BYLAWS of the West Bucktown Neighborhood Association (WBNA)
NAME
BOUNDARIES
PURPOSE
MEMBERSHIP
OFFICERS
VOTING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COMMITTEES
NEWSLETTERS
GENERAL MEETINGS
BUDGET AND FINANCE
AMENDMENTS
HISTORY
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of the organization shall be the West Bucktown Neighborhood Association (WBNA), a non-profit organization chartered by the State of Illinois.
ARTICLE II. BOUNDARIES
The area shall encompass that part of the city of Chicago, Illinois with boundaries as follows: West of Western Avenue, East of California Avenue, North of North Avenue, and South of Armitage Avenue.
ARTICLE III. PURPOSE
The purpose of the WBNA is to serve as a catalyst for positive change in the West Bucktown community. Our work is primarily centered around six key initiatives: Communications, Zoning, the Environment, Safety, Social Events, and Community Relations.
We strive to create a safe, welcoming, and respectful community by:
Our activities shall be carried on without reference to race, creed, or national origin and shall be in cooperation with governmental, religious, charitable, and other educational, civic, scientific, or community organizations. The organization itself shall not become involved in campaigns for political office.
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership Categories
Individual Memberships. All persons who live in, work in or identify with the West Bucktown area shall be eligible for individual membership.
Family Memberships. Persons residing in the same household and at the same address shall be eligible for family membership.
Reduced Rate: Senior / Student Memberships. Any persons over the age of 65 or any college student presenting a student identification card shall be eligible for individual senior or student membership.
Institutional Memberships. Any business, civic, social, or religious organization is eligible for institutional membership.
Section 2. Dues
Membership dues are set by the Board and published on the website
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of WBNA shall be four: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Their term of office shall be for two (2) years, starting April 1 and ending March 31. As a qualification for office, the officers must reside within WBNA boundaries and be members in good standing for at least three months prior to elections.
Section 2. President.
The President shall preside at all general and Board of Directors meetings. The President shall be the principal spokesperson for WBNA.
Section 3a. Vice President.
The Vice President shall assist the president in WBNA matters. In the President’s absence, the Vice President shall preside.
Section 3b. In the absence or disability of the President or Vice President, their duties shall be performed by a person of their designation.
Section 4. Secretary.
The Secretary shall take the minutes of all general and Board of Directors meetings. The Secretary shall also be responsible for checking the WBNA P.O. box monthly.
Section 5. Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall have charge of the receipts and disbursements of the Association. The Treasurer and the President shall be empowered to sign checks. The Treasurer shall be responsible for a monthly report and an annual report on WBNA’s finances to the Board of Directors. Reimbursements of authorized expenses incurred on behalf of WBNA will be paid by the Treasurer. The Treasurer will write and disburse receipts for all authorized expenses on behalf of WBNA. WBNA’s financial records can be viewed by submitting a written request to the Board of Directors.
Section 6. No person running for or holding political office shall serve as an officer of WBNA.
Section 7. Election of Officers.
The Officers are to be elected each year in March.
At least two (2) months before the annual election, a nominating committee of (3) members shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the board of directors. The nominating committee shall select one candidate for each office. The report of the nominating committee shall be electronically transmitted to each member eligible to vote at least three (3) weeks preceding the election. Additional candidates for the offices to be filled may be placed in nomination by petition signed by at least 20% of the members eligible to vote. The petition shall be filed with the WBNA secretary at least two (2) weeks before the election. The secretary shall send notice of such additional nominations to all members eligible to vote before the election.
Voting shall be done via written ballot and counted by any two volunteers other than members of the nominating committee and the nominees for office. The results shall be announced at the next general meeting.
Option 1: Election shall be by ballot and all votes shall be cast in person. The ballot shall contain the names of all candidates and the offices for which they are nominated.
Option 2: Where permitted by state law, and in accordance with applicable state requirements, election of officers may be conducted by electronic means, in accordance with procedures established by the board of directors. Voters will be required to provide name, address, and email address to be eligible.
Simple majority determines election results for each office. In case of a tie, a run-off election for that office will be held.
Directors can be added at the discretion of the elected officers (no elections needed), for a minimum of ten and a maximum of fourteen WBNA Board Members, as determined by the current President. All elected officers and appointed Directors shall serve a two-year term; any member unable to carry out the full term must provide written notice to the Board 3 months prior to their departure, if possible.
