Events & Announcements
Welcome to the Bath Democratic Committee. Our goal is to make the Bath Democrats a vital force in keeping Bath a livable, strong community.
Come to the Bath Democratic Caucus
Sunday, January 31, 2010
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Bath Middle School
- Share your ideas for the direction of the Bath Democratic Committee and the Maine Democratic Party
- Elect delegates to the state Democratic convention in May
- Elect local Democratic party leaders: Chair, Vice Chair, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and City Organizer
- Elect members of Bath and Sagadahoc Democratic Committees
Registration for Unenrolled (Independents) and for unregistered voters will be available from 2:30—3:00 p.m.
17 year olds may register, enroll in the party, and participate in the caucus if they will be 18 years old by election day.
We will be electing a Governor, a U.S. Congressional candidate and State Legislators in November; candidates or their representatives will be on hand to present their platforms.
If you have any questions, please call Polly Shaw at 443-6391. Rides to the caucus are available by calling that same number.
If postponed because of weather, we will caucus on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 at the Bath Middle School.
By-Laws for the Bath Democratic Committee
NAME: The name shall be the Bath Democratic Committee, hereinafter, the Committee.
OBJECT: The object and purpose of the Committee shall be to promote the principles of the Democratic Party in the City of Bath, the State of Maine, and the Nation through voter education and the election of duly nominated candidates.
MEMBERSHIP: All members of the Committee, including officers, must be enrolled members of the Democratic Party in the City of Bath. The qualification and party enrollment shall be as specified in the State of Maine Election laws. There shall be no limit on the number of members on the Committee. Members shall be selected at the biennial municipal caucus, and any enrolled Democrat attending the biennial municipal caucus, shall be, upon request, a member of the municipal Committee. New members may be added to the Committee by a majority of the Committee itself at any meeting convened with proper notice as defined under Sec. IX of the by-laws. Any enrolled Democrat registered to vote in the city of Bath shall be eligible for membership on the Committee. All members shall retain full membership status unless surrendered by resignation, so long as s/he is a resident and enrolled Democrat in Bath.
TENURE: The term of office of all officers and committee member shall be two years from the date of the last caucus called for the purpose of selecting delegates to the Democratic State Convention. The Chair shall call at least one caucus of the Democrats in the city every two years during that period designated by State Party Rule and on the date prescribed by the Democratic State Committee for the purpose of electing a new city committee and officers and state convention delegates and alternates.
OFFICERS: The officers of the committee shall consist of a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer and a City Organizer who shall be members of the Committee and who shall be elected by a majority vote of the Committee. For any office, the Committee may choose to elect two or more members to the office as Co-Officers: Co-Chairs, Co-Vice-Chairs, Co-Recording Secretaries, Co-Corresponding Secretaries, Co-Treasurers, Co-Organizers, sharing the powers and responsibilities of the office. The Recording Secretary and the Corresponding Secretary may be the same person. Election of officers may be held at a special committee meeting convened with proper notice as defined under Sec. IX of these by-laws, or at the biennial municipal caucus.
Chair: The Chair shall be the general executive office of the Committee and shall preside at all meetings. S/he shall be an ex-officio member of all subcommittees. S/he shall appoint the chairs and members of all subcommittees, but may at her/his direction delegate the appointment of the subcommittee members to the subcommittee chair. Co-Chairs share the specified duties subject to the approval of the Committee.
Vice-Chair: The Vice-Chair shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the Chair in her/his absence or in the event of her/his death or resignation. The Vice-Chair shall perform other duties as the Chair shall from time to time assign. The Vice-Chair shall also be an ex-officio member of all subcommittees. Co-Vice-Chairs share the specified duties subject to the approval of the Committee.
Recording Secretary: The Recording Secretary shall keep a complete and accurate record of the committee meetings, and a record of the attendance of members at each meeting. S/he shall promptly file a duplicate copy of such record of each meeting with the Committee Chair. Co-Recording Secretaries share the specified duties subject to the approval of the Committee.
The Corresponding Secretary shall maintain a complete and accurate record of the Committee membership, and shall file a duplicate copy of the membership list with the Committee Chair. S/he shall update the committee membership list as new members are selected, upon notice of change of address of Committee members, and/or upon receipt of any resignations. S/he shall provide, upon receipt of any additions, resignations, and/or updates, duplicate copies of such changes and updates with the Committee chair, the Chair of the County Democratic Committee, and the State Democratic Headquarters. Co- Corresponding Secretaries share the specified duties subject to the approval of the Committee.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall keep a full and accurate record and account of all receipts and expenditures, and shall deposit all money in the name of the Bath Democratic Committee in a recognized bank, credit union or trust company. S/he shall render to the Chair and the Committee a full report of the financial condition of the Committee at every regularly called Committee meeting and provide quarterly written reports, as requested by the Chair, and shall comply on a timely basis with all legal requirements relating to the receipt and disbursement of funds. Co-Treasurers share the specified duties subject to the approval of the Committee.
City Organizer: The City Organizer shall identify Democratic supporters and volunteers within the City. S/he shall coordinate training and support to volunteers in such activities as organizing letters-to-the-editor campaigns, voter registration and ID, candidate campaign work and get-out-the-vote efforts. S/he shall coordinate efforts with County and State Democratic Organizers and provide copies to the Chair of reports to those organizers. S/he shall render to the Chair and the Committee a full report of such activities at every regularly called Committee meeting and provide written reports, as requested by the Chair. The City Chair may be the City Organizer.
RESIGNATIONS: Any committee member or officer may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect upon receipt by the Chair or the Corresponding Secretary who shall record such resignation, noting the hour and date of its receipt. The acceptance of a resignation by the vote of the Committee shall not be necessary. A member’s removal from the list of Democratic enrolled voters of the city shall be considered an automatic resignation from the Committee.
REMOVAL: An officer or member of a Municipal Committee may be removed at a meeting called expressly for that purpose. Written notice must be given to all members of the Committee at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. Removal shall require the approval of two thirds (2/3) of the Committee members present and voting.
GRIEVANCE: Any and all grievances by members of the Committee or duly enrolled members of the Maine Democratic Party shall be in writing and directed to the Chair of the County Grievance Committee, who will notify the said complainant the date of the hearing to be held within ten (10) days of receipt of the complaint. If no County Grievance Committee exists, then grievances may be submitted directly to the Democratic State Committee’s Standing Committee on Grievance.
MEETINGS: Meetings of the Committee may be called at any time by the chair, and shall be called by him/her upon the written request of five (5) committee members. If the chair fails to call a meeting within ten (10) days of receipt of such a request, then a meeting may be called by written notice of any five (5) committee members. Except in an emergency, Committee members shall be given seven (7) day’s notice and a written agenda prior to the holding of the meeting whenever possible. Notice of the date, time location of the meeting may be given by mail, email, personal or telephone contact. All meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.
QUORUM: Three Committee members, either by meeting in person, through telephone conversations or by email, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
CONTRACT AND PAYMENT OF BILLS: No bills shall be contracted by any officer or member of this Committee unless authorized by the Treasurer and the Chair, or by any three Officers, if either the Treasurer or the Chair is unavailable. All bills shall be itemized or accompanied by a statement that will reasonably show exactly what they are designed to cover.
AMENDMENTS: The by-laws, once adopted, may be altered or amended only by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting at a Committee meeting, called for the specific purpose, with seven (7) days written notice, or at the biennial Caucus and which shall include the exact wording of the proposed amendment.
Additional Forums
Plans are still being formulated for two public forums: one on affordable health care in Maine and the other on jobs and the economy. Volunteers who are willing to organize and/or work on either of these topics are needed.