Solidarity Lowell Bylaws

Solidarity Lowell By-Laws

AS RATIFIED BY MEMBERS JUNE, 2025. Solidarity Lowell is the Lowell, MA, chapter of Progressive Massachusetts

1. Membership
   1. Solidarity Lowell (SL), a chapter of Progressive Massachusetts (PM), is a membership organization. SL supporters who have attended three or more meetings or qualifying events (such as Unpacking Whiteness dialogue group or other events as approved by the Solidarity Lowell Coordinating Committee (SLCC)) in the previous 12 months are considered members in good standing and can vote on decisions, as described in Section III. Members paying dues to Progressive Massachusetts (PM) gain additional privileges, viewable here: https://www.progressivemass.com/organize/membership/.
   2. General Meetings are held on the 4th Sunday of the month (with the exception of holiday weekends when the SLCC will decide the meeting date) and will be done either on Zoom or Hybrid.
   3. All General Meetings will be announced publicly and will be open to all.
   4. Members are expected to behave at our meetings, on our social media, and at events where they are representing SL according to the by-laws, mission statement, and social media rules (viewable in the Documents section of the Facebook Group), otherwise action will be taken up to and including being asked to leave the group.
   5. No member should act as a spokesperson for SL publicly or on social media without the consent of the Coordinating Committee.

2. Progressive Mass Chapter-Statewide Relationship/Membership

1. 1. SL, as an affiliate of PM, receives benefits, including but not limited to guidance on grassroots organizing, legislative and issues work, materials and resources, connection and coordination with other affiliates, and information and updates on statewide issues and elections.
   2. SL also has responsibilities as an affiliate, including, but not limited to maintaining regular communication with the PM staff and the PM Board and relevant committees, serving on PM’s Boards and Committees, supporting PM-wide organization efforts, distributing PM materials as requested, and participating in statewide conferences and meetings.

3. Decision-Making

1. Voting members are SL’s decision-making body responsible for: approval of the SL by-laws, endorsements, and electing officers (SLCC). The members will receive requests for input and decisions by email on an as-needed basis.
2. Such decisions require a simple majority. Voting may be conducted in person at General Meetings or through an online ballot.
3. Additional decisions may be voted on by the Coordinating Committee. A quorum for the Coordinating Committee will be a simple majority of its members.
   

4. Coordinating Committee Nomination and Selection

7. SL members in good standing will nominate and elect a Coordinating Committee of not fewer than 8 and not more than 10 members in good standing. Voting will take place at the April General Meeting or via subsequent online ballot. 
8. If the Coordinating Committee drops below 8 members, the Coordinating Committee can vote to ask someone to join. Appointed SLCC members are automatically up for election during the next SLCC election.
9. Coordinating Committee members are invited to a two-year term or until they resign (either in person at a meeting or in the official Coordinating Committee Discord server), or until they are voted out. At least ⅔ of the Coordinating Committee can agree to vote a Coordinating Committee member out. There are no term limits.
10. Coordinating Committee Meetings:
    1. The Coordinating Committee will meet at least twice monthly. Decisions of the Coordinating Committee will be made by a vote of a simple majority for a motion to pass.
    2. Action by Consent. Any action by the Coordinating Committee may be taken without a meeting if consent is given by a quorum of the Coordinating Committee online (by email or in the official Coordinating Committee Discord). Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote at a meeting.
11. The responsibilities of the Coordinating Committee include:
    5. Record the minutes of the Coordinating Committee meetings and distribute them in a timely fashion to the Coordinating Committee members. The Coordinating Committee will then share any information deemed relevant to the general SL membership.
    6. Communicate on a regular basis with the SL membership through use of, and maintenance of, an email list and at monthly general meetings.
    7. Maintain an up-to-date list of chapter members including name, address, phone number and email address as well as date of membership and meetings attended.
    8. Prepare the agendas for the General Meetings, record the minutes of the meetings, and distribute the minutes to all members.
    9. Develop and maintain appropriate social media avenues as needed.
    10. Recommend, implement, and evaluate program activities, including but not limited to public forums, debates, legislative, and electoral campaigns.
    11. Encourage SL members to join PM or SL committees needed to carry out the responsibilities and/or the program activities of the organization.
    12. Organize tabling and the promotion of the group at local events.
12. The nominating and voting process for election of the Coordinating Committee is as follows:
    6. Members may make nominations from the floor at the April meeting. Individuals who are nominated must accept or decline the nomination, or, if not in attendance, otherwise have signified their response to such a nomination.
    7. The members will vote by online ballot. The top vote-getters equalling the number of open seats will be elected.
    8. Persons nominated for the SLCC must not currently be in or running for Lowell city office.
13. Solidarity Lowell Leads are members identified by the Coordinating Committee as those committed to the group and who have agreed to lead a subcommittee or organize a specific task/activity.
    7. The Coordinating Committee may appoint members of allied organizations to function as Leads to bring issues and concerns from other parts of the community to our attention and/or lead specific initiatives.

 

5. Committees

1. A committee is a subgroup of at least two SL members working on a specific task or goal. If the committee drops below that level, the responsibility is returned to the SLCC (shared with the remaining lead if there is one). One member of the committee will act as its Lead.
2. Any action or event that is entirely internal to a subcommittee can be voted on by that subcommittee without input from other voting members, but all new initiatives must also pass a vote of the Coordinating Committee and for major initiatives pass a vote of the SL membership.

 

6. Amendments

1. The structure and procedures of operation as laid out here can be amended at the May General Meeting. In order to amend any part of this structure and procedure, notice must be given to all members in good standing at least 1 week prior to the meeting of the intent to amend.