Dear Democratic Club: Thank you for chartering with the Democratic Party of Orange County (DPOC) in 2017! This packet should answer your questions about the chartering process and the necessary steps to successfully charter your organization. Whether you are forming a new Democratic club or have chartered with DPOC previously, we suggest that you read through this packet carefully before completing the paperwork as some requirements have been changed. Requirements for NEW charters: 1. Provide the identification numbers used when filing statements with the Secretary of State, the Fair Political Practice Committee (FPPC) and/or the Federal Elections Committee (FEC) on Pg. 3. 2. Have a minimum of ten (10) members. Members must complete and sign the Chartering Members form. Chartering members must be registered Democrats and not be listed on the charter of another club. 3. Submit both an electronic and hard copy of the membership roster (annually). 4. Provide a list of the club s officers/executive board and their contact information (annually) on Pg. 4. 5. Submit both an electronic and hard copy of the club s bylaws. 6. Submit a check for $75.00 payable to DPOC (annually). 7. Read and complete pages 2-8 of this document. Requirements for RENEWAL charters: These simplified requirements apply only if your club submitted chartering paperwork last year. 1. Provide the identification numbers used when filing statements with the Secretary of State, the Fair Political Practice Committee (FPPC) and/or the Federal Elections Committee (FEC) on Pg. 3. 2. Submit an electronic of the membership roster (annually). 3. Provide a list of the club s officers/executive board and their contact information (annually). 4. Submit both an electronic and hard copy of the club s bylaws (annually, if changed). 5. Submit a check for $75.00 payable to DPOC (annually). 6. Read and complete pages 2-5, 8, and 9 of this document. (Other pages must be completed only if the club s information has changed.) Chartering documents for existing clubs must be received no later than March 15. If you need any assistance, please contact Shelly Haggerty, Chair of the Council of Club at Shelly@ocdemocrats.org. All applications must be reviewed by the DPOC Rules & Bylaws committee prior to approval by the DPOC Executive Board. The review process takes approximately three weeks to complete. Please allow enough time for the committee to process the application. 1916 W. Chapman, Ste. B, Orange CA 92868 714-634-DEMS (3367)
General Club Information Please type or print legibly with black or blue ink. Club Name: Mailing Address: Phone (optional): City: ZIP: Fax (optional): Email (for club or Chair/President): Website address: Meetings: Regular Meeting Date/Time: Regular Meeting Location: NOTE: Your club must meet at least once quarterly. Club Service Area(s) or Interest Group What geographic area (Assembly District, city, region, etc.) or interest group (i.e. Young Dems, API Dems) does your organization intend to serve? Please be as clear and specific as possible. Organization type: Charter type: Democratic Club New Charter (not previously chartered) Young Democrats Club Prior Club lapsed due to non-renewal Political Action Committee (PAC) Prior Club Revoked/Denied 1916 W. Chapman, Ste. B, Orange CA 92868 714-634-DEMS (3367) Page 2!
Renewal Charter (was chartered last year) 1916 W. Chapman, Ste. B, Orange CA 92868 714-634-DEMS (3367) Page 3!
Campaign Finance Information In order to be chartered, you must provide at least one of the following identification numbers: Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) number: Federal Elections Commission (FEC) number: Employer Identification Number (EIN): Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) is the number required to open a bank account. DO NOT use a personal Social Security number. If you do not have an EIN, you can request Internal Revenue Service Form SS-4 from (800) TAX-FORM or www.irs.ustreas.gov. Your FPPC or FEC I.D. number is the number under which you report funds raised and expended. If your club does not have such a number, and you raise or spend money above a specified threshold, you may be violating the law. You can request an FPPC Form 410 from (916) 322-5660 or www.fppc.ca.gov and an FEC Form 1 from (800) 424-9530 or www.fec.gov. Responsible Parties: Chair/President: Street address: E-mail address: Phone (Primary): City: Zip: Phone (Secondary): Signature: Treasurer: Street address: E-mail address: Phone (Primary): City: Zip: Phone (Secondary): Signature: 1916 W. Chapman, Ste. B, Orange CA 92868 714-634-DEMS (3367) Page 4!
Officers and Leaders Office Name Phone Number E-mail Address Chair/ President Vice Chair/Vice President Secretary Treasurer Attach an additional sheet if needed. New Executive Board term begins: Month: Day: Year: 1916 W. Chapman, Ste. B, Orange CA 92868 714-634-DEMS (3367) Page 5!