Vacancies. Vacancies among the officers and the board of directors shall be filled by a simple majority vote of the board of directors until the next annual election.
The Board shall also form Working Committees to address specific needs in the community. These Committees will remain flexible, based on the talents of members and issues in the community, but will continue to reflect the six core areas of the WBNA: Communications, Zoning, Safety, Environmental, Events, and Community Relations. These Committees are also open to WBNA members who wish to participate on ad hoc projects.
ARTICLE VI. VOTING
Only members in good standing over 16 years of age who reside or own property in the area defined in Article II and who have been members for a minimum of three months are eligible to vote.
An individual, student or a senior membership entitles the holder to one vote.
In a family membership, each family member of voting age is entitled to vote, however, the voting capacity of a family membership cannot exceed three votes.
An institutional membership entitles a designated person to one vote.
No person may cast more than one vote.
ARTICLE VII. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The purpose of the Board of Directors shall be to plan and organize general meetings, to implement actions voted upon by WBNA, and to be responsible for the overall operation of WBNA.
The members of the Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and up to six (6) members appointed by the elected officers. The total number of Board officers and Directors may not exceed ten (10).
Section 2. The Board shall meet once a month. A minimum of four members of the Board constitutes a quorum. Regularly scheduled meetings will be open to the public. Anyone interested in attending a Board meeting must send an email to the WBNA email address prior to attending. This will enable the Board to make necessary accommodations (primarily an adequate meeting space) based on the number of people who want to attend.
ARTICLE VIII. COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors will authorize Committees. Committees shall study and conduct meetings on all matters referred to them and shall have authority to make public their discussions, findings and decisions, provided that it is made clear that they are not speaking for WBNA without prior approval by the Board of Directors.
Committees should regularly make public their findings through E-newsletter articles and consistent verbal updates at the general meetings. Examples of committee work include: neighborhood cleanups, membership/fundraising drives, community outreach activities, and social events.
ARTICLE IX. NEWSLETTERS
An online E-newsletter shall be published to the general membership on a periodic basis. The purpose of the E-newsletter shall be to facilitate communication.
To this end, heads of committees and officers are responsible for providing written updates on their activities.
A copy of the newsletter shall be delivered to each member and shall be made available to the general membership, other community organizations, and key community institutions and members online. The editor(s) shall exercise editorial privileges. A statement to the effect that the opinions expressed in the newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the Board of Directors must be included in the newsletter.
ARTICLE X. GENERAL MEETINGS
General meetings shall be held as needed and shall be open to the public. Notice of time and place for the general meeting shall be posted on the WBNA website under the “Calendar of Events.”
The meeting shall follow a pre-set agenda determined by the President.
Members shall be allowed to bring before WBNA new items for discussion by WBNA at the general meeting.
The President shall decide how issues brought before WBNA shall be handled, i.e., discussed, sent to committee, or placed on the agenda of the following general meeting.
General meetings shall include oral reports given by Board and committee members.
Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall govern general meetings.
Issues that the Board of Directors deems necessary for general membership approval shall be voted on at the next scheduled general meeting or by proxy vote online. The issues shall be discussed and presented as motions. A motion shall pass with a simple majority from members with voting privileges. Twelve (12) members constitute a quorum.
Quorum: Unless stated otherwise, 12 members of the general membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of the Board of Directors shall be a quorum.
ARTICLE XI. BUDGET AND FINANCE
WBNA shall be responsible for raising sufficient resources to meet the budget needs. The fiscal year shall be April 1 through March 31.
ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present and qualified to vote at any meeting at which a quorum is present, provided the substance of such proposed amendment or amendments shall be plainly stated in the call for the meeting.
Notice of all meetings at which amendments are to be considered shall be mailed to every member eligible to vote at least one (1) week prior to the meeting.
Amendments to the Bylaws must follow the procedure below:
ARTICLE XIII. HISTORY
All matters not governed or covered by these By-Laws shall be determined by Robert’s Rules of Order Revised.
Bylaws originally adopted: ______________________________
Amendments proposed: ____________________________
NAME
BOUNDARIES
PURPOSE
MEMBERSHIP
OFFICERS
VOTING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COMMITTEES
NEWSLETTERS
GENERAL MEETINGS
BUDGET AND FINANCE
AMENDMENTS
HISTORY
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of the organization shall be the West Bucktown Neighborhood Association (WBNA), a non-profit organization chartered by the State of Illinois.
