Garrett County Commission for Women
Rhiannon Dodge – Chair
Pam Trickett- Co-Chair
Elizabeth Ware – Secretary
Anna Fratz-Orr – Treasurer
Juliet Sanders Caroline Blizzard Heather Hanline Lisa Baker Liz George Bevian Hensley
The mission of the Garrett County Commission for Women shall be to promote a positive image of women, advise county government, advance solutions and serve as a countywide resource to promote social, political and economic equality for women.
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History
Maryland’s Commission for Women was established in 1965 by Executive Order of Governor J. Millard Tawes and enacted as a statutory agency in 1971 by the Maryland General Assembly. The local Garrett County Commission was created in 1994. The GCCW is comprised of volunteers appointed by the County Commissioners and are mandated to be a voice for and of women in their communities specially in government.
Goals
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- To collaborate with other Garrett County Departments and Agencies for the purpose of facilitating the commission’s mission and purpose
- To monitor legislation affecting women
- To establish an information and referral system that consists of all services in Garrett county specifically related to women
- To inform the public of the nature and extent of sex discrimination and the range of issues affecting women in Garrett County
Garrett County Commission for Women Guiding Principles
- To promote the collection and referral of information concerning activities, services, and issues of interest to women.
- To practice a positive, realistic image of women respectful of individual differences while encouraging diversity as a group.
- To advocate for the political constituency of women in Garrett County to the State legislature, Maryland Commission for Women, other County Commissions for Women, and local government, as well as the media and the public.
- To advocate for programs that will expand women’s educational and employment opportunities.
- To listen to pressing issues involving the residents of Garrett County and communicate to all appropriate government agencies on any matters involving the needs of women, especially those matters relating to discrimination and prejudice on account of gender.
- To honor individual accomplishments of women through management of the Garrett County Women’s Hall of Fame.
- To provide access to higher education to local female Garrett County Residents through a yearly scholarship program.
- To develop a yearly report to the County Commissioners along with a letter of solicitation for funds.
Approved by the GCCW on 8/4/2017
By-Laws of The Garrett County Commission for Women
Article I – Name
The name of this organization shall be “The Garrett County Commission for Women.”
Article II – Mission
The mission of this organization shall be to promote a positive image of women, promote awareness of issues affecting women and facilitate the dissemination of information affecting women that will assist them in attaining the best possible quality of life.
Article III – Membership
Section 1. Membership shall be composed of a minimum of twelve persons, but not to exceed fifteen persons, over the age of eighteen and who maintain primary residency in Garrett County, appointed by the Garrett County Commissioners. The Commission for Women will submit a list of recommended candidates who have been voted upon by a quorum of the current members to the Commissioners whenever a vacancy exists. The Garrett County Commissioners have the discretion to appoint five of the Commission for Women members.
Section 2. Term of office will be three years, except that the term of the Charter members will vary so that 1/3 of the members are replaced each year.
Section 3. Any person who misses three meetings during the year, whether in person, virtual, or by phone, may be replaced by a majority vote of the members in attendance.
Section 4. In the event of a vacancy, either by resignation or dismissal, the Garrett County Commission for Women shall recommend a new candidate to the Garrett County Commissioners. The recommended candidate must be voted upon by a quorum of the current members. The new member shall fulfill the remainder of the term of the resigning member if there is not less than 6 months left in the resigning member’s term. If there is less than 6 months remaining in the term of the resigning member, then the new member shall commence their own first term on the Commission.
Section 5. Any member desiring to resign from the Commission must do so in writing to the Chair of the Garrett County Commission for Women and the Garrett County Commissioners. The resignation shall be acknowledged in writing by the Commission secretary.
Section 6. A member may not serve more than two consecutive full terms. This shall not include time served fulfilling a former member’s term. After serving two full consecutive terms, no individual may seek a reappointment until a full three-year term has passed.
Article IV – Officers and Elections
Section 1. The elected officers of the Commission shall be Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2. Members of the Commission shall submit names to the general body for election to office. All officers shall be elected by ballot for the term of one year.
Section 3. Election of officers shall be held at the June meeting.
Section 4. A vacancy occurring in an office shall be filled by the Chairperson for the balance of the unexpired term.
Section 5. The term of an officer may be extended if circumstances deem it to be necessary.
Article V – Duties of Officers
Section 1. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Commission and have general supervision of the work of the Commission. She shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. In the event the Chairperson is unable to preside at a meeting, the Vice Chair or an appointee will preside.
Section 2. The Vice-Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in the absence or temporary inability of the Chairperson. If the Vice-Chair is unavailable, the Chairperson may appoint a designee to act in their stead.
Section 3. The Secretary shall keep minutes of the Commission meetings, conduct all of the correspondence and perform all clerical duties of the Commission.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall conduct all the financial business of the Commission as directed by the Chairperson and report upon on the financial status of the Commission at each regularly scheduled meeting.
Article VI – Meetings
Section 1. The regular meeting of the Commission shall be held on the first Tuesday of every month, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Commission.
Section 2. Attendance at meetings may be in person, through electronic means, or by phone.
Article VII – Committees
Section 1. There shall be the following committees: Historian, By-Laws, Community Service, Public Relations, Legislation, Hall of Fame, Membership, and Scholarship.
Section 2. Such other committees may be created or eliminated by the Chairperson as necessary.
Section 3. Any committee established within the Garrett County Commission for Women or within the community by the Garrett County Commission for Women shall be chaired by a member of the Garrett County Commission for Women.
Article VIII – Quorum
Section 1. A quorum constitutes a simple majority.
Article IX – Amendments
Section 1. The By-Laws may be amended at any stated meeting of the Commission by a two-thirds vote of the members, provided that the proposed amendment has been provided in writing to each committee member prior to the next meeting at which a vote will be held.
Adopted March 14, 1994
Revised October 13, 1994
Revised March 19, 1996
Revised October 6, 2003
Revised January 2, 2007
Revised September 9, 2008
Revised January 8, 2014
Revised August 4, 2015
Revised August 4, 2017