About.The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association (CHSA) is an official, non-partisan, bicameral Congressional Staff Organization, recognized by the Committee on House Administration, whose mission is to recruit, retain, and advance Hispanic staffers in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.
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History
For over three decades, CHSA has served as a professional development catalyst, peer support system, and personal enrichment organization for numerous congressional staffers--Latino and non-Latino alike. As an official, non-partisan, bicameral congressional staff organization, recognized by the Committee on House Administration, CHSA's mission is to recruit, retain, and advance Hispanic Staffers in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.
CHSA continues to push for more diversity on Capitol Hill. Congressional staffers advise elected officials on issues affecting all Americans. From communicating with constituents to drafting legislation, staff plays a vital role in the operations, oversight, appropriations and policy decisions of the legislative branch. Because the duties of the legislative branch are so important to our nation, it is crucial to have all communities represented, so each have a voice in the process.
In an effort to promote career advancement, CHSA launched a new mentoring program that matches its members with senior staff and other experienced Hill professionals. In recent years, the organization has brought in distinguished speakers through the Trailblazers and Lideres initiative, which brings CHSA members face-to-face with decision-makers. It has also started a professional development series to help Hill members, and individuals wishing to get on Capitol Hill, improve their resumes, cover letters, and interview skills.
Through programming, members have had the opportunity to build professional, one-on-one relationships that help them advance their careers on Capitol Hill, and outside the Hill, to achieve their aspirations. As we celebrate the milestone of having the most Members of Congress of Hispanic descent, we look to make equally historic gains in the number of staffers.
CHSA continues to push for more diversity on Capitol Hill. Congressional staffers advise elected officials on issues affecting all Americans. From communicating with constituents to drafting legislation, staff plays a vital role in the operations, oversight, appropriations and policy decisions of the legislative branch. Because the duties of the legislative branch are so important to our nation, it is crucial to have all communities represented, so each have a voice in the process.
In an effort to promote career advancement, CHSA launched a new mentoring program that matches its members with senior staff and other experienced Hill professionals. In recent years, the organization has brought in distinguished speakers through the Trailblazers and Lideres initiative, which brings CHSA members face-to-face with decision-makers. It has also started a professional development series to help Hill members, and individuals wishing to get on Capitol Hill, improve their resumes, cover letters, and interview skills.
Through programming, members have had the opportunity to build professional, one-on-one relationships that help them advance their careers on Capitol Hill, and outside the Hill, to achieve their aspirations. As we celebrate the milestone of having the most Members of Congress of Hispanic descent, we look to make equally historic gains in the number of staffers.
2021 Board of Directors
Ivelisse Porroa
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Patricia Ordaz
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Elizabeth De la Mora
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Silvia Ruelas
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Tammy Zapata
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Nykarlis Santos Nunez
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Francisco Flores-Pourrat
Recruitment Director Francisco is of Chilean and Mexican descent, was born in D.C., and grew up in Potomac, Maryland. Currently, he is the Staff Assistant/Press Assistant for Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND-At Large). He is planning to attend law school to pursue a career in defending migrant rights, particularly those of refugees.
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Jeremy Ortiz
Professional Development Director Jeremy Ortiz is a Southern California native with an instinctive affinity for local and national politics. He came here to the nation’s capital to see what Congress is doing to combat the issues affecting his family, friends, and community. After graduating with a Business degree from the University of California, Riverside, Jeremy began laying the frameworks for a local Young Democrats club, with the explicit mission of getting younger voters to participate in elections. Jeremy had fellowed for multiple offices, including with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus's Bold PAC, before joining the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with then Ranking Member (and now Chairman) Senator Joe Manchin, where he currently handles press and communications. In the future, Jeremy hopes to use his communication skills to help turn out and mobilize the next generation of voters and expand democratic officeholders at the local, state, and federal levels.
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Maru Vazquez
Social Events Director Maru Vazquez, from California, now works for Senator Murray of Washington State. She serves as the Deputy Scheduler/Executive Assistant to Chief of Staff.
