BYLAWS OF ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, INC.
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association, Inc., a 501(3) non-profit organization, hereinafter referred to as The Association.
ARTICLE II – OFFICE
The Association’s Principal office shall be the residence of The Association’s President. The Executive Committee may designate another location at its discretion.
ARTICLE III – BOUNDARIES
The boundaries of the Association are the triangle of Camp Bowie Boulevard on the north, Montgomery Street on the east, and Interstate Highway 30 on the south and west, City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County.
ARTICLE IV – PURPOSE
The purpose of The Association is to provide an organized framework to promote, preserve, and enhance the quality of life and values in the Arlington Heights neighborhood by:
Extending opportunities to residents, landowners, entrepreneurs, and other interested parties through education about neighborhood and community affairs and local topics of immediate interest,
Elevating and promoting the image of the neighborhood,
Encouraging a sense of pride and identity among The Association’s members,
Establishing a direct line of communication with members of the City Council, City
Manager’s office, Code Enforcement, and Neighborhood Patrol Officers,
Advising on available funding, loans, and programs designated for the betterment and improvement of older neighborhoods,
Providing a forum for the airing of grievances,
Familiarizing residents, landowners, and entrepreneurs with The Association and its purposes, and
Representing residents at other organizational meetings germane to the community.
ARTICLE V – POLICIES
Section 1
The Association shall be a nonpartisan organization and shall not support candidates for public office.
Section 2
The Association may take positions on issues. All action appropriate to sustain an approved position must be authorized 1) by Executive Committee (as defined in Section IX or, 2) by a simple majority vote at a regular meeting or, 3) by any special meeting as defined in Article VIII, Section 2 before the President or the President’s representative.
Section 3
The Association shall never be operated for the primary purpose of profit and no part of its earnings or membership fees shall be used for the benefit of private individuals.
ARTICLE VI – MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING RIGHTS
Section 1
A member is defined as someone who is currently up-to-date on annual dues and is in good standing with The Association.
Section 2
There shall be four categories of membership in the Association: regular, business, associate, and business associate.
A)A regular membership shall be any person over the age of eighteen who resides and/or owns residential property within The Association’s boundaries.
B)A business membership shall be any person, firm, or corporation who operates a place of business within The Association’s boundaries and shall be entitled to one membership only.
C)An associate membership shall be any person who neither resides nor owns residential property within the neighborhood but maintains an interest in The Association and its purposes.
D)An associate business membership shall be any person, firm, or corporation who does not operate a business within The Association’s boundaries but maintains an interest in The Association and its purpose and shall be entitled to one membership only.
Section 3
All members have the privilege of the floor.
Section 4
Only regular and business members may vote, limited to one vote per membership. Associate members and business associate members do not have a vote.
ARTICLE VII – SOURCES OF REVENUE
Section 1
Annual dues for each category of membership shall be recommended by the Executive Committee and approved by a majority vote of the members in attendance at the meeting in which a dues change is considered.
Section 2
Dues shall be paid for the following membership year within two months of the member’s anniversary date.
Section 3
The Association may engage in fundraising activities related to its purposes. The Executive Committee may accept on behalf of The Association any contribution, gift bequest, or device for any general or special purpose of The Association.
ARTICLE VIII – MEETINGS
Section 1
Regular meetings of The Association shall be held at least quarterly and more often as determined by the Executive Committee. Members may change date, time and location of regular meetings by simple majority vote.
Section 2
Special meetings may be called by the President or any five (5) members. Written notification of place, date, time and purpose of special meetings shall be provided to all members at least three (3) days in advance. Notice shall be provided to each current member’s mailing, fax, or e-mail address last appearing in the records of The Association or supplied by such member to The Association for the purpose of the notice. Such notice shall specify the place, date, hour and purpose of the meeting.
Section 3
The members present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4
The Executive Committee shall meet monthly or as required. Meetings shall be open to members of The Association.
ARTICLE IX – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1
A minimum of seven (7) elected officers and the immediate Past President shall constitute The Association’s Executive Committee.
Section 2
The past President has no voting rights on the Executive Committee.
Section 3
The Executive Committee shall:
Supervise the affairs of The Association in accordance with its stated purposes and policies,
Set the agendas for the regular meetings,
Transact any business between meetings of The Association and report thereon at the next meeting, and
Make recommendations to the general membership on matters before The Association.
ARTICLE X – OFFICERS
Section 1
The officers of The Association shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and a minimum of three (3) directors at large.
Section 2
Officers shall serve for one (1) year beginning in January or until their successors are duly elected.
Section 3
Any regular or business member in regular attendance and good standing of The Association is eligible for election to office.
