South Atlantans for Neighborhood Development Bylaws

ARTICLE I - NAME AND PURPOSE

A. NAME
The name of this organization shall be South Atlantans for Neighborhood Development, Inc. The special name shall be SAND.

B. PURPOSE
The purpose of SAND shall be to improve the quality of life within our community, to promote discussions of issues affecting our neighborhoods, and to promote a sense of community pride and belonging.

ARTICLE II- MEMBERSHIP

A. MEMBERSHIP AREA   
The geographic membership area of SAND shall be the area bounded as follows:
Commencing at I-20 and Moreland Avenue, south on Moreland Avenue to Moreland Drive (including the north and south sides of Moreland Drive), west on Moreland Drive to McDonough Boulevard and including south Woodland Avenue, Athas Street, and Welch Street, northwest on McDonough Boulevard to Boulevard, north on Boulevard to the Beltline (CSX Railroad), northeast on the railroad to I-20, and east on I-20 to Moreland Avenue.

The neighborhoods within the SAND membership area include Benteen Park, Boulevard Heights, Custer-McDonough-Guice, Glenwood Park, North Ormewood Park, Ormewood Park, and Woodland Hills.

B. ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERSHIP        
SAND membership is extended to all persons 18 years of age or older whose primary place of residence is within SAND or any person who owns property or has a place of business within SAND.

A person becomes a member by (1) payment of dues of $10 per year; or (2) attending at least two meetings in the previous 12 months. Dues paid at the annual meeting in December shall be considered membership dues for the following calendar year. Dues paid at any other time represent paid membership only through December 31 of that calendar year.

To vote on issues before SAND, a member must be in good standing at the meeting prior to voting. If satisfying the membership requirement by meeting attendance, the member shall be eligible to vote at the third meeting.

If satisfying the membership requirement through the payment of dues, the member shall have paid his or her dues at the meeting prior to voting. There shall be no absentee voting or voting by proxy at any monthly, special, committee, or annual meeting of SAND. No member shall have more than one vote.

ARTICLE III– OFFICERS

A. OFFICERS
The officers shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer as elected by the Membership. The officers shall regularly attend Executive Committee and monthly SAND meetings.

B. OFFICER DUTIES
The President shall preside over the monthly, annual, and special meetings of the Membership. The President shall also preside over the Executive Committee meetings. The President shall perform or delegate all administrative duties as required by the office including preparing an agenda for monthly meetings. The President shall act as spokesperson for SAND in all matters pertaining to its business but should not commit SAND to any business or express any viewpoint for SAND that has not first been approved by the SAND membership. The President shall recommend the chairs of committees for SAND approval.

The Vice President shall preside over any meeting of the organization or the Executive Committee in the absence of the President or in cases of conflict of interest of the President as defined in Article IV of these Bylaws. The Vice President shall assume the office of the President in the event of a vacancy in such office. As SAND’s representative, the Vice President shall be the liaison to the SAND neighborhoods. The Vice President shall coordinate and promote SAND committees.

The Secretary shall be the custodian of all records except those specifically assigned to others. The Secretary shall take and report to the SAND membership minutes of all monthly and special meetings. The Secretary shall receive and record the attendance of each SAND meeting and maintain records of written committee reports and resolutions. The Secretary will assist with all official correspondence.

The Treasurer shall keep official financial records and supporting documents of all income and expenses for SAND and report the status of these at each monthly meeting. The Treasurer shall be authorized to receive all funds. The Treasurer shall be responsible for ensuring that all disbursements conform with the annual budget or have had prior approval by the SAND membership. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual financial report. The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping special funds separate from normal operating funds. The Treasurer, with the recommendation of the Executive Committee, shall propose a budget to the membership at the January meeting following the annual meeting.

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES
The Executive Committee shall be a standing committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers and committee chairpersons and shall meet monthly to coordinate the activities, programs, and mission of SAND.

All Executive Committee members shall reveal conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest shall be defined as when the person acting will receive a personal or monetary benefit from the outcome of the issue being considered. If an Executive Committee member has a conflict of interest relative to an issue being discussed, that Executive Committee member shall step aside for the duration of the discussion of that topic. An Executive Committee member acting on behalf of SAND shall represent the recorded position of the SAND membership. If an Executive Committee member cannot objectively do this, the member shall not act as spokesperson for SAND on that issue.

Other committees may be formed by the Executive Committee or by a vote of the membership to meet the needs of the membership. Committees may include but not be limited to communications, land use and zoning, beautification, parks, economic development, public safety, tour of homes, community events, fund raising, and membership.


ARTICLE V- MEETINGS

A. MEETING SCHEDULES           
There shall be a monthly meeting on the second Thursday of each month except as otherwise provided by a majority vote of those members voting at a monthly meeting.

There shall be an annual meeting held at the regularly scheduled December meeting. Officers for the next calendar year shall be elected at the December meeting.

B. SPECIAL MEETINGS    
The purpose of a special meeting is to take care of urgent or emergency business which cannot wait until the next monthly meeting. A special meeting may be called at any time if requested by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Members shall be notified of the purpose of the meeting at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the special meeting. One third (1/3) of the total average attendance of the three previous SAND meetings shall constitute a quorum. Members attending the special meeting shall decide a policy question by a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

C. RULES OF PROCEDURES FOR ALL MEETINGS    
The monthly SAND meetings shall be conducted through normal conversation. However, the President or presiding officer may invoke Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised) if needed to maintain order.

All decisions at any monthly or annual meeting that require a vote need a motion, a second, and a majority approval of those members voting in order to pass except as stated in Paragraph B of this article, relating to special meetings, and Article VI of these bylaws, relating to changes to bylaws, both of which require a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

ARTICLE VI - CHANGES TO BYLAWS
These bylaws may be amended, repealed, or altered in whole or in part by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at a monthly meeting of SAND. Changes to the bylaws shall be proposed in writing at a monthly meeting of SAND and brought in writing to the membership for a vote at the next monthly meeting.

Adoption of changes must be by two-thirds (2/3) vote at the next monthly meeting. Only yeas and nays shall be counted in the computation of the two-thirds (2/3) vote. A copy of the proposed changes shall be available on the SAND website and to the SAND list-serve prior to the meeting at which the voting takes place.

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