Revised 7-17-98

Revised 1-25-01

Revised 7-24-08

 

BY-LAWS

of

DES MOINES NEIGHBORS

1987

 

 

 

Article 1.   Name and Type

 

               The name of this association shall be Des Moines Neighbors, which shall be a volunteer educational community coalition of individual residents and neighborhood associations within Des Moines.

 

Article 2.   Place

               The location of Des Moines Neighbors shall be within the city of Des Moines.

 

Article 3.   Purpose

               The purpose of Des Moines Neighbors is to (1) share information of common interest and value, (2) increase the power of member neighborhood groups and  neighborhood associations to revitalize their areas and address major projects throughout the city, and (3) to promote projects, forums, conferences, and other community improvement efforts, and (4) advocate for reforms to the benefit of neighborhood groups, neighborhood  associations, and the city.

 

Article 4.   Membership

               Section 1.  Membership in Des Moines Neighbors shall be made available without regard to race, color, creed, or national origin to all residents within the City of Des Moines (business or families), who subscribe to our purpose, upon full payment of annual membership dues. 

               Section 2.  Des Moines Neighbors may refuse to accept a request for membership where there appears to be a conflict of interest with the purpose of Des Moines Neighbors until such conflict is resolved.

               Section 3.  It is the responsibility of members to support the purpose of Des Moines Neighbors and to show support for the motions adopted by the membership on issues related to our purposes on which Des Moines Neighbors is working..  Members are expected to attend as many meetings as possible and to be as active as possible in achieving Des Moines Neighbor’s purpose/goals.

               Section 4.  Any member of Des Moines Neighbors who has engaged in activities contrary to the purposes of Des Moines Neighbors may be expelled.  A member can be suspended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.  Notice of the suspension will be sent to the suspended member in writing and include specific examples of why he/she was suspended.  The suspension shall remain in effect until the next general meeting at which time the entire membership votes to reinstate or revoke the membership.  The member shall be informed in writing of the results.  If the membership is revoked, the current annual dues will be refunded in full.  Any member can bring to the attention of the Board of Directors a member who they believe should be expelled.  The reason must be in writing and four other members must express their agreement.

               Section 5.  Any individual eligible for membership in Des Moines Neighbors may become a member by signing a membership application at an official meeting and by remaining current with membership dues.

               Section 6.  Each Individual member or association member representative of Des Moines Neighbors shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the membership, at the next regular meeting after dues are paid.  (Verification provided by Treasurer’s official dues log).

 

Article 5.   Meetings

               Section 1.  Annual Meeting shall be held on the fourth Thursday in January of each year for the purpose of electing the Board of Directors.

               Section 2.  Regular and Special Meetings.  Regular meetings, in addition to the annual meeting, will consist of at least 10 monthly meetings per year.  Special meetings of the members may be called by the Board of Directors.

               Section 3.  Board of Directors meetings are held the second Monday of the month at 5:30 PM.

               Section 4.  Notice of Meetings shall be given at least 7 days prior to any official meeting, by mail, official publication, electronic notification or telephone contact.

               Section 5.  Minutes shall be available at all meetings.  Minutes of all previous meetings will be available upon request.

               Section 6.  Voting.  Votes of the membership shall be carried by a majority of members present.  No absentee or proxy ballots shall be allowed.

 

Article 6.  Board of Directors

               Section 1.  Board members shall be elected annually by the membership.  Officers of Des Moines Neighbors shall be Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer as elected by the membership.

               Section 2.  The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than seven persons including the officers of Des Moines Neighbors, three at-large board members, who shall serve as committee chairs and any additional committee chair person as may be approved by the membership.   Officers shall be elected for a term of two years, and may serve for only three consecutive terms.  The election years will alternate so the Chair and Vice Chair are elected one year followed by the Secretary and Treasurer the next year.

Initial terms for 2008 – 2009 will start with Chair and Vice Chair starting with 3 years to begin the staggered terms and all others with 2 year terms.

               Section 3.  Board of Directors shall be members of Des Moines Neighbors and shall exercise all powers vested unto it by the general membership.

               Section 4.  A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum and an affirmative vote of the majority of Directors shall be required for approval of any action.

               Section 5. Meetings.  The Board of Directors will meet as necessary.  Special meetings may be called by the Chair. Members of the Board of Directors are expected to attend all Board and General meetings.  Minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors shall be available to the general membership upon request.

