January 23, 1998
NSNA Bylaws
(As Amended, Jan. 19, 1998)Article I. Name
The name of the organization is The North Shore Neighborhood Association of St. Petersburg. It encompasses the area from the north side of 5th Avenue North on the south, to the south side of 30th Avenue North on the north, and from the east side of 4th Street North on the west, to the shores of Tampa Bay on the east.
Article II. Object
This association is organized for the purpose of civic improvement of the Old Northeast area of St. Petersburg, Florida, in order to make it a better place in which to live and work.
Article III. Membership
Section 1. The membership shall consist of Active and Associate members.
a. An Active Member is an adult aged 18 or over whose dues are currently paid, whose permanent residence is within the boundaries of the Association and who, therefore, has the right to hold office.
b. An Associate Member is an adult whose dues are currently paid, and who endorses the goals of the Association, who lives outside the boundaries of this Association, and who therefore, does not have the right to hold office.
c. Active members are eligible to vote on all matters that come before the association. Associate members are not eligible to vote.
d. From time to time matters come before the association with the potential to directly affect every resident and property owner of the neighborhood. In such cases, the Board of Directors by a majority vote may declare a vote open to all adults residing in or owning property in the neighborhood, regardless of association membership, and whenever practical shall publicize the open vote in the neighborhood newsletter and the St. Petersburg Times.
Section 2. Termination.
a. If any person being a member of the Association shall at any time be guilty of an act prejudicial to the Association or to the purposes for which it is formed, as determined by the Board of Directors; by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, the membership of said person may be terminated.
b. In the event a member is terminated from membership, that member shall have the opportunity to appeal this termination to the Board at the next meeting of the Board of Directors; the terminated member having been notified in writing of the termination. If this appeal is denied, the terminated member can plead his or her case to the general membership whose decision by majority vote will be final.
Article IV. Officers and Directors
Section 1. The officers of this Association shall be a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary and a Treasurer. All officers of this Association shall have been an active member of this association for at least one year prior to election.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers and seven (7) Directors. The total number of Board members shall not exceed eleven (11). All Directors of this Association shall have been an active member of this Association for at least one month prior to election.
Section 3. It shall be the duty of the President to preside over all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors. The President shall present names for appointment to the Chairmanship of all Special Committees for approval to the Board of Directors. The President shall be a member ex officio of every committee except the Nominating Committee. All documents made or accepted or executed by this organization shall be signed by the President, or designated representative, only after having secured the approval of the Board of Directors for substitution. The President shall give an Annual Report of the work of the Association.
Section 4. The President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President in the President's absence, and shall perform such other duties as may be required by the President or the Board of Directors. To provide continuity the President-Elect assumes the position and responsibility of President in the second year.
Section 5. The Secretary shall keep the records of all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors. These minutes are to be read at every meeting. The Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the organization, as directed by the President; is the custodian of the records except those of the Treasurer; keep a membership roster, send out proper notices of all meetings, keep safely all important documents such as the Bylaws, and any amendments to them, and any other standing rules which may be adopted.
Section 6. The Treasurer shall collect, receive, and hold all monies belonging to the Association, and deposit all funds in the name of the Association in such banks as the Board shall designate; pay all bills, make all disbursements, make a monthly itemized statement to the Board, a monthly report at the general membership meeting, and render annually an account of the year's receipts and expenditures. The books shall be open at all times for examination or audit as the Board shall order. All checks shall be signed by the Treasurer, or, if absent, by the President. The Treasurer shall deliver to the elected successors all monies, vouchers, books, papers, and the key to the safe deposit box, and any other property belonging to the Association at the close of the Annual Meeting, or the election meeting if different, as ruled by the Board.
Section 7. Board Responsibilities
a. The Board of Directors is charged with transacting the regular business of this organization. It may fill vacancies in the Officers or Directors by election by the Board of Directors for the remainder of the term of office except that of President in which case the President-Elect shall assume the office for the remainder of the term.
b. The office of any Board Member failing to attend two (2) consecutive meetings of the Board, unless excused by the President, may be declared vacant by a majority vote of the board.
c. Any Board Member whose permanent residence moves outside the boundaries of the association during the term of office must vacate that position within 60 days of the move.
Article V. Meetings
Section 1. The meetings of the membership of this Association shall be held monthly, unless changed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Special meetings of the membership must be called by the President or the Board upon the written request of one-tenth (1/10th) of the membership.
Section 3. Written notice of the date, time, place and purpose of all general and special meetings shall be sent to the membership at least five (5) days before the meeting.
Section 4. A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the membership shall be 30 active members.
Section 5. The Annual Meeting shall be held in January.
Section 6. The meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held monthly unless changed by the Board of Directors; special meetings of the Board may be called by the President, and must be called by the President upon the written request of five (5) members of the Board. Board members must be notified one week prior to the meeting. A quorum for Board meetings shall be a majority (6) of the members.
Article VI. Dues
Section 1. The annual dues shall be in such sums as shall be set by the Board of Directors and ratified by the majority of the members present, and shall be payable annually.
Section 2. The fiscal year for this Association shall run from January first (1st) to December thirty-first (31st).
Section 3. All funds raised by any Association function or any group or committee activity shall become part of the general treasury of the Association.
Article VII. Committees
Section 1. The Standing Committees of this organization and their duties shall be those decreed by the Board of Directors. The Chairperson of each Standing Committee shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. The term of office of each Standing Committee Chairman shall terminate with the term of the President making the appointment.
Section 2. The President may appoint such special committees as seem necessary and advisable, with the approval of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.Each committee shall be provided with the opportunity at each general membership meeting to present a brief report of committee activity.
Article VIII. Nominations and Elections
Section 1. An Election Committee shall be created each year, composed of the President-elect, who shall act as chairperson; two members of the Board of Directors, who shall be elected at the September board meeting; and two active members, who shall be elected from the membership at large at the September membership meeting.
Section 2. It shall be the general duty of the Election Committee to oversee the association's annual election. Specific duties shall include the gathering of at least one nomination for each officer and board position; the preparation of paper ballots for the annual meeting; and the distribution and counting of ballots at the annual meeting.
Section 3. The names and addresses of the Election Committee members shall be sent to the membership in early October, along with a form that can be used to nominate candidates for office. All nominations must be submitted in writing, with the permission of the person nominated. The committee shall receive nominations until the November general meeting.
Section 4. The names of all candidates for office will be announced by the Committee at the November general membership meeting. At that time, further nominations will be taken from the floor. Nominations will then be closed. A list of all candidates for office will be sent to the membership prior to the January general meeting.
Section 5. The election shall be held at the Annual Meeting in January, on written ballots prepared by the Election Committee. The committee members shall distribute the ballots, collect them, count them and report the results to the President and the assembly.
Section 6. All Officers and Directors, except the President-Elect, shall be elected for the term of one year. The President-Elect shall be elected for the term of two years, the first year as President-Elect to be followed by one year as President. The term of office for all begins at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
Article IX. Parliamentary Authority
All meetings of this Association shall be conducted in accordance with these BYLAWS and The Articles of Incorporation. When questions of procedure arise, the presiding officer shall turn to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised as a guide.
Article X. Amendments
Any member may recommend bylaws, rules and regulations for the government of the Association, providing such action is ratified at any regular meeting by a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of the members present and eligible to vote. The proposed amendment shall be mailed to the membership at least fourteen (14) days before the meeting when the vote shall be taken.