Adopted at Arbor District Neighborhood Association General Meeting September 24, 2006

Article I - Name

The association shall be called the Arbor District Neighborhood Association.

Article II - Geographical Boundaries

By the Arbor District is meant the area bounded by West Main, South University, West Mill, and South Oakland.

Article III - Purpose

The Arbor District Neighborhood Association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historic heritage of the Arbor District and the quality of life of all of its residents.  Activities designed to meet this aim may include but not be limited to:

• Seeking special designations to preserve the area and its structures
• Organizing neighborhood clean-ups
• Participating in zoning change negotiations
• Fostering code compliance and enforcement
• Supporting crime prevention measures, and in particular, Neighborhood Watch groups
• Representing neighborhood interests before public bodies
• Helping prevent and mediate disputes
• Maintaining regular communications
• Sponsoring social events
• Fostering mutual assistance especially with the elderly and disabled
• Assisting with emergency and disaster preparedness
• Working with other neighborhood associations to advance mutual interests
• Facilitating political education and participation, but not endorsing political candidates.

 Article IV - Membership, Dues, and Voting

General membership shall be open to all dues-paying residents aged eighteen or older of the District.  Membership dues are $10 for household and $5 for individuals payable in September of each year.  Household memberships shall have a maximum of two votes.

Membership shall be available for businesses and not-for-profit groups, including church groups, located within the Arbor District with dues being $10.  Each business or not-for-profit group shall be entitled to one vote.

Article V -  Board and Officers

1. The business of the Arbor District Neighborhood Association will be carried out by a Board consisting of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and five to seven at-large members.   The Editor of the newsletter the Web Master, and the Immediate Past President shall be ex officio members of the Board with voice but without vote, unless they are also elected Board members.  The duties of officers shall be those generally ascribed for those offices.  The Board may appoint other representatives and committees to carry out functions of the Arbor District Neighborhood Association at the direction of the Board.  Board membership should be representative of the District.

No more than one member of a household shall be a voting member of the Board. 

2. Officers and Board members will hold office for two years and may be re-elected for two consecutively  succeeding terms.

3.  Board members who have three unexcused absences within a six month period shall be removed from the Board.

Article VI - Elections

Election of Board members and officers as needed shall take place at the Annual General Meeting to be held during January of each year.  Vacancies are to be filled by the Board as they occur.  Only dues paying members may serve on the Board and may vote in elections and at meetings.  

Article VII - Meetings

1. General meetings shall be held as needed but at least once a year in January.  Decisions shall be made by a majority of dues paying members attending.  Members shall be present at meetings in order to vote.  Proxy votes are not allowed unless there is an exception voted upon by the membership. 

2. Board meetings shall be held at least eight times a year and decisions shall be made by a majority of Board members attending.   A quorum shall consist of one-half of the dues-paying members of the organization or 19, whichever is fewest.  Any member of the Arbor District Neighborhood Association may attend any meeting of the Board.  Notice of Board meetings shall be sent to all members one week prior to the meeting.

3. The Board shall make Minutes of  Meetings available to the members in whatever way the Board sees fit.  

Article VIII - Committees

Standing and Ad Hoc Committees may be formed to pursue in a proactive fashion the stated objectives of the Arbor District Neighborhood Association.  Committee membership shall be open to all members of the Arbor District Neighborhood Association. Committees shall generally select their own chairperson, set their own goals, and determine their own rules and procedures.  They shall submit a report to the Board at regularly scheduled meetings. A Board member generally will be assigned as a liaison for each committee.   Committees and Committee Chairpersons may not obligate or speak for the Board or the Arbor District Neighborhood Association.  Committees are to be formed on the basis of need, interest, and organizational stability.  A listing of suggested appropriate Committees and their responsibilities is appended to these Bylaws.  The committee structure shall be reviewed and renewed each year at the annual meeting in January.  Those committees that have not functioned shall be dissolved, and new committees shall be formed as needed.

Article IX - Communications

The Board shall oversee regular communications through a newsletter, email list, Website, and ListServ.  These will be used only to promote the goals of the Arbor District Neighborhood Association.  The Board shall establish whatever policies are al necessary to assure the fulfillment of this purpose in accord with accepted professional standards.  Information (such as notice of a meeting, minutes, etc.) shall be deemed to have been given to a member if it is sent by post or by e-mail, distributed by flyer, or posted on a web page belonging to the Arbor District Neighborhood Association.

Article X - Historic District

Nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed as adverse to the identity or functioning of the West Walnut Street Historic District that falls in its entirety within the Arbor District boundaries.   The Arbor District Neighborhood  Association shall promote and foster the aims of the Historic District in whatever ways are consistent with the mutual interests of both groups.  

Article XI -  Amendments

Amendments to these By-laws can be made only by a two thirds vote of members at a General Meeting.   An amendment may be proposed by the Board, or by any five members of the Arbor District Neighborhood Association. Notice of a proposed amendment shall be given to all members at least two weeks before the General Meeting.

Article XII - Liability

No officer or member of the Arbor District Neighborhood Association shall be personally liable for acts or omissions of any officer or member other than himself/herself, whether or not such act was in performance of official duties. No officer or member shall obligate the Arbor District Neighborhood Association by contract or otherwise, to perform any act or to incur any liability without prior authorization of the Board.

Article XIII -  Dissolution

Upon dissolution of the Arbor District Neighborhood Association as determined by a vote of the general membership, any assets remaining after payment of debt and liabilities shall be distributed by decision of the Board to similar associations within the City of Carbondale or to similarly oriented non-profit organizations.  Officers, Board members, or private individuals shall not receive material or financial assets that may be extant at the time of dissolution. 

Appendix I

Listing of Proposed Committees for the Arbor District Neighborhood Association, September, 2006    

Property and Real Estate

 Seeks preservation designations, Monitors transactions, Assists with favorable zoning changes, Coordinates property upkeep efforts and neighborhood clean-ups

Membership and Hospitality

Recruits new members, Maintains current lists, Coordinates welcome wagon activities, Coordinates/facilitates mediation, Coordinates welcome picnics and other social and cultural events

Communications

Produces newsletter, Maintains website, Maintains and monitors ListServ, Maintains and circulates information on the Arbor District Neighborhood Association’s official email list, Produces press advisories and press releases

Safety and Security

Coordinates Neighborhood Watch and Arbornat Efforts

Research and Development

Coordinates historical  research and publications, Produces documentation of current status, Proposes   plans and policies for the future of the neighborhood, Writes proposals for new and amended ordinances,

Coordinates with city-wide efforts for better policies affecting neighborhoods

Finance

Collaborates with Treasurer on dues collection, fund raising, budget development, and audits

Nominating

Calls for nominees one month before the general meeting in January and prepares a list of candidates for the Board and leadership offices that offers a balanced representation of the Arbor District; circulates the list of candidates to the general membership at least one week before the general meeting in January.