Bylaws

BYLAWS of the Benteen Park Neighborhood Association

ARTICLE ONE - NAME AND PURPOSE

A. NAME

The name of this organization shall be Benteen Park Neighborhood Association. The abbreviated name shall be Benteen Park.

B. PURPOSE

The purpose of Benteen Park shall be to promote a high quality of life for all residents of the Benteen neighborhood regardless of race, age, gender, creed, sexual orientation, or economic status. Benteen Park residents encourage responsible residential and commercial development as well as renovation of existing dwellings.

Benteen Park advocates a safe community where residents do not fear crime or an environment of intimidation.

Benteen Park supports the Atlanta Public School System in meeting the broad educational needs of the community.

Benteen Park seeks for its resicents, city services of the highest quality. Above all, Benteen Park seeks the development of a sense of community pride and belinging within the Benteen neighborhood.

ARTICLE TWO - MEMBERSHIP

A. MEMBERSHIP AREA

The membership of Benteen Park shall be the area bounded as follows: commencing at Benteen Way and Boulevard, South on Boulevard to McDonough, East on McDonough to Marion, North on Marion to Federal Terrace, West on Federal Terrace to Boulevard, North beginning at 6the corner of Funston and Federal Terrace to Casanova, East on Casanova through Benteen Park and North ont he corner of Funston and Casanova to Custer.

B. VOTING PRIVILEGES

Voting privileges shall be extended to members of Benteen Park (as defined in this Article) who are at least eighteen (18) years of age and either are property owners who reside on that property, or are non-resident property owners, persons who reside in rental property, or business owners in Benteen Park.

In instances where there is a tie vote or a measure or motion carried or defeated by less than five (5) votes of the members present, a roll call vote will be made and each person present will declare his/her status. In these instances, only actual residents' votes will be counted.

Members must attend three (3) meetings in the past twelve (12) months before being able to vote at the third meeting.

C. RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

Members may attend all meetings, including committee meetings.

The membership will have continuing access to the BYLAWS, correspondence, financial records and all minutes from monthly, annual, special and committee meetings.

ARTICLE THREE - OFFICERS

A. OFFICERS

The officers shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Tresurer. Such office shall constitute the Executive Committee.

B. OFFICER DUTIES

The President shall preside over the monthly metings, annual, and special meetings and perform all administrative duties as required by the office including preparing an agenda for monthly meetings. The President shall act as spokesperson for Benteen Park in all matters pertaining to its business but should not commit Benteen Park to any business or express any viewpoint for Benteen Park that has not first been approved by the Benteen Park membership. The President shall propose a budget to the membership at the second monthly meeting following the annual meeting.

The officers shall assist the President in the preparation of the monthly agenda and other matters. The Vice President shall act for the President to include the disbursal of funds when the President is unable to serve.

The Secretary shall be the custodian of all records except those specifically assigned to others. The Secretary shall take and report to the Benteen Park membership minutes of all monthly and special meetings. The Secretary shall keep an attendance list of each meeting. The Secretary will assist with all official correspondence.

The Treasurer shall keep official financial records and supporting documents of all income and expenses for Benteen Park and report the status of these at each monthly meeting. The Treasurer shall be responsible for enusring that all disbursements conform with the annual budgetr or have had prior approval by the Benteen Park membership, if the disbursement exceed $50.00. The Treasurer shall be authorized to receive all funds. The signature of the Treasurer will be one (1) or two (2) required signatures along with the President or Vice President on all disbursements over $100.00. The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping special funds separate from normal operating funds. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual financial report to be presented at the regular January monthly meeting. The Treasurer will assist in the preparation of all budgets.

C. RULES REGULATING OFFICERS

Officers must reside within the Benteen Park membership area.

Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the members attending and voting at the annual meeting.

The term of office shall be one (1) year.

Officers shall be required to attend all monthly and special meetings, excessive absences shall be cause for removal from the office.

All officers are expected to reveal conflicts of interest. Should an officer acting as a Benteen Park spokesperson be unable to objectively represent the viewpoint of the Benteen Park membership, that officer shall not act as a spokesperson for that issue, and shall arrange for another office to be the spokesperson. Should a presiding officer have a conflict of interest relative to an issue being discussed, that officer shall step down for the duration of the discussion of that topic.

D. REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members and voting at a monthly meeting. No removal from office may be finally voted on at a meeting where it is first proposed.

E. VACANCIES

Candidates for vacancies shall be elected by a mojority of members present and voting at the next available monthly meeting, except for the President, who shall be replaced by the Vice President. In the event the Vice President is unable to serve, the Secretary shall serve temporarily as President until the next monthly meeting, at which time a new President will be elected.

