BYLAWS FOR LONGFELLOW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (LCA)
ARTICLE 1 PURPOSE
Section 1 NAME OF ORGANIZATION: The name of the organization shall be Longfellow Community Association, hereafter referred to as the LCA
Section 2 PURPOSE: The purposes for which the LCA is organized are:
A. To enhance the livability of the area by establishing and maintaining an open line of communication and to be a liaison between the neighborhood (residents, schools, faith groups, businesses, property owners and other organizations within the neighborhood boundaries) government agencies and other neighborhoods.
B. To provide an open process by which all members of the neighborhood may involve themselves in the affairs of the neighborhood.
C. To perform all of the activities related to said purposes, to have and enjoy all of the powers granted and engage in any activity for corporations that may be organized under California non-profit corporation law.
D. To be organized exclusively for neighborhood improvement purposes. Notwithstanding any statement of purpose or powers aforesaid, this association shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of its specific and primary purpose.
Section 3 MEMBERSHIP: Membership in the LCA shall be open to all residents, property owners and business licensees (1 vote per business) located within the boundaries of the LCA, as defined by Article 1, Section 5 of these bylaws. To become a member, a person must attend and sign in at any combination of two of the following: LCA General meetings, Committee meetings or Volunteer events in the calendar year (January 1 through December 31), with the goal of logging 3 participation hours.
Section 4 VOTING: All members, 15 years or older, shall have 1 vote each to cast during attendance in person at any general or special meeting or via online voting polls.
Section 5 GENERAL LCA BOUNDARY: The Longfellow District is hereby defined as containing all space north of Highway 580, east of Adeline Street, south of 51st Street and west of Highway 24.
ARTICLE 2 FUNDING
Section 1 DUES: In lieu of dues, LCA members will be expected to donate as each individual deems appropriate throughout the year.
Section 2 CONTRIBUTIONS: Voluntary contributions from individuals, households, businesses, or other organizations will be accepted.
Section 3 FUND RAISING: Activities to raise funds for the LCA may be held if appropriate and approved by the Committee Commissioner responsible for the project and the President.
ARTICLE 3 MEETINGS
Section 1 GENERAL MEETINGS: There shall be at least 9 general meetings held yearly on the first Wednesday of the month or as decided upon by the majority vote of the Board Members. Deviation from the set schedule shall require 5 days advance emailed notice to all members of the LCA.
Section 2 ANNUAL MEETING: 1 membership meeting shall be designated as the annual meeting by the Board. At this meeting: The President shall report on the state of the LCA, including a fiscal report until a Treasurer is in place at which time the Treasurer will assume that responsibility, Elections for Members of the Board shall be held. The Annual Meeting shall be announced at last one month in advance.
Section 3 SPECIAL MEETING: A special meeting of the membership may be called by the President or by a majority of the Members of the Board as deemed necessary. Notification and purpose of the meeting shall require 5 days advance emailed notice to all members of the LCA.
Section 4 AGENDAS: The President (or the Vice President or Committee Chair, if requested to do so by the President) shall prepare the agenda for the general and special meetings of the membership. Any person may add an item to the agenda by submitting the item in writing to the President at least 7 days in advance of the membership meeting. Any member of the LCA may make a motion to add an item to the Board’s agenda, general or special agendas at the respective meetings. Adoption of that motion requires a second and a majority vote.
Section 5 QUORUM: A quorum for any general or special meeting of the LCA shall be at least 8 members for voting purposes. Unless otherwise specified by these bylaws, decisions of the LCA shall be made by majority vote of those members present at any meeting or by online voting poll.
Section 6 PARTICIPATION: Any general, special or committee meeting is open to any person and all who wish to be heard. However, only members are entitled to vote. All actions or recommendations of the general or special meetings shall be communicated to all affected parties, including minority reports.
Section 7 PROCEDURES: The LCA shall follow “Robert’s Rules of Order” in all areas not specifically covered by the bylaws.
ARTICLE 4 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1 COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD: The Board of Directors (herein referred to as the Board) shall be composed of at least 5 members.
Section 2 DUTIES OF THE BOARD:
A. MANAGEMENT: the affairs of the LCA shall be managed by the Board in the interim between general meetings: the relevant Committee Chair shall manage those affairs pertaining to the subject matter of that Committee; and the President (with the assistance of the Vice President) shall manage all other general LCA affairs. The Board shall be accountable to the membership; shall seek the views of those affected by any proposed policies or reactions before adopting any recommendation on behalf of the LCA; and shall strictly comply with these bylaws.
