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Westside Health Authority's |
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EVERY BLOCK A VILLAGE (EBV) BY-LAWS ARTICLE I NAME The name of this organization shall be Every Block a Village, also referred to in this document as EBV. ARTICLE II OFFICES Every Block a Village shall maintain its office at the Westside Health Authority and maintain other offices within the EBV area. ARTICLE III BOUNDARIES The areas covered by Every Block a Village shall include the Austin community area, principally, but not exclusively, 15th District Police Beat 1524. ARTICLE IV MISSION AND PURPOSE The mission of Every Block a Village is to discover and use the gifts and capacities of citizens to build the Austin village, to nurture and support the children; to build the community’s infrastructure by preserving and upgrading property values, maintaining safe and sanitary conditions, enabling citizens to unite for the advantages of improvement and beautification of the EBV area and immediate surroundings. ARTICLE V MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Responsibilities. Members are the ultimate governing body of Every Block a Village. The membership elects the Cabinet and approves and implements goals and objectives. Members will contribute financially according to the organizational budget, participate in EBV committees and provide the benefit of their expertise on an in-kind basis to the organization as needed. Members will be consulted regularly on issues of neighborhood policy, advocacy, monitoring, planning and implementation, and will be expected to provide timely responses. The role of EBV members is to identify and nurture the gifts of other citizens on their blocks and to encourage participation in the building of the village and attendance at EBV meetings. Section 2. Categories and Definitions of Membership Every Block a Village membership shall be open to the full range of individuals and organizations who are concerned about the issues set forth in Article IV: Mission and Purpose. All shall come into the process as associate members. Inclusion of new members shall be voted upon by the general body on a quarterly basis. To accomplish this goal, four categories are established: 1) Citizens: any person who shares a commitment to the goals and mission of Every Block a Village and wish to contribute their talents to the organization and to their neighbors. 2) Businesses: commercial or industrial organizations located in and serving and/or employing EBV residents who share a commitment to the goals and mission of Every Block a Village. 3) Churches/Religious Organizations: local congregations or associations of congregations who share a commitment to the goals and mission of Every Block a Village. 4) Associate Members: any person interested in the mission and goals of Every Block a Village who does not fit into any of the above categories of membership and who have not been elected as EBV members Section 3. Membership Dues Each member of Every Block a Village should be assessed a monthly membership dues of $5 effective July, 1999. EBV will not exclude anyone who is unable to pay. Dues shall be used to cover EBV planning retreats; consultants, supplies, transportation, etc. Section 4. Member Assistance. Encouragement is made for EBV members to solicit their immediate block neighbors for donations in the event of a tragedy. Aid and assistance shall be provided to EBV Citizen Leaders on a need-based request at EBV meetings. Aid will be given by EBV members and associate members on a voluntary basis, not from EBV membership dues. Section 5. Governance. The governance of Every Block a Village shall be under the Cabinet, comprised of EBV members and accountable to the general EBV membership. Section 6. Monthly Meetings. Members are expected to attend and participate in meetings on a regular basis. The membership shall meet on the first Tuesday of every month for purposes of dissemination of information, education, advocacy, networking, monitoring, organization and committee reports, and other reports pertinent to the health of the EBV area. A designated member of each committee is expected to attend. WHA will be responsible to getting notice of such meeting to Citizen Leaders one week prior to the meeting. Section 7. Annual Meeting. A). Date. An annual meeting of the membership shall be held in May of each year for the purposes of electing Cabinet members and welcoming new EBV members, reviewing current activities, planning goals and objectives for the next year and for the transaction of such other business that may come before the meeting. Members are expected to contribute to the cost of the meeting either by contributing to a fundraiser or by making a donation. B). Notice. Written notice stating the place, date and hour of the annual meeting of the membership shall be delivered to each member entitled to vote not less than five (5) not more than sixty (60) days before the date of such meeting. In case of a special meeting, the purpose of such shall be stated in the notice. C). Voting. Each member shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the membership. D). Quorum. Twenty-five percent (1/4) of members, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the membership, provided that if less than a quorum of the membership is present at said meeting, a majority of membership present may adjourn the meeting to another time without notice. E). Manner of Acting. A single majority vote of the votes present and voted, in person or by proxy, at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the members. F). Proxies. A member entitled to vote at a membership meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such member by proxy. All proxies must be signed and dated on the date of the meeting by the authorized member. G). Voting by Ballot. Voting on any question or in any election may be by voice unless the chairman of the meeting shall order or any member shall demand that voting be by ballot. ARTICLE VI CABINET Section 1. Selection. The Cabinet is elected by the membership at its annual meeting in May or includes the Chairperson of the two Standing Committees, if they are not Cabinet members. Section 2. Responsibilities. The Cabinet is accountable to, and works under the direction of the membership according to the goals and objectives established at the EBV annual meeting. The Cabinet has fiscal and general oversight responsibility (governance) for EBV and the setting of the policy related to the mission and shall be accountable to the membership. The Cabinet shall be responsible for establishing and monitoring programs such as are necessary to carry out the mission of EBV. Section 3. Composition. The Cabinet shall seek to represent the full range of Every Block a Village areas designated in Article III. The Cabinet shall consist of no less than 9 and no more than 21 persons representing the membership. One member of the Cabinet shall be a Westside Health Authority representative. Section 4. Meetings. The Cabinet will meet at least quarterly. All meetings will be open to the membership and other interested parties except that the Cabinet may call executive session for purposed of dealing with matters deemed appropriate by the Cabinet. Cabinet members will rotate to convene the meetings. Section 5. Voting. Voting is allowed by proxy. Section 6. Quorum. Fifty-one percent (51%) of the Cabinet shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Cabinet, provided