ARTICLE II. BOUNDARIES
The area shall encompass that part of the city of Chicago, Illinois with boundaries as follows: West of Western Avenue, East of California Avenue, North of North Avenue, and South of Armitage Avenue.
ARTICLE III. PURPOSE
The purpose of the WBNA is to serve as a catalyst for positive change in the West Bucktown community. Our work is primarily centered around six key initiatives: Communications, Zoning, the Environment, Safety, Social Events, and Community Relations.
We strive to create a safe, welcoming, and respectful community by:
- Empowering residents to come together to take action for the common good of West Bucktown.
- Identifying and distributing information about topics of interest to community members.
- Providing a public forum for residents and business owners to express their opinions.
- Beautifying our surroundings, including the neighborhood's physical structures, parks, and green spaces.
- Working with city officials to reduce crime and enhance the safety of those who live and work in West Bucktown.
- Connecting residents with each other and the City of Chicago.
Our activities shall be carried on without reference to race, creed, or national origin and shall be in cooperation with governmental, religious, charitable, and other educational, civic, scientific, or community organizations. The organization itself shall not become involved in campaigns for political office.
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership Categories
Individual Memberships. All persons who live in, work in or identify with the West Bucktown area shall be eligible for individual membership.
Family Memberships. Persons residing in the same household and at the same address shall be eligible for family membership.
Reduced Rate: Senior / Student Memberships. Any persons over the age of 65 or any college student presenting a student identification card shall be eligible for individual senior or student membership.
Institutional Memberships. Any business, civic, social, or religious organization is eligible for institutional membership.
Section 2. Dues
Membership dues are set by the Board and published on the website
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of WBNA shall be four: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Their term of office shall be for two (2) years, starting April 1 and ending March 31. As a qualification for office, the officers must reside within WBNA boundaries and be members in good standing for at least three months prior to elections.
Section 2. President.
The President shall preside at all general and Board of Directors meetings. The President shall be the principal spokesperson for WBNA.
Section 3a. Vice President.
The Vice President shall assist the president in WBNA matters. In the President’s absence, the Vice President shall preside.
Section 3b. In the absence or disability of the President or Vice President, their duties shall be performed by a person of their designation.
Section 4. Secretary.
The Secretary shall take the minutes of all general and Board of Directors meetings. The Secretary shall also be responsible for checking the WBNA P.O. box monthly.
Section 5. Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall have charge of the receipts and disbursements of the Association. The Treasurer and the President shall be empowered to sign checks. The Treasurer shall be responsible for a monthly report and an annual report on WBNA’s finances to the Board of Directors. Reimbursements of authorized expenses incurred on behalf of WBNA will be paid by the Treasurer. The Treasurer will write and disburse receipts for all authorized expenses on behalf of WBNA. WBNA’s financial records can be viewed by submitting a written request to the Board of Directors.
Section 6. No person running for or holding political office shall serve as an officer of WBNA.
Section 7. Election of Officers.
The Officers are to be elected each year in March.
At least two (2) months before the annual election, a nominating committee of (3) members shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the board of directors. The nominating committee shall select one candidate for each office. The report of the nominating committee shall be electronically transmitted to each member eligible to vote at least three (3) weeks preceding the election. Additional candidates for the offices to be filled may be placed in nomination by petition signed by at least 20% of the members eligible to vote. The petition shall be filed with the WBNA secretary at least two (2) weeks before the election. The secretary shall send notice of such additional nominations to all members eligible to vote before the election.
Voting shall be done via written ballot and counted by any two volunteers other than members of the nominating committee and the nominees for office. The results shall be announced at the next general meeting.
Option 1: Election shall be by ballot and all votes shall be cast in person. The ballot shall contain the names of all candidates and the offices for which they are nominated.
Option 2: Where permitted by state law, and in accordance with applicable state requirements, election of officers may be conducted by electronic means, in accordance with procedures established by the board of directors. Voters will be required to provide name, address, and email address to be eligible.
Simple majority determines election results for each office. In case of a tie, a run-off election for that office will be held.
Directors can be added at the discretion of the elected officers (no elections needed), for a minimum of ten and a maximum of fourteen WBNA Board Members, as determined by the current President. All elected officers and appointed Directors shall serve a two-year term; any member unable to carry out the full term must provide written notice to the Board 3 months prior to their departure, if possible.
Vacancies. Vacancies among the officers and the board of directors shall be filled by a simple majority vote of the board of directors until the next annual election.