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Sara Guerrero
Placement Director
Placement Director
As a first generation immigrant, Sara knows first hand how much of a privilege it is to walk the halls of Congress. She got her start on the Hill interning for Senate Majority Leader Schumer’s press team, a role which later turned into a full-time position with the national press team. After this role she took a leap of faith to join Joe Biden’s presidential campaign as the Nevada Deputy Press Secretary. She currently serves as Press Secretary to Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29). In her free time you can find her on a long walk through DC or reading a good book.
Questions? Want to contact a board member? Email chsa.dc@gmail.com.
Bylaws
Bylaws of the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association
Last Updated January 17, 2020
ARTICLE I ORGANIZATION NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association. Herein after referred to as “CHSA”.
ARTICLE II PURPOSE
The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association (CHSA) is an official, non-partisan Congressional staff organization whose mission is to advance the interests of current and prospective Hispanic staffers and the Latino community at large. CHSA is dedicated to encouraging career development, increasing opportunities, and advocating on behalf of the Latino community by strengthening civic participation and representation at all levels.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP OF ORGANIZATION
Section 1: General Member
A. Any person who is employed by the United States Congress, including the Library of Congress, is eligible for general membership.
B. Payment of dues is required in order to be an active general member.
C. General Membership dues shall be paid as described in Article X.
Section 2: Intern and Fellow Membership
A. Any person who serves as an intern or fellow in the United States Congress, including the Library of Congress, is eligible for general membership.
B. General Membership dues shall be paid as described in Article X.
Section 3: Membership shall not be restricted on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, political party affiliation, economic status or sexual orientation.
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS
Section 1: BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS: The Board of Directors shall consist of the following elected officers:
A. President;
B. Vice President;
C. Treasurer;
D. Secretary;
E. Communications Director;
F. Programming Director;
G. Recruitment Director;
H. Professional Development Director;
I. Social Events Director; and
J. Placement Director.
Section 3: Each elected officer shall be limited to two terms in the same position and to four terms as an elected officer.
Section 4: APPOINTED OFFICERS
A. The President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, shall have the prerogative to select appointed officers to take on additional responsibilities within CHSA.
Section 5: The term of appointed officers expires at the end of the President’s term.
ARTICLE V DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1: The CHSA President shall:
A. Call and preside during all meetings;
B. Nominate officers, non-elected committee chairs, and ad-hoc task force chairs;
C. Have general supervision of the affairs of CHSA; and
D. Represent CHSA in external relations, including but not limited to the Committees of jurisdiction as applicable.
Section 2: The CHSA Vice President shall:
A. Assume the duties of the President in the event of his/her absence; and
B. Assist the President as necessary.
Section 3: The CHSA Treasurer shall:
A. Collect membership dues;
B. Have charge of all funds of CHSA;
C. Deposit all monies in bank/trust as selected by Executive Board within 7 business days of receipt of funds;
D. Pay authorized bills;
E. Maintain accurate records of all financial transactions;
F. Request and receive receipts for expenditures of CHSA;
G. Receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to CHSA from any sources;
H. Provide written monthly reports on expenditures and balances to membership; and
I. Manage the pay-it-forward program as described in Article X, Section 4.
Section 4: The CHSA Secretary shall:
A. Maintain the CHSA membership list and an accurate attendance record of all meetings;
B. Maintain copies of all CHSA correspondence and policy statements; and
C. Publish a regular membership e-newsletter, in addition to an agenda for each regular membership meeting prior to the meeting and subsequent minutes after each regular membership meeting.
Section 5: The CHSA Communications Director shall:
A. Develop, implement, and evaluate a communications plan to advance CHSA’s purpose, broaden awareness of its programs and priorities, and increase visibility both on and off Capitol Hill;
B. Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic collateral including, but not limited to, brochures, and the website;
C. Serve as a spokesperson and lead point person on media interactions that help promote and/or impact CHSA.
Section 6: The CHSA Programming Director shall:
A. Plan, direct, and coordinate all events for CHSA;
B. Collaborate with other Directors on any CHSA events;
C. Provide support to executive leadership in the areas of planning, management, program execution, and communications; and
