VPs ‘There shail be an Executive Board composed of (a) one male and one female State Committee member from each Congressional District who shall be elected to said Executive Board by the members of the ‘State Democratic Executive Committee from that district provided, however, that no minority member shall be elected unless he or she has been nominated by the minority caucus , (b) the State Chair, (c) the National Committee Members, (d) the five Vice-Chairs, (e) the Secretary, and (f) the Treasurer, and (g) ‘one or more Hispanic-American members. In terms of minority representation, the Executive Board shall reflect the same percentage of minority representation as an the State Committee after the procedures outlined in Article Ill Section 1 have been effected, Any additional members of the Executive Board needed to bring the minority percentage of the Executive Board up to the required level shall be selected by the caucus of minority members at the 1990 organizational meeting and each four years ‘thereafter. Any vacancies in minority members of the Executive Board that occur during any quadrennium shall be filled by the minority caucus. The Executive Board shall meet on the last Friday of each calendar quarter and at other times as necessary at the call of the Chair or on the written request of any eight members thereof. Eight of its members shall constitute a Quorum. In the event that no Executive Board member shall have been elected by the District Committee of any Congressional District, such member shall be appointed by the Executive Board to represent said district until such election Between meetings of the State Committee, the Executive Board shall possess all of the authorities of the State Committee except for the authority to amend rules, nominate candidates, fill vacancies on the State Committee and elect officers. Article IV, Section 4, First Paragraph to be amended as follow: RATIONALE: To create and ensure a higher level of inclusion and participation within the State Party. A unified and inclusive party is a basic Democratic tenet that we must support not just with words but by our actions to ensure everyone a voice in the Part. We are the Big Tent party. Further, In Alabama for the first time, the emerging Hispanic community forces the acknowledgment that a very large and key constituency group is unrepresented within the ADP. The Hispanic population of the US. grew by more than 15 million in the past decade, accounting for 56% of the nation’s growth from 2000 to 2010, with 1 in every 6 residents Hispanic. It is undisputed that Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group in the country, already wielding tremendous political influence in California, Texas and Florida. We as a political party cannot continue to ignore Hispanics’ political presence. Alabama's Hispanic population grew 145 % between 2000 and 2010 to approximately 186,000, the nation’s second-largest Hispanic percentage growth in the nation. At that time there were 34,000 eligible Hispanic voters in Alabama, Since then many Alabama counties have experienced tremendous growth in their Hispanic populations. For example, in 2000, DeKalb County had about 3,500 Hispanic residents. That number grew 170 percent over 10 years, to just under 10,000. Hispanics now make up about 14 % of that county's population, by last year's estimates. The ADP must recognize that these Hispanic voters likely are Democrats and welcome them into our ranks, Democrats must create an environment and pathway for them to become full participants in our Party, making us a stronger political force. The National Republican Party has already recognized the importance of the Hispanic vote. We must not wait for the Alabama Republican Party to wake up, reach out and beat us to this emerging voting segment. For this reason, if no other, we the Alabama Democratic Party should welcome Hispanic members to our Executive Board.