BY-LAWS
By-Laws
of
ACANA CDC- United Southwest Neighbors
Article I Name
The name of the organization shall be the ACANA CDC- United Southwest Neighbors, hereafter referred to as the Association. The area served by this association shall be designated by the following boundaries: Census tracts 62, portions of 63, 64 and 65, 66, 70, 71.01 and 71.02 (according to 2020 Census Tract Data).
Article II Object
The object and purpose of this association shall be to improve and maintain the neighborhood standards in matters concerning safety, sanitation, health, education, recreation, cultural and family stability; to insure economic security by engaging in community development through the purchase, sale, rental and renovation of housing; to ensure that new development, land use and zoning matters are responsive to the needs of the neighborhood; to stimulate interest in the community by beautifying and maintaining vacant lots.
Article III Members
Section 1. Eligibility for membership is extended to all persons living, working, operating a business and interested in the area served by the Association.
Section 2. Persons living outside the geographical area may hold an associate membership with
Article IV Officers
Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, sergeant-at-arms and a chaplain. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.
Section 2. At the regular meeting held in January, a nominating committee of three members shall be elected by the membership. It shall be the duty of the committee to nominate candidates for the offices to be filled at the annual meeting in July. The nominating committee shall report to the membership at the regular meeting in April. Before the election at the annual meeting in July, additional nominations from the floor shall be permitted, provided the nominee is present or has given written consent to serve if elected.
Section 3. All officers shall have been active members in good standing for at least one year prior to election. The president shall have served as an officer for at least one year prior to election.
Exception: In the event that ACANA CDC- United Southwest Neighbors does not have enough active members to be eligible nominees to be officers including President, any member in good standing of the Association is eligible to be nominated for an office.
Section 4. Active means persons who have attended meetings regularly.
Section 5. The officers shall be elected by ballot vote except when there is but one nominee for an office, at which time the vote for the office may be by voice. A majority vote shall be necessary to elect on the first ballot. If no candidate receives a majority, a second ballot shall be taken. A plurality shall elect on the second ballot. If on the second ballot two or more candidates are tied for the highest number of votes, these candidates shall draw lots to determine who shall be elected. Any candidate may withdraw as a candidate prior to any ballot or any casting of lots. Any vote cast for a withdrawn candidate shall not be counted in determining a plurality on the second ballot.
Section 6. The officers shall serve for two years or until their successors are elected. Their term of office shall begin at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected.
Section 7. A vacancy in office shall be filled by a special election by the Board of Directors at the meeting following announcement of the vacancy, with the exception of a vacancy in the office of president, in which case the first vice president shall automatically become president, and the office of first vice president shall be filled.
Article V Duties of Officers
Section 1. The president shall: be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association; have general supervision of its affairs and business; preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and the general membership; appoint all standing and special committees with the approval of the Board of Directors; be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nomination committee; sign checks as required with the treasurer, secretary, or financial secretary; perform such other duties as may be required or assigned.
Section 2. The first vice-president shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors. In the absence or disability of the president, the first vice-president will perform the duties of the president.
Section 3. The secretary shall: keep minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and the general membership; conduct correspondence as directed; sign checks as required with the president, the treasurer or the financial secretary; perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. The assistant secretary shall assume the duties of the secretary in his/her absence.
Section 5. The treasurer shall: deposit in a bank account all monies established in the name of the Association; record all receipts and disbursements; sign checks for the disbursement of funds not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) in any given month without approval of the Board of Directors; present an itemized statement of receipts and disbursements for each month; submit an end of year financial report at the annual meeting; perform such other duties as may be required.
Article VI Meetings
Section 1. The regular meetings of the Association shall be held on the second Wednesday during the months of January, April, July, and October unless otherwise ordered by the Association.
Section 2. The regular meeting on the second Wednesday in July shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President and shall be called upon the written request of ten members of the Association. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call. Except in cases of emergency, at least three days notice shall be given.
Article VII The Board of Directors
Section 1. The officers of the Association and four additional Directors at Large shall constitute the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Association between its business meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the association, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws. The Board shall be subject to the orders of the Association, and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the Association.
Section 3. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board, regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on the second Tuesday of each month. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President and shall be called upon the written request of three members of the Board.
Article VIII The Executive Committee
Section 1. The executive committee shall be composed of the president, the first vice- president, the secretary, and the treasurer.
Section 2. The executive committee shall have general supervision of the affairs between business meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as prescribed by these bylaws, and those assigned to it by the Board of Directors. The executive committee shall be subject to the orders of the Board of Directors and none of its acts shall conflict with action of the Board.
Section 3. Meetings of the executive committee shall be at the call of the president, or at the request of two members of the Committee. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call. Except in cases of emergency, at least three days notice shall be given.
Section 4. Quorum: Three members of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum.
Article IX Indemnification
The Executive Board, acting responsibly in the best interests of ACANA CDC- United Southwest Neighbors, shall come under the protection of the Directors’ Liability Act to the full extent as provided by 42 PA. Con. Stat. Section 8365, Act of November 28, 1986 (P.L. 1458, N. 145) as amended. Each member of ACANA CDC- United Southwest Neighbors who was or who is made part to, or a witness in, or who is threatened to be made a party to any pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that the person is or was an authorized representative of ACANA CDC- United Southwest Neighbors shall be indemnified against all expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred.
Article X
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order that the Association may adopt.
Article XI Amendment of Bylaws
These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting, or at least thirty days in advance of the meeting at which it is to be considered.