ARTICLE FOUR - COMMITTEES

A. STANDING COMMITTEES

The standing committees shall include (1) Public Safety with a subcommittee on Code Enforcement, (2) Beautification with a subcommittee on Park Development, (3) Fundraising, (4) Membership/Welcome comprised of Neighborhood Block Captains, and (5) Newsletter, and other as established by the membership.

B. SCOPE AND DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES

The Public Safety Committee shall work with the City Police Department, Code Enforcement and Benteen Park membership in identifying physical hazards in the Benteen neighborhood and seek solutions for these.

The Beautification Committee shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to the Benteen Park neighborhood park and neighborhood clean-up and beautification. The committee may seek, collect and use separate funding for its own operating expenses.

The Fund Raising Committee shall plan and supervise all fund raising activities for Benteen Park. The committee shall be responsible for preparing a budget for any major event and seeking Benteen Park membership approval of the event and budget prior to the event. The committee may seek, collect and use separate funding for its own operating expenses.

The Membership/Welcome Committee shall work to assure that all neighbors are invited and feel welcome to attend the monthly Benteen Park meetings. This committee will distribute written information to Benteen Park members and welcome new residents to the community. This committee shall be composed of all Neighborhood Watch Block Captains and it will also be responsible for coordinating the Neighborhood Watch program.

The Newsletter Committee shall be responsible for assisting in developing, publishing and distributing the Benteen Park membership newsletter. The committee shall collect and contribute to the newsletter, articles and information of interest to Benteen Park neighbors. The committee may seek, collect and use separate funding for its own operating expenses.

C. AD HOC COMMITTEES

Ad hoc committees may be established for any necessary purpose by a majority vote of the Benteen Park membership present at a monthly meting. Each committee shall formulate its scope and duties at the first meeting. The committee's duration shall be for the duration of the need or until the annual meeting, whichever comes first.

D. RULES REGULATING COMMITTEES

A committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) Benteen Park residents including the chairperson. Committee meetings shall be open to all Benteen Park members and other interested parties.

Voting privileges shall be extended to all Benteen Park residents attending the first meeting and subsequently to any Benteen Park resident that has attended a prior meeting for that committee.

Standing committee membership shall be for one (1) year, ending at the next annual meeting.

Committee chairs shall be appointed by the President. The Chair appointments shall be voted on by the membership at the first monthly meeting following the annual meeting. The chairperson shall be a Benteen Park resident.

A committee member may be removed by a majority vote of the committee.

All committees' transactions shall be filed with the Treasurer at or before the next Benteen Park Neighborhood Association monthly meeting.

The committee chairperson or designee shall report highlights of committee activity at the next Benteen Park monthly meeting.

A committee may formulate additional duties at its meetings, but in the case of overlapping duties, the Benteen Park membership shall determine which committee shall be responsible for the duty in question.

ARTICLE FIVE - MEETINGS

A. MEETING SCHEDULES

There shall be an annual meeting held on the second Thursday in December.

(does anyone else have a copy of the bylaws??? My cat chewed off half of this paragraph.)

B. SPECIAL MEETINGS

The purpose of a special meeting is to take care of urgent or emergency business which cannot wait until the next monthly meeting. A special meeting may be called at any time if requested by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Members who have attended the previous three (3) Benteen Park meetings shall be notified at least fourty-eight (48) hours prior to the special meeting. One-third (1/3) of the total average attendance of the three (3) previous Benteen Park meetings shall constitute a quorum. Members attending the special meeting can decide a policy question by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present and voting.

C. RULES OF PROCEDURES FOR ALL MEETINGS

The general procedure shall be normal conversation. However, Robert's Rules of Order (Revised) may be invoked by a motion and a single second to that motion without a vote and such procedure will remain in effect for the duration of that particular topic of debate.

All decisions at any monthly meeting, special or annual meeting requiring a vote need a motion, a second, and a mojority approval of those members present and voting in order to pass with the exceptions as stated in these BYLAWS.

An individual's debate shall be limited to three (3) minutes per topic whether or not Robert's Rules of Order (Revised) has been invoked.

There shall be no absentee voting or voting by proxy at any monthly, special or annual meeting of Benteen Park.

ARTICLE SIX - TREASURY

All financial records shall be reviewed at least annually as directed by an independent party or parties.

ARTICLE SEVEN - CHANGES TO BYLAWS

These BYLAWS may be amended, repealed, or altered in whole or in part by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present and voting at any monthly Benteen Park meeting. No change to these BYLAWS may be finally voted on at the monthly meeting where the alteration is first proposed. A complete summary of changes in the BYLAWS must be published in the Benteen Park newsletter, or some other form of written communication, in time to motify members prior to voting. A copy of the proposed changes shall be make available to the secretary.

ARTICLE EIGHT - EFFECTIVE DATE OF BYLAWS

The effective date of these BYLAWS shall be June 11, 1998.