D. Assist in establishing and maintaining active and positive working relationships with Hill and off-Hill partners.
Section 7: The CHSA Recruitment Director shall:
A. Conduct recruitment initiatives to grow and retain membership;
B. Create and oversee a committee of CHSA members interested in volunteering in recruitment efforts. Membership in the Committee shall expire at the end of the Board of Directors’ term;
C. Pursue nonpartisan, inclusive recruitment efforts to attract prospective CHSA members; and
D. Provide support to executive leadership in the areas of planning, management, program execution, and communications.
Section 8: The CHSA Professional Development Director shall:
A. Plan, direct, and coordinate all professional development activities for CHSA;
B. Coordinate with the Placement Chair to ensure activities meet the professional needs of current members;
C. Collaborate with the Programming Director on professional development events; and
D. Provide support to executive leadership in the areas of planning, management, program execution, and communications.
Section 9: The CHSA Social Events Director shall:
A. Plan, direct, and coordinate all social, athletic, and community service activities for CHSA;
B. Collaborate with the Programming Director on all social events;
C. Provide support to executive leadership in the areas of planning, management, program execution, and communications.
Section 10: The CHSA Placement Director shall:
A. Be responsible for managing the CHSA resume bank;
B. Lead efforts to place CHSA members in hiring offices;
C. Coordinate with the Professional Development Director to ensure that professional development activities meet the needs of prospective applicants;
D. Create and oversee a committee of CHSA members interested in volunteering in Placement Committee efforts. Membership in the Committee shall expire at the end of the Board of Directors’ term; and
E. Provide support to executive leadership in the areas of planning, management, program execution, and communications.
Section 11: Board of Directors Transition
A. To facilitate the transition of duties from the current Board of Directors to the new Board of Directors, the current Board of Directors shall, at the end of its term, prepare and make available a Final Executive Summary Report to the new Executive Board.
B. The Final Executive Summary Report shall include all of the following items: all minutes from meetings, a final budget report, a comprehensive membership list, a list of all Association activities and events, access to any websites (including passwords), and any other information or recommendations that the current Board of Directors sees beneficial to the transition.
ARTICLE VI COMMITTEES AND AD-HOC TASK FORCES
Section 1: The President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, has the prerogative to establish standing committees and ad-hoc task forces to assist in fulfilling the mission and goals of CHSA.
Section 2: The President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, will appoint the non-elected chairs of committees and ad-hoc task forces.
Section 3: Committees can be established to carry out functions consistent with the goals and mission of CHSA and shall exist for the duration of the Board of Directors’ term.
Section 4: Ad-hoc task forces can be established to carry out a temporary function, of less than one year, consistent with the goals and mission of CHSA.
Section 5: Any active general member is eligible to be appointed chair of a committee or ad-hoc task force.
Section 6: The membership of committees and ad-hoc task forces shall be determined by the committee or ad-hoc task force chair, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors.
Section 7: Any active general member is eligible to be serve on a committee or ad-hoc task force.
Section 8: The Board of Directors, with the advice and consent of the President, may appoint an Advisory Committee Chair.
A. The Advisory Committee Chair shall work in conjunction with the Board of Directors to create an Advisory Committee to assist CHSA in executing its mission;
B. The membership of the Advisory Committee must reflect the nonpartisan nature of CHSA’s mission and should consist of at least one previous CHSA board member; and
C. The Advisory Committee Chair’s and the Advisory Committee’s terms shall expire at the end of the Board of Directors’ term.
ARTICLE VII ELECTIONS
Section 1: Two Election Officers shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors within the first 30 days of each board term. The Election Officers shall:
A. Serve as a separate entity from the Board of Directors with no voting power;
B. Serve through the nomination, tallying, and completion of the annual and special election(s), as well as any proposed amendments to the Bylaws;
C. Serve for one term and may serve two total terms if the Election Officers are re-nominated and confirmed by the incoming President and the Board of Directors.
D. Should an Election Officer decide to resign, the Election Officer must notify the Board of Directors in writing at least two weeks before the Election Officer’s intended resignation date.
E. Any disagreements between the Election Officers regarding decisions about the election will be reconciled by the Chair of the CHSA Advisory Committee.