The Board shall also form Working Committees to address specific needs in the community. These Committees will remain flexible, based on the talents of members and issues in the community, but will continue to reflect the six core areas of the WBNA: Communications, Zoning, Safety, Environmental, Events, and Community Relations. These Committees are also open to WBNA members who wish to participate on ad hoc projects.
ARTICLE VI. VOTING
Only members in good standing over 16 years of age who reside or own property in the area defined in Article II and who have been members for a minimum of three months are eligible to vote.
An individual, student or a senior membership entitles the holder to one vote.
In a family membership, each family member of voting age is entitled to vote, however, the voting capacity of a family membership cannot exceed three votes.
An institutional membership entitles a designated person to one vote.
No person may cast more than one vote.
ARTICLE VII. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The purpose of the Board of Directors shall be to plan and organize general meetings, to implement actions voted upon by WBNA, and to be responsible for the overall operation of WBNA.
The members of the Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and up to six (6) members appointed by the elected officers. The total number of Board officers and Directors may not exceed ten (10).
Section 2. The Board shall meet once a month. A minimum of four members of the Board constitutes a quorum. Regularly scheduled meetings will be open to the public. Anyone interested in attending a Board meeting must send an email to the WBNA email address prior to attending. This will enable the Board to make necessary accommodations (primarily an adequate meeting space) based on the number of people who want to attend.
ARTICLE VIII. COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors will authorize Committees. Committees shall study and conduct meetings on all matters referred to them and shall have authority to make public their discussions, findings and decisions, provided that it is made clear that they are not speaking for WBNA without prior approval by the Board of Directors.
Committees should regularly make public their findings through E-newsletter articles and consistent verbal updates at the general meetings. Examples of committee work include: neighborhood cleanups, membership/fundraising drives, community outreach activities, and social events.
ARTICLE IX. NEWSLETTERS
An online E-newsletter shall be published to the general membership on a periodic basis. The purpose of the E-newsletter shall be to facilitate communication.
To this end, heads of committees and officers are responsible for providing written updates on their activities.
A copy of the newsletter shall be delivered to each member and shall be made available to the general membership, other community organizations, and key community institutions and members online. The editor(s) shall exercise editorial privileges. A statement to the effect that the opinions expressed in the newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the Board of Directors must be included in the newsletter.
ARTICLE X. GENERAL MEETINGS
General meetings shall be held as needed and shall be open to the public. Notice of time and place for the general meeting shall be posted on the WBNA website under the “Calendar of Events.”
The meeting shall follow a pre-set agenda determined by the President.
Members shall be allowed to bring before WBNA new items for discussion by WBNA at the general meeting.
The President shall decide how issues brought before WBNA shall be handled, i.e., discussed, sent to committee, or placed on the agenda of the following general meeting.
General meetings shall include oral reports given by Board and committee members.
Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall govern general meetings.
Issues that the Board of Directors deems necessary for general membership approval shall be voted on at the next scheduled general meeting or by proxy vote online. The issues shall be discussed and presented as motions. A motion shall pass with a simple majority from members with voting privileges. Twelve (12) members constitute a quorum.
Quorum: Unless stated otherwise, 12 members of the general membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of the Board of Directors shall be a quorum.
ARTICLE XI. BUDGET AND FINANCE
WBNA shall be responsible for raising sufficient resources to meet the budget needs. The fiscal year shall be April 1 through March 31.
ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present and qualified to vote at any meeting at which a quorum is present, provided the substance of such proposed amendment or amendments shall be plainly stated in the call for the meeting.
Notice of all meetings at which amendments are to be considered shall be mailed to every member eligible to vote at least one (1) week prior to the meeting.
Amendments to the Bylaws must follow the procedure below:
- Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors not less than thirty (30) days prior to consideration by the general meeting.
- If the Board of Directors votes not to recommend the proposed amendment, the proponent may be it before the general membership by presenting to the Secretary a written petition signed by at least five (5) members in good standing at least twenty-nine (29) days before the meeting.
- The petition shall accurately state the current information, state the proposed change, and provide the minimum five (5) signatures affixed thereto. The proposed amendment shall be presented in writing and placed on the meeting agenda.
ARTICLE XIII. HISTORY
All matters not governed or covered by these By-Laws shall be determined by Robert’s Rules of Order Revised.
Bylaws originally adopted: ______________________________
Amendments proposed: ____________________________
