Governor will give such District Officer immediate notice of the fact and will set a meeting not more than twenty one (21) days thereafter, with such officer and the District Administrator to consider any such facts and reasons why the office should not be declared vacant. If the said officer refuses to attend and if it appears that the alleged facts are true, then the District Governor will have the power, with the approval of the District Administrator, to recommend the removal of the officer and to nominate a duly-qualified replacement to serve the duration of the term. The District Governor will report such recommendation and all facts immediately to the District Board of Trustees for ratification of said removal and said nomination, with a two-thirds (2/3) vote required. The officer in question will be allowed voting and debating privileges.

(b) In the event that a regularly scheduled meeting of the District Board of Trustees is to be held within a reasonable time, the District Governor will relay applications for the vacant position to the District Board of Trustees at the meeting, and action will be taken. In any such action, the suggested replacement will not be allowed to vote unless that person is a District Officer. The District Officer being removed will never be allowed to hold a Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District Officer position again.

Section 7 Whenever it becomes apparent to the District Board of Trustees and the District Administrator that the District Governor is failing to perform his or her duties, it will be the responsibility of the District Secretary, with the approval of the District Administrator, to call a special meeting of the District Board of Trustees to consider all facts and reasons as to why the office should not be declared vacant. In the event that the District Board of Trustees finds by a two-thirds (2/3) vote sufficient grounds for removal, they will request the resignation of the said District Governor. In the event that the resignation is not voluntarily offered, the District Board of trustees will, with the approval of the District Administrator, declare the office vacant, and the vacancy will be filled in accordance with the provisions as contained in these Bylaws. TOP

Article VII

DISTRICT COMMITTEES

Section 1 The District Board of Trustees committees will be the Public Relations Committee, the Themes/Service Committee, the Kiwanis Family Relations Committee, the Membership Development and Education Committee, and the Executive Committee. The District Governor with the approval of the District Board of Trustees will appoint the members of such committees.

Section 2 The Executive Committee will consist of the District Governor, who will preside over the committee, the District Secretary, and the District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster. The District Administrator will enjoy full privileges of committee membership. The committee will perform such administrative duties and exercise administrative authority as may be delegated to it as the District Board of Trustees.

Section 1 There will be such special committees as authorized by the District Board of Trustees. At the time of authorization of such committees, the District Board of Trustees will designate the duties and limitations of time for the existence of such committees.

Section 4 The District Governor will have, in emergencies, powers authorized and designate duties to temporary committees, with the approval of the District Administrator. TOP

Article VIII

DISTRICT CONVENTIONS

Section 1 A convention of the Key Clubs in the Minnesota-Dakotas District will be held once in each calendar year at such place and date as will be mutually agreed upon by the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District Board of Trustees and the District Board of Trustees of the sponsoring Kiwanis District. The Administrator of Key Club International will be informed of the location and date of the District Convention. In determining the location of a District Convention, the District Board of Trustees may be guided and advised by the majority vote of qualified voting delegates at the preceding annual Convention. The District Board of Trustees will make their decision on District Convention no later than the first District Board of Trustees meeting after the Convention.

Section 2 The District Secretary shall publish and mail an official call to District Convention at least sixty (60) days prior to the start of the Convention. The mailing will go to each Key Club, the Administrator of Key Club International, and to the officers of the sponsoring Kiwanis District. The District Board of Trustees will establish the program and shall have full supervision and management of all Convention plans and sessions, under supervision of the District Administrator and the sponsoring Kiwanis District.

Section 3 Each Key Club of the Minnesota-Dakotas in good standing will be entitled to two (2) voting delegates and two (2) alternate voting delegates at any District Convention.

Section 4 Voting delegates and alternate voting delegates will be elected by clubs that have been in good standing with Key Club International and the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District no less than thirty (30) days prior to the opening of the District Convention. Each club president and secretary shall promptly certify to the District Governor and District Secretary the names of the voting delegates. The Committee on Credentials for the District Convention will determine who will be seated, subject to review by the District Board of Trustees.

Section 5 Lieutenant Governors will be delegates-at-large in their divisions only. The executive members of the District Board will be delegates-at-large. Divisional and District delegates-at-large will be responsible for being informed on all issues and candidates to be presented at the House of Delegates.

Section 6 Each accredited delegate shall be entitled to vote on each issue submitted at the District Convention. There will be on voting by proxy.

Section 7 In the absence of the District Key Club Governor from any District Convention, the District Board of Trustees shall, by majority vote, elect a member of the District Board of Trustees to act as Chairperson of the Convention. The District Secretary will preside over the election.

