Welcome to the

Arbor Hills Neighborhood Association

BY-LAWS
ARBOR HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Article I

Name

The name of this organization is the Arbor Hills Neighborhood Association, Incorporated, a non-profit, non-stock corporation of the Arbor Hills community in the City and Town of Madison, Wisconsin.

Article II

Purpose

The purpose of this Association shall be to function as a democratic group in solving neighborhood problems by or through neighborhood action for the betterment of the community.  The general objectives of the Association are the following:

1. To represent the interests of the Arbor Hills community before governmental agencies.

2. To concentrate its efforts on zoning, park and street maintenance, police and fire protection, traffic and public transportation.

3. To inform the membership of position taken by elected and appointed officials on issues on interest to Arbor Hills residents.

4. To interview, but not endorse, candidates for public office and report their responses in the Association's newsletter.

5. To welcome new residents to the Arbor Hills community.

6. To support the Arbor Hills Garden Club and other neighborhood associations recommended by the Executive Board and approved by the Membership Assembly.

7. To sponsor social and recreational activities for the membership's enjoyment.

8. To communicate with the membership by publishing a newsletter and a telephone directory.

Article III

Area

The area commonly known as Arbor Hills shall, for the purposes of this Association, be defined as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of the West Beltline Highway and Kingston Drive, moving south along Kingston the intersection of Kingston and Nottingham Way, at which point the western boundary shall follow the Arboretum property line south to the railroad tracks.  The tracks shall for the boundary from the southwest corner proceeding northeast to the point at which the tracks intersect Greenway View, and then west on Greenway View to the centerline of Todd Drive. At this point the boundary shall proceed north along the centerline of Todd Drive to the centerline of McDivitt; west along the centerline of McDivitt to the centerline of Ashford Lane, and south along the centerline of Ashford Lane to Nottingham Way.*  From this point, it shall proceed west on Nottingham Way to Grandview Boulevard, north on Grandview Boulevard, north in Grandview Boulevard (including the duplexes along Arbordale Court) to the West Beltline Highway, and west along the West Beltline Highway to Kingston Drive.

*Only duplexes to the left of the area described by centerlines shall be within the boundaries.  On all other streets, property on both sides shall be considered within the boundaries.

Article IV

Membership

Section 1.  Eligibility for membership:  The following persons shall become eligible for membership in the Association on the payment of the membership fee:

1. Residents of the area described in Article III of these Bylaws.

2. Non-Resident owners of real estate in the above described area.

Section 2.  Rights and limitations:  The right to vote and hold elective office shall be limited to members of the association.  Each household represented in the Association shall be entitled to one vote on all questions.  Voting by proxy shall not be allowed.

Section 3.  Membership Year:  The membership year of the Association shall begin on January 1 and shall terminate on December 31 each calendar year.

Section 4.  Membership Fee:  The annual membership fee shall be assessed on a per household basis.  Each year, the Executive Board shall determine the annual fee based on the needs of the Association.  New members who join the Association after July 1 shall be assessed 50% of the pertinent fee established by the Executive Board.

Section 5.  Termination of Membership:  Any person received into membership in the Association shall remain a member until he voluntarily withdraws; is no longer eligible for membership in this Association; or fails to pay dues.

Article V

The Membership Assembly

Section 1.  All legislative powers of the Association shall be vested in the Membership Assembly.

The Membership Assembly shall determine its own rules of procedure and shall have the power to establish an official organ of the Association to be published periodically.

The Membership Assembly shall have the power over all funds of the Association and shall control the expenditure thereof, except as such power maybe delegated to the Executive Board by act of the Membership Assembly.

Section 2.  Each resident and non-resident owner of real estate in Arbor Hills, in accordance with Article IV of these Bylaws, is entitled to representation in the Membership Assembly.  The president of the Association shall preside and Recording Secretary shall act as secretary at all meetings of the Membership Assembly.

Section 3.  The annual meetings of the Membership Assembly shall be held in September or October of each year.  The day, hour, and place of holding the meeting shall be established by the Executive Board and communicated to the membership at least one month before the meeting is to take place.

Section 4.  Special meetings of the Membership Assembly may be called at the discretion of the President, the Executive Board, or upon the petition by at least ten (10) household members.  It shall be the duty of the Corresponding Secretary to give notice of any special meeting ten (10) days in advance.  However, the ten day notice may be waived if the Executive Board or President determines that a state of emergency exists.

Section 5.  Ten percent (10%) of the members of twenty (20) members, present and voting, whichever is least, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Membership Assembly.

Article VI

Officers and Executive Board

Section 1.  The officers of the Association shall be the President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and a representative of the Arbor Hills Garden Club.  The officers shall constitute the Executive Board of the Association and, with the exception of the Garden Club Representative, shall be elected to the Board for a term of two (2) years by a majority vote of the membership present at the annual meeting.  Normally, no more that two (2) officers shall be elected at any annual meeting of the Membership Assembly.

Section 2.  The Garden Club Representative shall be elected to the Executive Board of the Arbor Hills Garden Club and according to its own procedures.  The term of office shall agree with Article VI(1) of these Bylaws.

Section 3.  The Executive Board shall conduct the general the business of the Association; consider all questions of policy; and present recommendations to the Membership Assembly for action.

Section 4.  The Executive Board shall prepare and submit to the Membership Assembly a budget for the ensuing year.  This budget shall set forth the estimated expenditures for the period covered thereby.  When a budget has been approved by a majority vote of the Assembly, the Executive Board shall have the power to authorize the expenditure of the Association's funds in accordance with the terms and condition thereof.

Section 5.  The executive Board may authorize expenditures of the Association's funds not authorized by the budget by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board.  Special meetings of Membership Assembly shall be exempt from the two-thirds (2/3) vote requirement.