that if less than a quorum or members are present at said meeting, a majority of the Cabinet members present may adjourn the meeting to another time without further notice. Section 7. Manner of Acting. The act of a majority of the Cabinet members present at a meeting in which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Cabinet, unless the act of a greater number is required by these by-laws. Section 8. Tenure. Cabinet members will serve two-year staggered terms; Cabinet members will be eligible for election for no more than three consecutive terms. Section 9. Vacancies. In the event that a Cabinet member is unable to serve his/her full term, a special election shall be held to fill such vacancy. In such cases, a Cabinet member elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his/her predecessor in office. Section 10. Compensation. Cabinet members shall not receive any stated salaries for their services. ARTICLE VII OFFICERS Section 1. Cabinet Officers. The Cabinet shall not have elected officers but shall appoint from within its own ranks a secretary, a treasurer and two conveners every year. Section 2. Duties. A). Convener The Convener, on a rotating basis, shall facilitate all meetings to ensure that members participate in making the agenda of the Cabinet and Membership meetings. A Cabinet member, chosen on a rotating basis, shall convene the membership meetings once a month with a co-Convener chosen from the membership body. B). Secretary. The Secretary shall receive and keep an accurate record of all proceedings of meetings of the Cabinet; see that notices are duly distributed in accordance with the provisions of these by-laws; keep a register of the name, address, phone number of each EBV member which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such member; and perform other duties as necessary and as assigned by other Cabinet members. C). Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of and be responsible for the maintenance of adequate books of account for EBV, have charge of all funds of EBV and be responsible for overseeing the receipt and timely deposit of all money given or granted to EBV. Section 3. Removal from Office. Any of the above officers absent for three consecutive meetings with unexcused absences shall receive written notice of their removal from office unless they petition to remain on the Cabinet. ARTICLE VIII COMMITTEES Section 1. Standing Committees. Every Block a Village shall maintain two active standing committees. EBV shall also have Committees selected by EBV members, such as Economic Development, Physical Space Development and Youth Committees. The two standing committees of EBV are the Membership and Fundraising Committees. All Committee Chairpersons will be offered the option of being Cabinet Members if they are not already members. Section 2. Committee Responsibilities. A). Membership Committee: Shall be responsible for membership recruitment, outreach and orientation; coordination of community organizing efforts; planning mechanisms which provide for community input on all critical issues concerning EBV; accepting membership registration forms by associate members on a quarterly basis and making recommendations to the full EBV body to accept new members. B). Fundraising Committee: Shall be responsible for strategic fund raising development; developing and implementing annual giving campaigns and capital campaigns; and other special events designed to keep the organization fiscally healthy. Section 3. Special Committees. The Cabinet may appoint other committees for the purposes of researching and developing policy positions relevant to EBV’s mission. Membership on these committees shall be recruited from among the membership body and the staff of WHA. Membership on these committees is not limited to members of EBV. Section 4. Committee Meetings. Each committee shall meet at least quarterly and shall provide clear and regular reports of their activities to the membership. Section 5. Term of Office. Each member of a committee shall continue as such until the next annual meeting of the EBV members and until his/her successor is appointed, unless the committee shall be sooner terminated, or unless such member be removed from such committee, or unless such member shall cease to qualify as a member thereof by unexplained absence in at least three consecutive meetings. Section 6. Chairman. One member of each committee shall be appointed chair. Section 7. Vacancies. Vacancies in the membership of any committee may be filled by appointments made in the same manner as provided in case of the original appointments. Section 8. Quorum. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Cabinet designating a committee, a majority (51%) of the whole committee shall constitute a quorum and the act of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is not present shall be the act of the committee. Section 9. Rules. Each committee may adopt rules for its own governance not inconsistent with these by-laws or with rules adopted by the Cabinet. ARTICLE IX CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS, AND FUNDS Section 1. Contracts. The Cabinet may authorize any officer, member or agent of the Cabinet, by resolution, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of, and on behalf of EBV, and such authority may by general or confined to specific instances. Section 2. Checks, Drafts, Etc. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of EBV shall be signed by such officer, officers or agents of EBV and in such manner as shall be determined by the Cabinet. Section 3. Deposits. All funds of EBV shall be deposited in a timely manner to the credit of EBV in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Cabinet may select. Section 4. Gifts. The Cabinet may accept on behalf of EBV any contribution, gift, bequest or device for the general purposes or for any special purpose of EBV. Gifts may be accepted through the Westside Health Authority at such times as not-for-profit (tax exempt) status is required by the donor. ARTICLE X BOOKS AND RECORDS EBV shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and also keep minutes of the proceedings of its Members, Cabinet and shall keep at the registered or principal office a record giving the names and addresses of the members entitled to vote. All books and records of EBV may by inspected by any member, or his agent or attorney for proper purpose at any reasonable time. ARTICLE XI FISCAL YEAR The fiscal year of Every Block a Village shall begin on the first day of July and end on the last day of June. ARTICLE XII OTHER PROVISIONS Section 1. Dissolution Clause. In the event that Every Block a Village determines to dissolve itself, any assets acquired shall be disbursed by majority vote of the EBV membership body, to any entity proposed, at such time. ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENTS The power to alter, amend or repeal the by-laws or adopt new by-laws shall be vested in the Cabinet. Such action may be taken at a regular or special meeting for which written notice of the purpose shall be given. The by-laws may contain any provisions for the regulation and management of the affairs of EBV. These by-laws were amended on July 13, 1999, by a majority vote of the Cabinet and membership, in accordance with procedures outlined in by-laws submitted to and approved by the State of Illinois.
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