By-Laws of the AventWest Neighborhood Association

Association boundary map (Requires adobe acrobat to view)

Mission Statement

To protect, preserve and enhance the existing character and neighborhood fabric of the Avent-West Community.

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1: The name of this Association shall be "Avent-West Community Association."

Section 2: The purposes of this Association shall be:

1. To promote and foster participation in the neighborhood by providing a forum for discussing and addressing neighborhood concerns; To protect and preserve the residential character of our neighborhood as a family-oriented community of owner-occupied homes.
2. To serve as a focal point for maintenance and improvement of institutions and facilities serving our neighborhood, including parks, schools, and public safety services, and to provide an avenue for neighborhood social activities; 
3. To be a voice for our common neighborhood interests by acting as a liaison with governmental bodies and with institutions, schools, and businesses in and around our neighborhood, and by working with other neighborhood associations on common concerns. 
4. To encourage and facilitate vigorous citizen participation in all issues affecting our neighborhood, including land use, development/redevelopment, zoning changes, traffic patterns, and street modifications; 
5. To provide for the community welfare generally and to conduct other lawful business not inconsistent with these By-Laws.

Section 3: This association is and shall remain a non-profit organization and no part of the net earnings thereof shall inure to any individual member.

Section 4: This association shall not endorse or align itself with any political party or candidate for public office.

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Membership

• Voting Members: The voting members of this Association shall consist of those persons who are at least eighteen years of age and are owners of residential property in the area defined herein as Avent-West Community Association and who have paid the required annual membership dues.
• Associate Members: Non-voting associate members of this Association shall consist of those persons who are at least eighteen years (18) of age and are residents in the area defined herein as Avent-West Community Association and who have paid the required annual associate membership dues.
  

Section 2: The Board of Directors shall establish Dues of the organization annually.

Section 3: The Avent-West Community shall include all the lots, streets, and other properties indicated on the attached map that lies within the following boundaries:

Section 4: Questions concerning eligibility and/or appeals for membership shall be presented to and decided by the Board of Directors.

Article III: Government

Section 1: The Avent-West Community Association shall be governed by a Board of Directors, which may take action in the name of the Association.

Section 2: The Board of Directors shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three (3) Directors elected by the membership at an annual membership meeting.

Section 3: A simple majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for doing business. Each member of the Board shall be entitled to one vote.

Section 4: To be eligible for elected office, a person must be a voting member of the Association.

Section 5: Board of Directors members shall serve without compensation other than reimbursement of Board-approved expenditures on behalf of the Association.

Section 6: The powers and duties of the Board of Directors shall include:

1. The establishment and execution of policy for the Association;
2. The appointment and dissolution of all standing and other committees or chairpersons thereof. This power may be delegated to the President. Committees shall derive their direction from the Board of Directors;
3. The appointment or employment of all persons or organizations to serve the Association;
4. The filling of vacancies on the Board of Directors until the next Annual Meeting;
5. The annual appointment of a five (5)-member nominating committee, no more than two (2) of whom may be members of the Board of Directors;
6. Interpretation of the By-Laws and;
7. The approval of expenditures of Association funds.
   

Section 7: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors and shall perform such duties as directed by the Board of Directors.

Section 8: The Vice-President shall perform all duties as may be assigned by the President or Board of Directors and shall be the presiding officer in the absence of the President.

Section 9: The Secretary shall be the official custodian of all records of the Association except financial records and shall keep the minutes of the Association and Board of Directors. The Secretary may delegate authority for correspondence in the name of the Association and for required notices, and shall keep records of all such correspondence and notices.

Section 10: The Treasurer shall keep and be responsible for all financial records and funds of the Association. All funds shall be deposited in an account in the name of Avent-West Community Association, and shall be withdrawn only by the Treasurer or the President. All monies received shall be immediately delivered to the Treasurer, for which she or he shall give a receipt, and the Treasurer shall pay all bills. The Treasurer shall provide reports of all transactions and prepare financial statements and present them to the Board of Directors at each meeting.

Section 11: An officer or director who misses three (3) regularly scheduled consecutive meetings forfeits the office. That officer or director may request exception and, at the discretion of the Board by a simple majority vote, may be allowed to retain the position.

Section 12: In cases where an officer or director is accused of conduct hurtful to the Association, grossly inconsistent with the By-Laws, or inconsistent with the purposes for which the Association was organized, the officer or director may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of four (4) members of the Board of Directors. The accused officer or director shall not have a vote in such an instance.

Section 13: Persons present at an organizational meeting shall elect the first officers of the Association. Thereafter, officers and directors shall be elected at the annual membership meeting as provided herein.

Article IV: Meetings

Section 1: The Annual Membership Meeting of the Association in each year shall be held during the month of March on the particular day, hour, and place determined and designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of the Annual Membership Meeting shall be given at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.

Section 2: Board Meetings will be held quarterly on a day, hour and place to be determined and designated by the Board of Directors. Notice of such meetings will be included in the quarterly newsletter at least two (2) weeks prior to such meetings. Any member is welcome to attend these meetings. Any member wishing to add an item to the Board's agenda shall give notice in writing of the item to be discussed to the Secretary 10 days prior to the scheduled meeting.

Section 3: Twenty (20) voting members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at Annual Meetings.

Section 4: Each voting member shall be entitled to one vote at meetings designated for election of Board Members or changes to By-laws at which the member is present. Joint property owners may hold joint memberships, but such a joint membership shall have only one vote. There will be no "one-half member" votes. Proxy voting will not be permitted. All elections shall be by secret ballot.

Article V: Fiscal Year

Section 1: The fiscal year of the association shall end on the 31st day of March.

Article VI: Procedure

Section 1: Roberts' Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of all meetings of the Association and Board in all cases in which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the By-Laws or the special rules of this Association.

Article VII: Amendments

Section 1: Proposed amendments to the By-Laws shall be presented to the Board of Directors. A simple majority of the Board of Directors is required to place a proposed amendment before a meeting of the membership. A proposed amendment may be adopted and the By-Laws amended by a simple majority of the membership present at any annual or special meeting.

Article VIII: Dissolution

Section 1: In the event that the Avent-West Community Association becomes inactive or dissolves, all monies in the general fund shall be distributed to a tax-exempt, community-oriented institution or organization approved by the majority of the members of the Association at the time of dissolution.