The McLean County Libertarian Party is a chapter of the Libertarian Party of Illinois. We provide a local political home for those who value honesty and fairness, and respect for the Constitution of the United States and the principals of freedom.

Lupe Diaz, the founder of the McLean County Libertarian Party organized the first meeting on March 22, 2009. We elected our first officers, which served until January 2011. They were: Lupe Diaz: Chair; Stephen Moist: Vice Chair; Kyle Kidwell: Young Libertarian Chair; Jeff Ready: Treasurer; Lex Green: Secretary. We also appointed Karen Green as our Webmaster.

The current board was elected to serve until January 2013. We elected : Lex Green: Chair; Karen Green: Vice Chair; Kyle Kidwell: Young Libertarian Chair; Jeff Ready: Treasurer; Denise Langnes: Secretary..

Our former chair and chair emeritus, Lupe Diaz is now serving and the Chair of the state Libertarian Party of Illinois. Member Matt Ervin is Vice Chair of the LPI and Lex Green is the Political Director of the LPI. Lex Green ran for Governor of Illinois in 2010. Karen Green and Jeff Ready ran for Bloomington City Council in 2011.

Our first elected Libertarian in McLean County Charles Silas, Normal Library Board Trustee.

If you share in these values and want a voice in government, come and meet with us. Together we can instill those values into our political systems and establish a fairer government.

McLean County LP makes a home for the Politically Homeless. Please join us on the first Wednesday and the third Monday of every month at 6:30 PM. For more specific information, click on the Activities button in the navigation bar above, which will take you to our calendar that will provide more detailed information about our meetings and events. We are open to the public; welcome all political newcomers; Republicans, and Democrats in recovery are also welcome. Please feel free to email Lupe Diaz at Chair@mcleancountyLP.org if you have any questions.

The members of McLean County Libertarian Party look forward to meeting you!

������� McLean County Libertarian Party

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Bylaws

ARTICLE I

Organization Name

The name of the organization shall be �McLean County Libertarian Party� (a.k.a. �McLean County LP�).

The McLean County Libertarian Party (McLean County LP) shall operate as a chartered chapter of the Libertarian Party of Illinois (LP Illinois) and shall meet such standards as the LP Illinois by-laws may require.

ARTICLE II

Purpose

The McLean County Libertarian Party exists for the following reasons:

a)      To promote the understanding of Libertarian Philosophy; through activism, and training workshops, and outreach programs

b)      To support candidates for public office who subscribe, in general, to Libertarian principles; this could be any candidate of a different party with a majority vote of the membership

c)      To oppose the spread of statism

d)      To Promote smaller government, lower taxes, and greater personal freedom through Liberty

e)      To defend our rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

ARTICLE III

Eligibility for Membership

SECTION 1: Membership Criteria. Any person who espouses and desires to promote the principles of libertarianism, as expressed in the �Statement of Principles� of the National Libertarian Party, shall be eligible for membership.

SECTION 2: Membership Qualifications. Any natural person who supports the purpose of McLean County LP who has not had their membership terminated for cause is qualified to become a member.

SECTION 3: Membership Dues. Such a person may become a voting member upon commitment to pay dues of $24.00 within 60 days prorated on the current calendar year; dues for a student with a valid ID are $12..00 within 60 days prorated on the current calendar year.� Memberships renew according to the calendar year.�

SECTION 4: Membership Due Purpose. Dues will be used for the sole purpose of the McLean County Libertarian Party.

SECTION 5: Membership Indoctrination. Any qualified person who informs the Treasurer or Membership Chair of their desire to become a member shall be made a member upon such notification with dues paid at the next scheduled McLean County LP meeting.

SECTION 6: Membership Termination. Any person shall have their membership terminated when:

a)         The person requests their membership to be terminated by notifying the Treasurer, or Membership Chair of their request.

b)         The person has not attended any meeting or other event sponsored by McLean County LP, and has not corresponded with an officer, or let their membership dues lapse.

c)         Member can be expelled for cause, such as action inconsistent with the McLean County LP purpose, by a vote of not less than 7/8ths of the other members present at a meeting.� Members will be notify 15 days prior to expulsion vote.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

SECTION 1: Executive Officers. McLean County Libertarian Party Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Young Libertarian Chair, and Secretary. The order of officers listed is the line of succession, if the need should arise for said Officer to preside over the meetings.

SECTION 2: The Chapter shall have a Chair. �Who shall preside over the meetings of the Chapter and perform such other duties as are provided hereafter. Represent the McLean County Libertarian Party at the State Organizing Committee (SOC). Ex-Officio Chair, of the Executive Committee.� Responsible for coordinating the activities of the McLean County LP officers.� The Chair is the official spokesperson for the McLean County LP.�

SECTION 3: The Chapter shall have a Vice-Chair.� Who shall preside over meetings in the chair�s absence, as an Alternate Representative of the McLean County Libertarian Party at the State Organizing Committee (SOC) in the chair�s absence or if Chair is a member of the LP of Illinois SOC Executive Committee, and perform such other duties as are provided hereafter.

SECTION 4: The Chapter shall have a Treasurer. �Who shall receive, record, and disburse Chapter funds as directed by the entire membership of the McLean County LP with the Executive Committee oversight; inform the Executive Committee of accession and lapses of membership; maintain accurate roster of the Chapter membership; monthly, quarterly, and yearly budget report to the Executive Subcommittee, and full membership via email, or hard copy upon request; and perform such other duties as are provided hereafter.