Section 6.  The President is the chief executive officer of the Association and its policy leader.  The President shall have the duty and authority:

1. To represent the Association as speaker, and in writing, on matters of policy or to assign responsibility for such representation to members of the Executive Board.
2. To review Association policies and recommend priorities.
3. To preside at the meeting of the Membership Assembly and the Executive Board.
4. To prepare, with assistance of the Executive Board, the agenda for the governing bodies of the Association.
5. To appoint all chairpersons and members of committees, subject to the approval of the Executive Board.
6. To server as an ex-officio member of all committees.,
7. To supervise the official organ of the Association, the Arbor Hills Association Newsletter.
8. To perform other duties customary to the office.

Section 7.  The Vice President shall act for the President when the President is unable to perform the duties of the office.

1. At the request of the President, the Vice President shall act in the President's behalf.
2. The Vice President shall perform other duties customary to the office.

Section 8.  The Recording Secretary shall have the duty and authority:

1. To keep a record of all the proceedings of the Association.
2. To maintain record books in which the Bylaws, special rules, and minutes are entered.
3. To notify officer and committee members of their election or appointment, and to have on hand at each meeting a list of all existing committees and their members.
4. To perform other duties customary to the office.

Section 9.  The Corresponding Secretary shall have the duty and authority:

1. To send out the membership a notice of each meeting, and to conduct the general correspondence of the Association which is not the proper function of other officers or committees.
2. To keep the Association's official membership roll, and to call the roll when it is required.
3. To publish and mail the Arbor Hills Association Newsletter.
4. To provide a written copy of these Bylaws to each member of the Association upon the initiation of their membership.
5. To perform other duties customary to the office.

Section 10.  The Treasurer shall have the duty and authority:

1. To act as custodian of the funds of the Association.
2. To keep a record of all fiscal transactions of the Association.
3. To pay out Association funds on order by either the Membership assembly or the Executive Board.
4. To make a report to each meeting of the Membership Assembly and the Executive Board.
5. To perform other duties customary to the office.

Section 11.  The Garden Club Representative shall serve at the pleasure of and report to the Arbor Hills Garden Club.

Article VII

Elections

Section 1.  In the election of officers of the Association, a nominating committee shall make nominations.  The committee shall be comprised of four members in good standing and chosen annually.  The President shall be the chairperson and the Executive Board shall elect the rest of the committee at least two months before the annual meeting of the membership Assembly.

Section 2.  The Association welcomes nominations from the floor of the Membership Assembly.  Therefore, write-in candidates are not necessary and such ballots, along with blank ballots, shall not be counted in the universe.

Section 3.  Elections shall be by secret ballot at the annual meeting.  Each membership household and nonresident owner of real estate shall be allowed one vote for each contested position for the Executive Board.  If there is only one candidate for a seat on the Board, it will be in order to move that the Assembly cast a unanimous ballot for the election of that candidate.

Section 4.  All terms of office shall begin on January 1 and shall terminate on December 31 of the final year of the terms specified in Article VI of these Bylaws.  The Board shall annually elect the officers.

Section 5.  If a quorum is not present at the annual meeting of the Membership Assembly, the Executive Board shall seek a vote of the membership via correspondence except for amendments to these Bylaws.  The vote via correspondence shall include, but not be limited to, Executive Board elections and the adoption of the budget.

Section 6.  The Vice President shall succeed to the office of President in case of a vacancy in that office.  The Executive Board shall fill, by majority vote, all other vacancies.  The successor shall complete the term of office that was vacated.  If the Garden Club seat on the Executive Board is vacated, the Arbor Hills Garden Club shall fill the vacancy according to its own procedures.

Section 7.  The Executive Board shall declare that a vacancy exists if a member of the Board no longer resides or owns real estate in the Arbor Hills community as defined in Article III of these Bylaws.

Section 8.  Any regularly elected member of the Executive Board can be deposed from office by the Membership Assembly for misconduct or neglect of duty in office.  Unless specified n these Bylaws, procedures for removal from office shall be in accordance with Section 60 (Disciplinary Procedures) of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

Section 9.  If a member of the Executive Board has been absent from one-third (1/3) of the scheduled meetings of the Executive Board without a valid excuse, such absences shall be deemed a resignation.  However, under extenuating circumstances, the Executive Board my grant exceptions to this rule by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire Board.

Article VIII

Finance

Section 1.  Depository:  The funds of this Association shall be deposited in such bank or trust company as the Executive Board shall designate, and shall be withdrawn only upon the check of the Association signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President.

Section 2.  The fiscal year of this Association shall be from January 1 through December 31.

Article XI

Dissolution

Section 1.  Upon dissolution of the Arbor Hills Neighborhood Association, Inc., the Association's assets, after payment of outstanding debts, will be contributed to a non-profit charitable, educational, or recreational organization in the Madison area.

Article X

Amendments

Section 1.  Any member in good standing of the Arbor Hills Neighborhood Association may propose changes to these Bylaws; but any proposed change must be submitted in writing to the President at least thirty (30) days before the date of the Membership Assembly.

Section 2.  A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those present and voting at any meeting of the Membership Assembly at which a quorum is present may make amendments to these Bylaws.

Section 3.  The Corresponding Secretary shall submit all proposed amendments to the membership at least one week in advance of the meeting at which they will be considered.

Section 4.  Amendments to the Bylaws duly adopted by the Membership Assembly shall become effective immediately upon adoption of as directed by the Membership Assembly.

Article XI

Parliamentary Authority

Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the Association in all cases to which the rules contained in the current edition are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Membership Assembly may adopt.

Revised October 26, 1992