Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Association

LHNA Bylaws

Adopted March 25, 1998

BYLAWS OF THE LAKEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

"The Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Association." is a non-profit, voluntary association or civic league and is the successor in interest to the unincorporated association of the same name which was founded in 1984 and formally organized in 1985, and the incorporated association formed in 1992, which lapsed in 1994. The geographical boundaries of the association are: Abrams Road on the east; the south side of Richmond Avenue on the south; Skillman Avenue on the west; and the north side of Monticello on the north.

ARTICLE ONE
PURPOSES, OBJECTIVES AND POWERS

The purposes, objectives and powers of the association include the following:
a. To promote a desirable neighborhood environment, preserve the existing residential character of the neighborhood and take action on common problems affecting any substantial portion of the neighborhood.
b. To support a desirable master plan for the City of Dallas, especially as it shall affect the neighborhood.
c. To provide a forum, through membership meetings and a newsletter, for discussion on matters pertaining to the association's objectives.
d. To communicate by letter, petition, telephone, in person or by other suitable means with members of the City Council, City Planning Commission, City Planning Department, and such other bodies as may be appropriate and to appear before such bodies to make known and to implement the association's objectives and wishes.
e. To join with other groups and individuals to accomplish the association's objectives.

ARTICLE TWO
MEMBERSHIP

2.1 This association shall be comprised of members, each of whom shall be a resident of the Lakewood Heights area and each of whom shall have paid the annual membership fee set by the Board of Directors.

2.2 Individuals residing outside the area but owning property in the area shall be eligible for membership.

2.3 Each household with at least one dues-paying member shall be entitled to one vote.

ARTICLE THREE
DUES

The annual membership dues shall be $10.00 per household, due and payable on the first day of January of each year. Member households headed by a person over the age of 65 may pay annual membership dues of $5.00. Dues may be revised by the Board of Directors or by the membership, in a meeting where such issue is specifically noticed.


ARTICLE FOUR
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

4.1 An Annual Meeting of the members shall be held during the month of March of each year for the purpose of electing Officers and a Board of Directors and conducting such other business as is appropriate at that time.

4.2 General membership meetings shall be held during the months of July and October. Other meetings shall be held as needed from time to time and shall be called by the President or by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Meetings shall be held at some location within the neighborhood or as near to the neighborhood as possible.

4.3 Notice of all general membership meetings shall be given by notice in the association's newsletter or by any method reasonably designed to communicate actual notice to all sections of the neighborhood at least two days prior to the meeting.

4.4 Special meetings of the membership may be called by any three members of the Board of Directors or by a call signed by not less than 20% of the dues-paid members of the association for the purpose or purposes stated in the notice thereof and shall be held at the place and on the date and at the time which has been noticed in writing at least five days prior to said special meeting. Representation in person by at least 25% of the dues-paid members shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum or the withdrawal of enough members to leave less than a quorum, any such meeting shall be adjourned and rescheduled at a later time.

ARTICLE FIVE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

An Executive Committee, composed of the officers and the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall meet from time to time as shall be desirable for planning and recommending action to the members and the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee may, in unusual circumstances, act in the name of the association but must have such actions confirmed by the Board of Directors as soon as possible.

ARTICLE SIX
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

6.1 The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the management of the association, including the approval of programs and budgets, and such other duties as may be prescribed by these Articles or any bylaws hereafter adopted.

6.2 The Board of Directors shall meet monthly at a time and place prescribed by it at a previous meeting or prescribed by the President and noticed to each member thereof at least one day prior to the meeting. The President shall, if possible, furnish a written agenda to each member of the Board of Directors prior to the meeting. Actual presence of a majority of the membership of the Board of Directors shall be necessary for a quorum. All Board meetings shall be open to all members of the association.

6.3 Voting shall be by written ballot or voice vote as announced by the president prior to each vote. All matters voted upon shall be decided by a simple majority of the directors present and voting; a record of all record votes shall be kept.

6.4 The Board of Directors shall consist of no less than 15, 11 Street Representatives elected by the members residing on each of the eleven east-west streets with one director representing each of such streets; together with the 4 Officers, the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary and the Treasurer of the association. Such Committee Leaders as may be appointed by the Board shall also become non-voting members of the Board. The members of the Board shall elect from their number a Chairman of the Board who shall serve on the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE SEVEN
COMMITTEES

There shall be, in the absence of action by the Board, five permanent, standing committees of the association:

7.1 The Zoning Committee, which shall have as its primary responsibility the monitoring of any application for rezoning, replatting, or variances from zoning which may be filed within, or may otherwise affect, the neighborhood area.

7.2 The Crimewatch Committee, which shall be responsible for the organization of "CrimeWatch" areas within the neighborhood and cooperating with the Dallas Police Department implementing programs for enhanced neighborhood security.

7.3 The Membership Committee, which shall be responsible for the obtaining and retaining of members in the association and assisting the Treasurer in the collection of dues.

7.4 The Communications Committee, which shall be responsible for a) establishing and
maintaining a phone committee to be used in the rapid notification of the membership of
developments of importance to the association and for b) publishing a newsletter at least
quarterly.