B. VACANCIES: The Board may fill any vacancy on the Board or a committee by appointment by majority vote. A member appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
C. BOARD MEETINGS: The Board shall seek to meet monthly or as needed. These meetings shall be conducted in a private session, unless special request by the membership; however, only Board members may vote. A quorum for the Board meetings shall be over 50% of the Board members; decisions shall be made by majority vote. A majority of Board members, by petition, may call a general, special or Board meeting; otherwise, the President (or the Vice President, if called to do so by the President) shall schedule all regular Board meetings, making reasonable effort to accommodate the scheduling needs of all elected Board members.
D. EMERGENCY POWERS: In such cases where the Board is required to provide a neighborhood response (an official LCA position) before the question is presented to the membership, the Board must indicate to the questioner that this is the case, and shall present the action within 30 days or within a reasonable time for ratification by the membership where circumstances dictate.
Section 3 OFFICERS: The Board shall elect from among its members, aged 18 or older, a President and Vice-President. at the first Board meeting following the annual election. The President and Vice President will then appoint a Secretary and Treasurer as needed.
Section 4 DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS:
A. PRESIDENT: The President shall prepare the agenda and preside over all meetings of the Board and Membership.
B. SECRETARY: The Secretary shall keep the minutes and written records of majority and minority opinions expressed at all meetings; shall be responsible for all correspondence for the LCA; shall make records available for inspection for any proper purpose at a reasonable time.
C. TREASURER: The Treasurer shall be held accountable for all funds and shall give an accounting at each general meeting; receive, keep safe and disburse the LCA funds, but such disbursement shall only be for purposes pre-approved by the Board and appearing in the LCA Budget.
D OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: Other Board members shall preside over General Membership or other meetings as directed by the President or in the absence of other officers as outlined above. The Board Members also serve as Committee Chairs for a single committee each.
ARTICLE 5 SPECIAL PROJECTS
Section 1 AD-HOC AND PROJECT COMMITTEES: The President shall institute with the agreement of the Board such other committees as deemed necessary to transact the business of the LCA. The Coordinator of the committee shall be appointed by the President with the agreement of the Board and may be dismissed without cause by the President with the agreement of the Board.
Section 2 ORGANIZATIONAL LIAISONS
A. Appointed by the board to represent the LCA in a formal capacity
B. Periodically report the activities and progress of their project to the board and the membership, and advise the board as needed.
C. Do not have voting power, but can conduct their own project committees
D. Relationship can be terminated at any time by the board or the liaison
ARTICLE 6 ELECTIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS
Section 1 ELIGIBILTY: Only members, aged 18 or older, shall be qualified to hold an elected position. Further, potential Board members must be a member in good standing as deemed by the current Board.
Section 2 TERM OF THE BOARD: Members of the Board shall be elected to serve for 2 years.
Members can continue to serve, if elected, without term limits.
Section 3 NUMBERING OF SEATS: The Board seats will be numbered from 1 through 5 for the initial Board election, and these seat number designations shall remain 1 through 5 and determine the year of election. Even numbered seats will be elected even years and odd numbered seats will be elected in odd numbered years.
Section 4 LENGTH OF TERMS: Board seat teams shall be 2 years in length.
Section 5 METHOD OF ELECTION: Nominations for elections shall be held at a general meeting. Elections will be held online (with paper voting allowed upon request) during the proceeding month and concluded by the following month’s meeting. Candidates shall be nominated from the floor during the general meeting. If more than one candidate is nominated per available Seat, elections requires a majority vote of the membership via online voting polls (with paper voting allowed upon request) after the nominations. If more than 2 candidates are thus nominated, a plurality of the vote will be sufficient, established through ranked-choice voting. Election results will be announced at the following months meeting and online.
Section 6 IMPEACHMENT: Any holder of an elected position may be removed or replaced by a 2/3 vote of a general or special meeting of the membership or the Board. Removal does not require cause.
ARTICLE 7 ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF THE BYLAWS
Section 1 ADOPTION OF THE BYLAWS: Adoption of these bylaws shall require consensus of the Board members or a 2/3 vote of the members.
Section 2 AMENDMENT OF THE BYLAWS: Any amendments shall first be written and adopted by a majority of the Board and shall require consensus of the Board members or a 2/3 vote of the members to be adopred. Amendments to the bylaws shall be ratified at any general or special LCA meeting after the members have been notified of all proposed amendments to the bylaws by a minimum of at least 7 days advance emailed notice.
