Essential Operational Elements and Requirements

Purpose: To provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment for members to develop oral communication and leadership skills.

Membership:

• Individuals must be at least 18 years old.
• Membership is by invitation only.
• Admission requires a favorable vote of at least a majority of active individual members present and voting at a business meeting.
• Membership classifications include active, inactive, and honorary. Active members have voting privileges, can hold office, and are counted towards a quorum. Inactive and honorary members have limitations on privileges.
• Clubs may establish procedures for dropping members for non-payment of dues, meeting absences, or failure to meet standards.

Meetings:

• Regular meetings are held as provided in the addendum and include business meetings of active individual members.
• Special business meetings can be called by a majority vote of active members present and voting at a regular meeting with a quorum, or by the Club Executive Committee or Club President.
• Club Executive Committee meetings are held as provided in the addendum.
• Notice is required for changes to regular meetings and for all special meetings.

Quorum and Voting:

• A majority of active individual members constitutes a quorum for club business.
• Each active individual member has one vote.
• Proxy or absentee voting is not permitted.
• Unless a greater vote is required, a majority vote of active members present and voting at a duly held business meeting with a quorum is the act of the club.

Officers:

• Required officers include a Club President, a Vice President (Education, Membership, or Public Relations), and the Club Secretary or Secretary-Treasurer.
• A club must have a minimum of three officers, each held by a different person.
• The Club President and Treasurer cannot be the same person.
• Officers serve one-year terms, unless the club meets weekly and provides for half-year terms in the addendum.
• Elections for annual terms are held in May, and for half-year terms in May and November.
• Officers can be removed by a majority vote of active members present and voting at a business meeting with a quorum.

Committees:

• Standing committees include Executive, Education, Membership, Public Relations, and Social and Reception.
• The Club Executive Committee manages business and administrative affairs, and its actions must be ratified by the club.

Affiliation:

• Upon receiving a charter and remaining in good standing, a club is a member of Toastmasters International.
• Clubs are also affiliated with a designated District.
• Clubs must make membership and other payments as required by Toastmasters International.
• Clubs are independent legal entities responsible for their own debts and obligations.
• Clubs are entitled to representation at the Annual Business Meeting and other meetings.
• The Toastmasters International Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Club Constitution, and Policy and Protocol govern clubs, and clubs cannot adopt policies in conflict with them.

Legal Status and Dissolution:

• A club is an unincorporated association for educating its members.
• Club funds are limited to educational purposes and cannot be used for social, political, or individual benefit.
• Upon dissolution, funds are distributed to the Ralph C. Smedley Memorial Fund, another Toastmasters entity, or a Toastmasters District.
• The Club Constitution and addendum are governed by California law, but modifications may be allowed for legal function in other jurisdictions if authorized by Toastmasters International Policy.

Amendments to Club Constitution:

• Amendments can only be made by a majority of votes at an Annual Business Meeting or special meeting of the voting membership of Toastmasters International.
• Proposals for amendments can come from the International Board or Toastmasters Member Clubs.