Hyde Park Neighborhood Association BYLAWS

Draft Final Version, 4/11/2001 by Bob Breeze

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization is the "Hyde Park Neighborhood Association ", but it also may be referred to herein as the "Association."

ARTICLE II - PURPOSES

  1. To preserve the historic and unique character and amenities of the community of Hyde Park.
  2. To combine the efforts of the residents in effecting the improvement, restoration, and preservation of the Hyde Park community.
  3. To foster a closer, more genuine community of neighbors.
  4. To provide a forum through meetings of the Association and its committees -- for pursuing a variety of goals beneficial to the community.
  5. Specifically, however, the Association will not engage in partisan politics to achieve any of its purposes, nor will the Association endorse or otherwise support partisan political affairs.
  6. The Association is not organized for profit and no profit shall accrue to anyone by virtue of being a member or officer of the Association.

ARTICLE III - GOALS

  1. To seek the improvement of single and multiple dwellings by residents and absentee home owners and apartment owners.
  2. To encourage people to live in Hyde Park.
  3. To facilitate the education of residents regarding all available options open to them relating to the problems of home ownership, zoning rights etc.
  4. To promote preservation and highlighting of historically significant homes in Hyde Park.
  5. To participate in the observation of and working on zoning problems in Hyde Park and its surrounding areas.
  6. To work toward development and preservation of natural green spaces, parks, trees, landscaping and general land use.
  7. To establish mutual protection and safety.
  8. To promote recreation and neighborhood festivals.
  9. To aid in procuring cultural facilities in the Hyde Park area.
  10. To improve the safety of the streets through better traffic control.
  11. To provide a greater emphasis on inclusion of apartment dwellers as integral members of the community, even though their tenancy may be of short duration.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

  1. Membership in the Association shall be open to all residents and/or property owners of the Hyde Park neighborhood or its surrounding areas plus those who are in sympathy with the goals and objectives of the Association.
  2. Membership in the Association shall be contingent upon payment of $1 annual dues or $2 per household, which shall be due in October of each year. Sustaining members shall be those who contribute $5 or more individual or $10 or more per household as annual dues. No special rights shall accrue to sustaining members. A life membership will be designated to anyone who contributes $100 or more. An honorary life membership can be bestowed upon members with the approval of the majority vote at a General Meeting of the Association.
  3. Honorary membership may be conferred upon individuals not otherwise eligible, upon a majority vote of the Association.

ARTICLE V - VOTING

  1. To be eligible to vote, a person must have held membership for at least one month and must live within the designated boundaries of Hyde Park or within 400 feet of the established and recognized boundaries.
  2. Renewal memberships have continuous voting rights provided dues are paid at or before the November meeting.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS

  1. The principal officers of the Association shall be a President (or Co-Presidents), a Vice-President and a Secretary-Treasurer. Other subordinate officers may be appointed by the Steering Committee, as needed.
  2. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote at the Annual Meeting of the Association and shall serve for a one-year term of office. Officers may be reelected. Vacancies shall be filled at a Regular Meeting of the Association and shall be effective for the remainder of the term of office of the officer replaced. The official term of office for the officers is 1 October until 30 September.
  3. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association, and in his or her absence or inability to act, or at his or her request, the Vice-President shall preside.
  4. The Secretary-Treasurer shall perform the duties usually belonging to the office. Specifically, the Secretary-Treasurer is to record the minutes of all meetings and to conduct correspondence as directed.
  5. The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain financial records of the Association; draw checks and co-sign them, as directed by the President; present at least quarterly financial reports to the Steering Committee and an annual report to the Association at the Annual Meeting. Check signing authority will be a shared responsibility between the President and the Vice/Co-President in addition to the co-signing authority of the Treasurer. Check signing authority may be granted to an individual other than the above stated individuals upon authorization by vote of the Association's General Meeting.

ARTICLE VII- MEETINGS

  1. The Association shall hold regular meetings monthly, on the first Monday of each month unless this day falls upon a major holiday. If this instance occurs, the meeting will occur on the following Monday. The specific time and place of each meeting shall be set by the President or upon a majority vote of the Association membership.
  2. The regular meeting in October of each year shall constitute the Annual meeting.
  3. Special Meetings of the Association may be called by the President or any fifteen (15) members of the Association, with the time and place to be decided by the President or the members calling the meeting.
  4. The annual budget shall be approved prior to the last meeting of the calendar year to cover the current fiscal year.

ARTICLE VIII- COMMITTEES

  1. The Steering Committee shall function as the executive committee of the Association and shall be composed of all officers of the Association and all Chairpersons and Co-chairpersons of all other existing committees, with the President serving as presiding officer. This committee shall conduct all business of the Association as required and shall meet monthly upon the call of the President or upon the call of three (3) committee members. The Steering Committee will meet the second Thursday of each month unless otherwise set by the members.
  2. The Steering Committee may approve expenditures of up to $50 for any unbudgeted expenses. All unbudgeted expenditures of the Association in excess of $2550 shall be approved beforehand by the Steering Committee prior to final approval by a vote of the Association.
  3. All other substantive or procedural committees shall be appointed by the Steering Committee, subject to final approval of a majority vote of the Association at the first meeting after the appointments are made.
  4. Committee Chairs will brief the Steering Committee at least quarterly to provide updates and to discuss planning and implementation concerns.

ARTICLE IX - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, current revised edition, shall govern in all Association proceeding except where inconsistent with the By-laws.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

These By-laws may be amended at any meeting of the Association, upon a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, provided that written notice has been delivered to all members of the Association 72 hours prior to the meeting provided that advance notice of these votes are posted in two consecutive issues of the Pecan Press.

ARTICLE XI - DISSOLUTION

Upon dissolution of the HPNA, no class or member shall have any right to nor shall receive any assets of the Association. The assets of the Association are permanently dedicated to a tax exempt purpose. In the event of dissolution, the Association’s assets, after payment of debts, will be distributed to an organization which is tax exempt under the provisions of Sec. 501 (c) (3) of the RS Code.