Section 4
In August, the Executive Committee plus a minimum of three members from the voting membership will form a nominating committee. At the August meeting, the President shall take nominations from the floor. Candidates shall be asked in advance if they will accept a nomination.
Section 5
A slate of candidates selected by the nominating committee will be presented to the membership at The Association’s September meeting.
Section 6
Officers shall be elected at The Association’s October meeting by a majority vote of regular and business members present.
Section 7
Office vacancies shall be governed as follows:
A)In the event the President is unable to complete his/her term, the Vice President shall become the President for the unexpired portion of the term.
B)All vacancies, excluding the Presidency, shall be filled for the unexpired term by a Director at large or by appointment of the Executive Committee.
C)Unexcused absences as determined by the Executive Committee from three (3) consecutive meetings shall constitute a vacancy of that office.
D)The Executive Committee shall have the power to revise the duties of the officers as deemed necessary to fulfill the needs of The Association.
ARTICLE XI – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to keep a complete record of all its acts and The Association’s affairs and to present a statement thereof to the members at any regular meeting of the members or at any special meeting when such statement is requested in writing.
No Executive Committee member shall receive compensation for any service he/she renders to The Association.
Section 1
The President shall be the principal officer of The Association and shall:
Preside at the meetings of The Association,
Be a spokesperson for The Association or the Executive Committee may designate
another member to serve in this capacity as necessary,
Appoint committee members and chairpersons with the approval of the Executive
Committee,
Sign with the Secretary, or any officer of The Association authorized by the Executive
Committee, all contracts and other legal documents,
Sign with the Treasurer of The Association all checks written on The Association’s bank account,
Serve as The Association’s primary representative to the Fort Worth League of
Neighborhoods and other community organizations, and
Shall be empowered to vote in meetings of the general membership and the Executive
Committee only to break a tie vote.
Section 2
The Vice President shall:
Act as special assistant to the President and represent the President whenever so
designated,
Be empowered to sign any documents as authorized by the Executive Committee. This
may be done in the event of an emergency during the absence of the President or due
to the President’s inability or refusal to act,
Be responsible for preparing and distributing the Association’s newsletter, and
Perform all such duties as requested by the President or Executive Committee.
Section 3
The Secretary shall:
Keep minutes of the proceedings of all meetings of The Association,
Preserve all records of value to The Association in hard copy and/or on computer disk,
Sign with the President all contracts and legal documents,
Maintain a current roster of membership indicating the name, address, telephone number and/or e-mail address of each member as well as his/her classification of membership,
Conduct the correspondence of The Association, and
Perform such other duties as requested by the President or Executive Committee.
Section 4
The Treasurer shall:
Have charge of all funds of The Association and their deposit in a financial institution in The Association’s name of Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association, Inc. as approved by the Executive Committee,
Pay all bills and distribute funds as authorized by the Executive Committee,
Sign with the President all checks written on The Association’s bank account,
Present financial status reports at each meeting,
Keep itemized and complete records of all receipts and expenditures in hard copy file,
Prepare The Association’s financial accounts for an audit at the end of the fiscal year or whenever the Treasurer vacates office, whichever comes first. The audit will be executed by a member of The Association who is appointed by the Executive Committee.
Perform such other duties as requested by the President or Executive Committee.
Section 5
Directors shall:
Serve as chairs of standing committees as appointed by the President,
Provide advice and assistance in carrying out The Association’s activities,
Perform such other duties as requested by the President or Executive Committee, and
Fill vacated offices as needed.
Section 6
Each officer shall deliver to his/her successor within fifteen (15) days after retiring from or leaving office, all records, papers, computer disks, and other property belonging to The Association.
ARTICLE XII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern proceedings of The Association.
ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the regular and business members present and voting at a regular or special meeting provided that notice of such an amendment has been given to the membership at a previous regular meeting. A full text of such an amendment shall be mailed to all members at least ten (10) days prior to the date the amendment will be considered.
ARTICLE XIV – DISSOLUTION
The Association may be dissolved in the same manner as the procedures outlined in ARTICLE XIII, provided that the disbursement of all monies and properties be acted upon prior to dissolution and in accordance with the requirements of the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act then in existence.
ARTICLE XV – FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of The Association shall begin on the 1st day of January and end on the 31st day of December of every year.
(Revisions to the bylaws dated March 18, 2002 are hereby adopted by a majority vote of the membership at the regular scheduled meeting held on the October 17, 2005.)
(Revisions to the bylaws dated October 17, 2005 are hereby adopted by a majority vote of the membership at the regular scheduled meeting held on the August 21, 2006.