A Note on Rosters All Club member must be registered Democrats. rosters must include the following information on each member, with a separate field for each: First name Last name Street address City Zip code Phone number E-mail address (if available) For clubs to participate in the California Democratic Party s endorsement process, the party requires club members to provide the addresses and districts where they are registered to vote (if it differs from their mailing address). Clubs should also ask members to provide their name as they registered to vote. Place nicknames in quotes or parenthesis. Rosters should be maintained using a spreadsheet application, such as Microsoft Excel, Google Docs (free), or Open Office (free). Each club member should be listed on a separate line. Last name and first name should be placed in separate columns. Club rosters should be submitted using the Democratic Party s official roster template. Clubs may add additional columns at the end as they see fit, such as a space to keep track of whether or not members have paid their dues, or whether or not a member is interested in joining a club s mailing list. Initial one: Our roster is in compliance with the above guidelines. Our roster is not in compliance with the above guidelines and will be re-submitted within 30 days. 1916 W. Chapman, Ste. B, Orange CA 92868 714-634-DEMS (3367) Page 6!
Bylaws Please be sure that your organization s bylaws meet the following specific requirements. 1. Membership. Each member is a registered Democrat, the majority of which reside in Orange County, or is a person devoted to the principles of the Democratic Party but is ineligible to register as a voter at this time. Any such ineligible person has expressed the intent to register as a Democrat immediately upon becoming eligible. 2. Non-discrimination. The organization does not require or use any test of membership or oath of loyalty which has the effect of requiring prospective or current members to acquiesce in, condone or support discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, national origin, physical ability, sex, age, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation or economic status. 3. Fair Bylaws. It has bylaws that require: a. Regularly held meetings, open to all Democrats, with at least 10-day prior written notice. b. A regular election of officers for a reasonable tenure (to be defined in the bylaws). c. Payment or waiver of dues/fees due to economic hardship. d. Dedication of its members to the principles of the Democratic Party, as defined by the platform of the California Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee. e. Prohibition of the endorsement of non-democrats in any race or the financial support of non- Democrats. f. Bylaws must be adopted by the club and certified by the club s Secretary. The club s bylaws must also indicate the length of time one must be a member to be a candidate in an election of officers or have the right to vote in a club election. Bylaws should state that both candidates and voters must be members in good standing. For sample bylaws, please visit the California Democratic Council s website at http://www.cdc-ca.org. The Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Orange County shall have the power and authority to deny or revoke a charter of any organization, for cause by majority vote. Cause for denial or revocation shall include: 1. The endorsement of a non-democrat for elective office. 2. Knowing enrollment of a person registered as anything other than a member of the Democratic Party as a voting member of the organization. 3. Transferring of funds from the organization's accounts to an account of a non-democrat running for elective office, and/or 4. Acting in violation of State or Federal laws or regulations. The bylaws submitted by an organization requesting a charter from the County Committee shall be reviewed by the Bylaws/Rules Committee which will forward any recommendations to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, acting for the County Committee, shall notify the organization if any revisions are needed. Once the Charter is in compliance with the County Committee s bylaws the Executive Committee will grant the charter. Thereafter, the organization shall annually provide to the County Committee a copy of its bylaws (if changed). Initial below: We have read and agree to be bound by these terms. 1916 W. Chapman, Ste. B, Orange CA 92868 714-634-DEMS (3367) Page 7!
Initial Action Item We have provided the club name at the top of each page (abbreviations accepted). We have submitted the club roster/membership list in both electronic and hard copy formats. We have included a check for the appropriate chartering fees. We have attached the current bylaws, which comply with the requirements on page 7. We have read and fully completed the Charter Application Packet. We have read and agree to be bound by the bylaws of the Democratic Party of Orange County. Club name: Signature of Club Chair/President Date Signature of Club Vice Chair/President or Secretary Date Please include the appropriate fee with your charter application: New: $75.00 Renewal: $75.00 This application, payment, bylaws, and roster shall be sent to: Democratic Party of Orange County 1916 W. Chapman, St. B Orange, CA 92868 Clubs must send notices of events and meetings to the Chair and Executive Director of the DPOC. Copies of the club newsletter should be mailed to the DPOC office. Central committee meetings for the Democratic Party of Orange County are held on the fourth Monday of every month at 1916 W. Chapman Ave. in Orange. Meetings start at 7pm. A representative of your club is encouraged to attend. Your representative may announce upcoming events during the time allowed for announcements. Executive Board meetings for the Democratic Party of Orange County are held on the second Monday of every month at the DPOC offices, located at 1916 W. Chapman Ave, Suite B, Orange CA 92868. Meetings start at 7pm. 1916 W. Chapman, Ste. B, Orange CA 92868 714-634-DEMS (3367) Page 8!
Survey What were your grassroots election activities last year (including precinct/community organizing, voter registration, and fundraising activities)? What are your grassroots election activities plans for this year (including precinct/community organizing, voter registration, and fundraising activities)? List the most popular guest speakers that have visited your club over the last year. Does your club promote its events anywhere? If so, where? (e.g. Weekly OC Progressive calendar, local papers, Craigslist, mailing lists, message boards, Facebook page, advertising) Does your club participate in any fairs or festivals? If so, which ones? How much money did your club raise (net) last year (approximately)? $ How many new members did your club add last year (approximately)? *Attach the year end financial statement ending 12/31 1916 W. Chapman, Ste. B, Orange CA 92868 714-634-DEMS (3367) Page 9!