               Section 6.    The Board shall at its discretion replace any of its members who miss three consecutive meetings.

               Section 7.     Compensation.  Directors shall not receive any compensation for their services. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefore.  The directors shall receive reimbursements for documented expenditures for Des Moines Neighbors events purposes.

 

Article 7.  Duties of the Officers

               Section 1.  The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the general membership, the Board of Directors, and shall present a progress report to the general membership at the annual meeting.  The Chair is responsible for oversight of committee work, shall be an ex officio member without vote on all committees, and shall represent the association at all public and private forums.

               Section 2.  The Vice-Chair, in the absence of the Chair shall perform the all duties of the Chair and shall be chairperson of the Development Committee.

               Section 3.  The Secretary shall record minutes of all meetings, keep all Des Moines Neighbors’ records, and make copies of the minutes available to the general membership and shall be chairperson of the Office Management Committee.

               Section 4.  The Treasurer shall oversee and keep an itemized report of all funds received and spent.  The Treasurer shall pay all verified obligations as approved by the Board and shall make a monthly report to the Board.  The Treasurer shall prepare an annual report to be received at the annual meeting.  The Treasurer shall be chairperson of the Financial Committee.

               Section 5.  The three at-large members shall be chairpersons of the Development, Legislative & Current Affairs and Special Events Committees as designated by the Board of Directors.

 

Article 8.  Committees

The Board of Directors shall establish and appoint members of the standing committees necessary to achieve the purpose of Des Moines Neighbors, and shall set forth in writing the duties and responsibilities of these committees.  The standing committees shall be: Development ; Legislative & Current Affairs; Events Committee.  Other committees may be established as needed.

Article 9.  Elections

Regular elections will take place at the annual meeting.  Vacancies which occur between regular elections will be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors.  Officers and other members of the Board of Directors shall assume their duties immediately following the annual meeting. 

Elections for the members of the board of directors shall be by the nominating committee of the board and voting members.  The nominating committee shall submit a slate of nominations for all board positions to be filled for two year terms.  A Board Member shall serve as chair of the nominating committee and shall present the list of nominations to the board of directors and voting members at the general membership meeting held in December.  Additional nominations may be submitted at the annual meeting.

 

Article 10.  Dues

Annual dues will be established by the Board of Directors with the approval of the general membership.  Annual dues for individuals are $15 per year and associations are $20 per year to begin in 2009.

 

Article 11.  By-Laws

               Section 1.  Des Moines Neighbors shall operate in accordance with its By-Laws.

               Section 2.  Any By-Law change must be presented at two consecutive Des Moines Neighbors meetings and shall appear on the agenda and be published in the newsletter.

               Section 3.  Des Moines Neighbors’ By-Laws shall be amended and approved by a majority vote at a regular meeting.

 

END OF BY-LAWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT 1

 

Committee Job Descriptions

7.24.08

 

 

Each committee is a standing committee, but may have periods of inactivity.  If a committee is in active mode, the committee shall give a report to the Board of Des Moines Neighbors and at the general Des Moines Neighbors meeting. 

 

 

Development Committee:

 

The Development Committee shall work on developing fundraising opportunities

 

for Des Moines Neighbors. 

 

 

Legislative and Current Affairs Committee:

 

The Legislative Committee will address issues at a state and local level and rally support

 

of Des Moines Neighbors if the vote is to do so.  The committee will work on developing

 

the correct path of support to handle issues that affect neighborhoods as they arise.

 

 

 

Events Committee:

 

The Events Committee will work on special events held by Des Moines Neighbors, such

 

as the Alice Rodine Dinner and Holiday Potluck.  They can plan other special events with

 

approval of the general membership.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT 2

 

 

The following people worked on the revision of these By-Laws.

 

Board Members:

Chair-Cindy Christian, ACCENT Neighborhood

Vice Chair-Ed Conlow, Waveland Park Neighborhood

Secretary-Val Allen, Mondamin Presidential Neighborhood

Treasurer-Delos Swanson, Beaverdale Neighborhood

At-Large-Jeff Johannsen, Downtown Neighborhood

 

 

By-Law Review Committee:

Cindy Christian, ACCENT Neighborhood

Harlan Donaldson, Valley High Manor Neighborhood

Delos Swanson, Beaverdal Neighborhood

Jim Wickham, ACCENT Neighborhood