Section 2: The Election Officers shall not be eligible to run for any office or campaign for any candidate running for office in the year of the current election.
Section 3: Elections for CHSA’s elected officers positions will be held annually at an election day meeting in February. The exact date and time of the election day meeting and close of voting shall be determined by the Elections Officer and communicated to the entire CHSA membership at least 30 days before election day.
Section 4: Any general member who has been an active member for at least 30 days is eligible to vote. But, any general member who only became eligible to become a general member in January or February prior to the election shall be eligible to vote in the February election.
Section 5: Any general member who has been an active member for at least 90 days and who is currently employed by the United States Congress and is not the Election Officers is eligible to run for office.
Section 6: Any candidate who wishes to have their name appear on the ballot must make a written statement of their candidacy to the Election Officer at least 15 days prior to election day.
Section 7: The Election Officers shall notify all CHSA members 14 days prior to election day via e-mail which candidates have chosen to place their name on the ballot.
Section 8: There shall be a meeting 7 days before Election Day at which candidates are given the opportunity to address the membership.
Section 9: A candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot may run as a write-in candidate.
Section 10: The Election Officers shall send a sample ballot and voting instructions via e-mail to all CHSA members at least 10 days prior to election day. This communication must include written notification in Spanish that the sample ballot and voting instructions are available in Spanish upon request.
Section 11: It is the responsibility of the Election Officers to make any elections-related materials available in Spanish upon the request of any active member.
Section 12: All active members will be provided a secret ballot 7 days before election day.
Section 13: All ballots must be returned to the Elections Officers by the close of voting on election day.
Section 14: No votes shall be counted until after the close of voting.
Section 15: The Elections Officers shall begin counting the ballots immediately after the close of voting and announce the results at the election day meeting.
Section 16: New officers will take office 7 days after the announcement of election results.
Section 17: Electronic voting: Any active member may vote via electronic mail by sending an e-mail message to the Election Officer stating their choice for each office and including the voter’s first and last name for verification purposes by the election committee.
Section 18: Proxy voting: Any active member may give their ballot to someone else to submit to the Election Officers under the following procedures:
A. The ballot must be placed in a sealed envelope; and
B. The envelope must bear
1. The voter’s printed name, and
2. The voter’s signature.
Section 19: If an officer position is vacated before the end of the current term, the President shall announce the vacancy to the membership via e-mail, and instruct the Election Officers to conduct a special election to fill the vacancy.
ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS
Section 1: The CHSA Board of Directors shall meet formally at least once a month and in addition can be convened at any time by the President to address issues requiring immediate attention.
Section 2: CHSA shall hold regular membership meetings at least once a month.
Section 3: Regular membership meetings shall be held for the purposes of hearing and approving actions taken by committees and ad-hoc task forces; discussing issues of relevance; announcements; receiving presentations from special guests; discussing and voting on policy position proposals; amending CHSA bylaws; and other business as agreed to by the Board of Directors.
Section 4: A meeting notice and agenda will be sent to members via e-mail at least 6 days before the meeting is scheduled.
ARTICLE IX POLICY POSITIONS
Section 1: CHSA will not take public positions on any policy issues.
ARTICLE X DUES
Section 1: Annual membership dues for general members is $25 of which shall be paid by personal funds.
Section 2: Annual membership dues for interns and fellows is $10 of which shall be paid by personal funds.
Section 3: Upon payment of dues, an individual will be considered a member from the date of payment received through January 31st of the subsequent calendar year.
A. For individuals that join after June 1st of any given calendar year, the Board of Directors may reduce dues payable to be considered an active general member at its discretion.
Section 4: The Board of Directors may instate a “pay-it-forward” program in which active paid members may contribute additional personal funds to CHSA to offset membership dues of an intern, fellow, or designated junior staffer who is eligible for membership under Article III, Section 2.
A. The pay-it-forward funds will be tracked, managed, and disbursed by the CHSA Treasurer.
B. With the advice and consent of the President, the Treasurer will determine eligibility for receipt of funds from the program on an individual basis.
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS
Section 1: Any active member may propose an amendment to the CHSA bylaws at a regular membership meeting.
