Galindo Elementary Neighborhood Association Bylaws

(as amended March 28, 2016)

I. Name
II. Purpose
III. Objectives of the Association
IV. Membership
V. Voting
VI. Officers
VII. Meeting and Organization
VIII. Committees
IX. Parliamentary Authority
X. Prohibitions
XI. Amendment of Bylaws
XII. Dissolution


I.  NAME
The name of this organization is the “Galindo Elementary Neighborhood Association” – to be used and known synonymously as “Galindo Neighborhood Association” – a non- profit organization (the “Association”).


II.  PURPOSE
The Association’s purpose is to seek to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood in such areas as land use, traffic control, social functions, environmental protection, public services, and other matters of neighborhood concern.


III.  OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION
A. Represent and advance the interest of residents in the neighborhood.
B. Keep all residents informed of issues vital to the neighborhood by appropriate communications and meetings.
C. Establish Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees to investigate and make recommendations to the Association on all matters of neighborhood concern.


IV.  MEMBERSHIP
A.  Eligibility

  1. Except as noted below, membership in the Association is open to all residents or residential property owners between these boundaries: North – Oltorf; South – Ben White; West – Union Pacific Railroad; and East – South First Street.
  2. Membership in the Association is determined on the basis of residential status, open to residential property owners and renters of residential property, and payment of annual dues.
  3. Ownership of commercial property in the neighborhood, or ownership of property that is intended solely for non-residential use, regardless of the property’s zoning, does not make a person or entity eligible for membership in the Association.

B. Dues

  1. Annual dues are $20.00 per residence per year, payable at the beginning of each calendar year.
  2. The full annual dues will be collected from those seeking membership during the year. New members entering the Association in the last quarter of the calendar year may request a waiver of annual dues by the Executive Committee.
  3. Those persons eligible for membership who are unable to pay dues may request a reduction in dues or a waiver by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may grant reduction or waiver by a vote of 2/3 of the Executive Committee Membership.

C.  Honorary Membership

  1. Honorary membership may be awarded to persons who have performed services that tend to further the purposes of the Association.
  2. The election of honorary members is by majority vote of the quorum
  3. Honorary members have no voting rights.


V.  VOTING
A.  Members of the Association 18 years of age and older present at any meeting are entitled to vote.
B.  A quorum is necessary for the transaction of Association business. A quorum cannot be constituted with less than ten percent (10%) of the Association’s members represented.
C.  An affirmative vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the quorum present at a meeting is binding on the Association.
D.  The privilege of introducing motions and voting is limited to those who have joined the Association by paying dues at least ten days prior to any regularly scheduled or special called meeting.
E.  Members renewing their membership prior to a meeting’s commencement are eligible to vote at that meeting.


VI.  OFFICERS
A.  Positions and Terms of Election

  1. The officers of the Association are elected from the active membership and are: President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Director, Zoning Chair, Delegate to the Austin Neighborhood Council (“ANC”), and Delegate to the South Central Coalition (“SCC”). The same person may hold the offices of Delegate to the ANC and Delegate to the SCC. At the will of the nominating committee, two persons may be nominated for Vice President to serve as Co-Vice Presidents.
  2. Officers are elected for one-year terms at the November meeting and assume office at the January meeting. The officers will not serve more than two consecutive terms in the same elected office.
  3. Officer nominations are the responsibility of a five-member Nominating Committee, appointed by the President from the active membership of the Association prior to the September meeting. Officer nominations will be made from the floor at the November meeting. Each nomination must be made by an active member of the Association, and the nominee must be active member of the Association.