7.5 The Neighborhood Services Committee, which shall be responsible for overseeing the delivery of neighborhood services to the area including, but not limited to, public transportation, public streets and utilities, street lighting and garbage and refuse collection; and for identifying and assisting in the rehabilitation of properties whose owners, for reasons of
ill health or advanced age, are unable to adequately maintain their properties.

7.6 Membership in any permanent committee shall be open to any member of the
association, without limitation as to the number of committees a member may join.

7.7 A Leader for each permanent committee shall be elected by the Board of directors to serve for one operating year.

7.8 The Board may establish Special Committees in addition to the Permanent Committees and shall appoint Leader for each such committee.

ARTICLE EIGHT
RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

8.1 Resignation. Any officer, director or committee chairman may resign by written notice delivered to the President or, in the case of the resignation of the President, by delivery to the Vice-President. The unexcused failure of an officer, director or committee chairman to attend four consecutive Board meetings shall be considered a tender of resignation .

8.2 Removal. Removal from office may be initiated by any member of the Board of Directors or any five members of the association. Reasons for removal must be stated in writing and presented in person to the board. A unanimous vote of the remaining members of the Board will be required to remove any person from any office. If the Board has a two-thirds (2/3) majority in favor of removal, the removal request must be submitted to the general membership within 15 days; a simple majority of the general membership at such special meeting will be enough to remove the person from office.

8.3 Vacancies. In the event that any office is not filled by election at the Annual meeting; or, if any officer, director or Committee Leader resigns, is removed from office, or is otherwise unable to serve a full term of office, a successor shall be nominated by the President and approved by the Board of Directors to serve the remainder of the term of the vacated office.

ARTICLE NINE
OFFICERS

9.1 General. The association shall have a President, a Vice-president, a Secretary and a Treasurer elected to serve for a term of one year or until his successor is elected. No person may hold more than one office at the same time; however, an officer may also serve as a Street representative or as a Committee Leader.

9.2 Election Procedure. Prior to or concurrent with the notice of the Annual Membership Meeting, an outline of the officers' responsibilities shall be distributed to all members along with a request that any member wishing to hold an office notify the Secretary of such intention at least three days prior to the Annual Membership meeting. The secretary shall announce at the meeting the names of all those persons who have indicated their willingness or intention to serve in a given office; nominations from the floor may be made and shall be accepted. After nominations close, each nominee shall have the opportunity to briefly address the members before they vote.

9.3 Duties of Officers.
(a) The President shall call and preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the membership, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. The President shall be a regular member of the Board of Directors and an ex officio member of all permanent committees. The president shall represent the association in its relations with persons and organizations outside the association. The President shall insure that each Committee leader understands their operating responsibilities and the mission of their committee. The president shall be responsible for monitoring and reporting to the membership any activities of the various City Boards and Commissions which affect or potentially affect the Lakewood Heights area.

(b)The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President at the President's request, or whenever the President is absent or unable to perform the duties of that office, and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe. Upon a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice-President shall assume the Presidency and the Board shall fill the Vice-Presidency. The Vice-President shall serve as Parliamentarian for all Board and Membership meetings of the association.

(c) The Secretary shall keep a record of minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Membership, keep record of all important documents, correspondence and newsletters and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe. The Board may appoint one or more assistant Secretaries.

(d) The Treasurer shall collect dues and have custody of association funds, pay bills within approved budgets, keep an accurate record of all receipts and expenditures, prepare a written financial report to be given at the March membership meeting, and perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe. The Board may appoint one or more assistant Treasurers.

(e) The Street Representatives shall act as liaison between the Board and the residents of their respective streets and shall be ex officio members of the Membership and Communications committees.

ARTICLE TEN
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

10.1 Bank Account. The Treasurer shall establish accounts at such banks as directed by the Board of Directors and disbursement of funds therefrom shall require the signature of the Treasurer and the President, or, in the case of incapacity of either, by any one other officer.

10.2 Fiscal Year. The association's fiscal year shall be the twelve month period from January 1 to December 3l.

10.3 Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting or due notice if a majority of the Board individually and collectively consent to such action.

10.4 Notice. All notices called for in these Articles shall be by delivery of written notice to the household of the party to be notified either by hand delivery or mail.

10.5 Rights of Members. Each member of the association is eligible to serve as an officer or on any committee of the association, to vote on matters as provided in these Articles, to receive a copy of the newsletter, and to attend (with any member of his or her household) any business or social function of the association.

10.6 Restrictions on Members. No member of the association may use, or permit the use of, the name of the association or any information obtained through association membership for commercial purposes or any other purpose inconsistent with these Articles.

10.7 Nonpolitical. This association is not intended to be, nor shall it be construed to be, an organization which is created solely for political ends, although the members recognize that certain neighborhood concerns may involve the association in dialogues with both elected and appointed city, county and state officials. Because this association is created for the purpose of neighborhood improvement, and not for political activism, this association is prohibited from making any endorsement of or contribution to any individual running for elected office whether at the city, county, state or federal level.

10.8 Amendment. These Articles may be amended by vote of a majority of the general membership during any general membership meeting or during a special meeting called for that purpose.

Originally adopted as Articles of Association November 27, 1984.
Amended March 10, 1986.
Amended March 9, 1987.
Amended as Corporate bylaws March __, 1992
Adopted as Bylaws March 25, 1998.