Section 2: No vote can be held on the proposed amendment until a subsequent regular membership meeting.
Section 3: A proposed amendment must be approved by a vote of two-thirds of the active CHSA membership at a regular membership meeting to be adopted.
Last Updated January 17, 2020
ARTICLE I ORGANIZATION NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association. Herein after referred to as “CHSA”.
ARTICLE II PURPOSE
The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association (CHSA) is an official, non-partisan Congressional staff organization whose mission is to advance the interests of current and prospective Hispanic staffers and the Latino community at large. CHSA is dedicated to encouraging career development, increasing opportunities, and advocating on behalf of the Latino community by strengthening civic participation and representation at all levels.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP OF ORGANIZATION
Section 1: General Member
A. Any person who is employed by the United States Congress, including the Library of Congress, is eligible for general membership.
B. Payment of dues is required in order to be an active general member.
C. General Membership dues shall be paid as described in Article X.
Section 2: Intern and Fellow Membership
A. Any person who serves as an intern or fellow in the United States Congress, including the Library of Congress, is eligible for general membership.
B. General Membership dues shall be paid as described in Article X.
Section 3: Membership shall not be restricted on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, political party affiliation, economic status or sexual orientation.
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS
Section 1: BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS: The Board of Directors shall consist of the following elected officers:
A. President;
B. Vice President;
C. Treasurer;
D. Secretary;
E. Communications Director;
F. Programming Director;
G. Recruitment Director;
H. Professional Development Director;
I. Social Events Director; and
J. Placement Director.
Section 3: Each elected officer shall be limited to two terms in the same position and to four terms as an elected officer.
Section 4: APPOINTED OFFICERS
A. The President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, shall have the prerogative to select appointed officers to take on additional responsibilities within CHSA.
Section 5: The term of appointed officers expires at the end of the President’s term.
ARTICLE V DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1: The CHSA President shall:
A. Call and preside during all meetings;
B. Nominate officers, non-elected committee chairs, and ad-hoc task force chairs;
C. Have general supervision of the affairs of CHSA; and
D. Represent CHSA in external relations, including but not limited to the Committees of jurisdiction as applicable.
Section 2: The CHSA Vice President shall:
A. Assume the duties of the President in the event of his/her absence; and
B. Assist the President as necessary.
Section 3: The CHSA Treasurer shall:
A. Collect membership dues;
B. Have charge of all funds of CHSA;
C. Deposit all monies in bank/trust as selected by Executive Board within 7 business days of receipt of funds;
D. Pay authorized bills;
E. Maintain accurate records of all financial transactions;
F. Request and receive receipts for expenditures of CHSA;
G. Receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to CHSA from any sources;
H. Provide written monthly reports on expenditures and balances to membership; and
I. Manage the pay-it-forward program as described in Article X, Section 4.
Section 4: The CHSA Secretary shall:
A. Maintain the CHSA membership list and an accurate attendance record of all meetings;
B. Maintain copies of all CHSA correspondence and policy statements; and
C. Publish a regular membership e-newsletter, in addition to an agenda for each regular membership meeting prior to the meeting and subsequent minutes after each regular membership meeting.
Section 5: The CHSA Communications Director shall:
A. Develop, implement, and evaluate a communications plan to advance CHSA’s purpose, broaden awareness of its programs and priorities, and increase visibility both on and off Capitol Hill;
B. Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic collateral including, but not limited to, brochures, and the website;
C. Serve as a spokesperson and lead point person on media interactions that help promote and/or impact CHSA.
Section 6: The CHSA Programming Director shall:
A. Plan, direct, and coordinate all events for CHSA;
B. Collaborate with other Directors on any CHSA events;
C. Provide support to executive leadership in the areas of planning, management, program execution, and communications; and
D. Assist in establishing and maintaining active and positive working relationships with Hill and off-Hill partners.
Section 7: The CHSA Recruitment Director shall:
A. Conduct recruitment initiatives to grow and retain membership;
B. Create and oversee a committee of CHSA members interested in volunteering in recruitment efforts. Membership in the Committee shall expire at the end of the Board of Directors’ term;
