Bylaws

Preamble

The Chestnut Addition Neighborhood Association (C.A.N.A.) is a group that seeks to provide a place for discussion and action towards a healthy and thriving neighborhood to live and work in that is a treasure in Austin.  These bylaws are intended to foster a more cohesive and effective community organization that is already strong in nature.

Article I. Name

The name of the organization shall be:  Chestnut Addition Neighborhood Association (C.A.N.A.).

Article II. Purpose

The purposes of the Association shall be:

To increase communication within and without the neighborhood:

  • ï Promote open discussion of neighborhood issues.

  • ï Pursue solutions and actions favored by members.

  • ï Monitor and inform C.A.N.A. members of public and private initiatives, developments and policies significant to C.A.N.A.

To increase community

To increase safety

To increase beautification

Article III. Boundaries

The boundaries of the Association shall be: 

West Boundary:  East side of Chicon Street

East Boundary:  Miriam Street

South Boundary:  North side of East 12th Street

North Boundary:  South side of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard

 

Article IV. Membership

Membership.  All residents and/or property owners 18 years or older within the boundaries of C.A.N.A. shall be a member of C.A.N.A. upon attendance at any meeting and enrollment of his or her name on the membership roll maintained by the secretary or his or her designee.

 

Voluntary Dues.  Members of C.A.N.A. may, but are not required, to pay dues.  The Treasurer or his or her designee may collect voluntary dues at any meeting. Suggested monthly dues are $2.

 

Article V. Meetings of the Membership

General Meetings.  General meetings of the membership shall be held on the fourth (4th) Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m.  A regular meeting may be cancelled or rescheduled by majority vote of the membership at the regular meeting preceding the meeting to be cancelled.  General membership will be notified via phone/email tree.

Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the members may be called by the Officers or upon receiving the written request of not fewer than 10 members. General membership will be notified of special meetings via phone/email tree.  Only the business specified in the call can be taken up at a special meeting.  

Annual Meeting.  The annual meeting of the C.A.N.A. membership shall be held on the fourth (4th) Tuesday in the month of October in each year.  The purposes of the annual meeting are the election of officers, receipt of the Secretary and Treasurer’s annual reports and the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.

 

Quorum.  A quorum for votes of record is twelve members. With or without a quorum, "sense-of-meeting" votes are open to all attending members.  “Sense of meeting” is a report of what the group as whole thought about an issue.

 

Place of Meeting.  The president in consultation with the C.A.N.A. membership may designate any place within the boundaries of C.A.N.A. as the place of meeting for any meeting.

 

Agendas/Guests.  Meetings shall follow the agenda developed by the President and Secretary. Guests, not on the agenda, may have no more than 10 minutes at the beginning of the agenda, unless a written request to the president is received and approved prior to the meeting. If guests wish to speak more than 10 minutes, and did not gain prior approval, they may speak at the end of the agenda items. Generally, no more than two (2) guests are allowed to speak at one meeting.

 

Notice of Meeting.  The Vice President or his or her designee shall attempt to provide notice, whether by telephone or other means, to the C.A.N.A. membership of all meetings. The preferred means for meeting notification is the phone/email tree system.

 

Article VI. Officers

Officers.  The officers of the Association shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Duties.  The duties and responsibilities of officers shall be:

President:  The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership. The President shall, with the Secretary, be responsible for developing agendas for the meeting and notifying the Vice President in order  that the phone captains can relay agenda topics. The President shall be the principal representative of the Association but may designate duties as required. 

Vice-President:  The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President as necessary.  The Vice-President shall be responsible for providing required meeting notices and notifying the phone captains of agenda topics.  The Vice-President shall be responsible for sending cards to the ill and/or hospitalized association members as authorized by the President.  The Vice-President shall also be responsible for the distribution of neighborhood fliers.  The Vice-President shall be responsible for the Holiday gift basket program to our elderly and indigent neighbors.

Secretary:  The Secretary shall keep a complete record of all actions (including a separate list of policies and bylaws) of meetings. The Secretary shall also be responsible for reviewing action items at the end of each meeting, and shall also provide copies of minutes and agendas at the beginning of each meeting for the membership in attendance. At the annual meeting, the Secretary shall report the current number of enrolled members and distribute a membership roster.

Treasurer:  The Treasurer shall maintain an Association savings account or leger, collect and disburse funds including dues as authorized by the Association, account for Association assets, and report at each regular meeting on Association finances.  At the annual meeting, the Treasurer shall provide a report on the total revenue received during the previous year and the total expenditures during the previous year.  It is recommended that the Treasurer also propose a budget for the upcoming year at the annual meeting.

Election and Term of Office.  The officers of C.A.N.A. shall be elected annually at the annual meeting while a quorum is present.  If the election of officers is not held at such meeting, such election shall be held, as soon thereafter as is convenient while a quorum is present.  Each officer shall take office immediately upon being elected.  Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualifies or until his or her death, resignation, or removal.  Officers may be re-elected.

Vacancies.  A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the membership for the unexpired portion of the term until a quorum vote can be held.

 

Removal.  Any officer may be removed by a two-third (2/3) vote of the membership at a regular meeting while a quorum is present whenever in its judgment the best interests of C.A.N.A. would be served thereby.  No officer shall be removed without one month written notice and an opportunity to be heard.  Any officer removed is not eligible for an office for a minimum of one year.

 

Salaries.  No officer shall receive a salary or monetary compensation for service as an officer.  An officer may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, authorized by the president, incurred on behalf of C.A.N.A.  

Article VII. Committees

Nominating Committee.  The Nominating Committee shall be a standing committee consisting of five members, no more than two of who shall be Officers.  It shall present a slate of candidates at the September general meeting. In presenting a slate of candidates, it shall attempt to balance the membership of the Officers with respect to geographic residence, age, sex, race, ethnicity, occupation, and areas of expertise, choosing from among persons who have demonstrated interest in furthering the goals of the Association.  Nominations from the floor at the general membership meeting may also be accepted.

Other Committees.  The Officers shall consider and propose establishing such standing committees, temporary committees and task forces as necessary to organize the Association’s work effectively and encourage community-oriented volunteer efforts.

Article VIII. Political Activities

Neither the Association nor any member purporting to speak for it shall endorse any candidate for public office or any political party. Membership rosters of the Association shall not be used for political, commercial, or any other activity not directly related to the Association.

Article IX. Books and Records

All books and records of the Association may be inspected by any member at any reasonable time.

Article X. Parliamentary Authority.

The rules and procedures contained in the current edition of ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER, Newly Revised, may serve as guidelines for the Association in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws.

Article XI. Contracts, Loans, Checks and Deposits

 

Contracts.  The membership may authorize any officer or officers to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of C.A.N.A., and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

 

Loans.  No loans shall be contracted on behalf of C.A.N.A. and no evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the membership.

 

Checks, Drafts, or Orders.  The treasurer or president shall sign all checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money.

 

Deposits.  All funds of C.A.N.A. not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of C.A.N.A. in such banks, trust companies, or other depositaries as the treasurer may select.

 

Article XII.  Repeal

 

With adoption of these by-laws, all previous by-laws are hereby repealed.

 

Article XIII. Amendments

 

These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted by majority vote of the membership at any meeting; provided, however, that a quorum is present.

 

CERTIFICATION.

 

We certify that the foregoing constitutes a true and correct copy of the bylaws of C.A.N.A. as adopted by C.A.N.A. on April 27, 2004 in Austin, TX.