Section 8 The expenses of each delegate to the annual District Convention shall be paid by the individual Key Club member, that member’s home club, the sponsoring Kiwanis Club, or other local means. The Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District is not obligated to accept a delegate who does not pay expenses in a manner approved by the District.

Section 9 Within thirty (30) days after any District Convention, the Immediate Past District Secretary and the District Secretary shall make a report of the proceedings at the Convention, including a complete synopsis of all action taken, and shall submit a copy thereof to the Administrator of Key Club International and the District Board of Trustees.

Section 10 A quorum of any District Convention shall be comprised of the official delegates present and represent not less than one-third (1/3) of the total number of active Key Clubs in the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District.

Section 11 Each District Convention program shall include the following:

(a) Address by the Governor of the sponsoring Kiwanis District or a representative thereof.

(b) The reading of the Achievement Reports, or a summary thereof, and the making of reports.

(c) An oratorical contest on a subject set by the Board of Trustees of Key Club International, conducted under rules prescribed by said board.

(d) The submitting and judging of entries in the Scrapbook Contest.

(e) The reading of the winning Single Service Activity Report, or a summary thereof and the making of reports.

(f) Nomination and election of officers for the ensuing year.

(g) An invitation by the District Board of Trustees to the next District gathering. TOP

Article IX

DISTRICT CONVENTION PROCEDURES

Section 1 The official program of the District convention as approved by the District Board of Trustees and the District Administrator shall be the order of the day for all Convention sessions.

Section 2 All resolutions shall be referred to the Committee on Resolutions for the District Convention. Debate on such resolutions shall not be in order until the Committee on Resolutions has reported them.

Section 3 Committee reports, communications to the convention, resolutions submitted by the Committee on Resolutions, and all motions except those known as un-debatable may be debated on the floor of the District Convention unless a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Convention decides to dispose of them without a debate. No voting delegate or delegate-at-large may speak on the floor of the Convention longer than five (5) minutes at one time, except as provided in order of the day or by majority vote. TOP

Article X

DISTRICT ELECTION PROCEDURES

Section 1 All District Officers with the exception of the District Bulletin Editor/Webmaster will be elected at the District Convention.

Section 2 The official program of the District Convention shall indicate the days and hours for nominations and the election of officers. This will be subject to change only with the rules of Convention procedure.

Section 3 The Committee on Elections shall have general charge of the distributing and counting of ballots. The District Board of Trustees shall decide the members of the Committee on Elections.

Section 4 Each candidate for office is required to submit a biographical sketch to the District Governor thirty (30) days prior to the District Convention. The District Governor shall then submit to the Bulletin Editor/Webmaster the candidates’ resumes for each respective office for possible publication.

Section 5 The names of candidates will be taken when the Convention program dictates it is time to receive nominations from the floor for all offices to be filled at District Convention.

Section 6 District Governor and District Secretary candidates will also attend the Nominating Conference. Those delegates-at-large that are running for office may not be present when those candidates for the same office are speaking.

Section 7 The Nominating Conference will be comprised of four (4) delegates of each division with no more than one (1) representative per Key Club, elected during the divisional caucus of the District Convention. Only the aforementioned persons, the District Administrator, and Kiwanis guests shall be permitted to attend and observe the proceedings of the conference.

Section 8 Candidates for the offices of District Governor and District Secretary may apply for dual nomination to be approved by the Nominating Conference.

Section 9 The District Governor shall designate a member of the District Board of Trustees, with the District Administrator’s approval, as Chairperson of the Nominating Conference. The Chairperson shall select a member of the Conference as secretary for the Conference. Two-thirds (2/3) of the members present at the Conference will constitute a quorum.

Section 10 Upon completion of the organization as outlined above, the Nominating Conference shall proceed to select candidates for the District Governor, District Secretary, and Lieutenant Governor positions to be submitted to the House of Delegates in accordance with the following provisions. The Conference shall elect two (2) candidates for said positions from the nominations made by the District Convention and those received by the Conference before its convening. No person shall be submitted to the Conference as a candidate without his or her consent being obtained in advance.

Section 11 The Chairperson of the Nominating Conference shall submit an accurate of the outcome of the Conference to the District Secretary who shall hold it until the end of the Convention. The District Secretary shall post the outcome of the Nominating Conference.

Section 12 Each candidate for office will be allowed one (1) minute to speak at the Nominating Conference. The candidates for District Governor will be allowed three (3) minutes.

Section 13 Before the opening of the polls, the District Secretary will provide the Committee on Elections with a list of voting delegates and voting delegates-at-large.