C. Pursue nonpartisan, inclusive recruitment efforts to attract prospective CHSA members; and
D. Provide support to executive leadership in the areas of planning, management, program execution, and communications.
Section 8: The CHSA Professional Development Director shall:
A. Plan, direct, and coordinate all professional development activities for CHSA;
B. Coordinate with the Placement Chair to ensure activities meet the professional needs of current members;
C. Collaborate with the Programming Director on professional development events; and
D. Provide support to executive leadership in the areas of planning, management, program execution, and communications.
Section 9: The CHSA Social Events Director shall:
A. Plan, direct, and coordinate all social, athletic, and community service activities for CHSA;
B. Collaborate with the Programming Director on all social events;
C. Provide support to executive leadership in the areas of planning, management, program execution, and communications.
Section 10: The CHSA Placement Director shall:
A. Be responsible for managing the CHSA resume bank;
B. Lead efforts to place CHSA members in hiring offices;
C. Coordinate with the Professional Development Director to ensure that professional development activities meet the needs of prospective applicants;
D. Create and oversee a committee of CHSA members interested in volunteering in Placement Committee efforts. Membership in the Committee shall expire at the end of the Board of Directors’ term; and
E. Provide support to executive leadership in the areas of planning, management, program execution, and communications.
Section 11: Board of Directors Transition
A. To facilitate the transition of duties from the current Board of Directors to the new Board of Directors, the current Board of Directors shall, at the end of its term, prepare and make available a Final Executive Summary Report to the new Executive Board.
B. The Final Executive Summary Report shall include all of the following items: all minutes from meetings, a final budget report, a comprehensive membership list, a list of all Association activities and events, access to any websites (including passwords), and any other information or recommendations that the current Board of Directors sees beneficial to the transition.
ARTICLE VI COMMITTEES AND AD-HOC TASK FORCES
Section 1: The President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, has the prerogative to establish standing committees and ad-hoc task forces to assist in fulfilling the mission and goals of CHSA.
Section 2: The President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, will appoint the non-elected chairs of committees and ad-hoc task forces.
Section 3: Committees can be established to carry out functions consistent with the goals and mission of CHSA and shall exist for the duration of the Board of Directors’ term.
Section 4: Ad-hoc task forces can be established to carry out a temporary function, of less than one year, consistent with the goals and mission of CHSA.
Section 5: Any active general member is eligible to be appointed chair of a committee or ad-hoc task force.
Section 6: The membership of committees and ad-hoc task forces shall be determined by the committee or ad-hoc task force chair, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors.
Section 7: Any active general member is eligible to be serve on a committee or ad-hoc task force.
Section 8: The Board of Directors, with the advice and consent of the President, may appoint an Advisory Committee Chair.
A. The Advisory Committee Chair shall work in conjunction with the Board of Directors to create an Advisory Committee to assist CHSA in executing its mission;
B. The membership of the Advisory Committee must reflect the nonpartisan nature of CHSA’s mission and should consist of at least one previous CHSA board member; and
C. The Advisory Committee Chair’s and the Advisory Committee’s terms shall expire at the end of the Board of Directors’ term.
ARTICLE VII ELECTIONS
Section 1: Two Election Officers shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors within the first 30 days of each board term. The Election Officers shall:
A. Serve as a separate entity from the Board of Directors with no voting power;
B. Serve through the nomination, tallying, and completion of the annual and special election(s), as well as any proposed amendments to the Bylaws;
C. Serve for one term and may serve two total terms if the Election Officers are re-nominated and confirmed by the incoming President and the Board of Directors.
D. Should an Election Officer decide to resign, the Election Officer must notify the Board of Directors in writing at least two weeks before the Election Officer’s intended resignation date.
E. Any disagreements between the Election Officers regarding decisions about the election will be reconciled by the Chair of the CHSA Advisory Committee.
Section 2: The Election Officers shall not be eligible to run for any office or campaign for any candidate running for office in the year of the current election.
Section 3: Elections for CHSA’s elected officers positions will be held annually at an election day meeting in February. The exact date and time of the election day meeting and close of voting shall be determined by the Elections Officer and communicated to the entire CHSA membership at least 30 days before election day.
