ARTICLE 1 - NAME

The official name of this organization shall be the Progressive Democrats of the Oregon Gorge Region, more informally styled Gorge Progressive Democrats, and hereinafter also referred to as "PD-Gorge."

ARTICLE 2 - PURPOSES

Progressive Democrats of the Oregon Gorge Region is a group of concerned citizens organized to promote social justice, political reform, and progressive values by working both within and independently of the Democratic Party through direct issue advocacy, promotion of responsible government, and the support and recruitment of progressive candidates for elected office. PD-Gorge is open to anyone who is willing to work for a better society based on progressive values, and welcomes people without respect to ethnicity, race, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.

ARTICLE 3 - AFFILIATIONS

Progressive Democrats of the Oregon Gorge Region shall seek affiliation with Progressive Democrats of America, any Progressive Caucus or Community which may be established by the Democratic Party of Oregon and/or its constituent county and district organizations in the Oregon gorge region as defined herein, and such other organizations as may be deemed advisable by the membership, according to the appropriate criteria of each such organization. PD-Gorge shall also seek to comply with any applicable provisions of the Democratic Party of Oregon as may concern caucuses and communities.

ARTICLE 4 MEMBERSHIP

Progressive Democrats of the Oregon Gorge Region shall consist of those individuals who have indicated their desire to join, and have attended at least two meetings or events sponsored by PD-Gorge within a 12 month period. Voting privileges shall be limited to those members who reside, maintain a domicile, or are employed within either: (a) one of the following counties of Oregon's Second Congressional District: Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, or Wasco; (b) another locality within said District which is not within the territory of an existing local chapter of the Progressive Democrats of America; or (c) a geographical location to which PD-Gorge is the nearest Progressive Democrats of America local chapter.

ARTICLE 5 - OFFICERS

The officers of Progressive Democrats of the Oregon Gorge Region shall be elected annually from among its voting members and shall consist of a chair and a vice-chair, or if deemed advisable two or more co-chairs, a secretary, a treasurer, and an affirmative action and outreach advisor. Elections shall be conducted at its regular monthly meeting each February.  No member may hold more than one office. The chair or co-chairs may designate any member to serve as an officer on a temporary basis if the elected officer is unavailable to perform the duties of the office. The powers and duties of each officer shall be as stated in these by laws or customarily associated with the title in similar organizations.

ARTICLE 6 - STEERING COMMITTEE

The Steering Committee of PD-Gorge shall consist of the officers enumerated in Article 5, the Oregon state coordinator of the Progressive Democrats of America or his/her designee, a representative of any additional organizations with which PD-Gorge may seek affiliation, and at least one but no more than five additional individuals elected by the membership. The Steering Committee shall conduct the business of PD-Gorge between meetings of the membership, and may fill any vacancies among the officers until a regular meeting of the membership. The Steering Committee shall annually set the amount of members' dues, if any.  The Steering Committee members shall be deemed Directors for the purposes of Oregon nonprofit corporation law.

ARTICLE 7 - MEETINGS

1. Calling of meetings.

PD-Gorge shall hold a monthly meeting of the general membership, provided however that a single meeting may be held during December and January. If meeting dates have not been established at a prior regular meeting of the membership, they will be set by the steering committee with at least ten days notice to the membership and the general public. Special meetings may be called by the chair or co-chairs, or by any three members of the steering committee, provided that reasonable, good faith efforts have been made to give the membership at least seven days notice.  The steering committee shall regularly meet monthly two weeks preceding each membership meeting.  All meetings will be open to all interested individuals, and reasonable care will be made to hold meetings in accessible locations.

2. Quorum.

A quorum for the transaction of business at a membership meeting shall be ten members, unless the membership of PD-Gorge be less than twenty, in which event a quorum shall be a majority of the membership.  At meetings of the Steering Committee, a simple majority of its members shall be deemed a quorum.

3. Conduct of Meetings.

Meetings will be conducted on principles of consensual decision making whenever possible, provided however that in the absence of consensus on a particular issue, decisions shall be made by a majority vote of those present, except for endorsements, which shall be governed by any rules, policies and/or guidelines officially promulgated by Progressive Democrats of America regarding same, and amendment of these Bylaws as provided in Article 8 hereof.

ARTICLE 8 - RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENT

These bylaws shall become effective upon a majority vote of the membership at the time of ratification by the membership as defined in Article 3. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote at two successive meetings held no less than seven days apart.