Section 14 No ballot will be counted upon which the elector has voted for a greater or a lesser number of nominees than there are vacancies for said office.

Section 15 Pre-arranged voting and voting by proxy will not be permitted.

Section 16 The Committee on Elections will report the results of the balloting at the last banquet of the District Convention. Such report will be signed by the entire Committee. After the Committee has reported, the Chairperson will deliver all ballots to the District Administrator who will keep them for a period of ninety (90) days after the close of the Convention, whereupon the ballots will be destroyed.

Section 17 Candidates for the positions of District Governor and District Secretary must attend all divisional caucuses. Lieutenant Governors will be elected only by their divisions.

Section 18 All delegates will be excluded from all candidacy voting in the House of Delegates if they are absent from any caucusing in their designated divisions. TOP

Article XI

VACANCIES IN OFFICE BETWEEN DISTRICT CONVENTIONS

Section 1 Upon the occurrence of an Executive Board vacancy, a letter shall be sent to each club in the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District announcing the vacancy of said office; upon the occurrence of a Lieutenant Governor vacancy, a letter shall be sent to each club in the respective division announcing the vacancy of said office. With such letters shall be enclosed a standard candidates application to be filled out by all of those interested in filling any such vacancy on the District Board of Trustees. All applicants must fulfill the requirements set forth in these Bylaws. At their next Board meeting, the District Board of Trustees along with the District Administrator will then consider these applications for the office and shall elect a qualified member of a club in the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District to fill the office for the un-expired term. The candidate(s) will also be present at the meeting and will be given time to present himself/herself to the District Board of Trustees. The District Board of Trustees shall then vote on the candidate(s).

Section 2 The District Board of Trustees will vote, by means of a written ballot, on the vacancies pursuant to the above provisions. If a majority vote is not reached on the first ballot, the candidate with the lowest vote total will be dropped and another vote will be taken. This will occur until only two (2) candidates remain. At this time the two (2) candidates shall again be given time to speak; then the District Board of Trustees shall ballot until a majority vote is reached. TOP

Article XII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1 Amendments to these Bylaws shall be made only at the District Convention with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates present, and the approval of the District Administrator will shall be present at the Convention.

Section 2 Any proposed amendments to these Bylaws must be published and distributed to presidents of Key Clubs in the Minnesota-Dakotas District at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual District Convention. TOP

Article XIII

APPROVAL

Section 1 these Bylaws and all amendments or additions shall not become effective until they have been approved by the sponsoring Kiwanis District Board and the Key Club District Administrator and/or the Key Club International Board of Trustees. TOP

Article XIV

REVENUE

Section 1 Each Key Club of the Minnesota-Dakotas District shall pay the District for each member the sum of $4.00 per annum for District dues and publication subscription fees. These dues and fees will accrue on October 1 and will be remitted to the District Administrator or any person so designated by the District Administrator by the individual club not later than December 1 of each calendar year.

Section 2 The amount of Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District dues and subscription fees will be determined by the District Board of Trustees with the approval of the District Administrator and will be subject to approval at the next District Convention. In no case shall the total District dues and subscription fees exceed the maximum amount paid for each member in International dues.

Section 3 Assessments in excess of the annual dues may be made only upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all delegates attending the annual District Convention. Such assessments shall be for the duration of one (1) year, but each succeeding Convention may renew the assessment by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates in attendance. Additionally, all such assessments must be for extraordinary items not normally covered by dues and subscription fees. The assessments must be approved by the Kiwanis District Board, by the Key Club International Board, and by the Kiwanis International Board.

Section 4 All dues must be paid within sixty (60) days after the same shall become payable.

Section 5 The dues to be paid to the Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District by any new Key Club admitted to membership during any fiscal year shall be the dues for each and every member that year.

Section 6 The Minnesota-Dakotas Key Club District dues for new Key Clubs receiving their Key Club International Charter and for any reactivated clubs on or after February 1 are one-half (1/2) the annual District fee.

Section 7 Any Key Club of the Minnesota-Dakotas District receiving their charter, or any club that is reactivated in the District, or any members elected into a Key Club of the District following the annual District Convention will not be required to pay the District Dues for the remainder of that fiscal year. TOP

Article XV

RULES OF ORDER

Section 1 Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised will be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these Bylaws. TOP

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BYLAWS FOR THE MINNESOTA DAKOTAS DISTRICT OF KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL

BYLAWS FOR THE
MINNESOTA DAKOTAS DISTRICT OF KEY CLUB INTERNATIONAL