Section 4: Any general member who has been an active member for at least 30 days is eligible to vote. But, any general member who only became eligible to become a general member in January or February prior to the election shall be eligible to vote in the February election.
Section 5: Any general member who has been an active member for at least 90 days and who is currently employed by the United States Congress and is not the Election Officers is eligible to run for office.
Section 6: Any candidate who wishes to have their name appear on the ballot must make a written statement of their candidacy to the Election Officer at least 15 days prior to election day.
Section 7: The Election Officers shall notify all CHSA members 14 days prior to election day via e-mail which candidates have chosen to place their name on the ballot.
Section 8: There shall be a meeting 7 days before Election Day at which candidates are given the opportunity to address the membership.
Section 9: A candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot may run as a write-in candidate.
Section 10: The Election Officers shall send a sample ballot and voting instructions via e-mail to all CHSA members at least 10 days prior to election day. This communication must include written notification in Spanish that the sample ballot and voting instructions are available in Spanish upon request.
Section 11: It is the responsibility of the Election Officers to make any elections-related materials available in Spanish upon the request of any active member.
Section 12: All active members will be provided a secret ballot 7 days before election day.
Section 13: All ballots must be returned to the Elections Officers by the close of voting on election day.
Section 14: No votes shall be counted until after the close of voting.
Section 15: The Elections Officers shall begin counting the ballots immediately after the close of voting and announce the results at the election day meeting.
Section 16: New officers will take office 7 days after the announcement of election results.
Section 17: Electronic voting: Any active member may vote via electronic mail by sending an e-mail message to the Election Officer stating their choice for each office and including the voter’s first and last name for verification purposes by the election committee.
Section 18: Proxy voting: Any active member may give their ballot to someone else to submit to the Election Officers under the following procedures:
A. The ballot must be placed in a sealed envelope; and
B. The envelope must bear
1. The voter’s printed name, and
2. The voter’s signature.
Section 19: If an officer position is vacated before the end of the current term, the President shall announce the vacancy to the membership via e-mail, and instruct the Election Officers to conduct a special election to fill the vacancy.
ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS
Section 1: The CHSA Board of Directors shall meet formally at least once a month and in addition can be convened at any time by the President to address issues requiring immediate attention.
Section 2: CHSA shall hold regular membership meetings at least once a month.
Section 3: Regular membership meetings shall be held for the purposes of hearing and approving actions taken by committees and ad-hoc task forces; discussing issues of relevance; announcements; receiving presentations from special guests; discussing and voting on policy position proposals; amending CHSA bylaws; and other business as agreed to by the Board of Directors.
Section 4: A meeting notice and agenda will be sent to members via e-mail at least 6 days before the meeting is scheduled.
ARTICLE IX POLICY POSITIONS
Section 1: CHSA will not take public positions on any policy issues.
ARTICLE X DUES
Section 1: Annual membership dues for general members is $25 of which shall be paid by personal funds.
Section 2: Annual membership dues for interns and fellows is $10 of which shall be paid by personal funds.
Section 3: Upon payment of dues, an individual will be considered a member from the date of payment received through January 31st of the subsequent calendar year.
A. For individuals that join after June 1st of any given calendar year, the Board of Directors may reduce dues payable to be considered an active general member at its discretion.
Section 4: The Board of Directors may instate a “pay-it-forward” program in which active paid members may contribute additional personal funds to CHSA to offset membership dues of an intern, fellow, or designated junior staffer who is eligible for membership under Article III, Section 2.
A. The pay-it-forward funds will be tracked, managed, and disbursed by the CHSA Treasurer.
B. With the advice and consent of the President, the Treasurer will determine eligibility for receipt of funds from the program on an individual basis.
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS
Section 1: Any active member may propose an amendment to the CHSA bylaws at a regular membership meeting.
Section 2: No vote can be held on the proposed amendment until a subsequent regular membership meeting.
Section 3: A proposed amendment must be approved by a vote of two-thirds of the active CHSA membership at a regular membership meeting to be adopted.