B.  Duties of Officers

  1. President and Vice-President
    • At least one of the President or Vice-President presides at all meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee.
    • At least one of the President or Vice-President is an ex-officio member of all Standing and Special Committees.
    • At least one of the President or Vice-President cosigns all checks drawn on the Association’s account.
    • The President chairs the Membership Committee.
    • The Vice-President serves as the Association’s Parliamentarian.
  2. Recording Secretary
    • The Recording Secretary keeps an accurate record of all Association business, including regularly scheduled and special called meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee.
    • The Recording Secretary maintains the central permanent file of such records.
  3. Treasurer
    • The Treasurer is responsible for collecting and disbursing Association funds.
    • The Treasurer keeps an accurate record of all receipts and expenditures, and (along with the President or Vice-President) signs all checks drawn on the Association’s account.
    • The Treasurer prepares a year-end report delineating such receipts and expenditures, to be published at the first meeting of the ensuing year.
  4. Delegates to the ANC and SCC
    • The ANC and SCC Delegate(s) attend all meetings of the respective groups or arrange for a substitute representative.
    • The ANC and SCC Delegate(s) report any significant activities or action taken by the Council. Such reports are made regularly, either through the Association’s newsletter, at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Association, or both.
  5. Communications Director
    • The Communications Director is responsible for obtaining content for, formatting, and distributing the Association’s newsletter. The newsletter is to be published as the Executive Committee determines.
    • The Communications Director promotes a sense of community in the Association by updating and encouraging the use of internet-based resources such as an Association Facebook group, an Association Yahoo! Group, and GENA.org.
  6. Zoning Chair
    • The duties of the Zoning Chair are to investigate and collect  information regarding zoning issues and land use in the neighborhood and to inform the Executive Committee and general membership of any and all projects, public and private, that may affect the quality of life in the Galindo neighborhood.


C.  Removal from Office
Any officer may be removed from office for cause at any Association meeting by majority vote of the quorum, providing that the Association’s membership has been given notice at least two weeks prior to said meeting.

D. Replacement of Officers
When necessary, the Executive Committee may appoint an active member of the Association to fill the remainder of the office’s original term, or as directed in Robert’s Rules of Order.

E. Resignation by Officers
Elected officers are requested to give timely written notice of resignation to the President.

VII.  MEETING AND ORGANIZATION
A.  Meetings of the general membership of the Association are held six times per year. The Executive Committee will set the specific time, place, and agenda of each meeting. The Executive Committee will meet monthly (including the  general membership meetings).
B. The Executive Committee may call a special meeting if it determines that a  special meeting is justified as a means of providing information to the general membership and discussing issues of neighborhood concern before the next regularly scheduled meeting.  Notice may be given by a telephone committee,     email, hand bill, or yard signs, if time allows.
C. The fiscal and membership year of the Association is January 1 – December 31.

VIII. COMMITTEES
A. The Executive Committee transacts all business necessary to further the purpose and objectives of the Association, as specified in Articles II and III, in the intervals between regular meetings, as well as such other business that may be proposed by the membership. A majority of the Executive Committee constitutes a quorum for the conduct of business.
B. Standing and Special Committee shall be appointed by the President. The reports of any Standing or Special Committee will be submitted to the Executive Committee for review and approval prior to publication in the newsletter or presentation at any meeting of the Association.


IX. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
A.  When inconsistent with these Bylaws, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure.

B.   These rules may be suspended at any meeting by a two-thirds vote of the quorum present.

X. PROHIBITIONS
A. The Association will not endorse any candidates for political office and the Association’s discussions will not extend to matters outside the purpose of the Association as set out in Article II.
B. The Membership roster will be kept confidential and may not be released to nonmembers without permission of the Executive Committee after careful review of any requests for the roster.
C. No member may act as spokesperson or represent the Association without the permission of the Executive Committee or a majority of the quorum at a duly called regular or special meeting.


XI. AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
These Bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting by a two-thirds vote of the quorum provided that the amendment(s) have been submitted in writing to the membership prior to the vote.

XII. DISSOLUTION
A. Upon the dissolution of the Association, no class of member will have any right to or will receive any assets of the Association. The assets of the Association are permanently dedicated to a tax-exempt purpose.
B.  In the event of dissolution, the Association’s assets, after payment of debts, will be distributed to an organization which itself is tax-exempt under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.