SECTION 5: The Chapter shall have a Young Libertarian Chair. �Who shall work with the State LPI Campus Coordinator, the Colleges, Universities, and High Schools, and Young Professionals in McLean County; organize all campus actives for the McLean County Libertarian Party, and work to develop new Campus Coordinators; and perform such other duties as are provided hereafter.�

SECTION 6: The Chapter shall have a Secretary. �Who shall keep the minutes of each meeting of the Chapter, and Executive Committee; must turn in minutes to Executive Committee Members monthly and full membership via email, or hard copy upon request.� Notify the members of meetings or changes of meeting time and/or location.� Maintains official documents such as bylaws, policy manual, and important non-financial records.� Keep accurate record of all Subcommittee Chairs, Vice-Chairs and members.� Keep Chapter records such as Minutes of all McLean County LP, and Executive Committee meetings. The Secretary shall preside over McLean County LP meetings in the absence of the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Young Libertarian Chair.� The Secretary shall appoint a Secretary Temp to take minutes if the Secretary has to chair meeting as the successor in line.�

SECTION 7: Elections of Executive Officers.� Executive officers shall be elected by a majority of the members present at the meeting in January of odd numbered years starting in 2011.� If needed a special meeting can be set for election of officers so the majority of members may be present to vote or run for officer.� If an election is not concluded, another election must be attempted at the next scheduled meeting in February.

SECTION 7.1: No Executive Officer Successor.� Executive officers shall continue to serve until their successors are elected.� If none is found by, the February meeting then said officer should automatically serve until the next election with the approval of the majority of the Executive Subcommittee at the March meeting.�

SECTION 8: Removal of Executive Officers. Officers shall be removed from office when:� Executive Officer resigns from office by notifying any (other) executive officer or at the executive meeting; no longer a member of McLean County LP; removed by a vote of 7/8ths of the members present at a meeting; removed by a vote of the majority of the entire membership.� The officer shall not serve as any position other then a member; may run in the next officer elections only if not removed for cause.

SECTION 9: Vacancy of Executive Officers.� Executive Officer vacancies shall be filled by special election at the next scheduled meeting following the vacancy or meeting of resignation of Executive Officer.� If no member at said meeting fills the vacancy of the Executive Officer then the Executive Committee shall fill the Office.

ARTICLE V

Representatives to the LP Illinois State Organizing Committee

The McLean County Libertarian Party shall have a Representative (McLean County LP Chair), who shall have full voting rights at SOC meetings. Alternate Representative (McLean County LP Vice-Chair) to the SOC, who shall have full voting rights at SOC meetings in the absence of the Chapter Chair or if Chair is a member of the LP of Illinois SOC Executive Committee.

If the Chapter passes a resolution on a matter of LP Illinois business, the Chapter representative to the State Organizing Committee must present that resolution to the State Organizing Committee and vote in accordance with the spirit of the resolution.

The Chapter Representative or the Chapter Alternate Representative to the State Organizing Committee must present the minutes of each State Organizing Committee meeting to the Chapter at the Chapter meeting immediately following the issuance of the minutes.

ARTICLE VI

McLean County Libertarian Party Executive Committee & Duties:

SECTION 1: Executive Committee � Chair shall be the McLean County Libertarian Party Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Young Libertarian Chair, and Secretary. Any Executive Committee member shall attend other Subcommittee Meetings. The McLean County Libertarian Party Vice-Chair shall be the Acting Chair of a Subcommittee if the Subcommittee Chair resigns, or a need shall arise until the next Executive Committee meeting.

SECTION 1.1: Executive Committee Duties and Powers � Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the McLean County Libertarian Party between business meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the Chapter, and perform such other duties as specified in these bylaws.� The Executive Committee may authorize needed expenditures and appoint special subcommittees of the Chapter between business meetings.� The Executive Committee shall be subject to the orders of the Chapter, and none of its acts shall conflict with actions taken by the Chapter.� The Executive Committee shall form working subcommittees when necessary with a start and end date, and appoint the Chair and Secretary of said subcommittee.

SECTION 1.2: Ex-Officios of all Subcommittees � The McLean County LP Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Young Libertarian Chair and Secretary.� Shall attend or participate at any Subcommittee meeting; shall be a voting member of said Subcommittee to count for majority or 2/3 vote; shall serve as Subcommittee Chair with the Majority Vote of the Executive Committee.� The McLean County LP Chair is the Ex-Officio Chair of the Executive Committee by being the Chair of the McLean County LP.

ARTICLE VII

Affiliation

SECTION 1: McLean County Libertarian Party shall be an affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Illinois.

ARTICLE VIII

Ownership of Property

SECTION 1: In the event that the McLean County Libertarian Party at any point in the future ceases to be organized in any form, all assets of the McLean County LP shall become property of the affiliated group. If McLean County LP shall cease to be organized at a time when no affiliate exists, the final Executive Subcommittee may distribute any assets to a non-profit organization consistent with the organizational purpose.

ARTICLE IX

Amendments

SECTION 1: These bylaws may be amended by a vote of not less than 2/3 of the membership present at any scheduled meeting.

SECTION 1.1: Notice of such amendment is provided in the call of the meeting; if a request to consider a proposed amendment is provided to the Secretary no less than fourteen days before a scheduled meeting, the Secretary shall include that amendment in the call of the meeting.

SECTION 1.2: Notice of such amendment is given at the immediately preceding meeting.

ARTICLE X

Parliamentary Authority

SECTION 1: The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts� Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable.� In which they are consistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Chapter may adopt.

SECTION 2: Standing Rules � Sometimes there are administrative details that are not important enough to be put in the bylaws and that do not relate to the conduct of business at meetings.� Require only a majority vote to adopt.� To amend them takes a majority vote. The Executive Committee may adopt or amend Standing Rules without the vote of the majority of the McLean County LP only the majority of the Executive Committee. To amend them takes a majority vote of the McLean County LP or Executive Committee.